Food and ambiance very nice. We started with drinks in the hotel lobby. First time I've had wine from the tap that's decent wine. For food we ate light bc it was late, but food was good. Started off with rolls and butter. Rolls were so warm and had the sweet taste. And the butter was salty. Had the beets with ricotta and hazelnuts. The beets were warm and cooked so well. Also ordered the duck meatballs which had great flavor. My friend ordered the roast chicken. Nice size portion and moist meat. Only sub par portion of the night was the server. While she was nice, you could see the disappointment in her face when we didn't order drinks or dessert. I understand that increases the check/tip, but I shouldn't see the disappointment.
Watching the kitchen was a great option, like a predinner show. They fire grill many menu selections right in front of you. We started with the duck meat balls, they were very good and the sauce had a subtle kick. I had the soup of the day, lamb and roasted vegetables, it was hearty and soothing. The standout item of our dining experience was the fried chicken. The skin was crispy, not greasy at all, flavorful, I ate every morsel. It is boneless, unusual for fried chicken, but super convenient. It comes with pickles and onions on top and with a side of honey and a mild hot sauce. The chef suggestion is to drizzle both so the sweet, salty, spicy, sour, and savory are all represented. I followed instructions and was delighted. It was absolutely delicious. I love their sorbet selections, St. Germaine and Arnold Palmer. We tried the Arnold Palmer it was very refreshing and you could taste distinctly both tea and lemonade; and then opted for A pecan chocolate pie that was excellent. A great meal!
(5)
Amber O.
We walked into Imperial for Brunch this morning and almost left because we didn't see any vegan options. What a mistake that would have been. The server was kind enough to check with Chef Vitaly Paley who made one of the most delicious vegetable meals I have ever eaten! Veggie hash with Brussels, kale, eggplant, zucchini in a romesco sauce. It was an orgasm in my mouth! It made me kind of regret ordering my Dungeness crab omelet, that was also really good! BoobyD the vegan definitely was #winning. Thank you Imperial!
(5)
Eric B.
This was a great evening. We sat at the chef's grill kitchen in the back, and I really wish I could remember the name of the chef on the grill, because he was inviting, warm, informative, and fun. It really helped make this an exceptional dining experience. We had the grilled romaine, radishes, and the pork secreto. Our host had mentioned how fantastic the grilled romaine was, and I've never really been that crazy about grilled romaine. I've tried it a couple times, and determined I prefer my romaine cold and crispy, and not grilled. Well, we ordered it, and I tried it, and it changed everything about grilled romaine for me... well at Imperial at least. The verde was absolutely simplistic heaven. Parsley, a little tarragon, touch of citrus, seasoned perfectly. Croutons, tomatoes, feta, it all went together beautifully. Wow. Radishes missed on a couple levels. Well, one level I guess. I think this would have been a much more successful dish had it not been over seasoned. Combination of flavors inventive and intriguing, but heavily salted and a bit overpowering altogether. Dialed back a couple notches, this could have been great. On to one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth - pork secreto. We watched this thing roast on top of a smoldering wine barrel plank. A gimmick? I thought... Oh no, it's no gimmick. We asked the chef to elaborate on the dish, and no joke - he pulled a laminated order ticket out of his wallet from someone that had ordered four of these things. His favorite dish on the menu he told us. That's awesome. So back to the Trails and Trotters planked pork... The flavor imparted by the barrel plank is just divine. It's a mouthgasm for real. I'll comment on the dish as a whole, but it's a tough critique to make. I found the romesco sauce tasty and a reasonable compliment to the pork in a limited quantity, but almost unnecessary. It's not the romesco's fault - it's just that this pork should be served alone, on a golden platter, with a neat cask strength rye bourbon or scotch (as I enjoyed it), on one knee, with a prayer, after a sacrifice to the old gods and the new. I'm completely serious.
(4)
Doug R.
Good food. Really bad service. Waited 1 hour for the food. Waitress did not update us at anytime. We had to request how much longer to be served. Not recommended !
(1)
C L.
What an amazing night! We are bar regulars and were hosting some friends from out of town who were in PDX for a nationwide non-profit conference. We've always felt welcome and at home at Imperial, but tonight was really something. From our meet-up at the bar to a no-reservation seating for 8, we all felt very special and taken care of. I would say the service was exceptional, but it's always great. We made special vegan entree requests of the chef, which were eagerly accommodated, and all of the dishes were excellent. I have the greatest respect for owner Vitaly Paley and his staff of highly trained, very professional people.
(5)
Mimi T.
Amazing! Everything from the cocktails to the food was superb. Definitely try the pork secreto...solid!
(5)
John A.
Corp was in town so we took them here. Ben here a few times and it is worth trying. This visit we started with the Parker house rolls which is a must they are so good. Then we had the duck meatballs and they are worth trying. My dinner was deciding between the fried chicken and the cabonara, so I went with the carbonara which had bacon, duck yolk, black pepper and Parmesan cheese, we loved this dish. They favors combined was so good and recommend to try it. My friend got the fried chicken and tried it and it is in the top 2 in portland that I have had. We all was to full and passed on desert.
(5)
James G.
First impression on 8/27 was a bartender who said rudely that it is the law that he couldn't serve me two drinks. I wanted to have one for my friend who was 5 minutes away. Whether it is the law or not it has never happened to me in hundreds of times eating out in Portland. Nice first impression. The steak, salmon tartar and cookie + ice creams dessert was great. It all tasted wonderful. However, again, when ordering I felt this odd service vibe. I asked for green beans instead of whatever came with the steak and I was lectured that those green beans were paired with some other dish and they weren't sure they would have enough to go with my steak. The restaurant was half full. I'm sure they had enough green beans...and they did. So why make such a Portland deal out of it? Unnecessary.
(3)
Heather E.
We stayed at the Crystal Hotel last May, and got totally Brunch City'd when we tried to find a place to eat in the Pearl. I mean, hour to hour and a half waits anywhere we stopped. We were walking in circles, and accidentally walked into the side door of the Imperial. We were in a hotel restaurant, and just sort of gave up. This'll do. We're freaking starving. We didn't settle. We scored. Big time. I had the daily Benedict, which that day was this incredible piece of salmon and asparagus and the best hollandaise sauce I've ever had. My dude had the Imperial hash with pastrami. He seemed to enjoy it. We were both too busy scarfing down our food to talk about it. And that smoked bloody mary (why do I drink so many bloody marys?)? Server kissing good. BONUS FUN: I had a mild stroke when I saw that the bearded wonder Doug on Top Chef was the sous here. I was all "I ate his eggs!" It was a weird thing to shout into a room by yourself.
(5)
Teddy O.
The food and experience at Imperial is very memorable and leave you wanting more and more... I thing you understand where I am going with this. I was here for a work function so I was able to try a lot of the offerings without worrying about the cost. I plan on coming back to enjoy with my SO and an empty stomach.
(5)
Steve A.
We had a great dinner, experience... Just right size venue especially for our Valentines dinner occasion. "Andie W" was our server and she was wonderful. Great energy, knew the menu and was just fun. Only con is the menu had some good options overall but could use more given that most of it is a la carte so it can get spendy. Delicious dinner and great experience so we will be back..
(4)
Joel V.
I do not frequent restaurants of the privileged but hot damn, I wish I was rich after eating here. This place will awaken the Gatsby in all of us. The cocktails and appetizers are absolutely top notch. All of the main dishes looks great as well. I played it cool, and got the burger. I didn't want to overload the ol' taste buds with too much goodness in one night. Easily a top five burger in Portland. The atmosphere was fun, in a NW way, it smells like wood, lumberjack cologne, and amazing food cooking over a fire. It was busy, with not an open seat in the place, but not too loud. Although, Imperial looks like be a place where rich people spend a lot of money, you can also make it out of here without ending up homeless. 2 old fashioned, 1 perseco, bowl of soup of the day, burger, a few plates of bread, veggie dish, and a burger for about $70. It was worth every penny. I will be coming back!
(5)
Kelly R.
"A Radish Walks into a Bar" is the best cocktail I have ever had in my life, hands down. I expected it to be savory, which it was, but it had a little bit of sweetness that surprised me, in a good way. There's a sprinkle of salt and pepper on top of the ice; the pepper aroma tickles your nose with every sip. The food was good too: Tuscan beans, roasted beets with ricotta (could have passed on the hazelnuts on top, and I love hazelnuts, so that's saying something), and albacore tuna with gribiche. But I would go back just for "A Radish Walks into a Bar."
(4)
Dana S.
Visiting Portland for Thanksgiving and after reading reviews on my places we settled on the Imperial. We were not disappointed. From the amazing attentive, friendly staff to the delicious food every moment was memorable and enjoyable. If you are coming to Portland give this place a try, you will not be disappointed. I have to add that Patrick our server was awesome. He helped us choose an excellent bottle of wine that was fairly priced. He was friendly but not in your face annoying. He even gave us some wine bar recommendations while we are in town.
(5)
Irina D.
Great service, great food. The sturgeon was amazing, perfect portions. Loved the atmosphere, we were there on a Sunday evening so it wasn't as busy as usual. The Dutch Apple pie was the perfect ending to our delicious meal!
(5)
Sharifa L.
The house rolls are worth just going to the restaurant! I would go here just for those rolls. Also had the fried chicken which was very crispy. It was good, but not as good as those house rolls!
(5)
James R.
I've never felt the need to yelp about a restaurant before, so that probably speaks for itself. Waitstaff (Lindsey) was incredible. Food was even better (grilled romaine salad and the fried chicken). Go there. Now.
(5)
Boshal L.
The food was good, but we experienced sticker shock when we saw the portion sizes, especially with the salmon. It's supposed to be family style/shared plates experience, but the duck meatballs only came with 2 and the salmon was smaller than a 3x5 index card for $29. The 3 of us ladies don't eat much to begin with, but were still hungry after ordering 3 dishes and the rolls. Thankfully we went and got some ice cream afterwards.
(2)
Jeff Z.
We had one of the finest meals on our Pacific Northwest vacation at the Imperial (and as foodies who hail from NYC, that's saying a lot.) We were a hungry party of 4 and we ate well, starting off with an albacore pokè (a Hawaiian style ceviche), the hamachi crudo (that was accompanied by a "grated" foie gras that ranks among the most awesome things I've ever tasted,) a "compressed" watermelon salad, a grilled Caesar salad (served with smoked heirloom tomatoes and a house made seed brittle that I wish I could eat every day,) the duck meatballs (that brought meatballs to a new height) and a chopped kale vegetable salad with a tangy buttermilk dressing that rounded off our appetizers. Entrees were the T-bone steak, fried chicken, and King salmon, all cooked (except for the chicken) on their wood fired grill. We still had room for dessert--house made ice cream and sorbet (the bourbon peach sorbet was my favorite) - and peach blueberry pie. Cocktails at the start were awesome too--"A Good Problem To Have," a gin, ginger Thai basil concoction was the table favorite. The wine list is excellent as well and we enjoyed a hard to find Oregon Pinot Noir , a '08 Beaux Frêres that was perfect. The staff was friendly and professional and could not have been more accommodating with no detail overlooked. Also, the lobby of the Hotel Lucia, where the restaurant is situated, is an art lover's fantasy.
(5)
Lauren C.
We came here for the burger and were not disappointed. Excellent--even the second half I ate cold and leftover the next morning when hungover. Crisp and fresh onions, perfectly cooked--PHENOM. It was pretty crazy on a Friday night around 9 so service was a touch spotty but that was ok. Fun people watching as well.
(4)
Paul D.
Have read a few, well, uptight reviews about Imperial. My experience has been one that exceeded expectation. Both times ate here alone. Sat at the bar first time and got to have a great interaction with the bar team about their passions in cocktails. Very balanced and beautifully mixed flavors. For a surprisingly vegetal cocktail balanced with a little acidity and lovely sweetness, try A Radish Walks Into a Room. Loved the draft cocktails - cannot beat a perfectly made Vieux Carre. Duck confit with a sweet orange marmalade and spicy arugula is a fantastic combo. The shining service is warm, embracing and focused on a quality customer experience. Anyone who thinks differently needs to visit NYC sometime soon to remind themselves of how good the service ethic is in Portland. The manager even remembered me second visit around and spent some time chatting. A smooth and genuine operation. Would recommend to friends without a second thought.
(5)
Colleen B.
This place is fantastic! I had the tuna which was amazing and the beets coal fired sooo yummy!! My husband had the fried chicken loved it! We sat at the bar and Lindsay our bartender/waitress was probably the best server I have ever ever had...she knew the menu inside and out very professional but engaging in conversation as well.....sit at the bar if she is working!!!! The wine selection was great!!!
(4)
Calcentae R.
The food is good. I had eggs Benedict. I asked for dungeoness crab to be added to my plate and the waitress almost went into cardiac arrest. She was filled with an incredible amount of anxiety. When I asked her why, she said that "the kitchen is eve particular..." and went into this diatribe about how the restaurant won the the Iron Chef award and so they wanted their dishes to come out a certain way..yadda yadda yadda... It seems like they forgot that some people have dietary restrictions -- 2 the person who is actually eating the plate knows what they want, and 3 terrorizing the waitstaff to discourage customers from making modifications to THEIR meal will only lead to subpar service which in turn results in customers feeling like its about the chef and not about my experience as a customer and which further results in us leaving lukewarm reviews about service like this one.
(3)
Troy S.
This was our first stop when arriving in Portland. The setting was very nice, the wait staff were beyond accommodating, and the food was immaculate! I had the fried chicken and will be having dreams about it tonight. Looking forward to stopping back in and trying some of the other foods and craft beers!
(5)
Paul D.
Everyone said this place was great, but it was a huge letdown. Food was great, but the bartender named Tony was a smug and egotistical jerk. I only tipped him out of basic courtesy but wish I hadn't. Feeling ripped off. Bummer! Unlike MacArthur, I shall never return.
(1)
Karl K.
Gold stars across the board...atmosphere, customer service, food, cocktails and wine. Vitale and his team deliver every time.
(5)
M M.
First off, we had a great server. Maggie H was very attentive, though very busy. She was very personable and knowledgeable about the restaurant and its dishes. She even recommended a local vodka to instead of the standard, which we enjoyed being from out of town. The highlight of the meal was the fried pigtail. The crunchy skin with the fatty pork was delectable. I would go back just to have this dish. I would also recommend the kale and veg salad. The lamb mix was good, but not great. The anchovy aioli overpowered the lamb "T bone." We ordered the meat plate without asking what was included, as it was not listed on the menu. This was a disappointment as it had 3 meats, 2 of which were pates. It wasn't what we were hoping for. Overall, the meal was very good and the service even better.
(4)
angie c.
Mediocre and overpriced. Steak was underseasoned and overcooked. The only thing I liked was the basket of fries.
(2)
M H.
Best craft cocktails in town. (Expatri-who?) But their food is not at par with how good the drinks. The food is on point for sure. Nothing wrong, very tasty. But selection feels a bit gouty. Yes, gout-y.
(4)
Peter R.
Breakfast only At breakfast at the imperial 3 times over a couple of visits to the city. 5 star impressed every time. Quality perfectly calibrated service, nice room - not too loud or too dead, solid and consistent staples, interesting specials and beignets! :) Next up - dinner at the Imperial!
(5)
Bill K.
Went in for a late night meal and some cocktails after a function at the Benson across the street. The entire service was painfully slow. Waiting to get seated in an almost empty restaurant was a process in patience. The waitress was painfully slow and not up to the gig. Getting drinks from the bar took an unnecessarily long time. Another example of a PDX restaurant where they really focus on making great food, but they forget that slow and inept service can ruin the entire experience. Can't recommend this place now, and I definitely won't go back.
(2)
Tim J.
Classy and eclectic Downtown Portland is surprisingly light on cool trendy spots with great food. This is one of them. It's loud, modern, proudly eccentric and classy. It boasts a full on charcoal grill and a pastry chef who specializes in pies to die for/from. Loved it..as will you.
(4)
Maggie Z.
This really gets a 3.5 but Yelp won't let me- so I rounded up. I had the duck meatballs, mushrooms, and fries. (Definitely did not need the fries- my eyes were bigger than my stomach!) The duck meatballs have a lot of flavor and are very very good. They were just a tiny bit too sweet for me. The mushrooms had a great smokey flavor- but a bit too salty (I'm a saltaholic so that says a lot). The fries were just ok. Too thick & pretty sure the "secret sauce" is just mayo & ketchup- not very exciting. Kitchen is pretty slow- was there on a Tuesday eating at the bar & it took awhile. Great bar staff though, and great wines. Would definitely come back to try some other menu items.
(4)
Bowdoin S.
Although I really am not a breakfast person, I had just worked out and felt the need to fill my tummy before my flight back home, so I wandered over here chosen in part due to the proximity of my hotel. The restaurant is pretty large and relatively empty at 9:15 on a Thursday morning so I got to sit in the back part of the restaurant near the kitchen. The restaurant has an industrial/warehouse feel and it was pretty noisy because of the white noise coming from the kitchen area. I chose the omelet of the day which had cheese and bacon. I also ordered the chicken sausages as a side. There were breakfast potatoes on the side of the omelet which had a nice crispy texture on the exterior. Everything I ate here was solidly executed. My favorite was the chicken sausage which had a subtle hint of sweetness and a little bit of heat. Service was good and prompt and my server was friendly. The meal cost less than $20 which to me was a little on the pricey side.
I dunno why this place doesn't get higher ratings - probably because it's "downtown" and no one who lives in Portland actually hangs out "downtown." I went with some Very Important Colleagues from Out of Town, and hadn't even heard of it until they suggested it. But! The food, service and general ambiance was delightful. I got the steelhead and it was so, so yummy. Like fall-apart-on-your-fork good. I know, because I tried to share it and had trouble forking it from plate to plate. It came with two different types of sauces, both of which were NOMS. I tried my friend's pork chop - same deal. Tender and delightful! And I'm pretty sure I don't even normally like pork. Other items tried: Roasted beets! Somehow, there were two different kinds. Both were really good. And I don't think I like beets, either. Two different gin drinks! Both amazing. One was the "A radish walks into a bar" - another case of being surprised by liking it. Radishes, gin, cracked pepper, served over one o' those funky-bunch giant square ice cubes. The other was the Harlequin - a gin-champagne cocktail in a Great Gatsby type glass with honey. Predictably, I loved it and could easily have had 8 or 9 more. Fun flair: When you order the steak, the side of potatoes comes on a tree-stump serving platter. That is cool on its own, but when you're hosting people from out of town, it's just delightful - so Oregon-y. Or "Or-eh-gone"-y, to non-natives in need of a pronunciation guide.
(4)
MJ M.
Food was 5, just took forever. Came here for weekend brunch after huge lineups at other joints. Worked out in our favour! The eggs coddled in their spicy tomato jam/sauce were unreal. Served with a Peruvian puff bread. Probably best cup of coffee I had the entire eight days we were down the as well. Server did apologize for wait, so it wasn't excruciating or anything, but we did wait a while. I will say that coddling an egg can be lengthy in and of itself, any other dish may have been quicker (but probably not as tasty). Decor was awesome in there, would have liked to come back for dinner, could tell it was inventive and thoughtful chef behind the menu.
(4)
Robert C.
We for the first time last night. I had the best pork hop I've had in years. The Brussel sprouts were also amazing. Good service and good atmosphere! We had a great experience.
Fantastic combinations of flavors. Vegetarian fair was delicious and generous. No pretentious petite portions ubiquitous to most haute cuisine restaurants. Parker house rolls epitomize comfort food. Lovely venue.
(5)
Blaine P.
We had an outstanding dinner here over the weekend. There were only a couple of small details to keep it away from a five star rating. We found several of the dishes that we tried to be absolutely flawless: the foie gras special app, fire roasted mushrooms with bone marrow, mushroom/escargot galette, and the roasted pear and hook's blue salad all could not be highly rated enough. The Beef Tartare was served in a fashion that I am not accustomed to but it was outstanding nonetheless. The rolls were absolutely divine as well, though it felt a tad petty to charge seperately for them: my $.02 include them with the meal (add a quarter to the price of everything on the menu but include the damn rolls.) The cocktails were spot on perfect modern craft cocktails with a beautiful selection and the bar man was knowledgeable and graciously did not tease me when I misread one of the names of my cocktail. The negatives though: i thought that the duck meatballs were lackluster in seasoning, even a pinch of finishing salt at the table would have brought them up, but alas, there was none. The Pork Secreto was a fabulous piece of meat, perfectly seasoned and accompanied, but for my taste it was over done, I get that it's pork, in a hotel restaurant, and everyone in america over cooks pork, but it's 2015 and we all know it's safe to cook to a more "moist" internal temp, in hindsight i would still order the same, but request that dish more rarely done. Other than those two nits to pick the food and drink were completly outstanding. Our server was not particularly good though, and unfortunately it smacked of a lack of training. At first she started to fib her way through a descrition of a bottle of wine before admitting she knew nothing of it and said she would send over the steward. The steward did not appear, nor did our server return (in the meantime a cocktail arrived via runner, first app arrived via runner, etc.) until checking on how we liked our app. She then realized that the Steward had not come by ("Oh did so and so not come by?"). At which point she sent him over and he answered questions and brought out the wine, which was a really killer non vintage blend from california that I cannot remember the name of and is not on their on line list right now. These missteps, so early in the meal, left us lacking confidence in her for the rest of the meal and that's really what knocked a star off. Four stars. I look forward to returning in every way. The menu is creative, presented with gusto, the room is a pleasure, the cocktails and wine sublime, I have to try the stuffed quail and the fried chicken, so I'll be back soon!
(4)
Alex M.
A little slow with their service, but otherwise perfectly delightful. Their breakfast potatoes are absolutely to die for! And vegan, too :)
(4)
Paul W.
Best menu I've seen, though it seems to be weekly, so good luck (This review is from mid-June 2014). Lamb tartare. No baguette, but house made crackers were fine. Duck yolks were thick and lux. What so they use the whites for? Beef shoulder was rare w /o being the obnoxiously rare that I like. The Dungeness crab salad was a great match, as was the peppery pesto and watercress. I had it with the roasted cauliflower because my wife loves that. Turns out their brown butter balsamic with bacon crumbs (not sure I got those) beats my buttermilk buffalo any day. Pimms cocktail and vieux carre (2nd from tap) both great, espc first one.
(5)
Danish B.
We stumbled upon this place, because we were staying in the Hotel Lucia (next door). I had the coddled eggs (they were different and quite decadent), and a monstrous side of some of the best bacon I have consumed in my life. The roll that was served on the side of the eggs, to sop up the delicious creamy tomato cream the eggs were cooked in, was perfect. Imperial cures their own bacon, and the slices are pretty thick. My husband had a Pastrami Sandwich (the Pastrami was also made, in house), which we have decided is the best Pastrami either of us have ever eaten. If you appreciate fresh-cured meats, this place is a must try. I think about it often and hope it's there when we return to Portland.
(5)
E M.
Totally bummed. Our sides were awful. Cauliflower dish was so burnt. The eggplant was not what I was expected very oily. I should probably stop right there! I have a stomach ache and can't wait to get home... Sadly, I wish I didn't have to pay for that meal.
(2)
Nicole O.
Happy hour oysters were delicious! Wine was great too! We also ordered the burger and fries. I was very proud of myself for showing restraint from the awesome fries. Service was good. Given it was slow, the bartender was very attentive/ friendly and had good recommendations.
(4)
Beth F.
Our second time to eat at Imperial. We had the prixe fixe special dinner for Portland Dining Out month. It was quite good, though no surprises. Service was excellent and we had a most enjoyable time. I highly recommend it. We've had brunch there, too, which was excellent.
(4)
Bellinghamster M.
Delicious brunch. We easily made Sunday reservations the night before. Bloody Marys are made with house infused smoked tomatoes. Yum!
(5)
steven b.
Great cocktails and nice food however very disappointed that we sat more that 1 hour after ordering before the parties plates started appearing hear and there.
(2)
Stacy P.
After spending a better part of the day exploring downtown Portland, I decided to have a late lunch and escape the cold. Lunch actually ended at 2pm, but luckily they offered a smaller happy hour menu that included some food items. They do note on the menu V for vegan and GF for gluten friendly, that is friendly and not free, which I first mistook. Upon asking some questions, I was able to truly determine which items were gluten free. As a side note, they use a shared fryer, so the chicken wings and French fries are out for those of you who truly need to eat gluten free. I ended up opting for the sausage of the day, which happened to be some Louisiana kind. The mustard type sauce was ok. I had a spicy kick to it, so if your sinuses need clear, this might be a good option
(3)
Ashley W.
My boyfriend and I had been meaning to try Imperial for a while now for any meal and were looking for a good brunch spot this morning that took reservations so we wouldn't have to wait. Decided on Imperial and it was the best decision. Very friendly staff when we arrived and we were seated right away. The ambiance was what you would want for a Sunday morning, chill and relaxing. The Bloody Mary's are definitely a recommendation. We split the eggs benedict and the crab omelet. The crab omelet was good but the eggs benedict was AMAZING! We pretty much order eggs benedict at every breakfast spot we go in order to find our favorite one - well we found it. I cant say exactly why they are the best here but they are and we haven't found any that compare. The potatoes were simple yet wonderful as well. We had the beignets for dessert and these are a must try! Perfectly done with local honey sauce! We will be coming back to Imperial for many more Sunday brunches! Great service and BEST EGGS BENEDICT!
(5)
Trevor L.
Classy (slightly fancy) lunch dining option in downtown Portland. The food was very tasty, with a good selection - but the portions are moderate (smaller than you may expect) and you must order sides in addition to your entree. All of this helps keep the prices down. Imperial is listed in The Oregonian's 2015 list of 100 best cheap eats in Portland.
(4)
Ken F.
Stopped in for lunch and what a treat !!! Sat in the bar area and Patrick took great care of us . The service atmosphere and food were great ! Carrie had the watermelon salad which was fun and savory . Chilled pieces of melon with some spicy peppers and pickled onions ... No hint whatsoever of over the top onion taste which is a good thing . I tried the chef special Dungeness melt with bernaisse sauce on top a thick homemade artisan bread . Very yummy !! Like a tuna melt but kicked up three notches. Thanks for such a great experience :)
(5)
Austin S.
This place is fantastic. Been here four or five times in the last few months for happy hour, and have never been disappointed. The service is impeccable, the cocktails on tap are delicious, and the happy hour burger is literally the best burger I've had in this burger-mad town. Outside happy hour, been there once for lunch and also had a great experience. The fried chicken was perfection, though the portions were a little small, and the cola-PBR braised pork was simply divine.
(5)
Miz C.
late night happy hour! their house burger was absolutely delicious! we also got the kale salad - YUMMY. on a whim i ordered the crispy pigs tail, something id usually be afraid of, but it was SOOOO DAMN GOOD. also, i LOVED the pate, which im also usually afraid of, this was salty creamy and absolutely yummy. i would definitely love to come here again for happy hour, its nice to be able to freely order and gorge yourself on extremely high quality food!
(4)
T.J. B.
This is my second time eating breakfast at the Imperial. My wife and I have tried several different items and found them to be all equally excellent. Not cheap and definitely not a greasy spoon! A word to the wise, the French toast is incredibly rich and filling, so be sure not to order to many sides. The coffee excellent, the atmosphere trendy, the food and service both prepared and delivered with care. Sunday's around 930 am are not super busy, so tootle on in! You will like it!
(4)
ruth a.
Had made a reservation based upon the reviews. Initial impression when we called to push back our reservation was great, they were very understanding and pleasant. Anyway, vibe is very energetic, attractive space, lots of energy. Great place for drinks, but nearly impossible to have a conversation without yelling. We were seated at a table near the side which was fairly near the kitchen, interesting but warm. Server was prompt at taking our drink orders but very slow at actually getting them to us. The bartender actually brought them over when we were starting our first course which was unfortunate because they were oysters. Our drinks were great, A Radish walks into a bar, was the name of mine, a perfect combination of vermouth, gin and radish gastrique, with cracked pepper and salt. Very innovative. Sad to say, all downhill from there. The oysters were just on the verge of being to warm, the sauce with them was on the sweet side, not to my taste. Next course was the charred lettuce and a side of the mushrooms with bone marrow. The lettuce was greasy and the mushrooms inedible because they were so heavily salted. Our main was the quail which was undercooked and bloody at the joints and so heavily spiced that your mouth was on fire. When these issues were brought to the attention of our server, as we were clearly not eating, she took the dishes back to the kitchen, came back and advised that was how "Chef" liked to prepare these items. OK, I guess if "Chef" is the one eating it. I will say that we were not charged for the items, as it should be, but it was a disappointment, it may have been an off night, I don't know. If we were here for longer, would try again, as I have to say the cocktails were great!
(2)
Geezer B.
Fantastic food and service. Dinner with two coworkers and we had a fabulous time. Bar tender was so helpful and really knows her drinks. Great advice on the food. Not a bad plate. Pate plate was amazingly tasty, as were the duck meatballs. Fryer chicken and ribeye were divinely delicious. Great choice. We will be back.
(5)
Melissa K.
Had an amazing brunch at the Imperial on Sunday. The menu has a plethora of options, making it hard to decide what to order. Our server, Oscar, was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. We took his suggestions and were not disappointed as the food was delicious. Amazing service despite it being ridiculously busy which made the experience all the more enjoyable. We will definitely be back and will be recommending this restaurant to all of our friends.
(5)
Rachelle H.
I just love Imperial. I come in about once a month to sit at the bar with my girlfriends and always receive the best service! The restaurant has a friendly atmosphere and I've never experienced any rudeness from staff (which is rare in Portland restaurants). The GM and bar manager really take their job seriously and do such a fine job in the front of house. The food, of course, is amazing as well. Thanks Imperial!
(5)
Neil T.
Interesting menu and exceptional food. Highly recommend their cocktails. The 'radish walks into a bar' drink was phenomenal. Also recommend their fried chicken dish. Their grilled choices also looked great, will have to try them next time.
(5)
Emily G.
I went with a large (11 people) group on Thursday night and was really impressed overall. Drink selection was decent and menu was varied but still made sense. Everything that hit the table got rave reviews - it seems like you can't go wrong no matter what you choose. I ordered the Bone Marrow Mushrooms and the Pork Chop. Both incredibly delicious. You'd think there's an upper limit to how good a side of mushrooms can be but these could have stood alone as a dish. I order mushrooms as a side a lot and these are definitely the best and most original I've had. As for the pork chop, it was a great blend of sweet and savory and juicy. The atmosphere is trendy and hip, but it's not so loud that you can't hear the people you're with. I'll be back.
(4)
Zachary O.
Delicious! I found plenty of glutenfree and vegetarian options here. They were willing to make small changes to allow for my dietary restrictions. Got the Grilled Romaine salad (delicious!), Roasted Potatoes (pretty good), roasted Cauliflower (amazing!). My wife had the House Made Pasta with crab and asparagus. She said it was a little bland, but the fresh noodles were good and the asparagus was perfectly cooked. Some people in our party order the Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and the German Chocolate Cream Pie. Both of which looked amazing and were thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who stole bites. The waitstaff was okay. Not very patient, but quite thorough and on task. Good: Food in general, chill atmosphere Not As Good: Staff attitude
(4)
N H.
Best Whiskey Drinks! The Frits are also awesome. In the summer grab an outside table for fun people watching.
(5)
Kathy R.
Recommended by a local Portalnder, went here for dinner. Short wait for a table, restaurants comfortable. Open kitchen enjoyable. My guest had an Ahi Tuna - well prepared and reasonably priced. She subbed out the side dish for Polenta which she enjoyed. I love Duck and the meatballs were amazing. I had it with a side salace and made it dinner. So many choices on the menu. The salad was a Pear and Walnut salad with little greenery. Not enough for me for dinner but tasty. I wish I'd ordered one of the burgers and the fries - the people at the next table had that I it looked incredible.
(4)
M T.
Delicious breakfast- eggs, potatoes, bread, and bacon/sausage. The chicken sausage was made in-house and was really tasty. Portions were a good size- not too large. Great service as well.
(5)
Susan Y.
well priced, delicious, shareable small plates. Exceeded expectations. And, got to see "Dougie" from Top Chef!
(5)
Aleju S.
Went there with friends. Awesome bar menu, great service and nice balance of upscale yet comfy. The cocktail menu is creative and impressive! We had drinks that stunned us into blissful epiphanies. Ordered several drinks, passed them around to share, sipped, then stared at each other across the table with "...whoa..." looks on our faces.
(5)
Naomi A.
Hands down one of our best dining experiences, ever! We decided last minute to head up to Portland for New Years Eve and asked the hotel concierge for some dinner recommendations. I had a couple places in mind, but we couldn't get reservations at a reasonable time so she suggested Imperial. I was a little hesitant after reading some reviews, but didn't want to eat dinner at 5:00 so we went with it. Got there a little early and enjoyed a cocktail at the bar, the bartender was super friendly and helpful, and recommended some of his favorite dishes. Tasty cocktails, we're off to a good start! To our surprise, our seats were at the Chef's Table, perhaps couples preferred to have a more romantic setting on NYE, but we were excited to be so close to the action, so close you could actually feel the heat from the fire! This also allowed us to chat up the chef/owner Vitaly Paley, which made the whole experience! We chatted about the best dishes on the menu, our longing for foie gras (from CA), our excitement to try local truffles among other things. We decided to try: - Oregon Albacore Ceviche: Nice and fresh way to kick off our meal. We don't typically see ceviche with albacore but wanted to try it since the fish was local, delicious! - Menage a Foie Gras: A special for NYE, foie three ways, pinwheel with prosciutto, mousse and grilled, YUM. As foie is banned in CA, we had to try this and boy was it good, they were all delicious, but the grilled was our favorite! - Stew of Seven Fishes: All the seafood was perfectly cooked and while the broth was nice and delicate, we wished it had just a little more punch - Tails and Trotters Barrel Planked Secreto: Perfectly succulent pork with nutty romesco and grilled leeks, also very good! - Cheesecake with Caramel Sauce: Rich and luscious, hmmm, I want some now... Chef Vitaly also sent over some other treats to try and even took a picture with us, what a fun dinner. We had such a great time that we had to buy a bottle of champagne to drink with dessert and wanted to share it with our fellow guests at the Chefs Table. Definitely snag a seat at the Chef's Table if you can, even if Chef Vitaly isn't there, its fun to chat with the other chefs and watch them work their magic!
(5)
Pat M.
4.5 STARS! We were a party of four and had made reservations several weeks in advance for an early (5:30 PM) pre-show dinner. We specifically were drawn to Imperial after watching Top Chef and being impressed with Doug Adams. We were not disappointed. The dinner items we chose (prawns, salmon, duck meatballs, and several sides) were each delicious, beautifully presented, and creative. Service was quick (too, quick, actually, as the dinners came out before the appetizers were served) although they were quite busy. Only two things we felt could be improved: 1) the peppers (a side dish we ordered to share) were unevenly spicy; the first was really deliciously tasty, but the second was so off-puttingly hot that it burned, really burned, the mouth. Will not order that again (and we will return; everything else was so good). 2) The only other concern was that we felt very rushed, even though we had allowed plenty of time to get to our show and did not want to be rushed out of there in 50 minutes, which would have happened had we not continued to order dessert, additional cocktails, coffee, etc. We will return to Imperial!
(4)
Laura P.
WOW! What else can I say. We had such a great experience there. We shared lots of items as we had such a hard time deciding on just one thing. The 4 of us shared the Duck Meatballs. Easily one of the best things I've ever eaten. It was easily split up. We also shared the Ahi Ceviche....very yummy. For Dinner, we split the Fried Rabbit legs and the Stan's Sausage du Jour. WOW, also amazing. The Fried Rabbit Legs were served with a very hot sauce in a dropper bottle and honey. Dessert was also shared, the Ice Box Ice Cream Cake and the Pear Dumpling with Cherries and Huckleberries with Cinnamon Ice Cream. WOW WOW WOW. Service was great. It was an amazing evening with great food and great company. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jake L.
Went for Happy Hour on a Sunday afternoon. A truly classically good burger and fries along with some classically good bottles of Miller High Life (the champagne of beers) The place was a bit dead as you'd expect in this part of downtown on a Sunday afternoon, I would like to visit for Happy Hour mid-week.
(4)
Anne + Steve L.
A Major Disappointment. We went for Sunday brunch. The place was not very crowded and still the service was slow. Slow serving water, slow bringing menus, slow taking the order and excruciatingly slow serving the food. I order the pastrami hash. I might as well have ordered a salad. It was a small plate of potatoes, with hardly any flavor, a virtual desert of pastrami with a huge amount of arugula dumped over the top. The flavor was bland, the portions small and the price was high. All in all, a very negative experience.
(2)
Patricia W.
Great staff from podium to prep line. We started w the Kale salad, tomato soup& shucked oysters and the on to the fried chicken. We enjoyed all the comforting food as well as friendly service! I'd like to try happy hour our next trip to Portland.
(4)
Flavia A.
LOVE this place. The deep fried rabbit legs with picked watermelon rinds are delightful and a culinary suprise. Rabbit comes out juicy and tender and flavorful. Equally flavorful are the baked beans, which we had for a side w/ the rabbit. Very rich and deep flavors. We also had the burger, which was excellent. I love a juicy burger. We had the chard gratin on the side, which was fun because I usually have chard steamed, and not creamy, so it was different. The only disappointment is that their desserts aren't as innovative as their main entrees. Except for the butterscotch budina, which you sort of wished you went there just to eat that, because of its creamy richness. It's like its own meal! Cocktails are A+. This is my new fave portland restaurant.
(5)
Mitch B.
This was my 2nd time at Imperial but my first time for breakfast. Two eggs over easy with chicken sausage, toast, and potatoes. The chicken sausage was excellent and eggs were cooked perfectly. This will be my new go-to place for an early breakfast in Portland.
(5)
Leigh W.
Boring old dry French toast with a couple of cursory apple slices. So much for the seasonal fruit topping - it's May! Not worth the price. Bacon was good though, but for a $20 breakfast, I expect much more.
(2)
KB B.
I have had two great meals in the last 3 weeks at The Imperial. The braised pork was savory and so delicious. I had the fried chicken this time, which the chef is famous for. It makes the Screen Door taste like a chicken nugget. The batter was so crunchy and salty. Just delicious. I woke up this morning wanting another serving of that chicken!! We met the executive chef, Doug Adams; what a great guy! I can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Trevor N.
The food is tasty but I've never been to a place with slower service, for both drinks and food. Had to actually hand the c card as drinks arrived we were waiting that bloody long.
(2)
Roseanne S.
I was pretty disappointed in my overall experience. I made reservations for a lunch review dinner for myself and my supervisor, called them to push it back when things at the office required us to be about 15 minutes later than I'd originally thought, and was told "Great no problem!" We got there and the girl -- by the voice she sounded like the exact girl I'd spoken to! -- said "Table for 2?" I said "Yeah and actually I have a reservation." The girl acted really confused and said she had no record of my reservation, but no worries because there were tons of tables. Well yes, actually, it was an issue because she made me look incompetent in front of my supervisor. As someone who worked customer service for years, the correct thing to do would have been to just say "Yes!" rather than try to correct me in front of my boss -- even if I really didn't have a reservation, she shouldn't have acted like I was making it up. There was no wait either way so I have no idea why 1, they lost my reservation and 2 she felt she had to tell us that. Last thing I want to look like in front of my supervisor is incompetent or a liar. She showed us to a table right at the entrance to the kitchen so servers had to continually walk around my chair which every time they did, wafted the smell of rotten fish. Why, I don't know. I got the "fancy" grilled cheese and tomato soup. The sandwich was pretty bland but the soup was way over seasoned. Extremely salty and so many herbs I had a pile of them at the bottom of my cup when I was done. That said, it didn't bother me THAT much because I finished both sandwich and soup, but I was surprised it was so overly salty and not anything special like I hoped. The vanilla soda I ordered was good, however. I was excited to get to eat here because it's nicer than most restaurants I ever get to eat at and was ultimately pretty disappointed. Overall a "Meh" experience.
(2)
Lenore Z.
Halibut with smoked porcini, English peas, pickled fennel, then butterscotch brûle. Yum!
My fellow Yelpers! If you find yourself in the city of Portland, Oregon and you're looking for a five-star restaurant with amazing food and fantastic cocktails to enjoy, look no further than the Imperial Restaurant set inside the lovely Lucia Hotel (A Yelp! waiting to happen) downtown. Chef Vitaly Paley has three great restaurants in Portland which include the Imperial, Paley's Place Bistro and Bar, and a fantastic diner called Portland Penny Diner. But I'm here to talk about the Imperial which opened in the summer of 2012. I've had the pleasure of eating at the Imperial a couple of times now and can't wait to eat there again. The venue is stunning with great visual textures, bare concrete pillars, three types of brick in colors of gray, white and black, and a natural brick behind the bar. Adding to the eye appeal are the tall wall paintings and wallpaper along with 30-foot plus high ceilings. Let's talk food and cocktails! From any point in the restaurant you can see the large wood-fire grill built with removable rotisseries that turn whole poultry and large cuts of meat. I love that style of cooking meat. Well, for starters I've had the charcuterie board called "Stan's Meat Plate" as well as the Stan's Sausage Du Jour - terrific! For a main course I recommend the rabbit, pounded flat, long and thin with a nice crispy crunch set atop a semolina corn cake which tastes a lot like grilled polenta accompanied by homemade pickled watermelon rind. The condiments for the dish are a homemade hot sauce that you apply with an eye dropper and a dish of local honey. Fantastic! The bone-in pork chop is my favorite. When you walk into the Imperial restaurant, the bar is just to your right with two sides and plenty of room. What you might not know is that Brandon Wise is the bar manager for both the Imperial and Portland Penny Diner for Chef Vitaly Paley since 2010 and to keep the story short, Brandon is a master mixologist! I arrived at the bar early one afternoon and caught the bartender chiseling king cubes for one of their signature cocktails called the New Money - excellent! I cannot recommend the Imperial restaurant enough! Thank you Imperial restaurant for being a great part of my culinary community. P.S. I recommend looking up Chef Vitaly Paley and Mixologist Brandon Wise as they have both left their mark on the city of Portland as artists in their field!
(5)
scott l.
Recently had one of the best dinners I've had in 6 years in PDX here. Imperial is just killing it right now. Service, food and atmosphere were all top notch.
(5)
Paul M.
The mushroom galette with escargot was divine. I'm sold on just that one dish.
(5)
Amanda G.
My husband went for New Year's Eve and I am thrilled we did! The draw for us was Doug Adams because we love Top Chef and our expectations were exceeded. The vibe of the restaurant is nice and the service was fantastic. Our waitress was very attentive but not over the top. The FOOD is the big draw. We had the Poke plate ,mushroom galette and then my husband had the the fried chicken and I had the tuna. They were all SO tasty. I left completely satisfied and looking at the calendar to see when we can come back. That is the best meal I have had a in a long time. Oh and I had one of their "on tap" cocktails-I can't remember the name, Vieaux something and it was amazing. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Adam G.
I feel like it is fairly difficult to not be happy after departing any restaurant from their established Happy Hour. Imperial lives up to that expectation and even exceeds some of those standards. A small group of four, including myself, needed to refuel/prep before the wedding shenanigans began later that evening. We obviously didn't want to spend a lot of money but also didn't want to settle for fast food. We stumbled upon this place because it was a block from our hotel and thought that we were going to spend a lot based on its classy appearance. Large glass windows with a crown-type logo were all I saw from the outside but entering through the two separate doors to the bar area actually changed my impression. It almost looks like a brewery within but kept it fancy. The liquor bottle display was very large and eye-catching; especially when there are bar tending tools out in the open suggesting that there is more than just beer here. Low Down--Happy hour allowed me to share a burger, a basket of fries, and two imperial pints for only $19...Two thumbs up! The burger is the signature item for the happy hour menu. Cooked to your preference and served with caramelized and pickled onions, lettuce, tomato, sharp cheddar cheese and a secret sauce. This sauce is also served with the basket of fries and I gotta say, it's pretty damn good. Clearly I don't know what's in it but I did ask for extra cause I used it on every bite. The fries were a little more salty than I prefer but it didn't stop me from consuming them. If you're looking for a great happy hour location this review is based off that and hope it helps with your decision. The bartenders are very knowledgeable with both food and drink. The drinks that were created in front of us were very pretty in presentation and plentiful in taste while not being overpowering. Maybe If I am in town again I will try dining here to see what other tasty options Imperial has to offer.
(5)
Mo M.
This is a very good restaurant, but they try a little too hard at it for my taste. For the price, I will choose one of many other Portland restaurants next time I'm looking for a higher end meal.
(3)
Gina C.
Unforgettable meal and drinks at Imperial. Scallop crudo with foie gras "dust"? Radish cocktail?! Oh man, and the salmon and mushrooms...I remember it better than any PDX meal this time around.
(5)
Sheila J.
We had brunch at Imperial. It has a lovely cozy feel for the atmosphere.My son is a huge fan of Doug Adams and watched him on Top Chef. We didnt get to meet Doug but we experienced a lovely meal with excellent service. The selections are great and good for kids. Its also a great place to watch a game and have happy hour. The food is outstanding american cuisine and we will be back
(4)
Joy D.
Wait time was 30 min on a Friday night but got called after 15 minutes. Stayed for drinks. The "rose colored glasses" cocktail was very strong but tasty!
(5)
Heywood J.
Pre-dinner drinks and oysters. Fair prices. Excellent service during happy hour, even though the bar was absolutely packed. Selection of oysters was outstanding.
(5)
Anando S.
I went during the early evening happy hours so the menu was limited. That said the burger and fries I had were very good. And probably the best 6$ burger I have had. The quantity of fries is enormous even by my Texas standards. Good collection of affordable cocktails as well.
(5)
Henry A.
Two of us dined here later in the evening and it was still quite busy. Nice atmosphere with a big bar along one side and open kitchen towards the back of the room. Lighting was a bit funny with perfect low light areas in the middle and then very bright spotlighted banquet seats along the outside. Food was very good, with desserts being especially great. Very fair prices and we shared a few dishes which all were quite good. Service was very good, recommended a couple of excellent cocktails and attentive and made us feel welcome and relaxed. Missed on the special of the day with describing it poorly and was not at all as he had described. Overall a the restaurant had a very nice casual elegance about it. We will be back!
(4)
Marissa K.
Just had the roasted chicken and the greens salad was not pleasant. It was bitter with no taste.
(3)
Jennie F.
The Best: 1. Flat- Top Burger... Literally the best Burger I've ever had. 2. Kale & Veggie Salad 3. Fire Roasted Mushrooms 4. Desserts! Creme Brulee... AMAZING! It's a seasonal item... so if you see if on the menu... order three to be safe! Drinks at the bar are great. All the staff is great... Sebastian, Olivia, Tom... all a delight!
(5)
Jason E.
Let me begin by saying I can't believe this place only receives 3.5 stars per Yelpers. This place is chef-fabulous. 3.5 stars go to your run-of-the-mill average neighborhood joints with plain menu items and lazy chefs. This place may take some risks with its menu but my wife and I were blown away by even some of the seemingly simple items. We ate dinner and couldn't help ourselves from going back for brunch two days later. For dinner we enjoyed braised short ribs, the kale and vegetable salad, and one of their homemade cream pies for dessert. The kale salad was surprisingly sweet, light, and refreshing and, quite honestly, the best salad I've ever had. Kale and its strong flavor is rarely the ingredient that makes the "best salad ever." The braised short ribs were equally delectable and they practically melted in our mouths. And the malted chocolate cream pie was excellent. Oftentimes chocolate desserts are the quintessential restaurant cop out and heavy and sugary and the opposite of subtle. The pie was light, tasty, and quietly chocolate. For brunch we really mostly ate lunch. We liked the muffins but ate a burger and pastrami sandwich, respectively. I know I've already given one superlative but if you ever have a chance to have their pastrami sandwich, order two. My wife and I wish we had. I've spent a lot of time in New York and eaten my weight in corned beef and pastrami but this pastrami sandwich is truly the best I've ever had. My wife and I are still talking about the pastrami. Get the pastrami! Get the kale salad!
(5)
Kathy W.
All meals, whether in the restaurant or catered at Hotel Lucia were delicious. The staff was simply outstanding in meeting and anticipating needs. In eating meals there for seven days straight (ran a conference at Hotel Lucia) I never had a less-than-delicious bite and never tired of the amazing dishes.
(5)
Allan C.
I was lucky enough to try this restaurant with a group of co-workers on a business trip so we were able to try a number of things. This was one of the best restaurants I've tried in recent memory. Everything tasted fresh and was quite flavorful. The standouts were the Kale & Raw Veggie Salad, Duck Meatballs, Ribeye, and Black Cod. Service was solid and ambiance was chill but not too casual.
(5)
Kimberly S.
Am staying at Hotel Lucia and stopped in at the end of the evening for a cocktail and snack. Was handed the typical trendy menu of craft cocktails but decided on a classic martini. It was one of the worst martinis I have ever tasted. I can only assume he overdid the vermouth. I guess younger bartenders no longer learn the classics. Plus, the olives had pits. Who serves olives with pits in a cocktail? I dumped the martini into my water and ordered a glass of wine instead. Finally, when the bill came it listed the vodka I ordered as one price then +$2.00 for the martini. Made me feel like I was being overcharged. I probably should have sent it back. just didn't feel like him trying to make a better one. Will have to find somewhere else go go the next two nights I am here.
(2)
Neal B.
Awesome dinner. the meatballs were great. the flank steak had such unbelievable flavor. great choice to impress
(4)
Elizabeth C.
Came here for happy hour cause its linked to our hotel which is the lucia, after a long drive from WA we felt the need for a drink as a pick me up. The bar food was incredible, we had the cheese plate, and chicken wings, not your average tasting bar food, and the drinks was just as delicious! The music was great with Indy bands which reminded me of home and the bartender was very friendly.. It was rush hour so it did take a bit long for the second round of drinks but other then that it was a great experience, we will be back prob for brunch or dinner within our stay at the lucia.
(5)
E K.
Had high expectations given that Paley was supposedly behind this. He should take his name off if he doesn't want to sully his reputation. The albacore tuna was interesting but to cover it with fried onions did nothing to add to the flavor. The bread at the beginning were good but I would expect to get charged for bread on the Eastside where the entrees are under $20, not here where they run from $23-38. Everything was very SALTY! If you are going to have a traditional burger with fries, have plain ketchup available, not a honeyed BBQ sauce as your ketchup. Overall, very disappointing.
(1)
Sasha K.
Beautiful inside, beautiful food. However, breakfast was too sweet (potatoes and sausage), and service was just OK for the price.
(2)
Roxa M.
Breakfast at the Imperial was underwhelming and way overpriced. The "breakfast potatoes" were way greasy and in parts tasted like rancid fat from the grill. You really couldn't even tell they were potatoes. There was no toast served with the omelet--it was an extra charge if you wanted it. They only had two choices, white or multi-grain. With all of the wonderful bread available in Portland, this restaurant served something equivalent to wheat balloon bread. The toast arrived completely cold and limp. There was hardly any cheese in the omelet. Will not be going back to the Imperial. They should not serve breakfast unless they come up with better food. Breakfast was overpriced for what was served.
(2)
Sam A.
Last night we went to the new Imperial restaurant by Vitaly Paley. The experience had its pros and cons: * Pro: There was a nice selection of bourbons to choose from and it was served with one big giant ice cube in the glass. Cheer! * Con: The bill lists $10 for the drink plus $2 for ice. And I asked -- am I actually paying an extra $2 for ice in my glass. The server said no, but they upcharge because there is more bourbon in an on the rocks drink. I'm not sure what I think of their response but it was the oddest bill I've ever received at the end of a meal and I still wondered if I was paying $2 for ice. * Pro: The Grilled corn and Ember-Roasted and Crushed Potatoes were great! The sides we really nice. * Cons: The Organic Half Chicken with Tarragon Aioli is really passable. It was dry and bony. It felt like the tarragon aioli was just trying to cover up a dry piece of meat. * Pro: The Barrel Planked T and T Pork Secreto tasted great! * Con: The barrel Planked T & T Pork Secreto is very visually unappealing on the plate. The meat was beautifully cooked but the rawer parts of the red meat clashed with the red secreto below it. When the plate was served, I thought - did someone vomit on my plate? * Pro: The server was amazingly nice and helpful. The table was kept clean and wiped down between courses. The server did an amazing job of getting us out on time to make it to the theater. * Con: I asked for a piece of bread to go with dinner. I was very nicely told - they don't serve bread. If I'm paying $25 or $30 a plate for dinner, don't you think I should be able to get a piece of bread? In general, I think the new restaurant is fine for an out of town traveler who doesn't want to go too and doesn't expect too much from the food scene in Portland. But the price for performance really wasn't here for me in this experience. I'll spend any amount of money on an amazing food experience but this just wasn't it. Portland has an increasable food scene, and there are a lot better options just down the road and they might even serve bread.
(2)
Ashley K.
Three stars because when I went for happy hour the burger and fries were amazing. Burger was juicy, the fries had some sort of deliciousness going on, not sure how they get them to taste so good but they do. However, I went there for dinner and had some sort of pork dish, baked potatoes, and tuna tartare. My dinner companion had a beef dish of some sort (beef shoulder I think). The main dishes were not good, the pork was cold in the middle and raw. I get that this may be the way the chef intended, but it was gross. The potatoes were definitely nothing special. The tuna tartare was good, but again, nothing special. Overall it was a mediocre dinner at best, and came to about $100 total. We only had one beer each too, so that's pretty steep for what we got. If the quality was better I wouldn't mind paying that. The pros were the staff, who were friendly and very good at recommending and knowing their beer selection, and the happy hour discussed above.
(3)
Jeanne D.
Had our first and last meal at Imperial last night. The wait staff was friendly but slow. The meal (my husband and I shared) took 25 minutes, while the table next to us got served 2 appetizers and 2 entrees in 20 minutes. The restaurant was extremely noisy with a crowd of 30 drunk women yelling during our entire meal. We spoke to the manager about this and he said he couldn't do anything about it. The portions were extremely small and not worth the price. This restaurant is big disappointment from a very talented chef.
(3)
Kelly R.
Very good dinner last night and I highly recommend the lamb roll/spoon lamb dish; nice ambiance and attentive service. Only reason I don't give it five stars is the bar's odd approach to the classic Martini--served in an unchilled champagne glass with a five-inch bamboo skewer through the edges of two unpitted olives. Are they deliberately trying to offend Martini drinkers?
(4)
Anna M.
I was excited to try Imperial for a date night fancy dinner. The service was good, and the ambience was hip but rather loud. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed by the food. Had the tuna ceviche to start, which was fine but nothing special. I ordered the shoulder tender steak, which was very tender but extremely salty. The salty garlic butter on top totally overwhelmed the steak flavor. It came with chanterelles, which were slightly better but also covered in salty butter. Also, I ordered the steak medium rare and it was RARE - not what I expected. My boyfriend got the stuffed poblano pepper, which was only ok. The best thing we had was the Iron Chef Radish cocktail. Also, we ordered the Parker House rolls and they were sold out. The waitress was able to bring us some bread instead, but she charged us $2 for it! I was annoyed by that. All in all, very overpriced for the quality. Go to one of the many other great restaurants in Portland instead.
(2)
Carl S.
Pre packaged food with a sysco flair. Not enough food on my plate to cover the bottom..tatseless and boring. Skip around to Urban Farmer, they have flavor.
(1)
Ian A.
I was a little skeptical about going on the opening night because you want to wait a couple of weeks while they work out their kinks and throw out dishes and add new ones but I was confident that Paley would be ready. And he most certainly was from the customers eyes! LOVE the atmosphere, right when you walk in, its a big city restaurant with a Portland flair - the restaurants here are doing a good job with that. Sat down and started firing orders to our server: duck meatballs, ceviche, rainbow chard gratin, kale salad, roasted chicken, pork secreto, quail, fried rabbit, sausage, carrots in a plum sauce, etc. The Rainbow Chard Gratin is a side dish but the BEST dish we had. The flavor just exploded with every single bite! I will need to ask Vitaly/Ben for that recipe, could eat it every single day! I am excited to see how this restaurant will make changes in the next couple of months, it had a great start! Will be back for seconds!
(4)
Robert M.
they are getting it down... i've enjoyed three lunches there and they have smoothed the kinks out. the food is solid and good. the deserts are so nice.. the gingerbread cake desert is all about the right amount of sweet, salt and crunch. nice job.. easy setting. go!
(4)
Sara B.
This place is truly awesome...amazing food...friendly staff, even the decor rocks my world! Bike chain chandeliers?! Come and eat here...you wont be sorry!
(5)
Josh D.
What was this hostess thinking... I was part of a large group, we had a reservation for the private room at 8:00 pm. The entire party arrived on time and when we were checking in with the hostess she said the group of diners before us still had not left the table, but she assured us that they had paid and it would be no more than 10 minutes. Two rounds of drinks in the small waiting area later, about 45 minutes and multiple questions of "Is our table ready?" The next move was the staff pulled a group of tables together in the center of the restaurant to at least seat us while still being strong armed by the squatters in the private room. They did send out 4 complementary dishes and we all thought that it was wonderful that they where generous enough to do that. 20 minutes at our first table the manager comes and stays that she had just told the table in the private room that there was another group that was waiting and if they could please leave. 1 hour and 15 minutes after our reservation we finally get into the room. Food and service was good, I just could not shake experience with the host. I feel a restaurant like this one with a "famous" chefs name on the door should do better at being punctual with their reservations.
(2)
Leigh L.
Soooo, this would have been a 4-star if I had written this review right after I went to dinner at the imperial on 11/16...I thought the dinner was great, especially the kale salad, the steak & fries was also great. However, I went back again yesterday for brunch...I was so excited after looking at the menu and remarked to my friend that I thought everything looked so good from the menu that I wouldn't be able to make a decision. First off, I ordered the daily pastry, I was told it was supposed to be lemon poppyseed muffin, but would be a bread for some reason. What was delivered with no explanation, however, was a gingerbread-ish bread...hmmmm. It was OK, Next I ordered the pastrami hash...Yummmm, right? Wrong. The pastrami was in 1" x1" cubes with a thick layer of fat on the bottom and there were celery pieces the same size and nearly in equal amounts as the potatoes...I don't know, but I usually think of celery as a flavoring, not a side vegetable. With places like Broder and Screen door and Country Cat around to get brunch, the Imperial needs to seriously up their game.
(2)
Christa T.
Four of us went for dinner. The tab was $225, including drinks. Parker house rolls, squash soup and grilled romaine salad were shared starters and very good. Three of us had steaks and one had the salmon, again all very good. We ordered the smashed potatoes and carrots for sides to share. The potatoes were sooo good, especially if you like them soft, crispy and buttery! We finished off with the butterscotch pudding and ice cream sundae. Both were very tasty, especially the pudding, which came with two little ginger and cream cheese sandwich cookies. Service was good, though there was a bit of a wait between the starters and entrees, and one of the steaks came out almost five minutes after the other entrees. All in all, very good. The restaurant was filled to capacity, but the flow was good and the service attentive. We will go back again, as there were many other tasty looking things on the menu to try!
(4)
Beau S.
One of the best meals I have had in 2015 by far and also one of the the best bangs for the buck. I went with a date and they prefer to serve more family style so we had the Salmon, Carbonara, Broccolini and the fries. -The Fries- super crispy and with a great flavor and a secret sauce. They taste a lot like duck fat fries but, I am not sure if that is what they fry it with Broccolini- This was good except I was not a big fan of the eggplant puree with it KIng Salmon- great flavors paired with grilled peaches that gave it a great sweet kick. Carbonara- WOW!! at $19 they are not making much money on this item ! Tagliatelle with Bacon, egg yolk, Grana Padano, black pepper and giant shaving of Black truffle. I love Cacio E Pepe but this is like a high end super charged fat kid version of it WOW!! It could easily be in the top 10 things I have ever eaten. I also had a couple cocktails Bolo Tie- highly recommended mix of bourbon and pineapple with a rosemary aromatic that brings a great flavor with the smell. 1 inch punch- a solid cocktail with Gin and St Germain flavored with beer and tea overall a great dinner experience with good service and I will come back again to try the crazy menu items
(5)
Andy Z.
happy hour food: crispy fried pig tail. it doesnt look like much, but it's delicious. i say its something similar to the filipino crispy pata, but better. not as oily. the pickles balanced it out. the habenero sauce wasnt as spicy as i thought. great taste. ***4/5 service: sat by the bar and the bartender was very attentive. got our order in and even asked us if we wanted to order more before happy hour ended. ***5/5 value: something unique for that price aint too bad. totally worth it. how often do you see pig tail on the menu. ***4/5
(4)
Karen N.
I came in during lunch hour around 12 with a friend and I can say that my experience was at most, just decent We ordered the fried chicken and a tuna melt. For drinks we had their house made sodas which was good but nothing special. I was very excited to try the fried chicken because I had heard good things. It took around 40 minutes for the food to come out. The fried chicken was very crispy and still moist which was great and everything you want in a fried chicken. The pickles complimented the fried chicken very well. The only complaint I had was that it was bland. It came with their house sauce and local honey which made it better but I still had to drizzle a lot onto the chicken to make it have more of a kick. Still it wasn't bad but I was a little disappointed because I was so hyped up about it. My friend had the tuna melt and he said it was good except for the fact that it had a block of cheese on top which hardened quickly. The service was alright even though it felt as if our waitress treated us like children especially when she said, " You finished all your food? Good job!". Overall, the food is okay but I wouldn't say it's worth the price and the service/atmosphere didn't make up for it. It was nice to try out this place but I don't think I would want to go again anytime soon but maybe one day since I didn't try a lot off the menu.
(3)
Wennie H.
Amazing atmosphere. The restaurant itself is darkly lit and has a very modern pub feel to it. Ample seating and spacing between tables, though it does get loud. I ordered the good problem to have drink (gin, thai basil, lemon, red pepper juice, and ginger syrup) and it was pretty fancy, so fancy in fact that it had a little pushpin holding the basil to the glass. The drink itself was sweet and you don't feel the gin till after the fact. For dinner, we started with the Parker rolls and they were pretty good, I didn't like the butter brushed on only because it got all over my fingers. Entree wise, I got the half chicken and it was incredibly moist, seasoning was on point. The dessert is what blew my mind, I got the blueberry tart with raspberry curd and it was amazing. The crust was the perfect amount of bite, the curd wasn't overly tart and the cream had the perfect amount of sweetness. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Ryan E.
Dougie wasn't there for our visit, but you could taste him...in the food! His fried chicken, paired with the watermelon salad was spot on. M'lady's albacore tuna was lacking, but the kimchi green beans and Parker House Rolls were on a roll... Drinks - tasty, if not a wee weak (sure, your fancy sawed ice is neat, but it's taking up 30% of the volume of glass)... The service was attentive, if not... flighty and discombobulated. Two waitresses danced around table, seemingly fighting for the order and thusly the tip. You earned your 22% tip, but taking the check (and looking at the tip on way back to the kitchen) while we just received our dessert was tacky. I felt rushed, like... "GTFO, so we can turn your table and make more money...". I expected a lot more in that department. And like Dougie's stature, Imperial came up short. Thusly, I wouldn't recommend dropping a C note here and probably won't be back.
(2)
Diane S.
I can't get over the drinks here, they're not only tasty but beautiful to look at. I had the "good problem to have" which was the right amount of spicy and tasty. Also, I recommend the oysters (never can go wrong) and the cheese platter. My boyfriend had the burger, and he swears it was one of the best burgers he has ever had. Great place, and I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Ombevorder O.
CREATIVE & AMAZINGLY TASTY If, for nothing else, Go here for the fried chicken and the compressed watermelon salad. I am not a fan of fried food. I don't know wether it's the buttermilk marinade, or what, but a bite into the chicken popped succulent and flavorful, with the fried portion retreating into the background. The salad, with a hint of spice was perfect as a contrast. I stole some bites of my grand-daughters burger and all I have to say is that there is a difference in grass fed beef. The Imperial sources it locally. tripadvisor.com/ShowUser…
I loved it. Cool place , awesome food and service. Fried chicken was terrific, no bones chicken breast and easy to eat. Hot sauce was fantastic. Gravy soooo good. Just a great experience but now need a nap!
(5)
Heather S.
We had an okay lunch experience at Imperial. The place is beautiful! The hostess asked if we had a reservation and then looked surprised when we didn't, though the restaurant was bare when we arrived. I know, I know! The chefs were on Top Chef!!! I get it! ;) Cool. But, there comes a time when you care less about prestige, and you just want a good meal in a lovely atmosphere with friendly service. We ordered the Parker House Rolls, which were good, (fluffy, toasty, buttery, and slightly sweet), except that the salt was not evenly distributed, and I got a full mouthful of salt at the last bite. Ack! I had the kale salad, which was $8, delicious, and, absolutely TINY! Even this word (tiny) is bigger than that salad! ;) I have a small appetite, people, and I left hungry! It would have been extremely helpful to know how small that salad was! For an extra $9 you can order (3) prawns, which I did. But, to my shock, the prawns came with their heads on (eyes and all), and it was quite disturbing. I'm a pescaterian (meaning I only eat fish in the animal world), and I would have loved some kind of warning. My partner had the pork, which she said was wonderful, and actually was a nice-sized portion. On a positive note, they have a delicious Orange-Tumeric soda which was flavorful and, I like to think, healthy, because you know Tumeric has all those anti-inflammation properties. Yay. Our server was very nice, too. However, our meal was quite costly for what we got. My lunch with the roll and the soda came to $22!!! I'm fine paying this for dinner, but for lunch, it's extreme considering how little food I actually received. All in all, I would not recommend Imperial to people who are: a) Hungry and want to spend less than $17 for a normal-sized meal b) Hungry and vegetarian c) Would like a normal-sized meal with a normal amount to pay (like you know, $15 and below), for a lunch in Portland.
(3)
Nick N.
I saw the pictures on Yelp and the menu and had to try this place. The fact that they had a crispy fried pigtail, I had to order it. Of course it was fatty, but had a good amount of tasty meat in it. They have it was a hot sauce with it. I didn't think it wasn't that spicy. I kept adding it on and hardly tasted it. It the tail! The rolls are very good with the salted butter. It reminds my of Hawaiian king rolls. A little sweetness to it. My coworker order the fried chicken and she said it was delicious. Had to eat it with the hot sauce and honey. The drinks lot very good. I had the non-alcoholic ginger mule and it was nice, crisp, and refreshing.
(4)
Anna G.
Stumbled into this place after searching for a cool place to eat in the food desert that is downtown Portland. So glad I did because it's wonderful! Cool ambiance, equally cool menu. I had the burger and I can easily say it was one of the best burgers I've ever had-so buttery and juicy. Great service, too! Would recommend this place to anyone staying in the neighborhood.
(5)
Amy L.
I dropped in for happy hour and it was a great kick start to my weekend in Portland. What drew me in was the Vieux Carre and as hesitant as I was on how that drink could cost $5 on HH and $8 regularly, our wonderful bartender explained how the cocktail is premade to cut the cost of labor. Made sense... it is pretty time-consuming. Their HH menu had a huge selection of great bites. I ordered the chicken liver pate and pig tail. The liver pate was a generous slab (almost looked like a slice of spam) with house crackers. It was too much liver for one person haha The crispy pig tail is very overwhelming. It's like roasted pork and pork belly in one. The skin is very crispy and salty, there is a good amount of fat underneath, and then the meat at the center is very rich and tender. Both are definitely starters for a table of 4, not because of the portion but because of the rich flavors. There is a nice patio on the curb but the interior is very classy. It is a part of the Hotel Lucia so there's an elegant touch while still maintaining a casual vibe. Definitely a great place to check out. Start with HH and stay for dinner!
(4)
Amanda O.
So we walked in and restaurant was beautiful. The hostess was very sweet and attentive. I had the French toast which in my opinion could have been cooked a little longer but was still good. My friend had the pastrami special omelet of the day and he raved about it which is rare because he usually doesn't like omelets but he thought it sounded good. Our overall experience was wonderful.
(4)
Mike W.
Really cool space with BIKE CHAIN chandeliers! Food is awesome. Potato latke with duck egg...amazing! Homemade bloody mary mix made with smoked tomatoes...so good. And oddly enough the entire staff is very attractive. Show up looking cute or the staff will surely show you up.
(5)
Jen S.
Had lunch here and am really happy about our entire experience. I wanted to order a cocktail and appetizers and meals but alas, guess I will have to try and go back for dinner sometime and not during lunch on a work day. I had the fish sandwich- nice piece of pan seared cod on a sesame burger bun with some dill/tarter sauce, pickles and shredded lettuce. It was not heavy and really well done - not as in over cooked but as in they did it right! That with my side salad and an iced tea was a perfect combo. My husband had the fried chicken and a cup of tomato soup. I am always impressed with what he orders and am thankful he let me try both...the soup was amazing. I'm not a tomato soup fan - or so I thought. I guess I have only had cambells so what did I know?! This soup tastes fresh and kind of creamy. The fried chicken was hot and crispy. Served with a side of honey and their own hot sauce in an little eye dropper tincture bottle - delicious and entertaining! Service was friendly and attentive. We easily got a nice table for two at noon but they were filling up by the time we left 45 minutes later. They take reservations of you don't want to chance a walk in.
(5)
Adrienne L.
Brunch only review. Went here for Saturday brunch. Wasn't crowded at all around 1 pm, and we were seated immediately with no reservation. Service was very friendly and the place had a great vibe. We started out with the Grilled Grapefruit with basil sugar and mint. I've never tried this combo of flavors and it was freaking delicious I got Doug's Fried Chicken. Crispy, juicy awesomeness. And the biscuits!! OMG. Loved this whole dish. Based on our waiter's recommendation, A ordered the Chorizo & Scrambled Eggs. This was a sleeper hit. While chorizo normally doesn't scream out to me on menus, this was a must-try. All the elements combined to make one tasty dish. The Fried Chicken comes with the House Barrel-aged Fresno hot sauce. Ask them for the Habanero one as well if you like it even hotter. I also tried the Bloody Mary and loved the super smoky flavor. It may be too smoky for some. Delicious food, great drinks, great service, chill ambiance, barrel-aged hot sauce, wood fire grill...this place hit all the right marks for me.
(5)
Sofia T.
This would have been close to five stars, if the server hadn't rushed us through our meal. The place was super busy (and super noisy), maybe the downside of going to a "top-chef" celebrity restaurant; each plate was plopped on our table in rapid succession without a pause between courses. We were in the restaurant less than an hour... Not a leisurely dinner. But everything we tried was really good: --grilled flatbread --parker house rolls @$1. I guess the new trend is to charge for bread, but maybe this will help keep everyone's carbs down. ;) --grilled broccolini with charred eggplant puree and olives --basket of fries with secret sauce, yummy yummy, worth the calories! --housemade pickles. This was the only misstep. IMHO, everything was too heavy on the vinegar, lacked balance --the fried chicken deserves all the raves, really flavorful, large portion --grilled sausage du jour was kielbasa, good and smoky --grilled salmon, really tasty and fresh, served with grilled peaches and corn The plates coming from the wood grill looked (and smelled) amazing. We had had so much meat on our trip at this point, so passed. But I'd definitely recommend ordering off this section of the menu. Would I return? Yes.
(3)
Leanna L.
Came here for drinks and apps on a week night. Sat at the bar and had a great experience! The fried chicken dish was so good, we ordered another. Poke was good but needed some crackers or crostini. Drinks were really good too. I'm a total Top Chef fan girl and Doug was nice enough to play along; he stepped out of the kitchen for a minute to take a photo! #dreamsdocometrue I would definitely go back and would recommend going here!
(4)
Brian H.
My wife and I ate here a day after eating at Paley's Place. The comparison is not fair to make. My wife had the rabbit and I had the potato leek soup. My soup was amazing. Her rabbit wasn't outstanding (falling short of my expectations of Paley's restaurants) but the oysters were on point. It was a busy Saturday night so the bar was busy, but the bartenders were subtlely arguing amongst themselves and with waiters. They seemed to be falling behind the demand. I think I'll only go back if someone invites me to join them there.
(4)
Vama H.
We stumbled upon this place walking around and were not disappointed. Good food, great happy hour menu and great ambience. We ordered food from both dinner and happy hour menus as they both had great selections.
(4)
Jana C.
2.4, and I'm being so generous! I followed Dougie (now made the Exec Chef here) all the way, rooting for either him or Gregory on this season's TC. excited that I landed a rez during Dining month, the entire dining experience for us was utterly lackluster. We both thought separately how lacking the service was, and our server just seemed to neglect us, with each and every turn. Parker house rolls are so lauded here. We found the outside too dry although the roll was fluffy and moist inside. $1 for one here... yep. Is not included as part of the meal. My citrus salad was so overdressed I could barely eat it. Too acidic and too much liquid!! Dougie's signature PBR cola roast pork shoulder, I found again, toooooo too sweet. How disappointing with the first bite. They probably did plop a 8 oz size cut on my plate, but with no sides whatsoever. Her sig fried chicken... ?? i am lost here. I'm a person who has watched every single season of Top chef, reads Michael Ruhlman books, and every chef memoir that gets published. Also, as a Portlandian lover, I was sad leaving. The restaurant is very loud inside as well. Be prepared for that. The decor is awesome, the lighting is my kind of place, and the verve inside.. very alive! Just wouldn't come back. Horrible first time dinner. I actually think the financier may just have been the best part of the meal last week.
(3)
Katie P.
I've eaten here before and been very pleased. My take-out order tonight, however, was so disappointing. I ordered the King Salmon entree with eight of their Parker rolls (in order to have left-overs--they are amazing!). It was a piece of salmon less than the size of the palm of my hand accompanied by four peach slivers. I expected at least a vegetable to be included, as this was a $27 entree. Further, the salmon was fairly undercooked, which I ate anyway, and then regretted it once I looked back at the photo I had taken that really showed the lack of done-ness.
(2)
Jone V.
Based on today's brunch experience, I cannot, in all good faith, give this restaurant or Doug's breakfast a very good mark, one of my first 'off' experiences. And my girlfriend DeAnna and I were soooo looking forward to going there!! Because he had appeared on a tv show, and she was all curious. Unfortunately, as the absence of lines should have told us, we were disappointed. DeAnna's order was so drily cooked she had to send it back, and my Eggs Benedict were so-so. The ham did not complement the sauce, it was too salty for the Hollandaise sauce which in turn was not salty enough. The waittress was great and really tried her best. Let's hope the chef figures out how to improve the cooking abilities of his staff. Meantime, I am not going back to spend my hard-earned money there until I read better reviews from others.
(2)
Keri N.
Two words: pop tart. Don't ask just get it for brunch, breakfast take out or a snack. You definitely won't be sorry when you bite into that warm flakey pastry crust and warm fruit compote oozes out. It's not overly sweet and incomparable to store bought. While I didn't have a chance to eat brunch at the restaurant my friends said it was delicious - next time portland!
(5)
Michael S.
Had the opportunity to partake in the top chef dinner last night. Fabulous. This was one of the best meals of my life. Chef doug and team killed it along with chef mei Lin 4 courses with pairings. Vitally paley you should be proud of your team. Photo of me u will lay out my photos
(5)
Lezley L.
I must say this was the most pleasant dining experience I have had in awhile. I made reservations for a post-Valentine's date. I was sorta skeptical since the chef was on Top Chef and thought it had more hype than it should. Oh how I was wrong. We entered and were seated within five minutes. From the hostess to our waiter Mark and everyone in between, they all provided excellent service with a smile. Quite surprising since most customer service in PDX stinks. First we started off with the house rolls- warm, chewy and sweet. It's their version of a Hawaiian dinner roll. Then came our entrees. Each dish had a nice visual presentation. Fried chicken was crispy with moist meat but still prefer my George's. I personally wasn't a fan of the watermelon salad. For me, the melon and fennel didn't work on the palate. Maybe pickled red onions with the melon would work better? The hot sauce dropper and honey was a nice touch. Next the pork chop. Wow! Best pork chop I have had at a restaurant. Perfectly grilled, crispy and tender. Seasoned enough where you don't need the puree. Really this cut of meat is unbelievable that I want to go buy some from Tail & Trotter. I'm drooling thinking about it. Oh and we ordered a side of fries in case there wasn't enough food. To top of the night, we ordered a slice of chocolate cream pie. Move over Random Order, these guys have a better slice of pie with a raspberry sauce. Overall, great evening in a typical PDX interior design with great service and space between tables. Date night again? I think so. Make a reservation just in case.
(5)
Judy L.
We didn't get the fried chicken because we just had fried chicken a few hours earlier that day. Instead, we went for the peas and pork belly appetizer and the braised cola pork entree to share. Both were amazing! I highly recommend the peas dish. It was very interesting and flavorful. My husband loved the pork entree. Definitely one of the better preparations we've had. The parker house roll was delicious but I wasn't blown away by it. Tasted just like what good fresh bread should taste like. Server was incredibly friendly.
(4)
LJ B.
I've been here multiple times over the past year in the bar and in the dining room and the food is very good, although very limited for vegetarians and nothing for vegans. But even the happy hour has the one veggie salad, there is good beer on tap, and the parker house roll is my guilty pleasure, so I keep coming back. But the staff, oh my goodness. They are so very cool and they are so not interested in serving the unhip over 40 set -- I try to come on off hours, but doubt I could get any service at the bar I were competing with the young and hip. It's kind of expensive for what it is and the table service is very brusque for the price, so I would not make a special trip, but I won't completely avoid it.
(3)
Matt S.
Just finished an amazing breakfast. The wife had the latkes and I had the ham steak. Coffee was Caffē D'arte and was too good not to just drink black. Trusted Yelp and was not let down. Almost forgot don't go without the home made hot sauce. Would recommend to everyone!! Enjoy!!
(5)
Don B.
im·pe·ri·al adjective: imperial 1. of or relating to an empire, of or relating to an emperor, majestic, magnificent. 2. of, relating to, or denoting the system of nonmetric weights and measures (the ounce, pound, stone, inch, foot, yard, mile, acre, pint, gallon, etc.) formerly used for all measures in the UK, and still used for some. 3. historical (of a size of paper) measuring roughly 762 × 559 mm (30 × 22 inches). noun noun: imperial; plural noun: imperials 1. a small pointed beard growing below the lower lip (associated with Napoleon III of France) When it comes to Imperial, the restaurant, I find myself thinking of a small pointed beard growing below the lower lip. More commonly known as a soul-patch or flavor-saver. Actually, that's not true. I didn't even know that little lip-hair was called an imperial until I looked up the definition of the word while writing this review. No, no... let me start over. Imperial, to me, is simply a damn fine restaurant. A damn fine restaurant run by some talented chefs, lubricated by expert barmen, staffed by top-notch servers, and offering up pretty amazingly tasty food. That really sums it up. What Paley has going on here is good. I've had a few meals and a few more drinks here, and all have been great. The dishes are full of flavor, the foods are diverse, and everything I have tried has satisfied. While the prices are a little aggressive at times, the quality of the fare is there. And the environs are nice too - especially the bicycle-chain chandeliers, which I really, really dig. Paley definitely put a lot of his style into this joint, and it shows. Don't hesitate to try dinner and drinks here at Imperial when you have a chance. It's upscale, but the food meets the bar and the experience is always top notch.
(5)
Beth D.
The first thing I noticed was the kitchen. It was open with a bar for seating. Very cool. We were seated at a table close to the kitchen in a booth. So while I couldn't see the kitchen without peaking over the wall, it felt private and cozy. I liked it. The server was amazing. She knew everything about the menu: the spices in the food, the grape varietals in the wines, the sugars in the desserts, the flavors of the digestifs. She was patient, warm, and professional. I've never had such great service. And the food! We had the fried chicken (generous portion and perfectly cooked), the heirloom tomato salad (refreshing and bright), and the duck meatballs (a masterpiece: each bite was more delightful than the one before). For dessert: the chocolate maly creme brule (close-your-eyes good) and the pecan pie special (lighter than you would think and perfect a la mode). It was an all around marvelous experience. Highly recommend it.
(5)
Deanna N.
Why have I waited so long to try you? Late night HH from 11-midnight was perfect after our how at the Keller. The standout by far was the kale veggie goat cheese salad. The burger with carmelized onions and bread and butter pickles ordered medium rare was one of the better burgers in this town although smaller for $6. The fries were large and one order was easily split between three people. The atmosphere is spot on minimalistic typical PDX decor.
(4)
John S.
First and foremost the service was excellent - just the best service I've had in years. Initially we made reservations for 5. When our groups plans changed and our group went from 5 to 2 the hostess was more than just accommodating; she was warm, kind, and understanding. We came in for the Portland Dining Month *(PDM) meal with the wine pairing. Cocktails were good, wine was paired exceptionally well, and the servers suggestions of adding a starch were perfectly on par with our overall meal. Again, the service was excellent; our server was superb. The three course meal was great: nice light salad with blood orange and pistachios, roasted pork shoulder with greens, and desert was excellent as well. Having never been to Imperial my expectations were far exceeded. Thank you for a wonderful meal.
(5)
Carrie C.
What a fun place!! Sat at the bar and shared some awesome happy hour bites with a colleague. Oysters (super fresh), cheese plate (six bucks), pate ( delish- and 7 bucks), and then shared a giant double chicken breast, crispy fried. Top Chef Dougie was in the house- and actually cooking in the kitchen!! These guys are for real in Portlandia folks. My fav of the eve though was twofold. First - the happy hour wines which were exceptional local wines for 8 bucks a glass. And the roasted winter veg with walnut pesto. Wine- easily could get 2x per glass. Was a nice fruit forward but balanced red. Veggies. Roasted cauliflower, red onion, rutabaga, slathered in unctuous pesto. I could eat just the veggies. They were that good. Please go check out this place. It is NOT in the über-trendy Pearl District but it is really really good. I walked over from my hotel and will be happy to do so again.
(5)
Brye P.
This place is a really, really great "hotel restaurant". There isn't anything wrong with the food. There just isn't anything going on that makes the trip to a part of town I never go to worth it. The Parker House rolls are awesome, and the house hot sauce is also very good. But that's sorta the thing: the rolls and the hot sauce are the two best things I had off of a large menu from which I ordered many dishes. And the hot sauce isn't on the menu...so it's just the rolls. I have to call BS on the Crispy Fried Pigtail. The quality of the meat is perfect (Tails and Trotters is just the best you can get.) But the fat on this thing melted into an inedible taffy texture. It was fried nicely, but only in that decent fried chicken kind of way. They served it with some really lovely acidic pickles, and (Texas?) Toast . But all of these factors still made for a slab of food that I had to try way too hard to find enjoyable. Cool idea with "meh" to "bleh" results. The cocktails are good, our server was great, and the prices seemed pretty fair. The place just had a get in - have dinner with family members who are in town for the weekend - and get out kind of vibe. Like a cafeteria with class. Give it a go. Maybe a late night burger and drink here would be the ticket.
(3)
Kathie H.
Would love to replicate some of their dishes at home. But alas that is why we go to the Imperial......to enjoy new taste sensations. Cooked Radish dish....totally different and delicious. Grilled Pork like I never tasted.....It tasted like beef tenderloin, but better. Sauces are excellent! Service outstanding.
(4)
Katherine D.
it was a disappointment. We went for a business dinner, and when we walked in, were ready for a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was pretty awesome, immediately relaxing. We started out with the parkerhouse rolls (all rolls cost $1), but worth it, then ordered a grilled romaine salad to split. It was tasty and a substantial portion for sharing. We should have called it a night right there. I ordered the porceno (or something like that) - - it tasted like it had been cooked in coals from a railroad tie. They said it would have a smoky flavor ---- nope, it had a chemical acrid flavor from the low quality wood they cooked it in - I choked down what I could. My colleague fared much worse. She ordered a ribeye steak, cooked medium (I know, I know). It wasn't cooked medium, it was black and burnt. In a word horrible. The wait staff were absent, they never asked how the meal tasted - they probably knew better. Since it was business, nobody wanted to make a scene so we just paid our bill and went away unhappy. I won't be back, for business or pleasure. I hear the breakfast is tasty, so the guests at the hotel next door can at least get a good start to their day.
(2)
Jack S.
Been here several times for happy hour and absolutely loved it. A great happy hour menu with a variety of items that are reasonably priced. They also have a few outside tables which are great during the summer. Tried this place for dinner and while also very nice, was very steep in price. My one complaint would be that it's part of a hotel and the bathrooms are quite the hike from the dining room.
(4)
Albert W.
4.33 stars. I have been here once for brunch and once for a weekday work lunch. For brunch, I ordered the Fry Bread - a fantastic and really well done dish. I would attempt to describe it as a fresh and non greasy chorizo dish with great pico di gallo and served atop a sweetened flat-type croissant. This dish gets 5 stars in presentation, taste, and value. For lunch, I ordered the burger. The waitress did not ask me how I wanted it cooked, and I for whatever inane reason did not follow up on the order. The burger ended up cooked done to well done which was disappointing. However, even with that, it still tasted really good so that was a nice surprise. My coworkers and I also split an order of fries with me. Decent. Not quite a 5 star review because I think there are a lot of other fantastic lunch options in the area for less dinero. This restaurant is in a high rent locale with a star chef and great but not necessarily amazing food. Also, my lunch coworkers ordered the Reuben (Produce Row's is best) and stuffed poblano pepper (not filling at all) and were lukewarm to both dishes which I was in semi-agreement with. With that said, service is five stars - very attentive but not in your face. Anyways, a solid place I might revisit every couple months.
(4)
Jeff T.
Had our first meal at Imperial last night and I know it won't be our last. Been here at least 3 times and it's been a treat each time. I'm a big fan of the fried rabbit, it's an upscale version of fried chicken and waffles, and really fried bacon, awesome! It's a great addition to the Paley empire and I'm looking forward to coming back. :)
(5)
Casimira T.
All the quality you expect from Vitaly Paley without the price tag. We did brunch and were very happy with the portions which was a great main course that was not overwhelmed by sides (no huge hash brown serving here overtaking your plate). We had a unique fry bread scramble with house made chorizo. And a pastrami hash with excellent wild mushrooms and just the right level of pan fried crispness. We will be back to try the neighboring Penny dinner soon.
I had a gift certificate from the Portland Food Adventures to use. I should note, the PFA I went to here was really really great. I was excited to come back and have a bite to eat on a sunday afternoon. Apparently Sundays are not good days for Imperial. Our server changed about three times while we were there. After each having a drink and splitting a couple small plates, whoever it was that was working just brought us our bill without ever asking if we would like another drink or more to eat. We took that as our queue - to leave for the day and probably not venture back in.
(2)
Shawn S.
Excellent food, best pork chop I have ever had, the roasted carrots are also amazing!!
(5)
Yvonne D.
Love love love their hh burger! it was delicious, the HH drinks are nice and strong. I love the huge ice block in the cocktail. Service was great as well!
(5)
Renee C.
Fried rabbit is a miss, I'm afraid. The meat tastes dried out with all of that breading. Duck meatballs were splendid however as was the chard side. Service was friendly and attentive.
(4)
Sharon M.
I would have given Imperial 3 stars, but unfortunately, I couldn't remember eating there until I looked it up on the Internet. I saw the charge on my checking account so I knew I had been there, but I guess it was not very memorable. I started with flavorless beignets, then I had some sort of eggs benedict, but not the traditional kind. It had a bit of a sweet sauce, and aside from the sauce, it was just OK. The restaurant came highly recommended, but maybe brunch is not what they do best.
(2)
jake k.
It's not easy to screw up breakfast, but Imperial managed to screw it up in every way possible this morning. I wanted to bring my husband to a nice breakfast for his birthday & since we had such great experiences at Payley's Place, I figured it was going to be at least decent. I made sure to request a candle in his breakfast through my open table reservation, which I don't think is too much to ask. When we arrived, we were met by a frantic & unfriendly manager. We ordered bloody marys to start with & after about 10 minutes, were told he would have to make the mix which took another 15 minutes. I ordered the pastrami hash & my husband ordered the ham & cheese omelet with a side of rashers. It took forever for our food to come with about 4 other tables in the restaurant. When it did, both entrees were ridiculously small & my "pastrami" hash had no pastrami. I sent it back & it took another 15 minutes while my husband's omelet got cold. I figured it took so long because they were making a new one. When it arrived, it was the exact same dish with a small amount of pastrami thrown onto it. The reason I know it was the same food is that the same poached eggs were on top, but they came back with brown spots from being thrown up in the salamander. Nothing was seasoned adequately & there was no salt on the table. The potatoes on both of our breakfasts were horribly greasy & we both left hungry. If you're going to charge $12-$14 for a breakfast entree, it should be spot on. The only reason for the 1 star was the bloody mary & the ok rashers. The worst part was, there wasn't even a happy birthday wish, let alone a candle. Will not be back...
(1)
James M.
This should be a much better restaurant than what I experienced tonight. Paley is a wonderful chef and has spawned a number of really talented progeny over the years. I had high hopes for this place and am hopeful that it was an off night because of the Oscars. Meat plate - excellent Oysters - oysters were fine, plating was just plain wasteful. Rock Salt? Really? Lamb dinner - disjointed and lacking flavor. Pork dinner - flavorful and interesting Value to price - nope. The wine list is lazy, generally uninteresting and lacks imagination. Sticking to the mainstays of the industry does not benefit the restaurant or the winemakers. Missed a great opportunity to differentiate themselves from the herd here. Portland is starting to recycle the farm to fork concept and there are a whole bunch of places that are starting to taste the same. I don't know whether this is being driven by the consuming public or the restaurants, but it is time for someone to step up and re-imagine the farm to table concept with different flavors. Kevin Shikami and Kin hit this out of the park, and there is no one in the city who is coming close. Imperial is an ambitious project that I hope succeeds, but based on this evening's meal I will give it a year at best. There is much more interesting food to be had in this city, at a much better price.
(2)
Julieann F.
I had a wonderful brunch experience at Imperial. I had heard wonderful things, so I was excited to try it out. We started with the beignets, which were different served with honey, but no less wonderful. I can say that the fry bread with chorizo was exquisite: a little spicy, but amazing. My husband liked his French toast, so all were pleased. The serving staff was attentive and super friendly. I can't wait to sample dinner... My anniversary is coming up!!!
(4)
Michael C.
Superb food, service, and ambiance; comfortable. Caitlin was able to guide us as needed. She knew the food and offered assistance with beer choices; there are just so many good ones nowadays.
(5)
Richard W.
Brandon Wise, our bartender was very cool. We ordered a Moscow Mule and it was served in traditional cooper cup (well patina'd) and a beer. Once the bartender learned we were from Las Vegas, my next drink was served in a generously sized rocks glass with Las Vegas printed on it. The Four Roses single barrel bourbon was served with a large hand cut (in front of us) crystal clear ice cube. I nursed the drink and the large ice cube made the last sip as good as the first. Great place for cocktails!
(5)
Jeremy G.
Through a smart phone faux pas, we ended up here rather than Paley's Place as intended. The food was good overall. Service was only so so. The fried rabbit was amazing! The ember roasted potatoes are a must. The menu does not provide the best descriptions of the dishes. The salmon was not the best - too fishy. The steak was great as well.
(4)
Lee Anna B.
I have to say I was a little disappointed. The place was very noisy for one thing and possibly that was because there was a large table next to us with 3 small children who were very active and obviously had no business being at this restaurant. At one point on the little boys was actually outside by the window near our table and was climbing up on the edge of the frame. The manager had to say something at that point. The Parker House rolls were the best part of the meal. I ordered the quail and was surprised to receive one tiny bird nested in a large dish of greens. Barely two bites of meat really. I feel for the price a serving should be at least two birds. It was very tasty thought. One person at our table ordered the roast chicken and it was really dry. Another ordered a steak and as far as I could tell is was close to being medium rather than the medium rare he asked for. My husband ordered one of the signature dishes which is the pork loin and he really got the best meal of the four. One person ordered the grilled romaine salad and found it to be over dressed with a tarragon pesto that was slathered on the top. I little too much. Tarragon is a very strong herb and a little goes a long way. My husband and I shared a berry/rhubarb pie with vanilla ice cream. We found the ice cream to be pretty tasteless, very little discernible vanilla and the pie unspectacular. Overall I feel for the pomp and chatter Imperial receives we didn't get the best effort. Maybe we ordered the wrong stuff from the menu? I don't know... seems like everything on the menu should be perfect and delicious. I don't think I'll go back, for dinner anyway, maybe for lunch.
(3)
Priscilla M.
Imperial gets a solid 5 star rating from me. I was a little apprehensive about having our NYE dinner there after reading some of the other reviews, but I was truly blown away. We made our reservations because we had originally booked a room at Hotel Lucia, and I figured the new restaurant adjoining would be a great option (we didn't want to drive anywhere). At the last minute we changed our booking to the Nines, & decided we could walk to Imperial. I did not want to deal with Urban Farmer or Departure on possibly the busiest night of the year. From the moment we walked in until the moment we left, we had a 5 star experience. Despite the reviews ranging from completely positive to extremely negative, I was mentally preparing myself for a clusterf**k of an evening purely due to it being NYE. Some snafus are to be expected, right? Well,no. We arrived about 15 minutes early, but were able to grab a seat at the bar immediately while we waited for our table. The place was packed, very busy and lively. The bartender wasted no time getting our orders and offering suggestions. We are tequila drinkers, but had our first taste of Mezcal last night, thanks to Brandon(? I think that's his name?). The hostess made a point of updating us on when our table would be ready, and it was only 10 minutes past our scheduled reservation. Our server was fantastic- I can't remember her name but her service was unforgettable. She was efficient, informative, friendly, witty, all in all a real pro. We ordered the parker house rolls. Lemme tell ya, nothing is better than fresh out of the oven bread. At a dollar a piece they can't be beat. We also had a half dozen oysters, fresh and clean and from Washington, that's all I remember about those. And it was served on a cut wood block, very rustic and cool. We also had Stan's Meat Plate; it was delicious but what stood out to me were the house pickles. They diefinitely had an Eastern European touch. That may not be your thing, but I was digging it with the meats and flatbread. We both had the special, 20oz bone-in ribeye steak with garlic herb butter and chantarelles. That steak had serious flavor and juice, was perfectly medium rare, this is the stuff famous last meals are made of. Sides we chose were the ember roasted and crushed potatoes; simple and delicious, the basket of fries with secret sauce; they can keep their secret because the sauce didn't really stand out, but it didn't have to. The fries were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. They stand on their own. I had the beefsteak tomatoes to throw a little veg in with our dinner. Again, very simply dressed with some cottage cheese, but they put the steak in beefsteak. They had incredible taste and texture on their own; thats how a fresh vegetable should be! This food was made with love, a love for food. To round it out, Paley was making rounds wishing us all a happy new years. Maybe thats expected, maybe its not, but it definitely made a lasting impression. One that he is truly connected to his craft and his patrons, which is exactly how it was. Thank you Imperial, for a fabulous experience. We can't wait to see you again.
(5)
David R.
We went out with another couple--two of us ordered the steelhead, two ordered the trotters and tails (pork) dish and a side dish of chard. All of us were supremely satisfied. The food was beautifully prepared, ingredients outstanding, portions were just right, ambiance and service were fine. I'd go back for sure.
(4)
Andrew L.
I love this place. The whole experience is fantastic every time I'm here and I come here a lot when I'm in Portland. I just had their lamb chop dish. It was the best meal I've ever had.
(5)
Pink P.
Everyone kept going on and on about how great the new Imperial was supposed to be since it was Chef Paley and all, so I booked our team event there. Those of us who got the dungeoness crab reuben found it to be bland and greasy, and no one else seemed overly impressed with what they got either. The dungeoness crab reuben was I believe $19 - overpriced for what it was (didn't include fries or a salad unless you count the few springs of endives a salad). The staff were certainly attentive and friendly, but fake, trying to make bad jokes, "Happy Hump Day Everyone! tee-hee-hee!" and as we left, 'Au Revoir!". I lived in France and this restaurant isn't French, it just came across as pretentious and.... weird. I'm happy that I didn't pay for my meal myself and that it was on the company dime, otherwise I'd REALLY be disappointed!
(2)
Joe W.
I went here for one of the preview dinners just before they hard opened with their full menu, and it was a great experience! The menu is a playful juxtaposition of nostalgia for grand hotel restaurants from the '50s and contemporary Pacific NW New American. There was a snafu with my reservations, but they handled it with efficiency and grace. Our server was friendly, funny, and helpful. Vitaly Paley came out to talk to every table, most likely because it was a preview dinner. The table next to us gave him an earful of some crappy advice (I think he might know what he's doing...), but I couldn't think of anything to say! Bummer. Seating varies from bar to individual tables to communal seating right in the center, and it all works. As good as the food itself was, the cocktails were even more remarkable. The New Money is the second-best cocktail I've had in Portland (second to Aviary's McCarthy's Toronto): bourbon, Nardidi amaro, hickory vermouth, and bitters. The hickory vermouth was incredible. Slightly smoky, herbaceous, spiritous cocktail, which is just what I like. Very well balanced, not sweet. I even overlooked my usual distaste for rocks in this case, which was helped by the fact that the single ice cube was large and pleasantly rough-cut. I didn't have one, but it's super-cool that they have two cocktails on tap, each $7. I'd come back to Imperial just to go through the rest of their cocktail menu, which I'll probably do once they start their cutesy/cleverly-named "Before" and "After" happy-hour(s). The wine menu is nice and has a wide range of prices, including glasses and half-bottles. Quick run-down on the food... the highlight of which was the secreto. Oregon Albacore Tuna Ceviche: hardly spicy, but tangy and refreshing. Barrel Planked T And T Pork Secreto: delicious and perfectly cooked. Steak (I forget which): a nice cut, cooked as ordered (medium-rare). The garlic herb butter was good, but the chanterelles was great! I mean, they're chanterelles, so of course they're going to taste good, but these were exceptionally delicious and perfect with the steak. Ember-Roasted And Crushed Potatoes: a simple side that accompanies meat well. Ember-Roasted Carrots: sweet and carroty, about what you'd expect---which is good carrots! Dessert was Chocolate Ice Box cake (again referencing a bygone era) and something else I can't remember (apple tart?). Both were good, but neither outstanding. Things I'm looking forward to trying the next time I come back: Parker House Rolls (another throwback, but a perfect fit for a hotel restaurant), Duck Meatballs, Fried Rabbit (seriously, this sounds amazing: served with semolina corn cake, Imperial barrel-aged hot sauce, watermelon rind pickles, and Beaumont honey). And more cocktails!
(5)
Katrina E.
Went here for breakfast on a rainy Sunday morning, and loved it! The service was fast and friendly and the food was delicious. Our server recommended the Chorizo Fry-Bread, which was delicious and ended up being the favorite of three dishes our party ordered. We also snagged a doughnut, which was cakey and cinnamon-y and completely yummy, and I couldn't stop eating. I didn't do cocktails this time, but I'll be back again soon to try more!
(5)
B H.
Did a weekend "away" about a mile from home, at Hotel Lucia. Imperial is their restaurant and it looked fantastic at first glance. Had a late dinner at 9:30 pm. Spent a lot for what we ordered, and didn't really feel satisfied. Everything was fairly heavy and some were downright greasy. Woke up with a stomach ache in the middle of the night, and in the morning, my wife called an audible and moved our brunch reso to Brasserie Montmartre, which was excellent. Imperial looks awesome. It's got great lighting, a peak-through kitchen with an open hearth/oven. The decor is modern and cool. I SO want to love it. But I don't think the food is there yet. Sorry guys. I really want to love you. But I cannot lie. I'm just not feeling it.
(3)
B. L.
I have been waiting to go here for some time. Several people have recommended Imperial to me and I guess I was expecting A LOT more for all of the hype. While I was able to get seated without a reservation for dinner seating was cramped and the table space was small and overfilled upon seating. There is zero sound dampening material on the walls so it is very loud even when the place is less than full. The service was okay but far from stellar as I would expect in such an establishment. As an example it appeared to me that my server had never opened a bottle of wine and could barely get the foil off of the bottle. Of course I was there for the food, so lets talk about that. I came in with a preconceived picture in my mind based on what others had told me and that was no the reality, at least not for me. I had the dish known as the Seccrato, which is a pork dish cooked over their wood fire grill on a wooden plank. The description sounded marvelous and I had high expectations. Well, the pork was dry, over seasoned and the portion was far from filling. For the money I spent I would hope to not leave a restaurant still hungry. The one standout here was desert....absolutely spectacular! All in all, I felt it was overpriced and not up to par with similar style establishments. I am not saying that everyone would find it as disappointing as I, but I am positive that some will.
(2)
Mark S.
Do restaurant owners taste their own food? Apparently not here. Here's the good, bad, and unfortunately the ugly. The Good: location, decor, and vibe. The Bad: slow service (no reason lunch should take 20 minutes when the place has less than 10 patrons), inattentive service. The Ugly: Little menu 101 planning - Tuna sandwich club is not the same thing as tuna salad! When I order tuna club, Albacore at that, I expect whole pieces of fish not some damn low quality bumble bee canned, overly seasoned, olive oil saturated gut bomb. That was just disgusting. I know bacon is the new "food candy" but there is no reason to over do it. Please rethink this sandwich. I really wanted to like this place but unless they step up their game I won't return.
(2)
Everett S.
Went in with my family after they said they had some of the best Parker House Rolls ever here. Unfortunately, the second time around was not as good. They were room-temp and had the texture of the grocery store version. Rolls aside, the food was not bad. We split some smaller plates for a light dinner. Highlights were the brussel sprouts and Kale. The sausage just tasted like a decent bratwurst, not that there is anything wrong with that. I can see that this place will be good in my future visits.
(4)
mary r.
Finally yummy food downtown Portland. Four of us celebrating a birthday had a great time. Oysters, yummy, Salad, perfection, Pork shoulder yeah baby, fries, yes please and dessert was delish. I took off 1 star as the menu seemed to scattered. Some small plates and large plates for ala cart but other items were full plates. I will be back this weekend for another dinner.
(4)
Tami A.
I had the most amazing dinner here last night. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable about everything on the menu. We ordered several things to share between three people and everything was seriously incredible. They have really interesting and creative things on the menu (my favorite was probably the grilled romaine salad) and I love that their food is local and the meat and fish they serve is free of hormones and antibiotics. The atmosphere is really swanky, but we were dressed casual and didn't feel out of place. This place is perfect for date night or a girls night out. Next time I go back I'll try some of the cocktails!
(5)
Gus M.
We dined here on Christmas Eve and it was extremely busy. We were seated at the Chef's counter and got a firsthand look at the kind of teamwork it takes to crank out entree after entree. There was a lot of activity, but nothing felt rushed and the chefs took the time to do some beautiful plating. I enjoyed the Kale Salad and the Pork Secreto, my significant other ordered a Butternut Squash Soup and a very fancy Ribeye and he said it was one of the top ten meals of his life. They definitely could use a little extra serving help on the holidays, our server was working really really hard!
(5)
Laura S.
I will be honest--I was worried--I like to go to places with more solid reviews, especially if I know I'm gonna drop a couple hundred on dinner. It seemed like this was a one star or a five star...and I wasn't in the mood to do something that seemed like a gamble. But we had a reservation and I figured we'd give it a shot. In short, dinner was amazing. Very rad space, designed with a super cool (but not uppity) vibe. The service was amazing--please ask for Andie--she is sweet and gracious and absolutely adorable, and her menu suggestions were perfect. (I loved that when I asked her to help me decide between two dinner options, she went with the cheaper one--she really wanted me to enjoy my meal, not take in a better tip.)The steamer clams and the roasted romaine salad were excellent; the ribeye, pork chop, and secreto were flawless in both taste and presentation. Fantastic dining experience, wonderful staff, great location.
(5)
Ray D.
Overly loud. Not for a lunch where you would like to talk with one another.
(1)
David W.
With Paley's reputation I was excited to have dinner at Imperial to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We were seated at a quiet window table...only problem--there are no quiet tables at Imperial and there was a table right outside the window where it felt they were dining with us. The services was absolutely terrible, slow, inattentive with the waitress barely even "going through the motions." When dinner was presented, I received my dinner nearly 5 minutes before my wife's dinner arrived. Hers piping hot, mine barely warm; even the plate was cold. I sent it back and in their attempt to warm it, the pork was so tough it was like eating jerky. It was not worth eating. They did take it off the bill and but ruined our night.
(1)
Christina B.
Love trying new restaurants and this was my birthday dinner location. Delicious:D Great wine selection, dinner was great and they will make substitutions on plate. Server was very friendly:-) had the gingerbread toffee for dessert and they brought it with a candle. Definitely would go here again.
(5)
Oregon G.
The duck meatballs with prunes was a little spicy but otherwise excellent. Fried squash salad had very little squash but lots of prosciutto. The squash itself was dry and tasteless. The stuffed quail had little flavor but was warm. The applesauce, apple, and pickled celery sauce was strange at best. The celery was bitter and very salty and blended or contrasted very badly with the rest of dish. Imperial tries too hard but does not pull it off.
(2)
Allyson P.
We walked past this spot plenty of times since we were staying next door, and were never really tempted to go in, as nothing on their menu sounded all that interesting. However, the bartender at Little Bird recommended it for drinks, and since he was spot on with Teardrop Lounge, and Imperial is stumbling distance from our hotel, we decided to check it out. I suppose we should have trusted our instinct, because we really weren't impressed. All of the cocktails sounded good on paper, but really didn't deliver. I had the Duty Free Cocktail, which had Ron Zacapa 23 year solera rum, gentaine liqueur, aged aquavit, vanilla syrup, and mole bitters. I like everything that was in the drink, but it really didn't come together. The proportions must have been off or something. I personally can't judge my husband's drink because it involved radish gastrique and I'm not a fan of radishes, but he felt the same way I did, that the actual cocktail wasn't nearly as good as the sum of its parts. I applaud their creativity, and hopefully if they tweak their recipes a bit, they'll taste as good as they sound.
(2)
Amy K.
The 5 stars are for the drinks and bartenders. I stayed at a hotel near here so I had happy hour and a night cap here. The whiskey drinks are top notch and some of the best I've had. The bartenders were very nice and fun. I did try some happy hour food and it was very good but I would have given that more of a 4 star but the price is reasonable.
(5)
Cathie R.
Food good service sucked! From the beginning at the bar(arrived 20 min early for reservation) took 20 min for drinks. Then didn't have the wine we ordered with apps so we sat there until our waiter offered a different Chablis..the irony was took recommendation from wine spectator and the beverage part of the experience was lacking to say the least. Excuses like we are bringing the Chablis up to temperature!? Just bring the bottle to the table in some ice people ( if u have it!?) and all is good...
(3)
Anne S.
I had a party here for 22 people for my husband's birthday. Brandon, Alex, Sean and crew, along with Chef Paley were attentive, professional and instrumental to our very successful party. My expectations were surpassed. Everyone in the party was wowed by at least one dish. All courses were exactly right and expertly prepared. A huge thank you to this wonderful restaurant for making our evening special.
(5)
Dan Q.
Whoa! Impressive breakfast. Great decor and the food is outstanding and creative. The pear dish with ricotta with fried bread and warm honey is out of this world as well as the hash. You've gotta go there!!!!!!
(5)
Laura F.
These cats know what they are doing. They are creative and want to be different. Each food choice was uniquely seasoned, from the Food and Wine magazine rated duck meatballs that were delicious, to the plank cooked pork in a wood fire oven. Our bartender/ mixologist recommended house made tonic with our drink and it was delightfully flavorful with an interesting tasty twist. This restaurants comes highly recommended.
In an veritable ocean of excellent brunch places, the competition in PDX is so tough that unless you have a very high standard in your brunch offerings you wont be at the top of the pack. Sadly thats the case with imperial. The decor is excellent, service is good, but the food just isnt up to the mark. I for the Imperial hash with the steelhead trout. It was good, a tad too oily but nothing to write home about. For the prices they charge I expect much much better food!
(3)
Cam Z.
Wonderful brunch spot next to Penny Diner downtown. The fried chicken with biscuits and gravy was to die for! I was literally cleaning the cast iron skillet to get every last bit! We purchased the hot sauce to take this memory home to enjoy later.
(5)
Phoebe W.
I loved everything about this place!!!! They sat 5 hungry, loud asian girls in the middle of their restaurant and we had a blast! Not sure if the very, white crowd at Imperial could handle it, but we had a great time! We even got Doug to stop by and take a quick picture. Very nice of him to; I'm sure we scared him! LOL! Our server was the best! Super attentive and fun. Kept the food and drinks coming. The drinks were strong! Super cute mini clothespins to hold the garnishes in place. Love the little details. We ordered: Portland Poke - this was good poke - super fresh and flavorful Grilled Caesar salad - must get Crispy Fried Pig Tail - slightly scary looking, but it's like a big chicharrones and was super crispy and delicious with the mustard and pickles. i could've had a whole one to myself.... ok, maybe not, but I wanted to! Duck Meatballs - they were good, nothing to write home about, but then I'm not that crazy about meatballs. Still waiting to be impressed by this craze. Fried chicken - much has been written about this.... it was great! have i had better, yes. but it was still delicious and order it with the watermelon salad and this dish is perfection. That watermelon salad is the best I've had! perfectly juicy. Tails & Trotters Bacon Chop - DAYUM! this was my favorite dish! the creamy poblano sauce and blackberries had me licking the plate and digging my face to get every last morsel on the ribs. Love this dish. Lamb special - this was like a middle eastern dish with saffron rice and yogurt. wished it was more tender, the saffron more saffron-y. would've loved some almonds in the rice. Other things that we had that i wasn't sooo excited about - parker rolls (more butter please), grilled broccolini (i guess we needed some veg), ember roasted potatoes (boring to me). Had the peach & fig pie which had a nice crumble on top and a malt creme brulee. All in all, would definitely come back and would recommend this restaurant to everyone I know who visits Portland. Chef Doug is doing it right. Wished I had time to visit the Penny Diner next door.
(5)
Cecile L.
Came here for breakfast one morning and it wasn't crowded at all. Can't remember which day but I'm thinking it was a weekday so maybe that's why it wasn't busy. Service was still pretty slow and you're kind of left there twiddling your thumbs. My husband had the Two Eggs Any Style, which he said was good but really how hard is it to make this.. and I ordered the French Toast with Seasonal Fruit, which I was really disappointed with or at least not impressed with it. I guess their breakfast menu is pretty simple, nothing too fancy. Wish we got to try this place for dinner because we're fans of Top Chef and really wanted to see what Doug was up to so maybe next time around.
(3)
Meg R.
Great restaurant in downtown. I came here on a weekday at 12:30 and the place was packed! I would recommend making a reservation, even if you're dropping in for lunch. The service was friendly and attentive. My friend and I ordered the Cola & PBR Braised Pork and it was delicious - a bit dry in certain parts, but overall the flavors were incredible and it was pretty tender in most spots. (Note: this dish is $19 on the dinner menu, and $13 on the lunch menu) Also, save room for dessert! Their dessert chef is a PRO and made a mean brown butter pecan pie. We paired it with their housemade honey ice cream and the flavor combo was out of this world! They serve up big portions too, so you can split a dessert and still want to take a nap afterwards. They do a different featured pie each day, so I look forward to trying more... although I lucked out, because Pecan is BY FAR my favorite of all pies :-)
(4)
Lexie V.
Bravo! A+! Oh how I loved thee, Imperial!! We discovered this place like most people: the chef made it far on Top Chef, so we had to check it out. We were warmly greeted and seated immediately. Lucky us, we got a table right in front of the open kitchen so we got to watch Doug expedite and run the kitchen throughout our entire meal. From looking at the menu, I admit I was not blown away or super excited by the choices so I asked the waitress for advice. She recommended the kale and vegetable salad with...wait for it... goat cheese vinaigrette. My husband hates goat cheese and was leary about agreeing to split this with me until he tried it. This is hands down the greatest salad I have ever had the pleasure of eating at any restaurant. It is sheer perfection! Had I only had that, I would have been completely satisfied. It is fantastic and I highly recommend it. Oh, and my husband who hates goat cheese? He agreed with me and helped me eat every single morsel! Next stop? Fresh made Parker house rolls with salted butter. Life changing, really. Why have I not had salted butter before exactly? I don't know, but that has all changed now. The rolls had a crusty, beautiful top that opened into soft, hot perfect rolls. $1 each. Order these!! Oh, and that butter elevated these into heavenly territory. The ember roasted potatoes were next. Again, spectacular! This was a very rustic dish akin to something you'd eat camping... if you were glamping! Very very good. For my entree, I kind of HAD to try Doug's Fried Chicken, the very dish he blew his competition away on on Top Chef. I remember all the praise the judges heaped on him and thinking, "It's just fried chicken. Please." And then it was in front of me, served beautifully on a cedar plank in a cast iron dish. It came with a medicinal dropper of hot sauce and fresh warm honey. There were pickled onions on top of the chicken, plus housemade pickles. Oh, and did I mention this is the single greatest fried chicken I have ever had??? This dish is absolutely phenomenally delicious-- the chicken was juicy and I just flat-out adored the pickles and onions. When I come back here, I don't know that I could ever try another entree on this menu knowing this is available for me. Great plate of food, Doug.. I get it now. Imperial has a full-time pastry chef (who made the parker house rolls) so we did try dessert. I can't for the life of me remember what we had but I know we loved it and ate every bite. Again, we were not jazzed reading the dessert menu as it all reads so ordinary, like the dinner menu, but then it arrives and you realize you have been tricked: this place consistently manages to turn what sounds perfectly ordinary into stuff that is perfectly delicious! The waitress also recommended a truly excellent cocktail, the Harlequin. She asked me what i like in drinks and really listened and made a sound recommendation based on that-- I love that kind of service. The Harlequin was kind of like a dry orange soda and went down very easily. I know my husband did not love his vegetarian entree and maybe Imperial needs to improve that bit by offering a more substantial veg entree, but that was his experience, not mine. Overall, I have to say that while I went into this place with doubts, I walked out thinking this was one of the best meals of my life, hands down. I cannot wait to return.
The food was just so good... We were lucky enough to be seated looking into the kitchen, so that was a great start to the evening. (Food is always better when you watch them cook it in front of you...) We spent most of the meal wishing we could taste everything that came off the grill. Everything that touched the wood fire was like the Mary Poppins of food - practically perfect in every way. We got the pork chop and the steak special, and both were amazing. Cooked beautifully, and super flavorful.
I cam to Imperial for brunch and I was surprised how empty they were at 1:00 PM on an afternoon. A little scared to be honest I'm glad I stopped in here for a meal. First off they make a nice stiff drink and I ended up ordering the latkes with smoked salmon and duck egg. Presentation was beautiful and the food was fantastic. Brunch here was pretty reasonably priced especially for the quality of the food and the service from the bartender was excellent. The restaurant is has a very modern design and definitely a good place to take a date. There's plenty of seating and space between the tables so you won't feel like you're stacked up against the other diners. Definitely would recommend this place based on the food I had here.
(4)
Ehow C.
Such a bittersweet review, as the occasion was my farewell lunch for work. Despite our party's... staggered arrival, our server catered to our every whim. (Front of house seemed a bit cold, but maybe that's how they operate.) Still waiting on someone? No worries. Oh, can we sneak in one last order before the kitchen closes? No problem. Ah, this person needs to leave now. Boxes up the burger like a boss. Super friendly, premium service. Now, the food was pretty good, but I'm unsure if the prices matched the expectation and quality. I had a soda for my "side" since the lunch entrees don't come with anything. The flat-top burger was nicely crafted with a buttered bun and super flavorful pickles. The onions came sauteed, which was a nice touch. My biggest issue with the whole experience was requesting rare and it came back... well done. It was still pretty juicy, but I'm very disappointed that they didn't cook it to order. The lack of any side also hampered my experience; I left unsatisfied, and had already exceeded my "budget". Overall I had a good time, I just wouldn't pay for it out of my own pocket. It's just too expensive without exceeding expectations.
(3)
Jon B.
The Imperial was recommended to us by the hotel Kimpton next-door. Had the tturkey sandwich and it was full of flavor! It's a must order! My husband had the fried chicken and it did not disappoint! Energy was great and the decore was eye candy! Sorry that we missed meeting Doug, The Executive Chef, who participated in Top Chef last season.
(5)
Lynne S.
YUM! The fried chicken here stands up to any of the other heavy-hitters in PDX. Perfectly fried, just enough crispy outer goodness, juicy inner goodness, accompanied by honey and hot sauce. Everything else I sampled--the salads, the rolls, the desserts--was similarly awesome. The interior of this place is sort of like dressed-up lumberjack style, with bike chain chandeliers...cool in a Portland way. The only complaint was that service was pretty slow. But if you're not in a rush, head to Imperial!
(4)
Rick O.
I just enjoyed the perfect breakfast at Imperial! First of all, the decor is quite pleasing to the eye, if you're a fan of industrial as I am. The staff all friendly and professional The French toast with maple syrup and fresh fruit (pears today) was mouth watering, and perfectly cooked and seasoned. The egg white omelette was filled w fresh tomatoes and whole button mushrooms. (I stole from my partners plate). Enough small talk - let's talk bacon - God help me. $4 for a side order seemed pricey - I hoped for at least 2-3 hearty slices. Well, it was cooked perfectly, and the SIX slices must have weighed half a pound. Just order up a side of bacon, and call it a meal. My compliments to the chef!
(5)
Allegre N.
I really rarely give 5 stars but this place was really excellent. I went with a large group (9 people) and we were seated right around the time of our reservation. The server was knowledgeable about the menu as well as the wine list, and was able to provide a wine recommendation based on my preferences that I really enjoyed. I also tasted a friend's mixed drink called Good Problem To Have (gin, thai basil, red pepper juice, ginger)and it was seriously awesome. This is high praise from me because I rarely drink hard liquor and don't like gin. The cocktail menu is definitely inventive! Since we had a large group I was able to try bites of many dishes although the selfish bastard who ordered the fried chicken refused to share with me, LOL. I hear it's amazing but I didn't get to try it. I tried the Portland poke - the fish was super fresh and silky smooth, had just the right amount of heat and crunch. This was my favorite dish of the evening. The Parker House rolls were warm and soft and perfect. I also tried mushrooms roasted in bone marrow (heaven!), heirloom tomatoes which were flavorful and lots of lovely colors, and the crispy fried pigtail. The pig tail was not my favorite, it had a heavy layer of fat, but once I got past that part to the meat it was juicy and very tender. The honey habanero hot sauce that came with it was a nice complement to the flavor of the dish. This was a great experience, I would love to go back again for a date night or a girl's night out.
(5)
Rose B.
Incredible happy hour. The vieux carre cocktail smells divine and has perfectly balanced flavor, while the charleston is sweet with cherry brandy but also extremely nuanced. We tried almost the whole happy hour menu- the pig tail was melt in your mouth and crispy on the surface, with a delicious spicy honey habanero sauce in an adorable dropper bottle, I also loved the chicken liver pate which was smooth and full bodied, the cheese plate paired with delicious local honey, the gorgeous smoked tongue sliders with crunchy pickled vegetables, and the steak frites. We topped off the meal with the watermelon salad, which was mildly spicy and fresh with dill, mint and fennel bulb. The bartenders were friendly and attentive, the space is beautiful and buzzy, and we had a great time. Can't wait to return for dinner!
(5)
Jesica F.
Nice server, we stay outside eating in a hot sunny day drinking a cold ice water. Love the fried chicken and their special hot sauce. It's a mix of sweet (honey) and spicy, it blends in together. It wasn't spicy to me compare to Sriracha. I actually like the sauce. I think It's a good combination of you eat it with salad. The burger was juicy and thick, it's yumm. .definitely will go back to this restaurant!
For our last dinner in Portland we decided to try Imperial. A great choice. Got to the restaurant around 530pm and was seated right away. Started with the Roadside cocktail. Wonderfully refreshing on a relatively humid Portland day. Here's the rundown: Parker Rolls all around. Great chewy rolls and the addition of sea salt makes the roll. My 8 year old loved these rolls. Portand Poke. Being from Hawaii, I know poke. This was an okay Portland version of Poke but I've had better on the islands. The tuna was fresh and well seasoned. Yeah, I know why order Poke at a haole joint but my kid loves poke (I've trained him well). Grilled Onion Salad. THE BEST dish of the night. I love this salad. The greens were well seasoned and the grilled onions were so delicious. I could eat this salad all day. Ahi Tuna a la Plancha. Perfectly seared ahi tuna on a bed of vegetables. We all loved the varieties of cherry tomatoes. My only complaint was that the tuna could have used just a pinch of salt. Otherwise a great dish. Fried Chicken w/ Texas pickles. Boneless chicken thighs (for convenience I suppose). I love chicken on the bone as it has such great flavor. This was an okay version of fried chicken. The maple syrup w/ hot sauce helped the dish. The star of this dish were the pickles. I loved those pickled onions and could have them with every meal. All in all a great last meal to our Portland visit. I will be back to try the breakfast menu.
(4)
Ali D.
Ok, admittedly my boyfriend and I only made a point to go here on our Portland eating and drinking romp because we are huge Top Chef fans and wanted to feast at our recent favorite contestant, Dougie's restaurant. Ok, so now that that's out in the open... Imperial was a great experience. We sat at the bar (my boyfriend was lured by the TV that had March Madness games on!) and were greeted by our bartender who was such a delight. Throughout our time there she was the perfect balance of friendly and helpful, yet cool. But she wasn't JUST a bartender...she was a mixologist! (Portlandia reference, anyone?) HA. We shared the moules frites to snack on and they were scrumptious. Served in a succulent broth of white white and orange saffron butter. The frites were probably the best part though. You know it's a good fry when you can taste the fat that they fry them in. Plus they were perfectly crispy and primed for dipping in a scrumptious aioli.
The boy wanted to try here because of the good reviews and because of Doug. While we both wanted to try the fried chicken, by the time it was time for our dinner reservation we were both kind of fried food out. I think we should have planned that better. Anyways - service was friendly, ambiance was fantastic. My cocktail had tequila and was delicious. The menu was super extensive... if I were rich I would definitely come here with a few friends and just order off the whole menu because there's something for everyone. I was pleased with a plate of pickled goodies, and a raw fish app of some kind with mango chutney/something on top. So fresh! I had a pesto root veg thing as entree and I was more than satisfied considering it wasn't meat. Each bite had some unique flavor. We were definitely glad we came here, and would go back when in Portland again. One star off because I did wish there were a few more "casual" options. It kind of was like expensive heavy meaty entree, one fried chicken dish, and then lighter salads/veg options. OMG got a peanut butter toffee sundae to share and holy hell, yep.
(4)
Ashlee H.
I don't know what to say. The signature dish I was looking forward to was the fried chicken, and I was a bit underwhelmed on that one. I do happen to make some darn good fried chicken, so my 8 year old son was less than impressed. Steak was cooked perfectly, atmosphere was trendy, service was great. The steak dish was tiny though. I really couldn't believe I spent $30 on the littlest piece of meat I ever saw. There wasn't even a side included. Overall the food was tasty, but didn't blow me away at that price point.
(4)
Ted R.
Imperial might be among the very best of PDX in it's neighborhood. Call it Southwest Portland, call it downtown, Imperial sits in a charming part of the city and its interior design takes that miles further. This is a truly great restaurant. Great as in worthy of my 500th review great. How might I sum it up after having meals there on back-to-back days of a perfect getaway weekend? Exposed beams, exposed brick, exposed columns. Art-filled interior, superior service, supreme cuisine. So you might wonder how it came to pass that we had dinner at Imperial and felt compelled to return for brunch the next morning. Let's go back to the beginning. We literally walked, had a cocktail and waited for 20 minutes trying to get in at a nearby 'scene' restaurant before going back to Imperial. It seemed too good to be true that the less-sceney restaurant at the site of our fabulous hotel, Hotel Lucia, had such good Yelp reviews and might be worthy of one of our meals in this food-crazed city. Can't waste a single meal when we all know that PDX is synonymous with good eats! It's good that we believed in the power of the Yelpness, because the wait at the other place was too much and Imperial had us seated in three, maybe four minutes. What followed was flawless. Not long after we were seated at a prime table with a view of the wood-fired rotisserie and grill, our kind waiter offered us deep knowledge about several offerings on the wine menu. We were completely psyched about the Belle Pente 2011 Murto Vineyard Pinot Noir he recommended and let him know how delightful we found it. It was pretty damn cute that he was excited that we were into his recommendation. Looking up the wine later, I was impressed that Imperial offers it at mere 2x markup. The entire meal proceeded at that high level. I can't remember the last time I had the last bite of a salad and found myself wishing for more. The Kale and Vegetable Salad with sunflower seed brittle and goat cheese dressing should be considered a legend. Easily one of the best salads I've ever had. I highly recommend getting something from the grill. My gf raved about the cauliflower. Although that's not really my thing, like at all, she was way into it. The pork chop is my thing, and it was five-star all the way! From the first flavor-filled, seared-moist, tender & delicious bite to the last. Now here's the funny thing. We payed extra for bread and did not complain. You know that shxt was good. In fact, the Parker House rolls are five-star exquisite. Dessert was a gorgeous construction, comprised of a gorgeous lemon meringue, made more vibrant by the subtle addition of grapefruit, toasted almonds and vanilla ice cream. The meal was so sublime and amazing that we had hardly made it back to our room before agreeing that we wanted to return for brunch to fit in another Imperial feast before our weekend ended. So let's briefly talk brunch. The croissant sandwich is a delicate stacking of egg, bacon & sausage on a, well, a croissant, duh. And if it seems an ordinary menu item, let me assure you, the execution was remarkable. I was dazzled. And that's before the excellent, must-order Bloody Mary came into effect. Other more adventurous items on the weekend brunch menu include a "Poptart," Buttermilk Pancakes with jalapeno honey butter, and Eggs Benedict du Jour, made with house-made biscuits. Superstar Chef Doug Adams is the real deal! I find all the Top Chefs' restaurants to be at least somewhat impressive, though often overpriced. Imperial goes beyond. While it's not a value option, it is far, far from overpriced. Imperial offers a creative and titillating menu in a gorgeous, thought-provoking setting with service that is worthy of an emperor. You know how museums won't let you bring food and drinks into the galleries? Imperial is the opposite, a restaurant with gallery-level decor, and all you do there is enjoy the food and drink. If there were more time, might we try to fit in a third Imperial session on one weekend? You better believe it! Go there. Enjoy it you will.
(5)
Jessica T.
The Imperial is a fantastic spot to go for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. They open early and their staff are extremely patient and personable. I came here for lunch on two occasions and thoroughly enjoyed my healthy, well presented, and extremely flavorful dish. On both lunch excursions - I enjoyed their citrus salad which came topped with pistachios and juicy blood oranges. I paid extra to have grilled local albacore tuna on the salad and it was done perfectly and adorned with fresh sea salt to further bring out the flavor of the fish. It was clear to me on both trips that this place runs smoothly because everyone that works here truly cares about The Imperial and their customers. Though I chose the healthy option - if you're looking to get a more accurate portrayal of Imperial's culinary capabilities - I highly suggest trying their Chef Doug's Fried Chicken- which comes with watermelon salad, Imperial hot sauce, bee local honey - as well as their weekend brunch menu which includes sublime dishes such as Brown Butter Beignets and Eggs Benedict du Jour, made with house-made biscuits. Trust.
(4)
Steph W.
Went here for dinner on Saturday and was just bowled over by the combination of flavors and just how each dish were all so damned good. Caramelized Green beans with kimchi, braised elk tongue and egg? I nearly licked the bowl. Mushrooms and marrow? Get it in me! The fried chicken with honey and hot sauce? Good lordy lord I was impressed. Grilled broccolini? Yes, please! Will definitely return. Great service, too.
(5)
Shawn M.
I will begin by saying that dinner was fantastic. I got the bacon chop which was cooked perfectly and the poblano sauce and berries were a perfect compliment. We also ordered the kale salad, the flatbread, and the potatoes. Everything was cooked masterfully, just as you'd expect from Dougie. I would not change a thing about the food! The ambiance is decent - good lighting, interesting decor and comfortable seating. Unfortunately, the enormity of the building and industrial style make it quite noisy, difficult to carry on a conversation across the table. Our sever was mostly pleasant, and it was very busy when we were in so I cannot fault her too much but she lacked a bit in attentiveness - several times said she would come back to refill empty water glasses which never happened. Several other reviews I read mentioned that it was expensive, which it is - but honestly, you know that going into it. The portions are excellent and you shouldn't leave hungry. Our bill - including an appetizer salad, two glasses of wine, two entrees and a side - came in at around $100 total which isn't bad for a very nice meal in a fancy restaurant. Highly recommend this place, make sure to make reservations and be sure to know you're going to be spending some coin.
(4)
Maria P.
A total masterpiece by Vitaly Paley! The menu is spectacular, but I am personally in love with the buttermilk chicken with locally farmed honey. The smoked salmon latkes with duck egg are also a fave. All of the staff are friendly, knowledgeable, attentive and great (which is rare for Portland). The Imperial interior is dialed with elaborate chandeliers made of bike chains, gorgeous and comfy seating and signature art. Sugar on top is they take reservations and rarely have a wait.
(5)
Anita H.
This is a great place for fine dining cuisine that serves you adequate portions for what you pay for. My hubby and I came here for a date night and started out with a kale and vegetable salad, which was delicious. It was diced up kale interspersed with sweet sunflower seed brittle and goat cheese dressing which surprisingly did not have a strong goat cheese flavor. I love the added sweet crunch of the brittle to the kale salad! Delicious. I was a bit skeptical having to pay $1 for one Parker house roll, but holy cow, best $1 I ever spent. If you're GF, it will make you change your mind. Soft and warm Parker house roll sprinkled lightly with Jacobsen sea salt -- spreading butter on that roll takes you to Cloud 9! I ordered the Grilled Kauai Prawns which were phenomenal -- the prawns were a good size and cooked just right. The prawn sauce was amazing and paired perfectly with the black pepper polenta. My husband ordered the duck meatballs and Stan's Sausage Du Jour. We were pleasantly surprised with the portions of the sausage. Nicely spiced and it tasted great with the kolrabi slaw that was underneath. We also ordered the ember roasted potatoes, which was another right choice. Dill, salt, butter with crisp potato skin on -- what a perfect way to eat your starch! We finished off our meal brown butter pecan pie. Needless to say, we were STUFFED. Thanks Imperial for providing us a perfect dining experience for a perfect date night. Service was exceptional!
(5)
Lisa E.
I wasn't sure what to order. Everything sounded so intriguing! Even the Crispy Fried Pigtail....! I had my eye on the sausage du jour until I found out it was Blood Sausage (no thanks). In the end we all ordered the Doug's Fried Chicken. We shared an order of the fries that ended up being one of the best we've had. Get the "Winter Citrus Salad". It was salad greens, pistachios, grilled onions, tomatoes, grapefruit slices and an Oregon black truffle vinaigrette with the black truffle shavings on top. Holy COW. BEST SALAD EVER. I've never had a salad this good. I had two bites of my husband's and wished I'd ordered my own. It was incredible. Absolutely, hands-down, incredible. And it was just a salad! The waiter brought out the housemade hot sauce that was in an old-fashioned eye-dropper bottle and honey. Apparently they have beehives on the roof and make their own honey! So Portland. It was amazing, though. The place was so packed and service was slow, but that was expected. I figured it was the new-found celebrity. The waiter was great though and checked in frequently. The fried chicken came out on cast iron skillets atop tree stump trays. :) Again, totally Portland. But the presentation was incredible. Two large pieces of fried chicken with a watermelon salad on the side. Sounds simple but it was so fantastic. The watermelon was perfect, which was weird because it's off season. The watermelon chunks had pickled onions, fennel and a tart vinaigrette on it. It went perfectly with the chicken.The watermelon was so juicy. How was the chicken? It was pretty darn good. I loved the chicken. The hot sauce could have been a little spicier for my tastes, but other than that everything was great. I loved drizzling honey on top of the fried chicken. I'd never thought of that before. So smart! Somehow we got talked into dessert. I have no idea how because we were all stuffed and certainly didn't need anymore food. It was the last dessert and we snagged it. It had been popular that night! We got the "Texas Sheetcake". t was warm, gooey chocolate cake topped with honey ice cream (which I thought was pecan at first) hazelnuts and toasted marshmallow. IT WAS AMAZING. OMG. Thankfully we split it because it was so rich but seriously, I could have eaten that whole thing on my own. Wow. No words. So good. Sadly, we did not spot Doug in the kitchen. Maybe someday. Everything tasted amazing and the service was fantastic. It was a good night all around.
(5)
Frank M.
Came here pretty late at night. It was dark and the night was long. But from what I remember, I liked this place. It was dim, relaxing, not too crowded, and I thought the appetizers I ordered were excellent. Service was good, and walking to the bathroom through a clean and bright hotel lobby can be a nice change of atmosphere to be honest with you. Not sure what the normal crowd is here...but I'm a weird tourist. I liked it. Yay for Portland.
(4)
Kayrin P.
Went there Saturday for our birthday with family. I had the albacore with Brussel sprouts. Absolutely amazing! Perfectly cooked, very well seasoned! We ordered several bottles of Colene Clemons Rose for the table of 8 of us. Yum! Glad you have a nice local wine selection! A wonderful ending to our meal was a visit by the now famous Doug Adams! He's killing it on Top Chef, and now I know why! He was friendly and down to earth, and gladly posed for a pic with the birthday girls. Great experience, can't wait to return.
Nothing spectacular, but definitely good. My boyfriend loved the salmon duck egg latke.
(4)
Ramon F.
I'm in from Sacramento on business and stumbled into this spot. The menu was eclectic American dining and it was "freaking delicious' as another Yelper put it. The fried Chicken, Kale salad w/ sesame brittle and finished off with the most delicious brown sugar Pecan pie in a homemade chocolate with a side car of homemade vanilla ice cream..truly a slice of heaven. If your in the area make this place happen for yourself and your team I'd your in a group.. No one will be disappointed!
(5)
Charles S.
We had a delightful meal here. Yes, a bit noisy. Yes, a bit expensive. But all in all, an excellent experience.
(5)
Jennifer H.
Have you ever been out to dinner and every course and every bite makes you think this is the best I've ever had? Well this was it! We had: Dozen raw oysters Roasted onion salad Potatoes Mushrooms Rare tbone Peanut brittle sundae Pecan pie. Every single bite was AMAZING! Thank you Allen (our server) and Imperial for a perfect anniversary dinner!
(5)
Courtney E.
So a friend and I went to Imperial for dinner. It was about 5pm. We were told that the only place we could sit was in the bar area. Annoying, but said okay cause we didn't want to bother with looking for another place. Well, I had a dish picked out and was ready to order. Come to find out, we could only select from the happy hour menu, which would have been fine if there was actual variety and foods that I would have liked to eat. My friend and I ordered one burger to split and a cheese plate. My friend is Canadian and ordered a drink. She showed him her Canadian issued driver's license and he refused to accept this as a valid id. He said that she must show a passport. Ummm, who carries their passport around with them all the time? And, what the hell is the difference between a passport and license? Both are government issued. He claimed it was "the law", but I looked up the law and it clearly states exceptions for Canada and Mexico. We were really turned off. The burger showed up. It was really good actually. The "cheese plate" was a hunk of one kind of cheese with a few crackers and some honey. It was good, but didn't really pass as a "cheese plate". Blah.
(2)
Katherine C.
Came here for Portland Restaurant Month and was excited to try this place as a Top Chef fan. The entire menu looked delicious and my roommate and I had to keep ourselves in check not to order more than we could handle. The PDX restaurant month menu did not disappoint. The winter salad as refreshing, the braised pork tender, and the dessert delicious. We also ordered the fried chicken, which still wasn't as good as screen door's, and grilled albacore tuna was amazing. Although pricey, it's a nice treat and will be back to check out their HH menu!
(4)
Ling Tzu W.
We booked a reservation because of Portland dining month. However, I was kind of disappointed by the Portland Dining Month menu. So we didn't order the three course meal Instead, we ordered items from the menu and let me tell you .. it was DELICIOUS. I was not disappointed. The fried chicken and the prawns were well made and it was just enough for my husband and I. Also the Debbie's Rolls and the pickled vegetable plate were a good introduction into the courses. For the dessert, we had the Rhubarb Pie, in honor of Pi day, and that was too much pie for me to handle. It tasted good, I was just full from all of the food. Overall, the food was good and the services was excellent.
(4)
Laurrena D.
AMAZING! We came for dinner, didn't have a reservation, but we were able to sit at the bar. The bartender (John) was super friendly and an awesome bartender/server. I had a Moscow mule and the burger. BEST BURGER EVER! I'll be dreaming about it for days. My friend had the lamb special which was delicious. Overall, it was a great experience and the food was phenomenal!
(5)
Mark L.
Not going to do a full on review at this time as all we got were a couple of breakfast items. This was my first visit to the place and I was certainly pleased. The staff was friendly and took care of our needs. The food was super solid and the bacon is over the top good! It is definitely worth a stop! We will be back to try at dinner as well.
(4)
Jason P.
A must: buttermilk fried chicken for brunch - if you get it for brunch it comes with biscuits and gravy and is unbelievable.
Went there with my wife and baby boy for a late dinner at the same time the top chef finale was showing. It was awesome seeing Doug there watching at the bar. We made sure to say hello and let him know the food was delicious. He's a super nice guy and even took a minute to chat with us and say hello to our baby despite him being busy. Anyway, onto the food. We didn't really have anything we wanted to try in particular going in so we asked the server. He recommended the Sturgeon a la Plancha with truffled potatoes, wild mushrooms, and truffle jus. I decided to go with the recommendation and am definitely thankful that I made the decision. The sturgeon was nice and tender and all the ingredients on the plate were balanced and complimented the fish... especially that truffle jus! Loved the food and ambience and the service and friendliness of the staff. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Vivek R.
Just wow. The cocktails were highly inventive, and the service was attentive and knowledgeable. The more standard drinks (Dolly O'Dare, Vieux Carre) were executed well with clever flourishes and high attention to detail, and their more special creations (a radish-based cocktail based on the chef's Iron Chef "battle radish" victory, a red-pepper and Thai basil gin drink called A Good Problem to Have) were memorable. The only food we sampled was the chicken sausage, which was delicious.
OMG. We came here because my wife and I are Top Chef fans. I was expecting great, but the food we ordered was amazing. I'm not unfamiliar with fine dining, and am often mildly disappointed. Honestly, the Portland Poke dish (Tuna) could have used a little salt. That's about the only complaint I could find with the 4 dishes we shared. The cocktails were big, the desserts satisfying, and the service stellar. It was also fun to see both Doug Adams and Katsuji (where did he come from?) both working the kitchen and talking to diners. A small side note - our bill was less than a higher end steak restaurant for 2, by quite a bit, with 4 entrees, 2 cocktails, 2 desserts and coffee. ;-) Loved it, and will definitely be back.
(5)
Todd P.
Great service with willingness to explain dishes to first timers. Fun menu, good food presentation, and fun atmosphere. I'd say you can't go wrong here. It was all right (pun intended) for us. All signs point to go! I loved the fried chicken.
(4)
Taj K.
Not too far from our hotel, I was able to make a reservation for breakfast on Sunday morning at this restaurant. The space is beautiful, modern with high ceilings, but with a touch of Western/hipster flair. I ordered the breakfast sandwich. It was huge and absolutely delicious. The sausage is one of the tastiest sausages I have ever had. The egg was cooked perfectly over medium and broke nicely as I was chomping through the sandwich. My husband had the chorizo dish and devoured it in seconds. Dishes are in the $10-20 range so definitely not the cheapest breakfast but excellent quality. Our server was incredibly knowledgable as well.
We come to Imperial as a fall back when our favorite brunch restaurant is too busy (Tasty & Alder), mostly because there isn't a line to get into Imperial. With that said -- and about a dozen visits here -- I can't recommend it. Here's what to expect: decent cocktails, APPALLING service, okay food. The restaurant is chronically understaffed: expect a wait of ten minutes for water and menus, another 10-15 minutes to order, and thirty minutes before your food arrives, and another 10-15 minutes after you've completely finished your meal to get the check. The food leans towards the heavy side with the more appetizing items sold out by 11 a.m. on a Sunday morning. Also, don't be surprised if they screw up your order; that's pretty common, too. In sum, be prepared to wait, but if you want better food and service, put your name on the list at Tasty, enjoy a cup of coffee at Heart, and have a much better brunch experience than what you'll get at Imperial. In fact, this morning is probably the last time we will dine at Imperial -- a restaurant can't be this mediocre and expect regular customers. :(
(2)
Kelly J.
I had both late night drinks and dessert and breakfast here and it was all wonderful. They make a great cocktail, have a nice wine list and their food is fresh and creative. For breakfast I got hash and eggs. I was pleasantly surprised when the plate arrived with huge cubes of corned beef hash. As well as perfectly poached eggs. A most excellent flavor! Loved it! Service was great and very attentive. They have an awesome room with a table for 10 that would be perfect for a special occasion evening shared with friends. The bar is great and I loved the openness of the kitchen. I would go back!
(4)
Steve B.
3rd times the charm, well actually every time The Imperial delivers . I vote Best Breakfast in Portland. I'm sure all the hotel concierges will send you to Mothers , and that is fine too. I just appreciate more than sausage gravy and pancakes . The wait staff is great. Best bacon I can think of. Coffee , yes thank you. Smashed potatoes , outstanding. Lunch one day soon, I heard them talking about fried chicken and I wept ....
(5)
Ed Q.
This is one of the best restaurants on the west coast not just Portland. Doug is an awesome chef. I've never been disappointed by anything I've ordered. Fantastic bar as well. One of Portland's best places to dine.
(5)
Hilary O.
2.5 stars, really. The food was amazing, but the service was so bad as to be distracting. We would sit for long periods of time with no one coming to take our order, clear our plates, or to bring us a wine list. Once our server did finally bring a wine list (after we sat there for 10-15 minutes with empty plates and glasses) I nearly had to grab her arm to get her to stay to take our order. That being said, she did recommend a lovely wine to have with the fried chicken, which was the stuff of legends. The heirloom tomato and melon salad had just the right balance of savory and sweet. I could go on and on about the duck meatballs, but others far more poetic than I already have. Don't waste capacity on the fries though -- there are far more interesting things on the menu -- if you can get someone to take your order.
(3)
Adrienne K.
Wow. Everything at Imperial was amazing!!! Came with 11 people and ordered 14 different dishes. Not one dish was horrible. Here are some highlights: - Parker House Rolls are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. One for every two people is good. Don't fill up you tummy with bread when there is way more deliciousness to try! - Dozen oysters were all from the Pacific and sweet as candy - Steak & eggs: super tender beef tongue. Never had tongue cooked this way - Steamed clams with house linguica, fennel, grilled lemon relish, and smoked butter. WHAT IS ALL THIS??? I don't eat clams but everything together was amazing. None of the clams were sandy and it's served with crusty bread to sop up all the juices. - Fried rabbit with semolina corn cake, pickled watermelon rind, and fried bacon. Another GENIUS dish!!! The rabbit and bacon are fried to perfection and flavored to deliciousness. Add a few drops of the hot sauce and some sweetness of the syrup. Pickled watermelon rounds out the flavor palate. I just regret not saving room for dessert.
(5)
Katy H.
Well shoot... This place just gets better. Can't believe it's been 2 years since I first came but Imperial is just as great as ever. On this trip I tried - and loved - the following: -Smoked elk tongue with cranberry bean, house bacon, and sweet corn succotash -Crispy fried pig tail with house pickles and honey habanero sauce -Wild mushroom galette with escargot, chicken hearts, and sherry cream with a fried egg *this dish was really, really rich* -Scallop crudo with green pear and foie gras -Beer and whiskey ice cream float A lot, I know! But I wasn't alone. This was plenty of food for two (even three) people. We left absolutely stuffed and the price was extremely reasonable. In fact, it came out to less than I expected considering the ingredients and the quality of the dishes. This is definitely a great place to come for a date. Very impressive and extremely delicious. Pro-tip: Sit at the bar and you can be seated immediately. On a Sat night this place was packed but there were 2 tables and 2 seats avail in the bar area. Lots to choose from. Sitting at the bar will allow you a chance to chat with the bartender though, and had we not done that we wouldn't have ordered the float, which was one of the best things we had all night.
(5)
Jenny A.
Great spot! I would recommend this place again and again. We ordered a little bit of everything. Started with cocktails which were great and the house pickles, oysters and fries. The pickles rocked, especially the mushroom and also the sunchokes. Next we ordered a roast chicken, a prawn dish, the seasonal salmon with an anchovy sauce and the PBR pork Aaaand the mushrooms. Everything was great. My personal favorite was the salmon dish and actually I was with four people and everyone thought their dish was the best!! We were extremely happy with our orders and Would order everything again if we came back. Lastly, chef Doug. Honestly hats off to him. He took the time to come meet us. I know it's cliche to say we watched him on Top Chef and loved him. He was my favorite of all the seasons, but he honestly came to the table, shook our hands and didn't seem bothered at all that we wanted to meet him. So gracious and humble. Thanks again for a great evening of great food, great drinks and great ambiance.
(5)
Erik B.
This was my first visit to Imperial after having heard positive reviews from friends. We visited on a Tuesday night and were surprised to see how fast the entire restaurant filled up, which we took as a very positive sign. This promising trend was quickly doused after the arrival of our waitress. Her indifferent attitude towards us and the food was immediate and lasting. Her innate inability to provide timely service throughout the entire dining experience was truly impressive. Luckily other staff members were able to lend a hand and serve our food. It's a great space with quality food, but the service was really disappointing. Perhaps removing one of the three expediters/lieutenants and replace them with smiling servers? Looked like a lot of chiefs, but too few indians. I'll be back as the pickled plate, burger, kale salad and flatbread was great.
(3)
Dustin G.
Amazing food, solid service. If you are looking for the perfect breakfast cocktail order the Good Problem - if a mimosa and Bloody Mary had a love child, it would be a Good Problem.
(5)
Maddie N.
The pickled dish was weird & overwhelming for one person. You would think it would be an appetizer, but it came out with our meal. The fried chicken was AMAZING. GET THAT. Pork tail is unique & you really have to be dedicated for it to work. Great atmosphere, great service. Would definitely go back.
(4)
Tom W.
The fried chicken was the most memorable dish. The duck meatballs, crispy pig tail, and green beans were also really good. I heard the watermelon salad was a big deal, but i wasn't a huge fan. Our waitress was really helpful with both food and drinks. I ordered a beer and she said a nicer version of "that's a really dumb choice, you should get this one instead."
(4)
Sue L.
Came here and tried out their brunch and it was real good!! Check out their menu as it seems to change on a weekly basis. Fresh ingredients and wholesome.... I had the Egg sandwich which come with 2 fresh made sausage, bacon, and egg. It's was scrumptious! My partner had the Fish sandwich which was just fresh fish and lettuce and pickled onions. We also ordered a side of the chicken sausage patties and boy were they plentiful! Their OJ is freshly squeezed and Bloody Mary packed a punch! They also have an amazing happy hour from 3-6 which includes their signature fries, crispy homemade bread, flatiron steak and more... I suggest you stop by and check it out!
(5)
Deb F.
4.5 stars - Imperial is really really great! We went with some friends for a weekday dinner. It was fairly quiet in there when we arrived at 6:45pm but was rockin' when we left - not an open chair to be had! The place is eclectic in its decor but all of it tasteful and modern. It's all hard floors and walls though, so it gets very loud in there. Our food was delicious. I think we all enjoyed everything - certainly all our plates were clean! I had the lentil soup to start. The server made sure to let us know it was NOT a vegetarian lentil soup. The chunks of pork definitely let you know that was the case! It was a thinner soup than I expected but it was not thin on flavor. I really liked it. I had the Barrel Planked Pork Secreto - OMG so good. The pork was very lean and cut into small medallions, served over romesco sauce and with some grilled leeks. The leeks tasted fabulous but they are not a showy side (they looked unappetizing and mushy). Other food at our table: fries - yummy and salty; glazed carrots - ok, not amazing; the Cola & PBR Braised Pork - HOLY COW this was good!; and Fried Chicken - again OMG what did they do here? Juicy chicken with a very tasty fried skin. *drool* Then we had to go and have dessert. "Save room for pie!" is their motto, so I did, barely. I had the pear & marionberry pie - I loved the crust, and the filling, while sweet, was not cloying and even had hints of bitterness. I loved it. The others shared the Peanut Brittle Ice Cream Sundae. There wasn't anything left so I know they liked it. I didn't find service to be very slow on our visit, even though they were busy. Portions were a good size for me (not too much), but I feel like the price is a bit high for what you do get. Still, I would totally go back to Imperial. They've got a lot of items on the menu I would like to try, and the atmosphere is energetic and hip.
(4)
Greg J.
Great meal, don't miss the parker rolls. We went here with some friends. The place was super busy, but we were seated at the time we had made for our reservations. We have had brunch here a few times and really enjoyed it, albeit some what annoying that you can't make any substitutions, but that is another story. We came to celebrate my birthday, I have been excited to try the fried chicken...it was delightful. The service was stellar, the food delicious and we all left happy. We had the shrimp dish, rabbit and halibut to go along with my chicken and all of them were very yummy. I would make sure to get the beets, all of the sides were memorable. The only negative was they didn't offer us a coffee refill with our desert. Great stuff.
(5)
Kristi P.
Like most reviewers, we were excited to taste some Top Chef cooking. We started with the green beans with elk tongue and kim chi. The flavors were nice with a kick of spice. The only dish from the show is the fried chicken, which was moist and tender, but not the best I've had. Tonight it was served with pickled onions and pickles instead of the watermelon salad. The grilled prawns were tasty, but maybe just a tad over cooked. I don't really like it when entrees don't come with sides, but rather, you are encouraged to also order a vegetable to go with your dish. If you don't want to spend more money on a side, the entree arrives seeming a little incomplete. It also seems petty to charge $1 for a roll. Even if they are delicious (I don't know--I didn't order one), it would be nice not to charge for something many other restaurants provide gratis. All in all, food was fine, not spectacular.
(4)
David A.
The Imperial exceeded my expectations and I had high hopes going in. I've eaten in much pricier restaurants that don't come close to the Imperial. Nice atmosphere and great service. I started with the grilled caesar salad with smoked tomatoes. Really delicious. I've never had anything quite like it. I had the flat iron steak which had a sauce that elevated it to a new level. My brother had the albacore tuna. He loved it. Desserts were good, especially the blueberry tart and German chocolate cream pie. The service was friendly and prompt. Executive Chef Doug came out and chatted and even posed for a picture with my wife. It really made he day. We chose this restaurant based on his great showing and demeanor on Top Chef, but will go back again mainly for the food. Top Chef quality.
(5)
Adam B.
I have been here three times, and am increasingly impressed. The food is creative, but non-adventurous eaters will be accomidated by a delicious burger or comfort dish. For the rest of us, these chefs know what they are doing. The fried chicken is perhaps my favorite in Portland. Watermelon salad is different, but delicious. The pig tail was like the most moist pork shoulder roast ever, with chicharron crisps. Also, the hot sauce is delicious, and serving it in eye droppers is brilliant (until someone habitually drops the hot sauce in their eye, but come on!). The staff is great. On our visit this evening, the waitress was a die hard foodie, and was super animated in answering all our questions. The one down side: I came here for breakfast, and it was a different experience. It was slow, and by pastrami was just the trimmings (fat) with little meat. The staff never came by to refill coffee or anything. Again, that was one time out of three, so don't hesitate to try Imperial...just be aware that breakfast service may be sub par. Otherwise, I'm quite happy with Imperial.
(4)
Varun B.
Went here for after dinner drinks one night. The place has a really nice ambiance. The bar is long with a wealth of choices for your drink. We chose to go with their craft cocktails. I'm a bourbon/rye lover, so I chose the East of Eden, which really had this nice smoky, slightly bitter flavor to it (it may not sound very interesting if you're not into whiskey, but trust me, it's good). My wife had the A Radish Walks into a Bar. Apparently the drink is based off the owner's competition on Iron Chef, where the secret ingredient was a radish. This drink has it's own unique complexity, in that it really highlights the uninteresting radish. The cracked pepper and sea salt on top is a cool touch.
(4)
Chris A.
Service here is outstanding. We sat next to the fire grill and got to watch as our food was prepared by top chef Doug Adams who came out and greeted us. I have to say the food was amazing. The drinks are also outstanding my favorite part was watching the bartender carve my ice cube from a giant block of ice.
(5)
Valerie C.
The tender-flaky sweet (but not too sweet) "pop tart," the eggs Benedict perfection, the smashed potatoes golden-crispy on the outside and perfectly tender on the inside. One of the most memorable breakfasts ever!
(5)
Adelaide A.
Came here for dinner with a group of six adults and one toddler. Service was great and although this place isn't kid friendly as there is no kids menu, they do have high chairs and its loud enough in the restaurant that any fussing would be drowned out. The restaurant is located in a busy part of downtown Portland and attached to a hotel. We had wanted to come here as chef Doug from top chef is the executive chef here. We saw him and also Gregory from the show because it was Gregory's birthday. Service was attentive and our water glasses were always full. To start, we ordered the Parker rolls, poke, and hamachi. The rolls were good- but I would have preferred for them to be warmer. Both poke and hamachi were well flavored and fresh. For entrees, we got the bacon chop which was recommended by our waiter and the fried chicken. The fried chicken came with honey and hot sauce and had pickled onions on top. It was juicy, succulent, and crispy. At $9 a piece of chicken, I would have expected it to be these things. The bacon chop was also really good and the sauce that it sat on totally made the dish. As a side, we ordered mushrooms in bone marrow which was decadent and plenty salty. Others at the table ordered the duck meatballs which were really flavorful and moist. A definite highlight of the meal was the cocktails that we enjoyed. The radish drink is really tasty and unlike anything I've ever gotten before. For dessert, I ordered the chocolate lava cake. As a dessert lover, I am not highly critical of sweets. The cake was good, but nothing to write home about. The best part of the dessert were these little crunches of chocolate that taste like the middle part of ferrero rocher chocolates. I would definitely recommend this casual but swanky place. Service, food, cocktails all came together for a great experience.
(4)
Rafael G.
One of my favorite go-to Portland restaurants. Try the fried chicken (amazing!), Parker rolls, Portland poke (if in season), beets, and save room for dessert. Good selection of wines too and the wait staff knows their food and what wines to pair it with. We especially love the hostess. She juggles the busy front well getting us our seats with a smile!
(5)
Stacey G.
Had fried chicken, skirt steak, veggies and oysters. Best fried chicken in Portland period. Have to say my expectations were high and I was not disappointed at all with the food. The service was a bit slow, felt a need for things to happen. Things like more water, removal of my plate and bring the next course already... This is my issue I am sure as some people enjoy the long pause.
I've been wanting to check out this place for awhile and decided to make a bold move and try and get in on a Friday night without a reservation around 7pm. The hostess was very nice, and said although the place was busy, she could probably get us seats at the bar within 20 minutes. She delivered on her promise and before she could even bring us over our drinks, we were sat at the bar. Thankfully the bar seats are comfortable, and there was plenty of room for our plates on the bar. I can't stand when you are at a nice restaurant and bar is too small to comfortably eat at. The bar staff was pushing out drinks like crazy since it was a full house, but each one I watched them make was carefully poured, mixed or shaken. We ordered both the Butcher's Bride and Harlequin (Funny enough, the hostess warned us the Harlequin is slightly pink in color, because dudes have been offended when a pink drink shows up). They were both amazing-perfectly boozy, but not too sharp and super flavorful. We took suggestions from the bar staff on what to order for dinner and we're not disappointed. We started with the carpaccio, which was delicate and fresh-my only BEEF with it (get it?!) was it was slightly too cold. I personally prefer carpaccio when it's at room temperature. My feelings on temperature quickly resolved when I got to the fire roasted mushrooms: Oh. My. Gosh. I'm not a huge mushroom fan, but I'd go to Imperial just to get these. They were so flavorful (thanks to some help from that fatty bone marrow) and perfectly cooked. To go with the mushrooms, we ordered the prawns and the flat-iron steak. The prawns were nothing too special on their own, but when eaten with the polenta-they really came to life. The flat-iron was cooked to perfection, not dry or chewy and it had just the right kick from the peppers. I'm kind of embarrassed to admit I had room in my stomach for dessert after all that food, but how could I turn down Banana Butterscotch Brulee?! It certainly did not disappoint, but then again you can top almost anything with caramelized bananas and I'm happy. All and all, great dining experience-Shoutout to Tony at the bar for taking great care of us. We'll be back soon!
(5)
sionn a.
No kids menu for breakfast and a rude server who was not flexible to menu portion changes. I'll bring my business elsewhere
(1)
Dian K.
I've been here once for brunch and kept coming back for their weekend HH. On tap cocktail, you asked? Yes! This wasn't the first encounter I had with on tap cocktail, and while at first I thought mass produced drink was kinda cheesy, I now prefer it. The master bartender can make sure it's up to his standards and you get a consistent cocktail throughout the night. They make it nice and strong too. Continuing on the cocktail review, their cocktail ice is superb. I saw the bartender personally sawing off a huge clear block of ice to make individual size (big) ice cubes. The food on the HH is pretty standard, but they're all high quality and done well, even the fries. My go-to weekend HH!
(4)
Mark P.
Holds its own in a highly competitive Portland food scene. Creative and fresh veggie sides like snap peas, grilled fungus, and Caramelized green beans with Kim Chee and elk. Well cooked rib eye but the fried chicken is the star. Comfort deserts with a featured pie and sundae. Bring the family.
(4)
Charles H.
Attentive and accommodating service, with a pleasant atmosphere. Coffee was delicious, as was the fried chicken. A recommended establishment.
(4)
Kate F.
Easily one of the top 5 meals I've ever had, AND I got to spy on Chef Doug doing his thing in the kitchen! It was incredible. Don't dare come here and not have the Parker House rolls. We ordered the mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes, and fries to start, and all were incredible (though the mushrooms were the MOST incredible). Then we ordered the fried chicken, carbonara, and pork secreto. The chicken and carbonara were fantastic, the secreto was good but not as good. Then for dessert, because why not, we had the peanut brittle sundae and something else that I can't even remember because I was so full. The whole meal, including cocktails, came to $45 per person...honestly, how could you ever beat that? I'd eat here every night if I lived in Portland. Chef Doug, you're my hero.
(5)
Stacey J.
Came for brunch on a Saturday morning. Brown butter beignets were wonderful as was the ginger mule. My husband had the sausage of the day which he enjoyed - portions are a bit small. I had the fried chicken and biscuit and it was not good at all. The chicken had a ton of batter and not a lot of chicken though I will say the chicken was moist. The whole dish just did not have a lot of flavor. Really disappointing. It was not a bad brunch, but there are so many other places that are better.
(3)
Tommy T.
Stopped in for breakfast as soon as we hit town and went with the pastrami hash that was really tasty. Everything was pretty good, but not particularly memorable. Bacon was really nice for $4, but this was the same price as a half-grapefruit. That's a tad excessive. Bloody Mary's were smoked and smoked way too much. It was overwhelming instead of just a subtle smokey background. Lastly, our server was kind of out of it. Kept repeating the same things he had already told us every time he came back to the table. Decent breakfast, but missed some marks. Like to try again for lunch or dinner.
(3)
Melanie L.
After following the latest season of Top Chef we were excited to try Imperial. It was a little disappointing. The best dish among the four of us was the fried chicken (and I don't think it's that hard to mess up fried food). Oh, also the desserts were good although I now can't even remember what we ordered. So the whole food experience was so-so. In a city of food carts serving such creative, inexpensive fare, I feel that standalone restaurants need to up their game! Open kitchen was nice to look at while dining.
(3)
Patti F.
We went for lunch, take note: make reservations (the place fills up). I had the seared ahi which was ah-may-zing, I could have had two. We also shared some fries which again were really REALLY tasty. Prices were on the high-side, but not over the top. Good quality ingredients, fresh menu, and great flavors. I would LOVE to try the cocktails some time - just not during the work week for lunch.
(5)
AC J.
One of the best happy hours in PDX. Great food, service, and atmosphere. Worth a stop.
(5)
Matthew S.
The house-made pop tart receives the highest possible recommendation. On this day it was strawberry jam in a flaky, light pastry. Then the Imperial Hash was top-rate: house pastrami, crispy potatoes, celery, mushrooms. Unlike so many hashes, this had a balance of taste and wasn't just about quantity.
(5)
Emily H.
I followed Doug through Top Chef and was pumped to go to Imperial to try his food and the experience was made even better when I got to meet Chef Doug himself (super nice guy by the way). It was a busy night and we didn't have reservations, so the wait was about 45 minutes, but WHO CARES when you have food as good as we got! The service was fast, the food was amazing (I'm a Southerner and got the fried chicken and it was the BEST friend chicken I've ever had--and that's saying something), and the atmosphere is great (industrial feel with chandeliers made our of bike chains). I also ordered the kale salad with goat cheese dressing (SO GOOD) and ended up getting two cocktails--both a rye based drink called "Butcher's Bride" which was outstanding. Their bartender wasn't messing around. If you're in Portland, put this place on your list. From one foodie to another, you won't regret it!
(5)
Clay H.
Yelp needs a 'My all time favorite ever' button for ratings. I have given 5 stars before, but this one was all out the best meal I have ever had. No wonder Doug nearly took Top Chef. Since I had just had a fancy meal a few days before, I went somewhat cheap with a burger, but what a burger! The flavor was bigger and better than anything I have had before. Back to the start. We got some of the rolls and the roasted beets to start things off. The rolls were quite nice as they were obviously made from scratch with care and had a lovely flavor and texture. The beets were quite nice with some charred goat cheese on top. This brought us to our only complaint. It is too popular. We had to wait a pretty long time for our main items. But the place was packed, so we understood. Luckily, we were seated to where we could see the cooks working at the wood burning stove. They were neat to watch and friendly. So, we had entertainment. My date had sturgeon and it was also truly wonderful with all tastes combined in a wonderful way. The shaved truffles were quite the exquisite addition. Dessert was nice as well. We had a banana brulee that was waaay better than your standard creme brulee. I also liked our server a lot. Even though they were slammed, she felt like she was taking her time with us. I didn't feel rushed at all. Well done folks.
(5)
Kelsey H.
Very good dinner. We went before a Blazer game and were staying at the hotel. I had the surgeon and ate it all. It was amazing. My bf had the chicken and he said it was a little dry but still ate it all. Drinks were good, service was good. Overall great experience. Get the kale salad it has peanut brittle on it, OMG so good!
(5)
Jakie S.
My friends & I were there for lunch. I had the hamburger, the other had french toast, and the other had chorizo. I tried there's, and we're so delicious! The decor is hip & artsy. We enjoyed it here!
(5)
Lisa Z.
Holy overrated, batman. I have no idea what people were talking about. Huge let down.
(2)
DeathandFood H.
I had high expectation of Imperial and most of them were met but there was something memorable missing from the meal. TL:DR Review- trendy and delicious downtown place best for carnivores and a good place for a gluten free carnivore. The menu looked delicious and our party of 4 was overwhelmed by all the gluten free choices. The sturgeon was good as were many of our dishes but they didn't seem to live up to the description. For vegetarians you'll have to order several of the smaller vegetarian dishes which while all good don't really equal an entree. The stand outs are the things from the wood-fired grill. The service was good if very relaxed, the atmosphere is very fun and the decor very Portland hipster, no big surprise there. All in all, we would return.
(4)
Nancy C.
This restaurant is embraced by locals just as much as by tourists. Cocktails: delicious Food: creative and savory (everything we tried was delicious) Service: friendly and just the right amount of check-ins Celebrity chef: check I would recommend checking it out!
(4)
Kirk P.
We were sat at the bar with our small service dog in a carrying bag and the bartender in rude fashion asked "is there a dog at my bar" I was so put off by his attitude. I was hoping for better from imperial. We won't be back.
(1)
Rosemary P.
My husband and I went here for Portland Dining Month. The menu was: First course: Salad of marinated citrus Second course: Cola and Pabst Blue Ribbon-braised pork Third course: Almond and rhubarb financier I have to say we were more than pleasantly surprised! The salad was by far the best salad I have had in a long time. We even talked about it after we finished our dessert, wanting to have another salad. The pork was delicious, we ordered some potatoes to go with it (which were equally delicious) and the dessert was the perfect finish. The only thing lacking in the dessert was more rhubarb. My husband has an aversion to almonds, so they were nice enough to sub another dessert and brought him a warm chocolate chip cookie (great service!). I suggest making a reservation, as this place was packed. We both took a look at the regular menu and will definitely be back, there are so many things that we are interested to try. When you go, I suggest trying the dinner rolls for $1, they are definitely a great start to the meal. I don't think you can go wrong with anything here. We will see when I return.
(5)
Chris S.
[Caveat: visited during Portland Dining Month on the prix fixe menu] TWO HAIKU REVIEW: Balance of service, image, and content is hard, They have it so close The gorgeous entrees are prettier than delicious but so so worth it. Crown (PRO): Very 'pretty' food, and prompt/attentive service Down (CON): More geared toward upscale, gastroenthusiast crowd than attempting to develop a broader loyalty focus
(3)
Brooke C.
This place is 5 stars because it is really different than a lot of restaurants. I also went to the Dinet pop-up restaurant which I enjoyed greatly. Don't order the bread rolls (bread should be complimentary anyways, no?). Make sure to ask the waiter/waitress about serving sizes per plate because the seemed to vary greatly. I wish I remembered our waiter's name because he was so excellent and enthusiastic. Food was really well prepped (other than the bread! It was a bit burnt - ha!)
(5)
Maxene A.
Reviewing the brunch situation: I've been here a few times now for Brunch and our experience with the food runs just kind of okay. For starters I like an honest answer when I ask "how's the bloody mary" or when I order a spanish coffee and you tell me that the Irish Coffee is better, I'd like to hear a real reason instead of "it's amazing." I took the servers advise and was disappointed, even more so to have the server turn around and say the "it's amazing" answer for everything else we order. hmm hard to decide when everything is "amazing" you see... Foods: Coddled Eggs, Spicy tomato sauce: good taste but not filling, after the eggs are eaten up it just stares back at you as tomato soup and fry bread. $11 The Semolina Corn Cakes: good choice, satisfies the semi sweet (From the corn cakes) and salty (bacon) and feels hearty in your belly from the eggs. $12 House Chorizo, Scrambled Eggs, and Fry Bread: want something with a little spicy kit? order this the dish, the chorizo is delicious and balances great with the eggs, and comes with a serving of their pillow size fry bread! $13 The food is okay, the portions run on the small side, but in reality it's not your typical american portion size, this my friend, is probably the serving size we should be comfortable with, just enough to satisfy but those hunger pangs and the price is reasonable. The bloody Mary runs salty and always chose a Spanish coffee over an Irish coffee-more buzz for your money;) One really great reason I keep coming back for brunch at Imperial -is there has never been a wait, which actually surprises me! perhaps you have a large party, they sure take over the phone reservations too! Vibe: The restaurant is nice, not too upper class snobby, but a place worth putting on some decent outfits for, you really can make the effort in creating your own ambiance at Imperial with a just few select choices in clothing. Want a casual date night-come in jeans, want a hangover brunch- pull your hair in a bun and put on those shades, want to get fancy -well then, get fancy wit yo self! There is garage parking nearby and street parking for blocks.
(3)
Tres B.
Iw as here for breakfast, early oon a saturday morning. I am not a fan of eggs benedict, but couldnt' resist the braised beef version and was rewarded with an abolute delicay. A bursting galaxy of complex falvors and nuggest style fired potates with jsut the right crunch. The servers were on spot, if not a bit plastic. In typilc Portland fashion, they ahve their uber snobby quirks. No ice for the water and no salt and pepper shakers because "the chef has pefectly seasoned the food". OK, that was actually true! Lastly, the surroundings are borderline elegant and clever. The big comuunity table built around the large cement support columns is interesting and a highlight of the space.
(4)
Frankie L.
Yes yes yes YES! This was easily one of the best decisions I've made on my visit to Portland. Imperial is a real gem, and exceeded all of my expectations. The mushrooms with bone marrow was a great starter, as were the poke.. But the thing I've been raving about is their fried chicken. Hands down, the absolute best fried chicken I've ever had in my life (sorry mom). They serve it with house pickles, honey, and house made hot sauce. Paired with my cocktail selection 'New Money', I was blissfully serene while dining at Imperial. Without a doubt if I'm in the Portland area again, I'll be sure to revisit Imperial.
(5)
Shirley C.
Fried Chicken with watermelon salad. Do I need to say more?....... Delicious!
(5)
Shea H.
Very trendy looking restaurant. There are some vegetarian and gluten free options on the menu too, which is nice. I had the Perry white wine, which was quite yummy. The only thing that I found frustrating was the vegetable options. There were sooooo many veggie options (artichoke, beets, radishes, collards, kale, grilled romaine, etc) but a lot of them were accompanied by meat, which seemed counter productive. Also, the plates are pretty small. I'm generally not a fan of tapas-type dining. It's not like the small plates are cheap. So to get a fulfilling meal, you have to order a few plates and that can be pricey. I ordered beets and it was probably about 1/3 cup of actual beets on the plate mixed in with entire sprigs (plural) of cilantro and a few pieces of shrimp. Also ordered the artichoke...it was half an artichoke and it was just okay. Great concept. Just not the best execution. I would probably try Imperial again but I would wait until the menu options are cheaper..perhaps during lunch or happy hour.
(3)
Lauren T.
My friend and I are quite the foodies - we love going to restaurants and finding the best food while in Portland, a diner's paradise. How delighted we were when we discovered Imperial - over new very favorite restaurant. Every single bite of every dish is heaven. The wait staff was wonderful, the food, HEAVENLY! We can't wait to return!
(5)
Steven M.
We went to Imperial because of Top Chef and Doug being on the show. We were able to meet him, but he wouldn't tell us if he won - I hate waiting. The space is very nicely layer out and love the design. We were sat at a comfortable table with a street view. We started with the coal roasted beets and oysters - nice sample of three different oysters which is a nice touch. We moved onto Doug's fried chicken - the chicken was perfectly prepared, and the sauce that you apply yourself was spices and tart - a very nice contrast to the watermelon and onion. The grilled Kauai prawns were spot on and cooked perfectly. The bacon prawn sauce was a wonderful touch. We then hand the pork secrato, the only sour note on the meal. Our waiter informed us that this was a signature dish for the restaurant. It was cooked well, but came out cold and somewhat flat - felt as if it sat for too long. We finished with the Chocolate Chess pie which was wonderful - good way to end the meal. Overall, the staff was very attentive and pleasant. Will be back for the chicken - some of the best I have ever had.
(4)
Travis M.
We came in for lunch on a Friday and were extremely underwhelmed. The soup and sandwich were small, necessitating a stop by one of the nearby and far more reasonably priced food trucks after lunch. With prices so high, perhaps you're paying for the service and ambiance, you ask? Not so. The wait staff was short with us, borderline annoyed and fully focused on flipping our smaller table in favor of larger parties. Two stars for food quality; it wasn't bad, just extremely overpriced for the portion sizes.
(2)
Jason T.
I'm normally not a brunch/breakfast person as most breakfast/brunch places are pretty standard with their menus. I was, however, impressed by the menu at the Imperial. I had their pastrami hash and it was both unique and incredibly flavorful. My dining partner had more of a traditional farmer's breakfast. I'd highly recommend.
(4)
Kelsie V.
I must try their cocktails, but I always go for beer initially. Hospitable, Higher End cocktail lounge Great decor and color scheme. No uppity service. Varied food menu. Lots of options. I had chicken wings once with a friend (not my favorite). Washrooms are a hassle to get to, part of the hotel.
(4)
Samuel K.
Truly one of the most underrated new restaurants in town. Paley has taken some liberties with his menu at Imperial and some of the creations he has come up with are truly fantastic, done with impeccable technique and a sense of whimsy and fun. Driving at the heart of his kitchen here is this towering Italian-made inferno-of-a-wood-burning stove, apparently only one of two of its kind in North America. Sit at the chefs counter and you will burn your eyebrows off, but watching the chefs cooking various cuts of meat to slightly charred smokey perfection is worth it. It really is an inferno though; apparently the cooks can't have pocket change in their pants without becoming sterilized. Vitaly is obviously having some fun here. Take for example his raw kale and vegetable salad. Take fresh kale, sliced root vegetables, dressed in a tangy dressing. Now what does he dress this with? Hazelnut brittle pieces. WHAaa...?! But then you take a bite of the tart creamy crunchy salad, and a piece of the brittle crumbles in your mouth, and this sweet caramel creamy flavor melds with the tart creamy thing and all of a sudden you realize that this is frickin delicious, and frickin INSPIRED. Another example: fried rabbit. So what's the big deal? Imagine the best fried chicken you've ever had, then multiply it times 3. Vitaly figured that the only way to make good fried chicken better is to use rabbit instead. Genius. And it's served with pickled watermelon and a corn cake, in case you're not sure of the fried chicken reference. Not to mention a tiny little pitcher of honey and homemade barrel aged hot sauce to drizzle all over that sh*t. Holy Popeye's chicken times 50 Batman. Don't miss the quail or the pork secreto either. The quail is cooked to tender perfection Moroccan style with pearl couscous and enthusiastically overcarmelized. The smokey pork secreto is served with a generous slather of smokey Romesco. Major Deliciousness. And to top off my last meal Vitaly blessed my party with a couple slices of charcuterie made with pork face, seasoned with fennel pollen, salt and pepper a la porchetta, and sous vide'd for 18 hours. Holy pig. Completely melted in my mouth. One of the best pieces of meat, raw, cooked, or cured, I've ever put in my mouth. So, don't believe the lukewarm reviews. Sit at the counter and go to town. Vitaly will serve you right.
(5)
Alexei R.
We came across the Imperial while walking to our hotel; the menu caught our eye so we decided to go for breakfast the next morning. We ended up going back for dinner as well. Breakfast: the meal was great, the speed of food coming out of the kitchen was a little slow, but we were not in a rush. The quality of the ingredients was fantastic and the preparation very well done. I had the ham+cheese omelet which included some potatoes. Outstanding. Dinner: we were a party of 4 and got seated right away. The overall meal was one of the best I have had in a long time. Our server was very polite and attentive, but not overbearing. We ordered a few cocktails and they were all outstanding. We then proceeded to order half the menu, all of it was excellent. Of note: grilled romaine salad, fried rabbit, pork chop, and the desserts. Everything was well cooked, very flavorful. Highly recommended!
(5)
Tiffany M.
**3.5, Brunch** Dropped in here midday on a Sunday with family, and the place was a ghost town. Decor is pretty awesome, they married industrial/contemporary design nicely. After getting over my initial disappointment of not being able to enjoy a cocktail (the server carded AND I forgot my ID?? Ugh, the humanity!), I was yet again disappointed with the server's lack of interest in having a personality or any interest in actually doing her job well. Yeesh, that's harsh, but I say that with a heavy heart. I loves me some good service. The food itself is more like a 4, to be fair. I enjoyed my semolina corn cakes, polenta-like and topped with poached eggs, served with bacon and some strangely sweet sauce. At first I was really caught off-guard by the sweetness of the sauce but it grew on me. My FIL loved his steelhead benedict, and my Bro-in-Law had good things to say about the fry-bread chorizo plate. Although I must say, the beignets we got as a starter were really flavorless and would recommend skipping those. As my poor FIL found out, "draft cocktail" is code for lighter fluid. They are VERY strong, not sure if they use bottom shelf liquors but it tasted like it. Be prepared if you order one! Prices are average, and in a town with some amazing brunches I wouldn't rank this one very high on the list.
(3)
Momo B.
MORE SPACIOUS Selected to sit at the white counter in front of the kitchen. It allowed us to witness first hand how the kitchen prepared our dinner. Ordered their Parker House Roll, Duck Meatballs, Winter Green Salad plus Grilled Lamb Tongue. I would have to say that the Duck Meatballs was pleasantly a large portion and the most tasty dish. The Winter Green Salad was really sprinkling of red cabbage with bits of a ham hock hidden below... in hind sight, wished I had ordered the sausage instead.. As for the Grilled Lamb Tongue, luckily my photographer will eat anything. Parker House Roll could have used a bit more sea salt to take it to the next level. Enjoyed the restaurant's spaciousness and PNW ambiance. It was fun to sit in front of the kitchen and watch the food preparations. Again, I wouldn't mind returning to try their brunch.
(4)
Ronald A.
I have lunch here a couple of times. I think my staff and wife enjoy it more than I do. I have had the pastrami and it was fine. The tuna is also fine. They normally come with potato chip, which is not on my diet anymore. Getting a salad instead was a chore. For the regular price, I could have a half sandwich and a salad. If I wanted a full sandwich, I would have to pay extra for the salad, even if I passed on the chips. It was much too hard. They do have good desserts and the rest of my office loves this place. I guess I am the hold out.
(3)
W M.
I ordered the flat iron steak and blueberry pie for desert. Both were very good . The trotters seemed very popular at the next table. Very busy restaurant service seemed a tad slow though all if the staff seemed very busy and were very professional
We went here after hearing the head chef, Dougie, was going to be a competitor or Top Chef Boston. My husband and I ordered 4 different things off of the menu, two meats and two veggies, to share. They were offering a fried chicken dish with a watermelon salad and in house hot sauce. It was what Dougie cooked on the first episode and it was amazing!! Everything else we ordered was delicious too! Not only is the food good, but the service was decent, they had fun cocktails and the vibe in the restaurant was fun as well. I would recommend this to anyone!
(5)
Ron T.
I'm not here to put a crown nor hail Paley. This was my first visit so things could go either way. I would say, I'm impressed with the flavor depth of the food they have but the price could have been justified a little more. I don't see where the price point meets with the serving size. Are we also paying for the prestige and ego of the chef now? The drinks selections are decent. I did order the Coat of Arms. It's refreshing and fruity. I like the subtlety . My friend had New Money. The bourbon is well blended and the aftertaste of wood left a lasting impression. I was surprised by the smoked mussels and roasted beets appetizers. I was expecting a bowl of shells but it was served in a long plate where the beets served as the bed with 6 tiny smoked shelled mussels. It tasted great. The sharp smokey flavor gets balanced by the blandness of the beet with hints of the sprinkled herbs. I did then have the Spit Roasted Lamb and the Spoon Lamb. I was lucky to have it as it was the last one. It came out slightly tough but definitely manageable. The farro made it tougher for me to chew the lamb. A chewy lamb with a chewy emmer farro doesn't help much. Being seated at the marble counter, I felt like I'm having dinner in front of the fireplace. I think this is the only warm place in the whole restaurant. All in all, it was a good experience. The atmosphere is ok. It is loud. You almost have to yell and not appreciate your food while you're trying to have a little convo. If you've been to Oven and Shaker, you will notice the similarity in the design of the place. There is barely any opulence in Imperial with the dark wood, steel and brick design. I like it but not on a restaurant. O&S's decibles are far toned down than Imperial's. You might as well text each other like what most of the patrons are onto. The staff is awesome. They don't have an attitude nor have a scent of a hipster. Bravo for smiling and taking a daily shower/ wearing deodorant.
(3)
Alison V.
I only sat outside for a beer, on a beautiful day. I will be back for food. This was by far the best people watching I've seen while enjoying a drink. I couldn't believe all the hipsters out. Maybe because it was Saturday night, but still it was interesting (not in a bad way). The bartender was a little slow, but other than that it was good. I'll have to update my review when I go back for food.
(3)
Luis C.
My wife and I chose to come to Portland for our honeymoon. We knew that there would be amazing food in this city so we spent an entire day trying to figure out the perfect restaurant to eat. Last night we chose Imperial Restaurant and everything I ate was like a dream. From the pear and blue cheese salad to the wild mushroom for our starters and ending with the best pork chops I ever eaten. To my wife being adventurous and ordering the stuffed quail, everything was amazing. To finish with the toffee gingerbread with pumpkin ice cream. Our waitress was spot on when she called the pastry chef an "evil genius". Even though I was full I had to eat the last bite. The service was was outstanding as well. Our waitress was so friendly, she helped make our night one to remember.
Really good! Kind of a surprise. We had put our name in at Tasty n Alder on a Saturday night, but after an hour and 20 minutes of waiting, we decided to try someplace else. (Who knew SO MANY people ate downtown on the weekends??) There wasn't a wait at Imperial, so we gave it a try. Everything was really really good. We had oysters to start, then trout a la plancha with blood pudding and potato puree, and fried rabbit. It was just all really good! Satisfying. The portions were perfectly sized so you didn't need to order 2 appetizers and a dessert to feel like you were getting a whole meal. The service was also confident and unassuming. I really liked Imperial. A lot. I'm not quite sure what else to say other than that it's really really good. And appropriately priced. And pleasant. A nice place to go if you're making the trip across the river into downtown Portland on a weekend. Just know that if you do that, you're then having a "night on the town" with all the other people who come to downtown Portland to have a "night on the town." It's kind of weird. Some people get dressed up IN FANCY LEGGINGS AND LOUBOUTINS (!!) and weird prom hair, when they're probably too old for prom hair . . . . Oh Portland.
(4)
Cyndi S.
Stellar night out at The Imperial. Lovely warm atmosphere on a misty foggy night in Portland. Northwest decor with wood smoke transported us to the woods for a cozy evening. Don't miss the Parker House rolls - warm buttery with perfect crust and flaky center. We couldn't resist seconds! Table had cocktails, beer on draft, and delicious house made sodas with interesting combinations: vanilla + almond and bell pepper + fennel. A la carte vegetable choices were beautifully prepared and presented in cast iron dishes on log round trays. We ordered maple carrots, mushrooms, and stuffed eggplant - which were all delicious. Our main courses were fried chicken, grilled cauliflower, pasta carbonara, and grilled prawns. The plating was lovely with hearty portion sizes and excellent flavor. Not a morsel remained of warm Texas sheet cake and lemon meringue with ice cream for dessert. Service was attentive with excellent knowledge of the menu. Overall a terrific evening. We'll be back.
(5)
Cathleen G.
Tried the Prix Fix meal for Portland Dining Month. It was excellent. Enjoyed the whole experience. Would definitely return next time I am in Portland.
(4)
Brian C.
Dinner Jan 30 Stumbled on this place and glad I did! Very cool menu, cool atmosphere and some great tasting food. Water served at table in old clear whiskey, bourbon, tequila bottles. Each table getting a different unique bottle - very cool! Serving Boston's Famous Parkerhouse rolls! Have to pay for each one but worth it! Winter Green Salad with roasted pears, caramelized onions, and pull pork was exceptional! Pork Secretto was very flavorful and juicy. Served over Red Pepper romesco and a fire grilled leek. Got a side dish roasted potatoes and you can taste the fire in them. Ended the meal with a flourless chocolate cake w/ pistachio and meringue. Very rich, but super delightful! I stay at the Marriott about 100 feet away and will be eating here often!
(4)
Gina W.
Service was great and very accommodating when we showed up a bit early to avoid the Starlight parade crowd the same day. Ordered the duck egg with elk's tongue which was delicious. Followed by the pork's blood pasta with clams and the tails and trotters. Tails and trotters a bit salty but the pasta was unique and velvety. But the highlight of the meal? Parker House Rolls. $1 of the most delicious freshly baked roll I've ever had in my life and I was tempted to order a dozen to go.
(5)
Elizabeth H.
Four people compromised on an overall grade of "C". Distracted and generally terrible service. No servers scanning the dining room with their eyes as they pass through to see that everyone is happy. Ever. They're just walking fast past you. We thought the server was the water person because she didn't ask for our drinks order as she poured the water. She just left and reappeared a good fifteen minutes later. The pork shoulder was VERY salty-- too savory to be tasty anymore and the other favors, competing sweet and spicy just created more confusion with the "It's too salty" mantra hammering away. The famous hamburgers were "bad" or "Just OK" in the opinion of 2 who ordered those. The chef made his appearance for some foreign tourists but, from our experience last night, the kitchen and the dining room need A LOT more attention from our good Vitaly.
(2)
J. J.
We went for Father's Day brunch and were very disappointed. According to Portland Monthly they have one of the 5 best Bloody Mary's in town....really???...it was nothing special and just okay. We split an order of beignets to start and they were fine but had much better ones at a New Orleans bakery in Downtown Disney of all places!! My husband ordered the Pastrami Hash and there was barely any pastrami in it and the portion was small. I ordered the Semolina cake with poached eggs and bacon and the dish was virtually tasteless. The applewood smoked bacon from Trader Joes' was better. Daughter had buttermilk pancakes which she barely touched. I tasted them and they were fine I thought. The dinner reviews are so good we will try again at night time but based on our meal today I would skip going here for brunch.
(2)
Juanjo F.
Great menu with lots of varied choices. I have had a hard time to choose and ended asking for more food than I could eat... I just was curious about so many of the dishes that could not avoid trying. None disappointed.
(4)
Alena C.
I came here with a dinner crew of ten and we were seated promptly in the glass case of emotion...the glass door with sliding doors. Which is pretty awesome, except this restaurant is lowed and every time a server came in/out they would leave the door open and we would have to shut it behind them. 1) The house rolls are pretty decent. For $1 might as well try it, but I have had better. 2) I had the steamer clams with plum something, and I loved it. Comes out on a cool wood block. 3) I also had the duck meatballs which consisted of two huge meatballs and sauce. I really liked this dish. 4) For an entree I had the blackened cod. It was just perfect! I hate overcooked fish and the cod was not too firm and still flaky and yummy. 4) For dessert I had the pineapple upside down cake which was my favorite thing all night. Get it. The service was slow and spotty, the atmosphere was fun, the food was yummy. I would come back, but only if someone else was paying.
(4)
Brian O.
What a night! This restaurant is very chic and a great atmosphere. We were a party of 4 and where close to the back near the kitchen! I loved looking over at how the food was cooked. So unique having everything open and added such flavor from the open fire. I had the grilled romaine salad which was amazing. Then my partner had a basket of fries. Which were fries. When dinner came and I had the king salmon which I seriously wish I had the money to eat that dish everyday. He had a Italian sausage. It was super tasty. This whole meal was topped off with espresso and a peanut brittle sundae that was so rich and delicious!
(4)
Stanley M.
My girlfriend, her sister, and I ate here for a nice Friday night out. The restaurant is really nice and the staff were great. I ordered a radish-type drink with a massive block of ice instead of crushed or cubed ice; a nice twist. The drink (I don't remember the name) is a party in the mouth and highly recommended. I also ordered Stan's Meat Platter and although it was very good, I still had to eat some food later; quantity was not its forte. Very good burgers though and the dessert was delightfully sinful.
(4)
Barbara B.
Great staff. Polite and customer service oriented. Went for breakfast,have a beignet or four! Delicious !!
(5)
Lauren S.
The food was solid but not quite as good as I expected. We just went for lunch and they offer a nice soup/salad/sandwich menu for a casual mid-day meal. I had the chopped salad with tuna on top. They were kind of stingy with tuna (which was a $9 add on to a $7 salad) and I was hoping for more beets. The flavor of fennel in the salad was nice though. My husband got the pastrami sandwich which he liked since it wasn't heavy like the typical NY kind we're used to. And the cup of tomato soup was very good. We went with another couple who also ordered salads and seemed pretty happy with their meals. I was impressed by the waitress who knew the menu very well and got the entire order correct without writing anything down, even though we were a little undecided at first. She did a nice job of trying to upsell us on the bread and pie for dessert even though we turned her down. And they were very accommodating when we asked to change tables to get away from the din of the open kitchen in the back of the dining room.
(4)
Renee W.
We had brunch on 12/14. Waited 1/2 hour to get our mimosas. Waiter was not in any hurry to take our order. Six in our party had eggs Benedict - very nicely prepared. My daughter and I had crab omlete - only two eggs and very little crab - no potatoes but a small side salad that was over dressed. We left hungry and were disappointed. I'm not sure I would go there again.
(2)
Bethany K.
Customer service review ONLY. While I live/work in LA, we have clients in Portland and wanted to send a more thoughtful holiday gift (a gift certificate for a local restaurant) so I dug around a bit on PDX Eater and found Imperial. Called in yesterday and spoke with Mandy, who was super sweet, helpful, and friendly. She took my info, the amount of the gift certificate, and was able to coordinate the actual mailing of the physical gift certificate so that we wouldn't have to get it sent to LA first, then back up to Portland. BUT, I wanted to get a note included since it was from the office and asked her to hold off on sending til I could get the wording okay'ed. Called back the next day and spoke with someone else (since Mandy wasn't in yet) and found out that the gift certificate had already gotten mailed out. Ugh. She apologized and said that Mandy had written a note about waiting to send it until I had called in with the note wording, but because of the volume of gift certificates, it probably got lumped in with the others and the night host/hostess sent it out. Okay, so at this point a little frustrated/upset because you know, I had asked for something, Mandy had heard and noted it, but yet it still got sent out. I'm thinking okay what could possibly be done to remedy the situation? I ask -- would it be possible to check the mail box to see when USPS picks it up? The person on the phone made it sound like I was asking for something completely ridiculous, even though she had told me the exact location of the mailbox/kioskl that they use. I looked it up--the mailbox was literally two blocks from their restaurant. How much effort would it be for them to walk down, see if it's been picked up, and report back? I asked to speak to a manager and spoke with Garrett (one of the GMs, I believe), who apologized again but restated that there was nothing they could do. I was more at a loss because they obviously messed up but no one was willing to WALK TWO BLOCKS to potentially intercept the gift certificate that shouldn't have gotten mailed out in the first place. Why not? He said, oh we don't know which mail box (which is a lie because the other person told me which one) and oh, it's against federal rules to break into a mailbox... but I wasn't asking them to! If anything, I was really disappointed that aside from a "I'm sorry..." it didn't feel like they were willing to do anything to remedy the situation. Try to get it back? Send out a separate card or gift certificate with my note instead? I ended up just asking them to cancel the transaction and will now try to find an alternative. Again, this is obviously not a review around the food or an in-restaurant dining experience, but if my interactions with them on the phone were any indication of what their customer service philosophy is, I'd stay away. (And as a caveat, I hate those people who randomly write uber emotional biased Yelp reviews after a bad experience... but at the same time, a bad experience is a bad experience.)
(1)
Ted D.
The food, as usual with Doug running the kitchen, was great. But the service was terrible. We had to get up to refill our own water bottle (gave up waiting and waving to the waiter). The other irritant, was that the waiter delivered two of the entre accompanying dishes BEFORE the appetizer. He said it was "out of his control." Really??? So we ate those, then the appetizer, then the entre.
(3)
Chris M.
I really want to like imperial but have been underwhelmed with my last couple of business lunches. My last experience they totally botched my order which my client pointed out to the staff. I said it was fine...but didn't get so much as a "sorry"
(2)
Dr B.
The worst breakfast I've ever had in Portland (and I'm including McDonald's). The bread tasted like fish. The service was slow. There were 8 people in the kitchen. We were one of six tables in there and the food took over 30 minutes to arrive. Half the dishes were burned, the potatoes and corn cakes were charred on the bottoms and tasted burnt. The frybread was good, but not good enough for us to ever come back. If you come here, don't come here for breakfast.
(1)
Courtney A.
I eat here regularly, and generally enjoy the food. The kale salad is delicious, and typically the fish is done nicely. The grilled cheese / tomato soup lunch combo is a sure bet. The vegetable sides are usually just delicious. The service can be spotty at times, although recently I think they've made some adjustments (at least at lunch time) and that seems better. I wish they would make some effort to have a vegetarian option soup. Often the soup sounds good, and it doesn't have meat, but it has some sort of meat or chicken stock that places it out of bounds. They have a small room in the back that seats about 10 that is really nice if you're with a group that size.
(4)
Genius F.
Made reservations through yelp went smoothly, got right in everything looked fantastic. After not be helped for 20 minutes at the table thought things began to look worse. They were busy but not anywhere near me packed. Finally a waitress came by and instead of taking drink order(which we really wanted) she just walked up to the table and said ohhhh um I'll be right back. Another 15 minutes went by without anything when she finally did arrive I we quickly ordered everything at once so as not to impeded our dining experience or get lost in the ordering system of a place that we aren't particularly sure about. We the. Waited 18 minutes on the nose for a hot toddy for my girl friend and zero drinks for me? What is going on? I couldn't believe it the rest of the brunch went about the same for everything and turned what would have been an all morning leisurely brunch turned into just wanting to get the heck out of there. The food was fantastic and so were the drink. Irresponsible serving techniques and a total disregard for the dining experience really soured me to this place. Hopefully it was a one time experience as the restaurant is beautiful and would love to be able to go again to have a better outing.
(2)
Katie H.
Perfect date night restaurant. The drinks are fantastic. Had appetizer of ceviche and the carrot ginger soup. The ceviche had large tuna chunks, and came with a rosemary flat bread that complimented the ceviche perfectly. The soup was hearty and a nice starter. For an entree I had lamb that was done 2 ways with a plum sauce and served in polenta. Yum!!!!!! Big enough to split FYI. Had my entree and starters paired with wine that the bartender recommended. Each helped bring out the flavors of the food. Can't wait to go back and try more. Also.....be adventurous...try something you've never had before and you won't be disappointed here.
(5)
S D.
Spectacular. Kale salad and eggplant as firsts, then pbr and cola braised pork and fried chicken as mains. Perfection and so reasonably priced for downtown Portland. My new favorite restaurant.
(5)
Brent G.
GREAT DRINKS, and the food is satisfying. The seared albacore was so delicate and different than typical pink sushi tuna. I'm going back for the fried rabbit.
(4)
Alex S.
Had some oysters on the half and a basket of fries. Both were very good. My wife had a speciality drink too that was quite tasty. Place seems to be a bit trendy and somewhat expensive but, the staff was very friendly.
(4)
Krista G.
I'm not going to write a long winded review because honestly I just wanna forget how much it cost. My cosmo was $12 and it was little, I had 2. Yikes. Wait let me say the nice stuff first. I loved the interior, it really is a beautiful space. Very wide open rustic and warm. The kitchen is open and I love hat. The grilled Romaine salad was pretty tasty and the fries were really good. If our waiter would have come back to check on us I would have had plenty of that secret sauce for dipping. The service was a little meh and for that price they need to be on it! The main was grilled Coho salmon @ $26 it was the tiniest piece of fish ever...and it came with no sides everything is a la carte here. It was cooked perfectly but I guess the price just ruined it for me. We shared a side of swiss chard that I felt like was way overcooked. The sundae was delicious so at least it ended on a high note :) Bottom line for me is that for the price it was not worth it. I could have spent less than half as much somewhere else and had an equally good meal.
Food was great and the whole family felt welcome. Service alone deserves 5 stars. Our server Angie did an amazing job and we even got a photo op with Chef Doug for the out of town visitors. Great place and I strongly recommend.
(5)
Amireh G.
MEAT!! Rabbit, lamb, beef, pork, fish OH MY!! Gluten free options clearly listed on the menu. Updated weekly menu. Plus crafted mocktails.
(4)
Andy R.
Shy of official 5. But close enough! Simply one of the best pork products I've had in my life!!!! The smoked grilled pork secreto is a thing of beauty!!!!
(5)
Fay B.
The most wonderful, beautiful supper we have had as of yet......delicious just does not describe the quality and the staff made the evening extra extra special and perfect for us. Admittedly, this ranks with our wedding day.......perfect! You guys are awesome. It was a beautiful Birthday/Anniversary date night.
(5)
Reba M.
Wonderful! Pleasant staff. Great food. Elk eggs benedict was amazing. As was the fried chicken and bloody Mary.
(4)
Brian C.
I find the prices a bit high at Imperial but the food is always solid if not super inspiring and they have nice cocktails and wine list. I'd put it at 3.5 stars but I'm rounding up to 4 as a nice downtown food option and even though Chef Vitaly Paley isn't here all the time they seem to have pretty good consistency and he has good folks in the kitchen. Happy Hour from 2-6pm is a great time to sit in the bar area with a very nice menu of reduced price food & drink. It's not perfect and it's more expensive than I'd prefer, but you'll rarely get a bad meal at Imperial.
(4)
Michael F.
Excellent full meal service at the bar, with a bartender that not only creates the drinks but is extremely knowledgeable on the menu. Here is the big recommendation: fried radishes served with the bone in pork chop accompanied with a great Oregon Pinot
(5)
Jen F.
We went for happy hour, with a large group. Tried a variety of small plates - cheese, meats, fries, olives, and the like. The meat plate was quite impressive, everything else was "very good"... and the prices at happy hour are very reasonable. Service was outstanding. The bartender and wait staff are attentive and knowledgeable. Both of my cocktails were tasty and balanced. Beer selection is thoughtful and offers a nice variety. Hope to return some time for lunch or dinner. I would return for happy hour too!
(4)
Bell K.
I guess I was expecting something a lot cozier before I got to this restaurant. When I walked in, an "upscale sports bar"is what came to mind. We had a table of 4 people, all ordering starters, salads and a main course. We have no idea why, but most everything came out at the same time in under 5 minutes, with some of the salads about 15 minutes later. We felt rushed to eat this table full of food before the many hot dishes got cold. The biggest complaint among half the table were that the portions were too small. It just wasn't overall an enjoyable evening, it was completely rushed and unsatisfying.
(2)
Winema W.
Great service, friendly staff, excellant food! We will be back!!! Couldn't ask for a better time!
(5)
Kai N.
The menu was heavily meat based. Service was good. If you like unique dishes this place is for you but not if you want something your normal pallet experiences.
(3)
Laura W.
I am between 3 and 4 stars on this nice restaurant. I might have had higher hopes for a Vitaly Paley place. The staffing seemed too low today for the volume although the servers were killing themselves- especially the bar tender to make it work. I had a vegan dish that was good and a good glass of wine. Others in my party had the fried chicken with watermelon, which seemed really good, but underdone. I am not a fan of med rare chicken. I would try it next time on the assumption that it was a mistake during a really busy lunch. This is my second trip to Imperial and both times my expectations were a little higher than what was delivered. I will try it again.
(4)
Well-Traveled I.
$85 for breakfast for five seems a bit steep; decor is typical Portland (is it me, or are all restaurants starting to look the same around here) but some of the staff seems a bit-too-cool (and I mean that in a negative - not positive - way). Our waiter was very attentive, but dining companions said eggs were cold and breakfast potatoes were just OK. I guess serving your bill on a wooden block and having a staff with designer European glasses makes it worth the trip.
(3)
Nantas S.
I had dinner here last night and breakfast here again this morning. My family has been in the restaurant business 35+ years and I can speak only from my own experience but this has got to be one of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at if not the best.
(5)
Mike H.
This place has the food. In fact, Imperial had the best food on our recent trip to Portland but it also had the surliest staff and the largest check. Until Imperial everybody we met was Portlandia nice. You can generate a crowd on the sidewalk by stopping to look at a map. The panhandlers and there are a lot of them greeted me with smile even when I passed them by. Maybe it is Imperial's way of standing out in a crowed restaurant scene but surly and inattentive were not the high points of our dinner. If you are in the area and are interested in some seriously good eats go and enjoy. Just be sure your chi is aligned or it can be a drag.
(3)
Pascal F.
This review is based on service alone. Mainly because we were never served. Sat outside on a quiet Father's Day lunch, and while we sat and watched our neighbor table get served...we weren't. No water, no drink order, nothing. So after about 15 minutes of waiting patiently, we left. Service is such a huge factor in my dining experience, and this is going to make me go elsewhere when i'm making my dining decision.
(1)
Olivia C.
I went there for brunch on a saturday and it was delicious! We had crab beignets, oysters, frybread with chorizo and brown sugar beignets dipped in honey. Food was amazing, service was so-so, but the overall ambiance was awesome. Heck, Vitaley Paley was on Iron Chef so we have an amazing opportunity to try his food!
(5)
Taylor W.
Ordered the fried rabbit and it was delicious. At every table they have some restaurant made hot sauce. It was so good a server said we could take one home. Very busy crowd and noise level. In fact, we were convinced seated next to us were some pimps and their escorts. It was hard not to stare. Neat open style kitchen and loved the decor. Very Portland.
(4)
Rachel S.
Favorite happy hour so far! I came here on a Wednesday evening for happy hour. My dad and I each tried the 2 happy hour cocktails and they were incredible. The vieux carre was just what I needed after a long day at work and commuting- it was strong and nuanced. And a steal at $5! All of the food was great, and a bargain. We had parker house rolls, fries, the delicious grilled romaine salad, hazelnuts, and the cheese plate. We followed up with the olive oil pound cake, which really took me by surprise at how delicious it was (and my dad, who doesn't eat much dessert- I almost had to fight him for it). The service was good, the atmosphere somewhat trendy and upscale, and it was overall a great experience. I can't recommend this place enough!
(5)
Ashara D.
Came in just before the kitchen closed but they were very nice and got us some excellent food. I believe I ordered beef short ribs, absolutely amazing, the meat was melt-in-your-mouth soft! My friend had fries, also delicious.
(5)
Tripp W.
We were a party of eight during the busy holiday season and service was absolutely amazing! I tried the radish cocktail which sounds peculiar but it actually worked very well. We had almost everything on the menu and all of the dishes were presented very well and the taste of each item was right on point. I had the pork secreto and it was deliciously smoky and the romesco sauce was a perfect accompaniment. My companion and I also shared the grilled romaine salad and it was outstanding! One of our diners ordered the burger and fries and proclaimed it the best burger she had ever had! The room is beautiful with super high ceilings and interesting lighting and art. And the prices are very reasonable especially considering the quality of the food. You won't be disappointed with a night out at The Imperial!
(5)
Teresa D.
Really great pork chop, roasted cauliflower and parker house rolls. Boyfriend had excellent short ribs and grilled broccoli. Nicely balanced cocktails.
(4)
Theresa N.
Stopped in for drinks and appetizers during Happy Hour. Cool place with an enjoyable ambiance and interesting serving bowls. We had the Duck Meatballs and Steamed Clams. Both were absolutely delicious.
(5)
Leland M.
What a dining experience!!! I sat at the bar and quickly could tell the sincerity of the service and the quality of product I was in for. The bartenders genuinely cared about my experience and their craft. It was the definition of well made drinks and the care they put into making them was very obvious. They new every aspect of every dish on the menu and could describe them to perfection. Will definitely look forward to going back the next time I'm in town.
(5)
yuki t.
I have been there twice, both times being treated by a company expense, and I felt relieved not to open my wallet for mediocre experiences in a very odd decor. Overall, I thought the food was on a heavier side, which I often have to be in the right mood to enjoy. That's why I remember loving the roasted carrot side dish but not much else after two months. What I vividly remember is though........a drum roll, please.......is the dessert, especially the pie! The crust was crisp but soft and the apple filling was perfectly moist without having that gooey starch. The best pie I've had in so long. Kudos to the pastry chef!
My friends and I came in for happy hour on a Wednesday night. The drinks were great but the bartender was incredibly rude. We each had a drink but my friend was charged for a second glass of wine she didn't order. When she pointed this out he just stared at her for a minute then said "Well, we're not going to charge you for it if that's you're trying to say." Then we asked to split the tab between us and he got all huffy and said (in the most demeaning voice) "If you'd told me at the beginning that you wanted separate tabs than I could have just brought you separate bills." Really, guy? Four ladies in the bar getting one drink each and you didn't anticipate that they might want to pay separately? Sorry to inconvenience you. The drink and food were good AND there were other nice people working. This guy was just.the.worst.
(2)
Nobu D.
Imperial (and Portland Penny Diner, also operated by Chef Paley) are amazing. The food, service and atmosphere are impeccable. The team is friendly and attentive. Chef Paley creates artisan fare with fine attention to detail and Garret, the General Manager, is always available with a warm greeting. The kale salad is a must. Michelle, the pastry chef, creates the most amazing desserts with cunning flavor combinations. Shelly, the Operations Director, creates fabulous events and is a delight to work with. The entire team deserves kudos. If you are in downtown Portland Imperial and Portland Penny Diner (both located in Hotel Lucia) are a must visit.
(5)
Natalie W.
The first time I heard about Chef Paley (or, rather, his original restaurant), was through friends, who announced that they had just eaten the best meal in town. The second time I heard about the chef was through a random waitress at a steakhouse in NYC. If your reputation travels that far, it's got to count for something. My boyfriend and I decided to check out the Imperial for its Portland Dining Month three-course meal. We added on the wine pairings for an extra $16 per person (great deal, especially considering the wine quality). But first, we started with cocktails: Exit Through the Gift Shop for my boyfriend (which he liked, but wished had been better); A Radish Walks Into A Bar for me (smokey and savory, like a gin-based bloody mary without any dense tomato juice). First course was an arugula salad with fresh strawberries (not too sweet, just perfect), hazelnuts, and a pesto vinaigrette. The salad was light and fresh, but still rich and flavorful. Paired with a dry, French rose. Second course was a smoked pork loin, topped with some veggies and a smokey/sweet mustard sauce. I loved how the veggies and sauce didn't overpower the (juicy, juicy, delicious) pork, merely complimented and encouraged the flavor. This was paired with a young Oregon pinot, which opened up after a few sips and brought the food to another level. The dessert course was a delicious honey cake with strawberries and whipped cream, made better only by the rich, honey-forward dessert wine from one of my favorite Oregon vineyard (although I guess those particular grapes were from Washington) (Seven of Hearts, for the record). Someone at the restaurant really knows their wine. The service was outstanding, and all the servers were attentive and friendly. The food, the wine, the service, the atmosphere.. Everything added up to a wonderful dining experience.
(5)
Joshua G.
Stopped by here randomly with my boyfriend one afternoon and was pleasantly surprised by the food and service! Friendly staff and willing to stop for a moment and actually engage with their customers. I like that! They pay attention to the details, like hand carved ice cubes and their unique plating. We ordered oysters on the half shell and it came to us on a bed of salt on a cut log. It was surprising and fun. It has a cool atmosphere with a modern, eclectic interior. There is also outdoor seating which is great for people watching on a weekend. Both dishes we ordered were well done and the drink menu was refreshingly filled with bourbon and whiskey cocktails! Strong drinks made us happy campers! Will definitely visit again. A good stop with a group, on a date, or even on your own.
(4)
Molly B.
I have been to Imperial for dinner a number of times and have always left feeling overwhelmingly, and delightfully drunk on food. The chicken is sinfully moist and I can't even get over their chanterelles. I would definitely recommend going when you're ready to spend an evening and a bit of cash spoiling yourself. You'd be cheating yourself not to go all out! The staff is friendly, and professional, and it's always fun to see Paley walking around greeting customers. I will definitely be going back!
(5)
Robert M.
I grew up in Philadelphia and spent 20 years in San Francisco. I am very used to dining out. I know a far more than the average person about food and wine, as do my dining companions. I also spent a great deal of time in the hospitality industry where I learned of timing and reading a table. In the past three years in Portland I have had a handful of positive dining experiences. Dining out is obviously new to Oregon. It seems to be all about the "turn and burn" no matter how much money you spend. Oregonians seem to love to eat tons of food really fast. We chose Imperial this year for our Thanksgiving dinner. Our small group of 3 or 4 prefer to dine out on Thanksgiving. This year we were just 3. Our reservation was for 7:15. We are not a pretentious bunch, just knowledgable. We started with a dozen oysters on the 1/2 shell. The oysters were yummy but the horseradish sauce masked the oysters sweetness. Our cordial server seemed anxious to get our order into the kitchen. We ordered our next 2 courses but asked that they not be fired quickly because we wanted to drink wine,and relax as we were not in any hurry. The food came out in rapid succession. Mediocre food at that. The oyster stuffing and brussel sprouts I ordered as a side were delicious. The steaks and pork were perfectly fine. $41 dollars a ribeye steak fine? NO. $41 for a 1/2" thick ribeye? The "bone in" pork chop came sliced and was quite fatty, bone on the side. There was next to no interaction with the wait staff other that dropping off plates and picking them up. When asked about preparation and suggestions between 2 different entrees we were asked in return "What are you in the mood for?" was the first response followed by "I don't really eat meat, fish sometimes." A common theme in Portland I've noticed is wait staff with no interest outside their own dietary choices. That is not the way to sell your menu. That is not a way to do business. Our bill came to $250 for our 1 hour 15 minute stay. I must say that when we arrived the hostess was very professional. We were a few minutes early so we got a drink at the bar. The bartender was fantastic! His white wine suggestion was spot on! Will I return? Most likely, not. I know of a few places close by with better food, better service and better prices. I really don't like being disappointed. Portland has so much potential.
(3)
Jim W.
Service great, food and drink great, location, great ... a hit! Four of us ate here tonight. The Parker House rolls... fantastic. The Broccoli/Cheese soup - was very good - I'd have appreciated a little more flavor development, but it was very good. One had the grilled romaine salad and said it was very good. My entree was the special - salmon - was VERY good! Two folks had burgers - they raved. One order of a basket of fries - fantastic (though they didn't come out with the meal - no charge) - and I ordered the tomatoes/cottage cheese side. Blah. Tomatoes were not as ripe as I would have liked for a dish they charge $8 for. Miss. Otherwise - very good food - on the pricey side and smaller portions... but very good.
(4)
Karen V.
The concierge at the Hilton Portland recommended Imperial and called ahead for a table for us. The craft cocktails and innovative menu did not disappoint. Everything was fantastic. The favorite of our samplings was the Kale salad, we had to force ourselves to eat elsewhere the next, and final day in town. Will visit again when in town.
(5)
Beka M.
I'm giving this a lower rating than I expected. There were four in our party celebrating a birthday so we even tried desserts. Some dishes were truly inspired such as the roasted carrots. The green beans with caramelized onions were over salted but otherwise lovely. My steak was over cooked and over salted. The trout was plain but good. But this place is known for great food so things that would have been acceptable elsewhere were a bit of a disappointment here. The cheesecake and sorbets were truly wonderful; but a chocolate pie was not as good as the one you'd get at the Village Inn. The service was fantastic! I would go here again but try completely different things and hope for the best. (Except for more yummy carrots.) The thought that I would not get anything we had again is what makes me sad.
(3)
Leah T.
How did I manage to miss reviewing this place!? I am ashamed of myself. It has been a while since I was here but the memory of the fried rabbit and duck meatballs will likely continue to stick with me for a while. I know I usually go on and on with reviews but this place well...just try it. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Lori L.
Dropping our daughter off for college, our first resturant this trip was a success. Duck meatballs so flavorful, pork & rabbit was very good & first time ever had... Side of ember potatoes with dill salty but enjoyable! Chocolate Carmel brownie sundae was the perfect ending! Thx to the recommendation of our hotel!
(4)
David H.
If you are a fan of Paley's Place (and I am), then Imperial is probably for you. Vitaly Paley is an amazing chef, so when I heard that he was going to open a Pacific North-West style restaurant, I was both excited and apprehensive. Branching out from French cuisine and into PNW-style is not the most intuitive of leaps. However, Paley never fails to impress. For starters, the staff is exceptional as is the bar. The decor is very PNW, but without the hipster attitude - translation: it's a classy place. The restaurant is very open, so the noise level can sometimes detract, but it isn't often, and it usually depends on if there is a large party in the room. The food is downright excellent. For a starter, I highly recommend the Stan's Meat Plate if you are in to charcuterie. My favorite main courses are the Fried Rabbit, the Spit-Roasted and Spoon Lamb, and my personal favorite, the Bone-In Pork Chop. Finally, make a reservation. Food and service this good are not kept secret in this town, and they get their fair share of Portland's restaurant-lover's population.
(5)
Deborah N.
Delicious food, attentive, friendly service, fun drinks. Imperial will be a new regular spot for me in my frequent business travels to Portland. I had dinner and it was amazing. The mussels & beet app was so tasty and the steelhead was beautifully prepared and perfectly accompanied by herbed spaetzle. Dessert was pretty incredible, too. Check out the picture I posted! The chefs clearly put a lot of care and thought into their menu without overdoing it. Go, go, go!
(5)
Heather S.
WOW! Pork shoulder, fire roasted mushrooms and cocktails to die for. Service staff was friendly and attentive. Awesome job Chef Doug and team! We are rooting for you on Top Chef!
(5)
Lisa K.
Is it ever a good sign when every single person in your party of 5 declines a takeout box for leftovers during lunch? It's too bad this is where I took my staff for their holiday lunch. I had high hopes, but realize next time I plan something like this, I need to actually try the food, before jumping all in. The main theme of the lunch as salt. Those that had fries mentioned how salty they were and were all too willing to share them with the rest of the table. Suspicious. Another person had the fish and chips, and also mentioned how salty her dish was. On another note, one co-worker commented that that another co-worker must like her hamburger still moo-ing. Said co-worker replied back she'd ordered it medium. Hmm. The ambiance and decor are great. Maybe in a few months the menu will be perfected. Until then, I'll be trying other restaurants until I see the ratings for Imperial improving.
(2)
Matt M.
Happy Hour Favorites - burger and grilled salad were great but clams on a tree stump needs to be reworked.
(2)
Kyan H.
Imperial certainly has some hype behind it. While I enjoyed my lunch experience here, it didn't quite live up to the expectation I had for it. My food was delicious, but lacking the unique air the restaurant has behind it. My service was so-so. I will be back to give them a second try; perhaps their dinner menu will be more surprising. drink: ginger mule (non-alcoholic cocktail; delicious, but overpriced for the volume) starter: cauliflower soup (wonderful) entree: turkey sandwich (incredibly soft bread, but not very inventive)
(3)
Linda M.
I took my 16-year-old granddaughter here for a birthday brunch and was extremely impressed. Her burger was delicious and she raved about the "secret sauce." The fries were absolutely wonderful by themselves, so we never touched the dipping sauce. My special-of-the-day omelette was superb. They make their own hot sauce and I must say, it was delicious. It comes with an eye dropper, but I lathered it on. It was not at all too spicy. The potatoes (not the fries) that came with the meal were okay, but nothing to rave about. I would definitely come here again. My granddaughter said it was a little too dark inside for her taste, but I liked it.
(4)
Rebecca R.
Only brunch on the weekend. Once again foiled out of lunch. I had the burger and was a bit leery of the rye brioche bun. (Portland seems obsessed with brioce.) I was pleasantly surpised by the flavors contained within the bun. The best way to describe it would be to say it was a fancy version of a patty melt. The first few bites were a bit salty but my mouth quickly adjusted and I enjoyed the rest of the meal. Fries ( ordered seperately) were just crisp enough and tasty. Great dipping sauce to go with them. As a side note, they have great iced tea.
(4)
N S.
Parker rolls are fantastic. Great moscow mule. Much hyped duck meatballs were overpowered with fennel seed, ruining the otherwise delicious combo of prunes, orange, and duck.
(3)
Art J.
We had an awesome lunch here and a great breakfast the next day. The prices were right up there for both lunch and breakfast, but the food was really good and the service was good too. My wife had a fish sandwich for lunch that was excellent. There were a lot of new combinations and flavors, but they all seemed to work together. I heard the owner was a James Beard award winner. He sure knows what he's doing.
(5)
Bill C.
Visited Imperial on a recent trip to Portland - overall, great experience. The food was creative, well prepared and generally delicious, the restaurant has an extensive (and unique) cocktail and drink list, top notch service and helpful staff, and welcoming but rustic atmosphere. Specifically, the vegetable galette appetizer was hearty and flavorful and recommend the Steelhead main course. Only complaints were the desserts were a bit underwhelming (panna cotta was ok but Chocolate Tart was too dense and not sweet enough) and the Amaro flight was bizarre and some of the options were plain disgusting (we tried 8 kinds); unless you are a fan of Amaro, would not recommend.
(4)
Zuzana K.
So much hype about this place, I just had to try it out. Atmosphere: Loud, dark, lively. Food: Roasted cauliflower soup had too much cream, the delicate cauliflower taste was lost. Grilled romaine lettuce was well done, but it needed finishing salt. The Quail was excellent, tender and flavorful. The basket of fries or the sausage of the day did not make big impression. The dessert was Sticky Toffee Gingerbread and it was wonderful finale of our meal. Drinks: I don't remember the name of my cocktail but it was perfect. The selection is high quality, one of the best in the city. Service: Not bad just unfocused and unprofessional. All in all, this is a nice place to have drinks but I would have dinner elsewhere. Paley's other place is much much better suited for nice dinner.
(3)
Gloria A.
Sweet breads!
(4)
Michael C.
Came here on a weekend trip with my wife. We walked here from the Nines Hotel, which was a pretty short walk. We split some oysters to start and I got myself a steak. So nothing particularly revolutionary, but definitely tasty and prepared well. I also loved the atmosphere of the dining room. It was fun and relaxed with some pretty cool stumptown themed artwork to boot. I definitely recommended this place for a nice casual night out with friends or a date.
(4)
Lester S.
Wow really, I stopped by after the parade, the menu was small but it looked good, the family and I got a nice table close to the raging fire. The kitchen looked well staffed , the dining room however was not, the manager plus two servers on parade day? So service was slow. We did get a server to ask us about drinks and returned 20 minutes late with our drinks and was then ready to take our order, we were very ready especially the three year old who was not calmed by a tasty Bloody Mary (it was suppose to be smoked? Was not smoked?) Thirty plus minutes later our food arrived, Oddly acidic baked tomato eggs with greasy fry bread Burnt semolina cakes poached eggs bacon and barrel aged hot sauce Dry I mean dry oatmeal with tiny dishes of dried nuts and fruit And 12$ 2 egg breakfast with lovely fish flavored toast I just don't think anyone cares about food at this paley restaurant Sad!
(1)
Scott S.
Rolls....how could you even want to not order hot rolls for a buck a piece? Rolls aside. I really enjoyed the meat board the other night that had the best ham I have ever had in my life, like worlds above any other ham I have ever eaten. Also the chicken fried rabbit was quite tasty and perfectly cooked and seasoned. Oh the bartender made us some sparkling lemonade(I am a lemonade fanatic) which was mindbogglingly good. Next time I want to try more grilled meats. The burger I had was good but in my opinion not to the level of the best burgers in town. I will be back
(4)
Ryan H.
Atmosphere, service, and attention to detail were amazing. Went on NYE so expected it to be a little busy but definitely did not feel rushed. The suggested wine was less than desirable but we wanted to try something new. Had the short ribs for dinner and were by far some of the best I've ever had. Portions a bit on the smaller side.
(4)
Sam A.
I had the 'Iron Chef Radish' savory cocktail and the 'Crab and Shrimp Imperial' on wood-fired oven-baked flat bread. All were exceptional. I love the 'Old Oregon' theme of the dining room. Service was superb. I will return often. So should you.
(5)
Kodiak O.
Went there with a group of 14 the other night- ordered the full menu 3 times, the executive chef came out and asked how it all was at the end of the night. He said we ordered over 60 items. It was a roman feast. Delicious and fun! Really interesting combinations of food.
(5)
Autumn P.
I had the best old fashioned of my life here the other night. The ice cube was as tall as the glass and after it was made the bartender used a long handled tiny ladle to scoop the drink over the ice cube so that all the flavors melded together. I haven't stopped thinking about how perfect this drink was. Hats off to you, Imperial bartender.
(5)
Whitney N.
My partner and I took a spur of the moment trip to Portland for Christmas Eve/Day. We were staying at a hotel down the street and were happy Imperial was open for Christmas Eve dinner. They were busy so we sat in the bar. Looking over the menu we realized they didn't have much to offer vegetarians. We each ended up ordering the pasta and splitting a kale salad. It was delicious! The service was excellent. A little slow, but that was expected on a busy night. The bartender and manager were both friendly and helped us with the menu. Two beers, a salad, and two pastas were $65. Honestly, I was expecting to pay more. Great value, great service. We'll be back on our next trip to PDX!
(4)
Joe S.
What a great experience we had at this restaurant. From the minute we walked until the end of our meal. We had the meat platter, clams, duck confit and roast chicken. They were all very delicious. And their complimentary bread was one of the best I've had. What made the experience most enjoyable was our server, Keena! She was so friendly and so knowledgeable of the menu. She made us feel very comfortable and right at home. Her excellent and friendly service made the meal taste even better. It's hard to find great service but she nailed a 5 star in our book. We'll be back, for sure.
(5)
Chris W.
It had some good points but overall wasn't very exciting and I have no reason to return. Which is kind of a letdown given the pedigree of the chef. To start, I don't know why everyone raves about the meatballs. They're not bad but not memorable, and the duck aspect of them is unnoticeable. We also had the ceviche which was again just passable. Our entree/side combo was better. We both had the pork secreto, and shared a side of the chard gratin. It's an uncommon cut of pork that gets a delicious crust from the grill, but at times all you can taste is the smoke from the crust. The gratin was actually our favorite dish of the evening, being a less traditional take with a thin cream/cheese broth. Drinks were good - well made and flavorful showing good craft. And the special Pinot Noir (a Boedecker 2009) on tap that night was a steal at $5. The decor is also a bit ho hum and a let down. We both felt like it's trying to be Ox, but without as interesting a design sense. All in all we were unimpressed, and I would tell friends it's skippable.
(3)
Tef J.
My girlfriend and I went to dinner at the Imperial a few nights ago, and the food blew us away. Although the service was on the slower side at times, the restaurant was PACKED and they were working as fast as they could, and with the amount of food being ordered and the number of customers they had, I really wouldn't consider it slow service at all. Now, onto the pros: the decor was beautiful and atmosphere was really pleasant. The waitstaff was incredibly amicable and very eager to please. We ordered what seemed like almost everything on the menu: The Appetizers: -Parker House Rolls with whipped butter and Jacobsen salt -Oregon Dungeness Crab and Shrimp Imperial with flat bread -Duck Meatballs with moyer prunes, aromatic spices and orange gremolata -Stan's Meat Plate with house pickles and grilled flatbread The Entrees: -Spit-Roasted Lamb Roll and Spoon Lamb with soft polenta and wild plum glaze -Quail with oyster stuffing, grilled stone fruit and mustard -Stuffed Sea Bass with fennel, preserved lemon, cherry tomato and olives The Sides: -Fries with secret sauce -Ember-Roasted Carrots with wild plumb glaze -Grilled Corn with roasted poblano aioli and parmesan The Desserts: -The icebox cake -Flan -Ginger sticky bread Of these, my favorites were the crab, the meatballs, the house made pickles and mustard with the meat plate, the lamb, the fries, and the sticky bread. That's not to say that they weren't all absolutely fantastic - I just enjoyed those the most. Iron Chef winning Vitaly Paley has definitely raised the bar for other restaurants in PDX with this unique and charming restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the the Hotel Lucia.
(5)
Aaron D.
The side dishes and the kale salad made for a vegetarian feast! The stuffed poblano peppers lacked spice but the creamy walnut sauce was nutritious and tasty. The menu changes here often and when people ask me "where in Portland should I absolutely not miss eating," this is the place I recommend. For now.
(5)
Eryka S.
My husband, best friend, and I went to dinner at Imperial about a week ago. And whoa! I was blown away by my experience. I didn't experience slow service like others have mentioned--in fact, our server seemed to be right on it! I have food allergies too, and like a good restaurant does, the waitress checked with the kitchen on each item just to make sure I wouldn't accidentally ingest something I can't have. My table ordered lots of small sides: the meatballs (LOVED!), the heirloom tomato salad, the carrots (omG amazing), the ceviche was increeeeddible. and the crab and shrimp with flat bread. All of it was wonderful, and the ceviche and meatballs blew my mind. For entrees, I had the fried rabbit with honey and house made hot sauce. It was perfectly cooked and the crispies were to die for. My hubby had the burger, and he said it held up to his favorite burger joint--another win. It was huge and after all the appetizers he was stuffed. And my friend had the salmon with the roasted shallot green sauce that brought out perfection in the wild salmon. I enjoyed the view of the kitchen! The roaring fire that they cook on is really fun to admire and I love the chandeliers beautifully crafted from old bike chains. All in all, I loved this restaurant and was blown away by everything I experienced.
(5)
Boyd D.
Hard to believe this is a Vitaly Paley restaurant. We visited a year ago several times for brunch and dinner, and it was an instant favorite. Visiting again after a long hiatus, it was clear the restaurant's standards have slipped. The highlights of our brunch were standard breakfast foods - eggs over easy and bacon. We tried to order the brown butter beignets, but they were out. Inexplicably, they also ran out of pancakes for my daughter - how do you run out of pancakes? The biggest disappointment was the fried chicken. Fatty piece of meat, flavorless breaking, paired with a dense and totally unpleasing semolina cornbread. The pastrami hash was fine, although lighter on pastrami than I remember. Service was average. Not surprising there was a 90 minute wait at Tasty and Alder while we could walk right in at the Imperial. Please Vitaly, fix this restaurant or make sure they stop using your name and impeccable reputation.
(2)
Trevor A.
We recently discovered Imperial and have been back twice already. First, our waitress was out-of-this-world outstanding. She was very attentive, knew the menu inside and out, and so friendly. The food was also amazing. GET THE ROLLS! Probably the best rolls I have ever had. Our dishes were outstanding as well: Duck and Chicken. My only complaint was the food was very salty. This made it delicious at first, but towards the end the salt became overpowering. But not for the salt, this place would be a 5 star.
(4)
Philip S.
Seated a party of 6 with no notice. Really great cocktails. Interesting menu of refined dishes and and basic fare. Grilled corn very good.
(4)
Jerry U.
This was a unexpected but genuinely great dinner experience. After receiving a last minute recommendation from our porter at the hotel, I approached the restaurant with much apprehension. Upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately convinced I had made the right decision. Service was prompt and engaging throughout and the smells from the grill had me wanting to order quickly. They have a nicely developed craft cocktail selection - I really enjoyed the New Money and was amazed at the perfectly huge block of ice it was served with - a good match to the well selected bourbon (I understand they purchased an entire barrel). My dinner selection may have been one of THE BEST pork dishes I have ever had - The smoked grilled pork secreto with an incredible romesco was simply delicious - so much flavor going on there! And the roasted cauliflower and fire roasted mushrooms were incredibly tasty and well prepared accompaniments. I found the price/value to be fair for the food and experience. My only complaint - charging $1 for a dinner roll? Really? Yes, they were good, but that just seemed insulting.
(5)
Dave T.
We love the adjacent hotel Lucia and go out of our way to stay there when visiting Portland. We have dined another time at the Imperial. Good food and drinks. But tonight's unfortunate encounter with Tony the loud mouth bartender has us rethinking coming back. All was well when he (eventually) took our drink/food order (after complaining loudly that he had only made $20 in tips all night). But when I asked for another round he said, "friend, you came in 5 minutes before closing- there is no 2nd round." I was astounded because (a) we sat down at 11:00 (the bar closes at midnight) and (b) after listening to him brag about the "$200 in free drinks he had given" to the woman at the bar (who was the source of his delays in serving us) it seems as if he could have poured a drink for guests of the hotel who were willing to pay for it. Sad really, some hard up bar tender ruined a long standing relationship with a business by insulting its client. Word to the wise Imperial (and by association Lucia) anyone can make a drink- knowing how to treat customers is a skill you should insure your staff has, as you don't know (or care?) who they are turning away... perhaps permanently.
(2)
Jo M.
The food here is expensive, but quite good. Next time I'll just have a dish of steamed clams with a Parker house roll - the sauce from the clams is amazing and the rolls are very delicious and large. I would have left full on just this, but of course we ordered more - I always order too much.
(4)
Teri L.
First time we have eaten here. The most non-hotel hotel restaurant we've ever eaten at...servers in plaid shirts were friendly, personable and it isn't a pretentious kind of place. We saw families with small children who seemed to be as welcome as the grown-ups. Best wine, delicious duck meat balls (coming from someone who didn't think they liked duck), best chicken and biggest most delicious pork chop. Loved watching them work over the grill too. Don't forget to try the kale salad, it is wonderful.
(5)
Robert B.
When a chef (Vitaly Paley, in this case) puts his name all over a restaurant (from the front door right down to the napkin rings, he'd better be bringing his 'A' game. Fortunately, Imperial lives up to the challenge. We had Sunday brunch there, and were impressed with little details like perfectly shucked oysters, creative artisan cocktails and dishes like a Croquette Madam that were absolutely delightful. Our experience persuaded us to return for dinner, and while it was pricey, we felt we received good value for money. Oregon restauranteurs seem fiercely proud of their local wines, meats, and produce, and if our dinner was any indication, they have every right to be. My locally-sourced ribeye steak was wonderful, and my wife's fried rabbit was a delight as well, though we felt topping it with a deep-fried strip of bacon was a case of trailer-park overkill, and more cutesy and precious than creative and clever (sorry kids, but bacon has jumped the shark; putting bacon in unexpected places like donuts, martinis, etc., is about as cutting-edge as a mullet hairdo). Another little beef of mine is charging $1 apiece for the wonderful Parker House rolls. Listen, I 'get' the whole ala carte concept: it gives the diner a bit more flexibility to accessorize their entree just the way they wish, and it adds to the house's bottom line, but darn it, when I'm dropping $55 for a steak, I don't think I'm being cheap if I expect you to comp me some bread, Fred! Leaving that argument aside, on to some other good things: the dining space is very nice; it looks like a set from "Mad Men", and complements the menu well. It is also clear the front of the house staff is well trained, and they do a great job making each patron feel special and that their business is appreciated. Overall, Imperial is a worthwhile stop when you're seeking a unique, high-end dining experience. Check 'em out.
(4)
Sarah P.
The roasted half chicken is delicious, as are the beets and grilled romaine salads. Service was ok but with a bit of overselling...we ordered way more sides than we ended up eating based on our server's suggestion.
(4)
Robert H.
Four of us had brunch at the Imperial Sunday; oh my goodness! First, the important stuff: Three of us had a Bloody Mary. I have had plenty of Bloody Marys (is that the plural of Mary?) in my life, but I had the best one I've ever had Sunday. It. was. perfect. Absolutely the right blend of vodka, spice, and tomato. It was slow in coming but well worth the wait On to the food! I had eggs and sausage, One could argue that it is tough to screw that up, but the sausage was delicious and the (scrambled) eggs were the perfect consistency. The potatoes are sliced ultra thin and then layered....delicious! the others at the table had the Coddled Eggs; Ricotta and Figs; and the Granola. All were deemed delicious and served in attractive dishes by a server who was attentive and quite helpful (we asked too many questions about the food and the the little pans and bowls in which it was served but she never flinched). We had fun and thoroughly enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. I would go for brunch ASAP because it probably won't be long before the place gets swamped on Sunday mornings. UPDATE: Went back for lunch 10/2 with a business colleague. We both had a great meal. I had the smoked pork sliders, with coleslaw and potato salad (special of the day) and my colleague had the tomato soup and a Dungeness Crab & Shrimp Imperial starter . The soup is made with smoked tomatoes and is excellent. His summation of the experience was: "Most places we go for lunch and we get food; here we get an interesting meal." I couldn't agree more..........
(5)
Tedi D.
We were recommended here by our hotel and were really excited with all the hype. Being from SoCal if felt very cool and we enjoyed the atmosphere. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable, I didn't feel rushed even though the restaurant was packed. Now the food was just ok. The fried lamb tongue was probably the best we ordered and the ice box cake. As far as the entree it was seriously lacking, the friend rabbit leg probably could be out done by Popeyes. Definitely not worth the tab!
(2)
amy a.
We should have known better since this place only got 3.5 stars on Yelp, but since it is Thanksgiving, and the few restaurants that are open are full, we made reservation to have our dinner here. I'd only rate the hostess a 1 star (she really ruined our experience here, but I'm not going into details), but 3 stars for the food and our waitress. If anyone ask me, I think this is a restaurant I can definitely live without.
(2)
Joe T.
What a great find! Such a fantastic place with very great food, atmosphere,and people. If you can get a kitchen counter spot I highly recommended it. Here is a breakdown of what I had (rated 1-5 stars) Carrot Ginger Soup (2 stars): It was a good and very smooth, but not the best carrot ginger soup I have had. I would like to see more ginger or something that would really kick it up a bit Kale and Raw Vegetable Salad (3 stars): This green salad which was really good, it had a sweet sunflower seed crunchy topping that really complimented it well. It was totally different spin on the salad and worth a try. Ember-Roasted Carrots (4 stars): Fresh small and sweet carrots roasted with over the fire covered with a sweet wild plum glaze. It was really good but a little bit too sweet that is why it isn't a 5. I will get this again but want to try their Rainbow Chard next time Barrel Planked T and T Pork Secreto (5 stars) This is FANTASTIC dish! I can't find anything wrong with it other than there wasn't enough for my to consume. I may have to buy two next time. Go with this dish, you will not be disappointed. The cut is cook over an old pinot wine oak plank and the oak flavor is so good. It is soft and tender piece of meat of the pig, best described if you combined a pork tenderloin and beef tenderloin together. Chocolate Icebox Cake (3 stars) Really good end of the night, totally worth a try. Reminded me of have smores a bit with the roasted meringue on top of the ice cream cake
(5)
Ameena A.
I had a very nice dinner at Imperial. Our entrees included the Albacore Tuna a la Plancha, the Spit-Roasted Lamb and Spoon Lamb, and the Tails and Trotters Pork. Everything was delicious. Our appetizer, a special including meringue and duck breast was unusual and delicious. The desserts, key lime pie and double chocolate ice box cake, were also very tasty. Overall, a tasty and interesting dinning experience.
(4)
Simone G.
I had coddled eggs with a spicy tomato sauce paired with fried bread. It was beyond anything I've ever had, I'm an adventurous eater. The sauce in itself was delicious with a hint of goat cheese. Creamy and smooth with a bit of a kick. I would rate them a 5 star yet the service at the beginning was non existent. We were seated and sat unattended for over 20 minutes. Usually someone will bring a water or have a greeter inform you of any delays. Any time you are in an upscale restaurant they should follow the rule; of having drinks on the table so many seconds after a party has been seated. The fact that we were seated and then left for an extended period of time, is not acceptable. We had a flight to catch out of the country (Greece) and were in a rush. The waitress didn't apologize for the delay and never offered a reason as to why. Which made me a bit more dissatisfied with the experience as a whole. I am writing the service review as lengthy because of how it was handled. Additionally the restaurant when we arrived was not busy whatsoever. We will return and see how the second time around fairs. I would highly recommend others giving this place a try, hoping our experience was a rarity. The food is well worth the drive if you live in the area.
(4)
Rich F.
Just took my 5th new person to my favorite Portland restaurant, Imperial. Everyone has come away amazed. I love to sit at the Chef's counter and watch the artistry of fine cooking over an open woodburning oven, one of 2 in the US from Florence, Italy. Started with Stan's Meat Plate as an appetizer which included a spectacular Fois Gras, a steamed shredded rabbit and delicious pork. For the entree, I had the Secreto, which is a rare cut of pork that is a cross between tenderloin and loin with incredible flavor from very well treated oversized hogs. These were from Tails and Trotters and fed Hazelnuts. The pork rested on a Romesco sauce with grilled leeks. I strongly recommend both the restaurant and the Chef's counter to really enjoy the skills of this special restaurant staff.
(5)
Joel S.
Brunch was great! Corn cake with house-smoked bacon and maple syrup with house-made hot sauce mixed in, plus poached eggs. Fast service. We'll be back!
(4)
Holly O.
We were staying at the adjacent Hotel Lucia and had previously enjoyed dining in Ty-phoon , the Imperial's predecessor. It was Labor Day so we looked at the reviews for Imperial to see if we should book. We did not like the number of negative reviews and tried to book elsewhere only to find most of our other favorites were closed or booked so we did book the Imperial . We were totally impressed. The kale salad , duck meatballs , quail and the amazing fried rabbit were to die for ! As for the service , which had been so badly panned in some reviews , we found our waitress Caitlin , pleasant , efficient and helpful . We came back for breakfast the following day and were also well served by Amanda. Definitely a place we shall recommend to friends. Holly& Brendan.
(5)
Paul T.
Went there for brunch and we were disappointed. The food was ok, but they were VERY slow and not even that busy. Won't be going back.
(2)
G P.
This coddled eggs nestled in a spicy tomato sauce with fry bread were SPECTACULAR! What a great find!
(5)
Eric F.
First time in Portland. Best restaurant we've been to here. Original dishes, fresh taste, just right. Excellent fried rabbit.
(5)
Cole W.
Me and my girlfriend made a reservation for 7pm to celebrate our 3 year anniversary. We chose Imperial because of others that rave about this restaurant & the menu has lots to offer at a decent price. Once we arrived we were seated quickly & didn't feel "rushed" at all.. We like it that way. Our server was very kind & knowledgable of the menu & understood we weren't in a hurry. We started out with 6 oysters which were delicious & fresh, our next dish was the fried Rabbit, fried bacon w/ corn cake, pickled watermelon, & house harvest honey, mhmm. We liked the dish very much but the fried bacon wasn't nessasary & no flavor. Next was the Artichoke, for what little meat we got it tasted so bright & had such clean flavor. Our next dish was fire roasted mushrooms w/ bone marrow. This was one of our favorites, we love mushrooms and the roasted, smokey flavor cooked perfectly made us both smile. Our 2 big dishes were the Pork chop with honey & herb glaze. It was our favorite dish of the night. So damn good, we would come back for that pork. The other dish was the steak w/ salsa verde, micro greens, etc. we weren't too impressed with this dish could of had more flavor or some type of finishing salt. We skipped dessert , but overall from start to finish from first dish to last we had a great experience and would reccomend Inperiel.
(4)
J T.
Went to dinner here with an old friend last night. Love the decor and ambiance, although it was very loud. Our waitress was great, although I could barely hear her explain the specials over all the noise. The service was unfortunately quite slow. To start, we ordered a half dozen oysters on the half shell - kumamotos and Chelsea gems. They were incredibly fresh and flavorful. We promptly ordererd more of the Chelsea gems, but they had just run out. We each had a house roll, which were warm, buttery and delicious. We ordered the crab and shrimp imperial appetizer which was nothing special. For dinner my friend had the Spit-Roasted Lamb Roll and Spoon Lamb, which I had a bite of and loved. I ordered the Spiced Oregon Albacore Tuna entree. The crab creamed corn and fried onions really made the dish. For dessert we shared a piece of warm apple cider pie with pecans and vanilla bean ice cream. Overall a great experience, with some minor bummers. Looking forward to going back for brunch.
(4)
Chuck N.
Expensive and...Meh! Friendly, but detached service, Sinatra music, and really blah food for quite a bit of cost. Had the mushroom, goat cheese, leek omelette which had little flavor, a scalloped potato triangle with no taste whatsoever, and no toast = $13. We had to ask individually for salt and ketchup. When seeking cream for our coffee, it came in the most tiny little thing, forcing us to constantly ask for more. Go instead to The Dinerette, Sweedeedee, Pazzos or The Bijou and step way up.
(2)
Witney W.
Favorties: Ceviche Chef's Breakfast cocktail Also good: Duck meatballs Salmon Sit at the chef's counter! It's the best seat in the house.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Cara E.
Food and ambiance very nice. We started with drinks in the hotel lobby. First time I've had wine from the tap that's decent wine. For food we ate light bc it was late, but food was good. Started off with rolls and butter. Rolls were so warm and had the sweet taste. And the butter was salty. Had the beets with ricotta and hazelnuts. The beets were warm and cooked so well. Also ordered the duck meatballs which had great flavor. My friend ordered the roast chicken. Nice size portion and moist meat. Only sub par portion of the night was the server. While she was nice, you could see the disappointment in her face when we didn't order drinks or dessert. I understand that increases the check/tip, but I shouldn't see the disappointment.
(4)Christina C.
Imperial is perhaps the best happy hour spot in Portland. Happy hour is from 2pm-6pm and the cocktails and food menu is superb. The Vieux Carré is a well balanced Hennessy and rye cocktail that tastes similar to an old fashion. The Hanky Panky is a delicious concoction made of gin, sweet vermouth, and fernet. Both cocktails were expertly crafted and a steal at only $5 each. The deep fried pigtail ($10) was absolutely decadent and fun to eat. The pork skin was crackly and had a bit of a chew to it. A layer of rendered fat separated the skin from the hunks of perfected cooked pork meat. It was served with thick pieces of toast, pickled vegetables, and a vial of habanero honey hot sauce. The dish was extremely rich and heavy, so definitely order one to share with 1-2 other people. I also ordered the burger ($6), mussels and fries ($9), chicken liver plate ($4), kale salad ($5) -- all these dishes were well prepared and would happily order again.
(5)Emily D.
Watching the kitchen was a great option, like a predinner show. They fire grill many menu selections right in front of you. We started with the duck meat balls, they were very good and the sauce had a subtle kick. I had the soup of the day, lamb and roasted vegetables, it was hearty and soothing. The standout item of our dining experience was the fried chicken. The skin was crispy, not greasy at all, flavorful, I ate every morsel. It is boneless, unusual for fried chicken, but super convenient. It comes with pickles and onions on top and with a side of honey and a mild hot sauce. The chef suggestion is to drizzle both so the sweet, salty, spicy, sour, and savory are all represented. I followed instructions and was delighted. It was absolutely delicious. I love their sorbet selections, St. Germaine and Arnold Palmer. We tried the Arnold Palmer it was very refreshing and you could taste distinctly both tea and lemonade; and then opted for A pecan chocolate pie that was excellent. A great meal!
(5)Amber O.
We walked into Imperial for Brunch this morning and almost left because we didn't see any vegan options. What a mistake that would have been. The server was kind enough to check with Chef Vitaly Paley who made one of the most delicious vegetable meals I have ever eaten! Veggie hash with Brussels, kale, eggplant, zucchini in a romesco sauce. It was an orgasm in my mouth! It made me kind of regret ordering my Dungeness crab omelet, that was also really good! BoobyD the vegan definitely was #winning. Thank you Imperial!
(5)Eric B.
This was a great evening. We sat at the chef's grill kitchen in the back, and I really wish I could remember the name of the chef on the grill, because he was inviting, warm, informative, and fun. It really helped make this an exceptional dining experience. We had the grilled romaine, radishes, and the pork secreto. Our host had mentioned how fantastic the grilled romaine was, and I've never really been that crazy about grilled romaine. I've tried it a couple times, and determined I prefer my romaine cold and crispy, and not grilled. Well, we ordered it, and I tried it, and it changed everything about grilled romaine for me... well at Imperial at least. The verde was absolutely simplistic heaven. Parsley, a little tarragon, touch of citrus, seasoned perfectly. Croutons, tomatoes, feta, it all went together beautifully. Wow. Radishes missed on a couple levels. Well, one level I guess. I think this would have been a much more successful dish had it not been over seasoned. Combination of flavors inventive and intriguing, but heavily salted and a bit overpowering altogether. Dialed back a couple notches, this could have been great. On to one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth - pork secreto. We watched this thing roast on top of a smoldering wine barrel plank. A gimmick? I thought... Oh no, it's no gimmick. We asked the chef to elaborate on the dish, and no joke - he pulled a laminated order ticket out of his wallet from someone that had ordered four of these things. His favorite dish on the menu he told us. That's awesome. So back to the Trails and Trotters planked pork... The flavor imparted by the barrel plank is just divine. It's a mouthgasm for real. I'll comment on the dish as a whole, but it's a tough critique to make. I found the romesco sauce tasty and a reasonable compliment to the pork in a limited quantity, but almost unnecessary. It's not the romesco's fault - it's just that this pork should be served alone, on a golden platter, with a neat cask strength rye bourbon or scotch (as I enjoyed it), on one knee, with a prayer, after a sacrifice to the old gods and the new. I'm completely serious.
(4)Doug R.
Good food. Really bad service. Waited 1 hour for the food. Waitress did not update us at anytime. We had to request how much longer to be served. Not recommended !
(1)C L.
What an amazing night! We are bar regulars and were hosting some friends from out of town who were in PDX for a nationwide non-profit conference. We've always felt welcome and at home at Imperial, but tonight was really something. From our meet-up at the bar to a no-reservation seating for 8, we all felt very special and taken care of. I would say the service was exceptional, but it's always great. We made special vegan entree requests of the chef, which were eagerly accommodated, and all of the dishes were excellent. I have the greatest respect for owner Vitaly Paley and his staff of highly trained, very professional people.
(5)Mimi T.
Amazing! Everything from the cocktails to the food was superb. Definitely try the pork secreto...solid!
(5)John A.
Corp was in town so we took them here. Ben here a few times and it is worth trying. This visit we started with the Parker house rolls which is a must they are so good. Then we had the duck meatballs and they are worth trying. My dinner was deciding between the fried chicken and the cabonara, so I went with the carbonara which had bacon, duck yolk, black pepper and Parmesan cheese, we loved this dish. They favors combined was so good and recommend to try it. My friend got the fried chicken and tried it and it is in the top 2 in portland that I have had. We all was to full and passed on desert.
(5)James G.
First impression on 8/27 was a bartender who said rudely that it is the law that he couldn't serve me two drinks. I wanted to have one for my friend who was 5 minutes away. Whether it is the law or not it has never happened to me in hundreds of times eating out in Portland. Nice first impression. The steak, salmon tartar and cookie + ice creams dessert was great. It all tasted wonderful. However, again, when ordering I felt this odd service vibe. I asked for green beans instead of whatever came with the steak and I was lectured that those green beans were paired with some other dish and they weren't sure they would have enough to go with my steak. The restaurant was half full. I'm sure they had enough green beans...and they did. So why make such a Portland deal out of it? Unnecessary.
(3)Heather E.
We stayed at the Crystal Hotel last May, and got totally Brunch City'd when we tried to find a place to eat in the Pearl. I mean, hour to hour and a half waits anywhere we stopped. We were walking in circles, and accidentally walked into the side door of the Imperial. We were in a hotel restaurant, and just sort of gave up. This'll do. We're freaking starving. We didn't settle. We scored. Big time. I had the daily Benedict, which that day was this incredible piece of salmon and asparagus and the best hollandaise sauce I've ever had. My dude had the Imperial hash with pastrami. He seemed to enjoy it. We were both too busy scarfing down our food to talk about it. And that smoked bloody mary (why do I drink so many bloody marys?)? Server kissing good. BONUS FUN: I had a mild stroke when I saw that the bearded wonder Doug on Top Chef was the sous here. I was all "I ate his eggs!" It was a weird thing to shout into a room by yourself.
(5)Teddy O.
The food and experience at Imperial is very memorable and leave you wanting more and more... I thing you understand where I am going with this. I was here for a work function so I was able to try a lot of the offerings without worrying about the cost. I plan on coming back to enjoy with my SO and an empty stomach.
(5)Steve A.
We had a great dinner, experience... Just right size venue especially for our Valentines dinner occasion. "Andie W" was our server and she was wonderful. Great energy, knew the menu and was just fun. Only con is the menu had some good options overall but could use more given that most of it is a la carte so it can get spendy. Delicious dinner and great experience so we will be back..
(4)Joel V.
I do not frequent restaurants of the privileged but hot damn, I wish I was rich after eating here. This place will awaken the Gatsby in all of us. The cocktails and appetizers are absolutely top notch. All of the main dishes looks great as well. I played it cool, and got the burger. I didn't want to overload the ol' taste buds with too much goodness in one night. Easily a top five burger in Portland. The atmosphere was fun, in a NW way, it smells like wood, lumberjack cologne, and amazing food cooking over a fire. It was busy, with not an open seat in the place, but not too loud. Although, Imperial looks like be a place where rich people spend a lot of money, you can also make it out of here without ending up homeless. 2 old fashioned, 1 perseco, bowl of soup of the day, burger, a few plates of bread, veggie dish, and a burger for about $70. It was worth every penny. I will be coming back!
(5)Kelly R.
"A Radish Walks into a Bar" is the best cocktail I have ever had in my life, hands down. I expected it to be savory, which it was, but it had a little bit of sweetness that surprised me, in a good way. There's a sprinkle of salt and pepper on top of the ice; the pepper aroma tickles your nose with every sip. The food was good too: Tuscan beans, roasted beets with ricotta (could have passed on the hazelnuts on top, and I love hazelnuts, so that's saying something), and albacore tuna with gribiche. But I would go back just for "A Radish Walks into a Bar."
(4)Dana S.
Visiting Portland for Thanksgiving and after reading reviews on my places we settled on the Imperial. We were not disappointed. From the amazing attentive, friendly staff to the delicious food every moment was memorable and enjoyable. If you are coming to Portland give this place a try, you will not be disappointed. I have to add that Patrick our server was awesome. He helped us choose an excellent bottle of wine that was fairly priced. He was friendly but not in your face annoying. He even gave us some wine bar recommendations while we are in town.
(5)Irina D.
Great service, great food. The sturgeon was amazing, perfect portions. Loved the atmosphere, we were there on a Sunday evening so it wasn't as busy as usual. The Dutch Apple pie was the perfect ending to our delicious meal!
(5)Sharifa L.
The house rolls are worth just going to the restaurant! I would go here just for those rolls. Also had the fried chicken which was very crispy. It was good, but not as good as those house rolls!
(5)James R.
I've never felt the need to yelp about a restaurant before, so that probably speaks for itself. Waitstaff (Lindsey) was incredible. Food was even better (grilled romaine salad and the fried chicken). Go there. Now.
(5)Boshal L.
The food was good, but we experienced sticker shock when we saw the portion sizes, especially with the salmon. It's supposed to be family style/shared plates experience, but the duck meatballs only came with 2 and the salmon was smaller than a 3x5 index card for $29. The 3 of us ladies don't eat much to begin with, but were still hungry after ordering 3 dishes and the rolls. Thankfully we went and got some ice cream afterwards.
(2)Jeff Z.
We had one of the finest meals on our Pacific Northwest vacation at the Imperial (and as foodies who hail from NYC, that's saying a lot.) We were a hungry party of 4 and we ate well, starting off with an albacore pokè (a Hawaiian style ceviche), the hamachi crudo (that was accompanied by a "grated" foie gras that ranks among the most awesome things I've ever tasted,) a "compressed" watermelon salad, a grilled Caesar salad (served with smoked heirloom tomatoes and a house made seed brittle that I wish I could eat every day,) the duck meatballs (that brought meatballs to a new height) and a chopped kale vegetable salad with a tangy buttermilk dressing that rounded off our appetizers. Entrees were the T-bone steak, fried chicken, and King salmon, all cooked (except for the chicken) on their wood fired grill. We still had room for dessert--house made ice cream and sorbet (the bourbon peach sorbet was my favorite) - and peach blueberry pie. Cocktails at the start were awesome too--"A Good Problem To Have," a gin, ginger Thai basil concoction was the table favorite. The wine list is excellent as well and we enjoyed a hard to find Oregon Pinot Noir , a '08 Beaux Frêres that was perfect. The staff was friendly and professional and could not have been more accommodating with no detail overlooked. Also, the lobby of the Hotel Lucia, where the restaurant is situated, is an art lover's fantasy.
(5)Lauren C.
We came here for the burger and were not disappointed. Excellent--even the second half I ate cold and leftover the next morning when hungover. Crisp and fresh onions, perfectly cooked--PHENOM. It was pretty crazy on a Friday night around 9 so service was a touch spotty but that was ok. Fun people watching as well.
(4)Paul D.
Have read a few, well, uptight reviews about Imperial. My experience has been one that exceeded expectation. Both times ate here alone. Sat at the bar first time and got to have a great interaction with the bar team about their passions in cocktails. Very balanced and beautifully mixed flavors. For a surprisingly vegetal cocktail balanced with a little acidity and lovely sweetness, try A Radish Walks Into a Room. Loved the draft cocktails - cannot beat a perfectly made Vieux Carre. Duck confit with a sweet orange marmalade and spicy arugula is a fantastic combo. The shining service is warm, embracing and focused on a quality customer experience. Anyone who thinks differently needs to visit NYC sometime soon to remind themselves of how good the service ethic is in Portland. The manager even remembered me second visit around and spent some time chatting. A smooth and genuine operation. Would recommend to friends without a second thought.
(5)Colleen B.
This place is fantastic! I had the tuna which was amazing and the beets coal fired sooo yummy!! My husband had the fried chicken loved it! We sat at the bar and Lindsay our bartender/waitress was probably the best server I have ever ever had...she knew the menu inside and out very professional but engaging in conversation as well.....sit at the bar if she is working!!!! The wine selection was great!!!
(4)Calcentae R.
The food is good. I had eggs Benedict. I asked for dungeoness crab to be added to my plate and the waitress almost went into cardiac arrest. She was filled with an incredible amount of anxiety. When I asked her why, she said that "the kitchen is eve particular..." and went into this diatribe about how the restaurant won the the Iron Chef award and so they wanted their dishes to come out a certain way..yadda yadda yadda... It seems like they forgot that some people have dietary restrictions -- 2 the person who is actually eating the plate knows what they want, and 3 terrorizing the waitstaff to discourage customers from making modifications to THEIR meal will only lead to subpar service which in turn results in customers feeling like its about the chef and not about my experience as a customer and which further results in us leaving lukewarm reviews about service like this one.
(3)Troy S.
This was our first stop when arriving in Portland. The setting was very nice, the wait staff were beyond accommodating, and the food was immaculate! I had the fried chicken and will be having dreams about it tonight. Looking forward to stopping back in and trying some of the other foods and craft beers!
(5)Paul D.
Everyone said this place was great, but it was a huge letdown. Food was great, but the bartender named Tony was a smug and egotistical jerk. I only tipped him out of basic courtesy but wish I hadn't. Feeling ripped off. Bummer! Unlike MacArthur, I shall never return.
(1)Karl K.
Gold stars across the board...atmosphere, customer service, food, cocktails and wine. Vitale and his team deliver every time.
(5)M M.
First off, we had a great server. Maggie H was very attentive, though very busy. She was very personable and knowledgeable about the restaurant and its dishes. She even recommended a local vodka to instead of the standard, which we enjoyed being from out of town. The highlight of the meal was the fried pigtail. The crunchy skin with the fatty pork was delectable. I would go back just to have this dish. I would also recommend the kale and veg salad. The lamb mix was good, but not great. The anchovy aioli overpowered the lamb "T bone." We ordered the meat plate without asking what was included, as it was not listed on the menu. This was a disappointment as it had 3 meats, 2 of which were pates. It wasn't what we were hoping for. Overall, the meal was very good and the service even better.
(4)angie c.
Mediocre and overpriced. Steak was underseasoned and overcooked. The only thing I liked was the basket of fries.
(2)M H.
Best craft cocktails in town. (Expatri-who?) But their food is not at par with how good the drinks. The food is on point for sure. Nothing wrong, very tasty. But selection feels a bit gouty. Yes, gout-y.
(4)Peter R.
Breakfast only At breakfast at the imperial 3 times over a couple of visits to the city. 5 star impressed every time. Quality perfectly calibrated service, nice room - not too loud or too dead, solid and consistent staples, interesting specials and beignets! :) Next up - dinner at the Imperial!
(5)Bill K.
Went in for a late night meal and some cocktails after a function at the Benson across the street. The entire service was painfully slow. Waiting to get seated in an almost empty restaurant was a process in patience. The waitress was painfully slow and not up to the gig. Getting drinks from the bar took an unnecessarily long time. Another example of a PDX restaurant where they really focus on making great food, but they forget that slow and inept service can ruin the entire experience. Can't recommend this place now, and I definitely won't go back.
(2)Tim J.
Classy and eclectic Downtown Portland is surprisingly light on cool trendy spots with great food. This is one of them. It's loud, modern, proudly eccentric and classy. It boasts a full on charcoal grill and a pastry chef who specializes in pies to die for/from. Loved it..as will you.
(4)Maggie Z.
This really gets a 3.5 but Yelp won't let me- so I rounded up. I had the duck meatballs, mushrooms, and fries. (Definitely did not need the fries- my eyes were bigger than my stomach!) The duck meatballs have a lot of flavor and are very very good. They were just a tiny bit too sweet for me. The mushrooms had a great smokey flavor- but a bit too salty (I'm a saltaholic so that says a lot). The fries were just ok. Too thick & pretty sure the "secret sauce" is just mayo & ketchup- not very exciting. Kitchen is pretty slow- was there on a Tuesday eating at the bar & it took awhile. Great bar staff though, and great wines. Would definitely come back to try some other menu items.
(4)Bowdoin S.
Although I really am not a breakfast person, I had just worked out and felt the need to fill my tummy before my flight back home, so I wandered over here chosen in part due to the proximity of my hotel. The restaurant is pretty large and relatively empty at 9:15 on a Thursday morning so I got to sit in the back part of the restaurant near the kitchen. The restaurant has an industrial/warehouse feel and it was pretty noisy because of the white noise coming from the kitchen area. I chose the omelet of the day which had cheese and bacon. I also ordered the chicken sausages as a side. There were breakfast potatoes on the side of the omelet which had a nice crispy texture on the exterior. Everything I ate here was solidly executed. My favorite was the chicken sausage which had a subtle hint of sweetness and a little bit of heat. Service was good and prompt and my server was friendly. The meal cost less than $20 which to me was a little on the pricey side.
(3)Lindsey M.
This was the best dining experience we have had in quite a while. We got to Imperial around 6:15 on a Saturday and sat down at a bar top table right away. John was incredibly accommodating- recommending cocktails and dishes. We had the New Money and the Vieux Carré cocktails which were spot on with our preferences. Then we had the beef carpaccio, cartelized green beans and prawns- all equally delicious and seasoned to perfection (you could literally taste each ingredient in each dish). To top off our experience- THE BEST peanut brittle sundae we've ever had in our lives. Every part of this dessert is made in-house and leaves absolutely nothing to disappoint. Amazing and we will always recommend Imperial! Can't wait for our next visit.
(5)Sarah B.
I dunno why this place doesn't get higher ratings - probably because it's "downtown" and no one who lives in Portland actually hangs out "downtown." I went with some Very Important Colleagues from Out of Town, and hadn't even heard of it until they suggested it. But! The food, service and general ambiance was delightful. I got the steelhead and it was so, so yummy. Like fall-apart-on-your-fork good. I know, because I tried to share it and had trouble forking it from plate to plate. It came with two different types of sauces, both of which were NOMS. I tried my friend's pork chop - same deal. Tender and delightful! And I'm pretty sure I don't even normally like pork. Other items tried: Roasted beets! Somehow, there were two different kinds. Both were really good. And I don't think I like beets, either. Two different gin drinks! Both amazing. One was the "A radish walks into a bar" - another case of being surprised by liking it. Radishes, gin, cracked pepper, served over one o' those funky-bunch giant square ice cubes. The other was the Harlequin - a gin-champagne cocktail in a Great Gatsby type glass with honey. Predictably, I loved it and could easily have had 8 or 9 more. Fun flair: When you order the steak, the side of potatoes comes on a tree-stump serving platter. That is cool on its own, but when you're hosting people from out of town, it's just delightful - so Oregon-y. Or "Or-eh-gone"-y, to non-natives in need of a pronunciation guide.
(4)MJ M.
Food was 5, just took forever. Came here for weekend brunch after huge lineups at other joints. Worked out in our favour! The eggs coddled in their spicy tomato jam/sauce were unreal. Served with a Peruvian puff bread. Probably best cup of coffee I had the entire eight days we were down the as well. Server did apologize for wait, so it wasn't excruciating or anything, but we did wait a while. I will say that coddling an egg can be lengthy in and of itself, any other dish may have been quicker (but probably not as tasty). Decor was awesome in there, would have liked to come back for dinner, could tell it was inventive and thoughtful chef behind the menu.
(4)Robert C.
We for the first time last night. I had the best pork hop I've had in years. The Brussel sprouts were also amazing. Good service and good atmosphere! We had a great experience.
(5)Mike T.
Great food, great service, great atmosphere! The Bacon chop with yam and ginger purée is a must! New halibut dish was tasty; but after all of the garnishments ( which are superb ), the fish wanted a little sauce component.
(4)Amy W.
Fantastic combinations of flavors. Vegetarian fair was delicious and generous. No pretentious petite portions ubiquitous to most haute cuisine restaurants. Parker house rolls epitomize comfort food. Lovely venue.
(5)Blaine P.
We had an outstanding dinner here over the weekend. There were only a couple of small details to keep it away from a five star rating. We found several of the dishes that we tried to be absolutely flawless: the foie gras special app, fire roasted mushrooms with bone marrow, mushroom/escargot galette, and the roasted pear and hook's blue salad all could not be highly rated enough. The Beef Tartare was served in a fashion that I am not accustomed to but it was outstanding nonetheless. The rolls were absolutely divine as well, though it felt a tad petty to charge seperately for them: my $.02 include them with the meal (add a quarter to the price of everything on the menu but include the damn rolls.) The cocktails were spot on perfect modern craft cocktails with a beautiful selection and the bar man was knowledgeable and graciously did not tease me when I misread one of the names of my cocktail. The negatives though: i thought that the duck meatballs were lackluster in seasoning, even a pinch of finishing salt at the table would have brought them up, but alas, there was none. The Pork Secreto was a fabulous piece of meat, perfectly seasoned and accompanied, but for my taste it was over done, I get that it's pork, in a hotel restaurant, and everyone in america over cooks pork, but it's 2015 and we all know it's safe to cook to a more "moist" internal temp, in hindsight i would still order the same, but request that dish more rarely done. Other than those two nits to pick the food and drink were completly outstanding. Our server was not particularly good though, and unfortunately it smacked of a lack of training. At first she started to fib her way through a descrition of a bottle of wine before admitting she knew nothing of it and said she would send over the steward. The steward did not appear, nor did our server return (in the meantime a cocktail arrived via runner, first app arrived via runner, etc.) until checking on how we liked our app. She then realized that the Steward had not come by ("Oh did so and so not come by?"). At which point she sent him over and he answered questions and brought out the wine, which was a really killer non vintage blend from california that I cannot remember the name of and is not on their on line list right now. These missteps, so early in the meal, left us lacking confidence in her for the rest of the meal and that's really what knocked a star off. Four stars. I look forward to returning in every way. The menu is creative, presented with gusto, the room is a pleasure, the cocktails and wine sublime, I have to try the stuffed quail and the fried chicken, so I'll be back soon!
(4)Alex M.
A little slow with their service, but otherwise perfectly delightful. Their breakfast potatoes are absolutely to die for! And vegan, too :)
(4)Paul W.
Best menu I've seen, though it seems to be weekly, so good luck (This review is from mid-June 2014). Lamb tartare. No baguette, but house made crackers were fine. Duck yolks were thick and lux. What so they use the whites for? Beef shoulder was rare w /o being the obnoxiously rare that I like. The Dungeness crab salad was a great match, as was the peppery pesto and watercress. I had it with the roasted cauliflower because my wife loves that. Turns out their brown butter balsamic with bacon crumbs (not sure I got those) beats my buttermilk buffalo any day. Pimms cocktail and vieux carre (2nd from tap) both great, espc first one.
(5)Danish B.
We stumbled upon this place, because we were staying in the Hotel Lucia (next door). I had the coddled eggs (they were different and quite decadent), and a monstrous side of some of the best bacon I have consumed in my life. The roll that was served on the side of the eggs, to sop up the delicious creamy tomato cream the eggs were cooked in, was perfect. Imperial cures their own bacon, and the slices are pretty thick. My husband had a Pastrami Sandwich (the Pastrami was also made, in house), which we have decided is the best Pastrami either of us have ever eaten. If you appreciate fresh-cured meats, this place is a must try. I think about it often and hope it's there when we return to Portland.
(5)E M.
Totally bummed. Our sides were awful. Cauliflower dish was so burnt. The eggplant was not what I was expected very oily. I should probably stop right there! I have a stomach ache and can't wait to get home... Sadly, I wish I didn't have to pay for that meal.
(2)Nicole O.
Happy hour oysters were delicious! Wine was great too! We also ordered the burger and fries. I was very proud of myself for showing restraint from the awesome fries. Service was good. Given it was slow, the bartender was very attentive/ friendly and had good recommendations.
(4)Beth F.
Our second time to eat at Imperial. We had the prixe fixe special dinner for Portland Dining Out month. It was quite good, though no surprises. Service was excellent and we had a most enjoyable time. I highly recommend it. We've had brunch there, too, which was excellent.
(4)Bellinghamster M.
Delicious brunch. We easily made Sunday reservations the night before. Bloody Marys are made with house infused smoked tomatoes. Yum!
(5)steven b.
Great cocktails and nice food however very disappointed that we sat more that 1 hour after ordering before the parties plates started appearing hear and there.
(2)Stacy P.
After spending a better part of the day exploring downtown Portland, I decided to have a late lunch and escape the cold. Lunch actually ended at 2pm, but luckily they offered a smaller happy hour menu that included some food items. They do note on the menu V for vegan and GF for gluten friendly, that is friendly and not free, which I first mistook. Upon asking some questions, I was able to truly determine which items were gluten free. As a side note, they use a shared fryer, so the chicken wings and French fries are out for those of you who truly need to eat gluten free. I ended up opting for the sausage of the day, which happened to be some Louisiana kind. The mustard type sauce was ok. I had a spicy kick to it, so if your sinuses need clear, this might be a good option
(3)Ashley W.
My boyfriend and I had been meaning to try Imperial for a while now for any meal and were looking for a good brunch spot this morning that took reservations so we wouldn't have to wait. Decided on Imperial and it was the best decision. Very friendly staff when we arrived and we were seated right away. The ambiance was what you would want for a Sunday morning, chill and relaxing. The Bloody Mary's are definitely a recommendation. We split the eggs benedict and the crab omelet. The crab omelet was good but the eggs benedict was AMAZING! We pretty much order eggs benedict at every breakfast spot we go in order to find our favorite one - well we found it. I cant say exactly why they are the best here but they are and we haven't found any that compare. The potatoes were simple yet wonderful as well. We had the beignets for dessert and these are a must try! Perfectly done with local honey sauce! We will be coming back to Imperial for many more Sunday brunches! Great service and BEST EGGS BENEDICT!
(5)Trevor L.
Classy (slightly fancy) lunch dining option in downtown Portland. The food was very tasty, with a good selection - but the portions are moderate (smaller than you may expect) and you must order sides in addition to your entree. All of this helps keep the prices down. Imperial is listed in The Oregonian's 2015 list of 100 best cheap eats in Portland.
(4)Ken F.
Stopped in for lunch and what a treat !!! Sat in the bar area and Patrick took great care of us . The service atmosphere and food were great ! Carrie had the watermelon salad which was fun and savory . Chilled pieces of melon with some spicy peppers and pickled onions ... No hint whatsoever of over the top onion taste which is a good thing . I tried the chef special Dungeness melt with bernaisse sauce on top a thick homemade artisan bread . Very yummy !! Like a tuna melt but kicked up three notches. Thanks for such a great experience :)
(5)Austin S.
This place is fantastic. Been here four or five times in the last few months for happy hour, and have never been disappointed. The service is impeccable, the cocktails on tap are delicious, and the happy hour burger is literally the best burger I've had in this burger-mad town. Outside happy hour, been there once for lunch and also had a great experience. The fried chicken was perfection, though the portions were a little small, and the cola-PBR braised pork was simply divine.
(5)Miz C.
late night happy hour! their house burger was absolutely delicious! we also got the kale salad - YUMMY. on a whim i ordered the crispy pigs tail, something id usually be afraid of, but it was SOOOO DAMN GOOD. also, i LOVED the pate, which im also usually afraid of, this was salty creamy and absolutely yummy. i would definitely love to come here again for happy hour, its nice to be able to freely order and gorge yourself on extremely high quality food!
(4)T.J. B.
This is my second time eating breakfast at the Imperial. My wife and I have tried several different items and found them to be all equally excellent. Not cheap and definitely not a greasy spoon! A word to the wise, the French toast is incredibly rich and filling, so be sure not to order to many sides. The coffee excellent, the atmosphere trendy, the food and service both prepared and delivered with care. Sunday's around 930 am are not super busy, so tootle on in! You will like it!
(4)ruth a.
Had made a reservation based upon the reviews. Initial impression when we called to push back our reservation was great, they were very understanding and pleasant. Anyway, vibe is very energetic, attractive space, lots of energy. Great place for drinks, but nearly impossible to have a conversation without yelling. We were seated at a table near the side which was fairly near the kitchen, interesting but warm. Server was prompt at taking our drink orders but very slow at actually getting them to us. The bartender actually brought them over when we were starting our first course which was unfortunate because they were oysters. Our drinks were great, A Radish walks into a bar, was the name of mine, a perfect combination of vermouth, gin and radish gastrique, with cracked pepper and salt. Very innovative. Sad to say, all downhill from there. The oysters were just on the verge of being to warm, the sauce with them was on the sweet side, not to my taste. Next course was the charred lettuce and a side of the mushrooms with bone marrow. The lettuce was greasy and the mushrooms inedible because they were so heavily salted. Our main was the quail which was undercooked and bloody at the joints and so heavily spiced that your mouth was on fire. When these issues were brought to the attention of our server, as we were clearly not eating, she took the dishes back to the kitchen, came back and advised that was how "Chef" liked to prepare these items. OK, I guess if "Chef" is the one eating it. I will say that we were not charged for the items, as it should be, but it was a disappointment, it may have been an off night, I don't know. If we were here for longer, would try again, as I have to say the cocktails were great!
(2)Geezer B.
Fantastic food and service. Dinner with two coworkers and we had a fabulous time. Bar tender was so helpful and really knows her drinks. Great advice on the food. Not a bad plate. Pate plate was amazingly tasty, as were the duck meatballs. Fryer chicken and ribeye were divinely delicious. Great choice. We will be back.
(5)Melissa K.
Had an amazing brunch at the Imperial on Sunday. The menu has a plethora of options, making it hard to decide what to order. Our server, Oscar, was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. We took his suggestions and were not disappointed as the food was delicious. Amazing service despite it being ridiculously busy which made the experience all the more enjoyable. We will definitely be back and will be recommending this restaurant to all of our friends.
(5)Rachelle H.
I just love Imperial. I come in about once a month to sit at the bar with my girlfriends and always receive the best service! The restaurant has a friendly atmosphere and I've never experienced any rudeness from staff (which is rare in Portland restaurants). The GM and bar manager really take their job seriously and do such a fine job in the front of house. The food, of course, is amazing as well. Thanks Imperial!
(5)Neil T.
Interesting menu and exceptional food. Highly recommend their cocktails. The 'radish walks into a bar' drink was phenomenal. Also recommend their fried chicken dish. Their grilled choices also looked great, will have to try them next time.
(5)Emily G.
I went with a large (11 people) group on Thursday night and was really impressed overall. Drink selection was decent and menu was varied but still made sense. Everything that hit the table got rave reviews - it seems like you can't go wrong no matter what you choose. I ordered the Bone Marrow Mushrooms and the Pork Chop. Both incredibly delicious. You'd think there's an upper limit to how good a side of mushrooms can be but these could have stood alone as a dish. I order mushrooms as a side a lot and these are definitely the best and most original I've had. As for the pork chop, it was a great blend of sweet and savory and juicy. The atmosphere is trendy and hip, but it's not so loud that you can't hear the people you're with. I'll be back.
(4)Zachary O.
Delicious! I found plenty of glutenfree and vegetarian options here. They were willing to make small changes to allow for my dietary restrictions. Got the Grilled Romaine salad (delicious!), Roasted Potatoes (pretty good), roasted Cauliflower (amazing!). My wife had the House Made Pasta with crab and asparagus. She said it was a little bland, but the fresh noodles were good and the asparagus was perfectly cooked. Some people in our party order the Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and the German Chocolate Cream Pie. Both of which looked amazing and were thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who stole bites. The waitstaff was okay. Not very patient, but quite thorough and on task. Good: Food in general, chill atmosphere Not As Good: Staff attitude
(4)N H.
Best Whiskey Drinks! The Frits are also awesome. In the summer grab an outside table for fun people watching.
(5)Kathy R.
Recommended by a local Portalnder, went here for dinner. Short wait for a table, restaurants comfortable. Open kitchen enjoyable. My guest had an Ahi Tuna - well prepared and reasonably priced. She subbed out the side dish for Polenta which she enjoyed. I love Duck and the meatballs were amazing. I had it with a side salace and made it dinner. So many choices on the menu. The salad was a Pear and Walnut salad with little greenery. Not enough for me for dinner but tasty. I wish I'd ordered one of the burgers and the fries - the people at the next table had that I it looked incredible.
(4)M T.
Delicious breakfast- eggs, potatoes, bread, and bacon/sausage. The chicken sausage was made in-house and was really tasty. Portions were a good size- not too large. Great service as well.
(5)Susan Y.
well priced, delicious, shareable small plates. Exceeded expectations. And, got to see "Dougie" from Top Chef!
(5)Aleju S.
Went there with friends. Awesome bar menu, great service and nice balance of upscale yet comfy. The cocktail menu is creative and impressive! We had drinks that stunned us into blissful epiphanies. Ordered several drinks, passed them around to share, sipped, then stared at each other across the table with "...whoa..." looks on our faces.
(5)Naomi A.
Hands down one of our best dining experiences, ever! We decided last minute to head up to Portland for New Years Eve and asked the hotel concierge for some dinner recommendations. I had a couple places in mind, but we couldn't get reservations at a reasonable time so she suggested Imperial. I was a little hesitant after reading some reviews, but didn't want to eat dinner at 5:00 so we went with it. Got there a little early and enjoyed a cocktail at the bar, the bartender was super friendly and helpful, and recommended some of his favorite dishes. Tasty cocktails, we're off to a good start! To our surprise, our seats were at the Chef's Table, perhaps couples preferred to have a more romantic setting on NYE, but we were excited to be so close to the action, so close you could actually feel the heat from the fire! This also allowed us to chat up the chef/owner Vitaly Paley, which made the whole experience! We chatted about the best dishes on the menu, our longing for foie gras (from CA), our excitement to try local truffles among other things. We decided to try: - Oregon Albacore Ceviche: Nice and fresh way to kick off our meal. We don't typically see ceviche with albacore but wanted to try it since the fish was local, delicious! - Menage a Foie Gras: A special for NYE, foie three ways, pinwheel with prosciutto, mousse and grilled, YUM. As foie is banned in CA, we had to try this and boy was it good, they were all delicious, but the grilled was our favorite! - Stew of Seven Fishes: All the seafood was perfectly cooked and while the broth was nice and delicate, we wished it had just a little more punch - Tails and Trotters Barrel Planked Secreto: Perfectly succulent pork with nutty romesco and grilled leeks, also very good! - Cheesecake with Caramel Sauce: Rich and luscious, hmmm, I want some now... Chef Vitaly also sent over some other treats to try and even took a picture with us, what a fun dinner. We had such a great time that we had to buy a bottle of champagne to drink with dessert and wanted to share it with our fellow guests at the Chefs Table. Definitely snag a seat at the Chef's Table if you can, even if Chef Vitaly isn't there, its fun to chat with the other chefs and watch them work their magic!
(5)Pat M.
4.5 STARS! We were a party of four and had made reservations several weeks in advance for an early (5:30 PM) pre-show dinner. We specifically were drawn to Imperial after watching Top Chef and being impressed with Doug Adams. We were not disappointed. The dinner items we chose (prawns, salmon, duck meatballs, and several sides) were each delicious, beautifully presented, and creative. Service was quick (too, quick, actually, as the dinners came out before the appetizers were served) although they were quite busy. Only two things we felt could be improved: 1) the peppers (a side dish we ordered to share) were unevenly spicy; the first was really deliciously tasty, but the second was so off-puttingly hot that it burned, really burned, the mouth. Will not order that again (and we will return; everything else was so good). 2) The only other concern was that we felt very rushed, even though we had allowed plenty of time to get to our show and did not want to be rushed out of there in 50 minutes, which would have happened had we not continued to order dessert, additional cocktails, coffee, etc. We will return to Imperial!
(4)Laura P.
WOW! What else can I say. We had such a great experience there. We shared lots of items as we had such a hard time deciding on just one thing. The 4 of us shared the Duck Meatballs. Easily one of the best things I've ever eaten. It was easily split up. We also shared the Ahi Ceviche....very yummy. For Dinner, we split the Fried Rabbit legs and the Stan's Sausage du Jour. WOW, also amazing. The Fried Rabbit Legs were served with a very hot sauce in a dropper bottle and honey. Dessert was also shared, the Ice Box Ice Cream Cake and the Pear Dumpling with Cherries and Huckleberries with Cinnamon Ice Cream. WOW WOW WOW. Service was great. It was an amazing evening with great food and great company. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Jake L.
Went for Happy Hour on a Sunday afternoon. A truly classically good burger and fries along with some classically good bottles of Miller High Life (the champagne of beers) The place was a bit dead as you'd expect in this part of downtown on a Sunday afternoon, I would like to visit for Happy Hour mid-week.
(4)Anne + Steve L.
A Major Disappointment. We went for Sunday brunch. The place was not very crowded and still the service was slow. Slow serving water, slow bringing menus, slow taking the order and excruciatingly slow serving the food. I order the pastrami hash. I might as well have ordered a salad. It was a small plate of potatoes, with hardly any flavor, a virtual desert of pastrami with a huge amount of arugula dumped over the top. The flavor was bland, the portions small and the price was high. All in all, a very negative experience.
(2)Patricia W.
Great staff from podium to prep line. We started w the Kale salad, tomato soup& shucked oysters and the on to the fried chicken. We enjoyed all the comforting food as well as friendly service! I'd like to try happy hour our next trip to Portland.
(4)Flavia A.
LOVE this place. The deep fried rabbit legs with picked watermelon rinds are delightful and a culinary suprise. Rabbit comes out juicy and tender and flavorful. Equally flavorful are the baked beans, which we had for a side w/ the rabbit. Very rich and deep flavors. We also had the burger, which was excellent. I love a juicy burger. We had the chard gratin on the side, which was fun because I usually have chard steamed, and not creamy, so it was different. The only disappointment is that their desserts aren't as innovative as their main entrees. Except for the butterscotch budina, which you sort of wished you went there just to eat that, because of its creamy richness. It's like its own meal! Cocktails are A+. This is my new fave portland restaurant.
(5)Mitch B.
This was my 2nd time at Imperial but my first time for breakfast. Two eggs over easy with chicken sausage, toast, and potatoes. The chicken sausage was excellent and eggs were cooked perfectly. This will be my new go-to place for an early breakfast in Portland.
(5)Leigh W.
Boring old dry French toast with a couple of cursory apple slices. So much for the seasonal fruit topping - it's May! Not worth the price. Bacon was good though, but for a $20 breakfast, I expect much more.
(2)KB B.
I have had two great meals in the last 3 weeks at The Imperial. The braised pork was savory and so delicious. I had the fried chicken this time, which the chef is famous for. It makes the Screen Door taste like a chicken nugget. The batter was so crunchy and salty. Just delicious. I woke up this morning wanting another serving of that chicken!! We met the executive chef, Doug Adams; what a great guy! I can't wait to go back!!
(5)Trevor N.
The food is tasty but I've never been to a place with slower service, for both drinks and food. Had to actually hand the c card as drinks arrived we were waiting that bloody long.
(2)Roseanne S.
I was pretty disappointed in my overall experience. I made reservations for a lunch review dinner for myself and my supervisor, called them to push it back when things at the office required us to be about 15 minutes later than I'd originally thought, and was told "Great no problem!" We got there and the girl -- by the voice she sounded like the exact girl I'd spoken to! -- said "Table for 2?" I said "Yeah and actually I have a reservation." The girl acted really confused and said she had no record of my reservation, but no worries because there were tons of tables. Well yes, actually, it was an issue because she made me look incompetent in front of my supervisor. As someone who worked customer service for years, the correct thing to do would have been to just say "Yes!" rather than try to correct me in front of my boss -- even if I really didn't have a reservation, she shouldn't have acted like I was making it up. There was no wait either way so I have no idea why 1, they lost my reservation and 2 she felt she had to tell us that. Last thing I want to look like in front of my supervisor is incompetent or a liar. She showed us to a table right at the entrance to the kitchen so servers had to continually walk around my chair which every time they did, wafted the smell of rotten fish. Why, I don't know. I got the "fancy" grilled cheese and tomato soup. The sandwich was pretty bland but the soup was way over seasoned. Extremely salty and so many herbs I had a pile of them at the bottom of my cup when I was done. That said, it didn't bother me THAT much because I finished both sandwich and soup, but I was surprised it was so overly salty and not anything special like I hoped. The vanilla soda I ordered was good, however. I was excited to get to eat here because it's nicer than most restaurants I ever get to eat at and was ultimately pretty disappointed. Overall a "Meh" experience.
(2)Lenore Z.
Halibut with smoked porcini, English peas, pickled fennel, then butterscotch brûle. Yum!
(4)Brad G.
Sitting down to an amazing happy hour. The house red, a Tuscan sangoveise blend, paired with a the house made charcuterie called 'Stan's Meat Plate' (which is completely seasonal) & and a chicken liver Pâté that should be a savory dessert!! They honor the local ingredients to Portland,OR and make amazing combinations with it. The Food is the star....as it should be
(5)Robert B.
My fellow Yelpers! If you find yourself in the city of Portland, Oregon and you're looking for a five-star restaurant with amazing food and fantastic cocktails to enjoy, look no further than the Imperial Restaurant set inside the lovely Lucia Hotel (A Yelp! waiting to happen) downtown. Chef Vitaly Paley has three great restaurants in Portland which include the Imperial, Paley's Place Bistro and Bar, and a fantastic diner called Portland Penny Diner. But I'm here to talk about the Imperial which opened in the summer of 2012. I've had the pleasure of eating at the Imperial a couple of times now and can't wait to eat there again. The venue is stunning with great visual textures, bare concrete pillars, three types of brick in colors of gray, white and black, and a natural brick behind the bar. Adding to the eye appeal are the tall wall paintings and wallpaper along with 30-foot plus high ceilings. Let's talk food and cocktails! From any point in the restaurant you can see the large wood-fire grill built with removable rotisseries that turn whole poultry and large cuts of meat. I love that style of cooking meat. Well, for starters I've had the charcuterie board called "Stan's Meat Plate" as well as the Stan's Sausage Du Jour - terrific! For a main course I recommend the rabbit, pounded flat, long and thin with a nice crispy crunch set atop a semolina corn cake which tastes a lot like grilled polenta accompanied by homemade pickled watermelon rind. The condiments for the dish are a homemade hot sauce that you apply with an eye dropper and a dish of local honey. Fantastic! The bone-in pork chop is my favorite. When you walk into the Imperial restaurant, the bar is just to your right with two sides and plenty of room. What you might not know is that Brandon Wise is the bar manager for both the Imperial and Portland Penny Diner for Chef Vitaly Paley since 2010 and to keep the story short, Brandon is a master mixologist! I arrived at the bar early one afternoon and caught the bartender chiseling king cubes for one of their signature cocktails called the New Money - excellent! I cannot recommend the Imperial restaurant enough! Thank you Imperial restaurant for being a great part of my culinary community. P.S. I recommend looking up Chef Vitaly Paley and Mixologist Brandon Wise as they have both left their mark on the city of Portland as artists in their field!
(5)scott l.
Recently had one of the best dinners I've had in 6 years in PDX here. Imperial is just killing it right now. Service, food and atmosphere were all top notch.
(5)Paul M.
The mushroom galette with escargot was divine. I'm sold on just that one dish.
(5)Amanda G.
My husband went for New Year's Eve and I am thrilled we did! The draw for us was Doug Adams because we love Top Chef and our expectations were exceeded. The vibe of the restaurant is nice and the service was fantastic. Our waitress was very attentive but not over the top. The FOOD is the big draw. We had the Poke plate ,mushroom galette and then my husband had the the fried chicken and I had the tuna. They were all SO tasty. I left completely satisfied and looking at the calendar to see when we can come back. That is the best meal I have had a in a long time. Oh and I had one of their "on tap" cocktails-I can't remember the name, Vieaux something and it was amazing. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Adam G.
I feel like it is fairly difficult to not be happy after departing any restaurant from their established Happy Hour. Imperial lives up to that expectation and even exceeds some of those standards. A small group of four, including myself, needed to refuel/prep before the wedding shenanigans began later that evening. We obviously didn't want to spend a lot of money but also didn't want to settle for fast food. We stumbled upon this place because it was a block from our hotel and thought that we were going to spend a lot based on its classy appearance. Large glass windows with a crown-type logo were all I saw from the outside but entering through the two separate doors to the bar area actually changed my impression. It almost looks like a brewery within but kept it fancy. The liquor bottle display was very large and eye-catching; especially when there are bar tending tools out in the open suggesting that there is more than just beer here. Low Down--Happy hour allowed me to share a burger, a basket of fries, and two imperial pints for only $19...Two thumbs up! The burger is the signature item for the happy hour menu. Cooked to your preference and served with caramelized and pickled onions, lettuce, tomato, sharp cheddar cheese and a secret sauce. This sauce is also served with the basket of fries and I gotta say, it's pretty damn good. Clearly I don't know what's in it but I did ask for extra cause I used it on every bite. The fries were a little more salty than I prefer but it didn't stop me from consuming them. If you're looking for a great happy hour location this review is based off that and hope it helps with your decision. The bartenders are very knowledgeable with both food and drink. The drinks that were created in front of us were very pretty in presentation and plentiful in taste while not being overpowering. Maybe If I am in town again I will try dining here to see what other tasty options Imperial has to offer.
(5)Mo M.
This is a very good restaurant, but they try a little too hard at it for my taste. For the price, I will choose one of many other Portland restaurants next time I'm looking for a higher end meal.
(3)Gina C.
Unforgettable meal and drinks at Imperial. Scallop crudo with foie gras "dust"? Radish cocktail?! Oh man, and the salmon and mushrooms...I remember it better than any PDX meal this time around.
(5)Sheila J.
We had brunch at Imperial. It has a lovely cozy feel for the atmosphere.My son is a huge fan of Doug Adams and watched him on Top Chef. We didnt get to meet Doug but we experienced a lovely meal with excellent service. The selections are great and good for kids. Its also a great place to watch a game and have happy hour. The food is outstanding american cuisine and we will be back
(4)Joy D.
Wait time was 30 min on a Friday night but got called after 15 minutes. Stayed for drinks. The "rose colored glasses" cocktail was very strong but tasty!
(5)Heywood J.
Pre-dinner drinks and oysters. Fair prices. Excellent service during happy hour, even though the bar was absolutely packed. Selection of oysters was outstanding.
(5)Anando S.
I went during the early evening happy hours so the menu was limited. That said the burger and fries I had were very good. And probably the best 6$ burger I have had. The quantity of fries is enormous even by my Texas standards. Good collection of affordable cocktails as well.
(5)Henry A.
Two of us dined here later in the evening and it was still quite busy. Nice atmosphere with a big bar along one side and open kitchen towards the back of the room. Lighting was a bit funny with perfect low light areas in the middle and then very bright spotlighted banquet seats along the outside. Food was very good, with desserts being especially great. Very fair prices and we shared a few dishes which all were quite good. Service was very good, recommended a couple of excellent cocktails and attentive and made us feel welcome and relaxed. Missed on the special of the day with describing it poorly and was not at all as he had described. Overall a the restaurant had a very nice casual elegance about it. We will be back!
(4)Marissa K.
Just had the roasted chicken and the greens salad was not pleasant. It was bitter with no taste.
(3)Jennie F.
The Best: 1. Flat- Top Burger... Literally the best Burger I've ever had. 2. Kale & Veggie Salad 3. Fire Roasted Mushrooms 4. Desserts! Creme Brulee... AMAZING! It's a seasonal item... so if you see if on the menu... order three to be safe! Drinks at the bar are great. All the staff is great... Sebastian, Olivia, Tom... all a delight!
(5)Jason E.
Let me begin by saying I can't believe this place only receives 3.5 stars per Yelpers. This place is chef-fabulous. 3.5 stars go to your run-of-the-mill average neighborhood joints with plain menu items and lazy chefs. This place may take some risks with its menu but my wife and I were blown away by even some of the seemingly simple items. We ate dinner and couldn't help ourselves from going back for brunch two days later. For dinner we enjoyed braised short ribs, the kale and vegetable salad, and one of their homemade cream pies for dessert. The kale salad was surprisingly sweet, light, and refreshing and, quite honestly, the best salad I've ever had. Kale and its strong flavor is rarely the ingredient that makes the "best salad ever." The braised short ribs were equally delectable and they practically melted in our mouths. And the malted chocolate cream pie was excellent. Oftentimes chocolate desserts are the quintessential restaurant cop out and heavy and sugary and the opposite of subtle. The pie was light, tasty, and quietly chocolate. For brunch we really mostly ate lunch. We liked the muffins but ate a burger and pastrami sandwich, respectively. I know I've already given one superlative but if you ever have a chance to have their pastrami sandwich, order two. My wife and I wish we had. I've spent a lot of time in New York and eaten my weight in corned beef and pastrami but this pastrami sandwich is truly the best I've ever had. My wife and I are still talking about the pastrami. Get the pastrami! Get the kale salad!
(5)Kathy W.
All meals, whether in the restaurant or catered at Hotel Lucia were delicious. The staff was simply outstanding in meeting and anticipating needs. In eating meals there for seven days straight (ran a conference at Hotel Lucia) I never had a less-than-delicious bite and never tired of the amazing dishes.
(5)Allan C.
I was lucky enough to try this restaurant with a group of co-workers on a business trip so we were able to try a number of things. This was one of the best restaurants I've tried in recent memory. Everything tasted fresh and was quite flavorful. The standouts were the Kale & Raw Veggie Salad, Duck Meatballs, Ribeye, and Black Cod. Service was solid and ambiance was chill but not too casual.
(5)Kimberly S.
Am staying at Hotel Lucia and stopped in at the end of the evening for a cocktail and snack. Was handed the typical trendy menu of craft cocktails but decided on a classic martini. It was one of the worst martinis I have ever tasted. I can only assume he overdid the vermouth. I guess younger bartenders no longer learn the classics. Plus, the olives had pits. Who serves olives with pits in a cocktail? I dumped the martini into my water and ordered a glass of wine instead. Finally, when the bill came it listed the vodka I ordered as one price then +$2.00 for the martini. Made me feel like I was being overcharged. I probably should have sent it back. just didn't feel like him trying to make a better one. Will have to find somewhere else go go the next two nights I am here.
(2)Neal B.
Awesome dinner. the meatballs were great. the flank steak had such unbelievable flavor. great choice to impress
(4)Elizabeth C.
Came here for happy hour cause its linked to our hotel which is the lucia, after a long drive from WA we felt the need for a drink as a pick me up. The bar food was incredible, we had the cheese plate, and chicken wings, not your average tasting bar food, and the drinks was just as delicious! The music was great with Indy bands which reminded me of home and the bartender was very friendly.. It was rush hour so it did take a bit long for the second round of drinks but other then that it was a great experience, we will be back prob for brunch or dinner within our stay at the lucia.
(5)E K.
Had high expectations given that Paley was supposedly behind this. He should take his name off if he doesn't want to sully his reputation. The albacore tuna was interesting but to cover it with fried onions did nothing to add to the flavor. The bread at the beginning were good but I would expect to get charged for bread on the Eastside where the entrees are under $20, not here where they run from $23-38. Everything was very SALTY! If you are going to have a traditional burger with fries, have plain ketchup available, not a honeyed BBQ sauce as your ketchup. Overall, very disappointing.
(1)Sasha K.
Beautiful inside, beautiful food. However, breakfast was too sweet (potatoes and sausage), and service was just OK for the price.
(2)Roxa M.
Breakfast at the Imperial was underwhelming and way overpriced. The "breakfast potatoes" were way greasy and in parts tasted like rancid fat from the grill. You really couldn't even tell they were potatoes. There was no toast served with the omelet--it was an extra charge if you wanted it. They only had two choices, white or multi-grain. With all of the wonderful bread available in Portland, this restaurant served something equivalent to wheat balloon bread. The toast arrived completely cold and limp. There was hardly any cheese in the omelet. Will not be going back to the Imperial. They should not serve breakfast unless they come up with better food. Breakfast was overpriced for what was served.
(2)Sam A.
Last night we went to the new Imperial restaurant by Vitaly Paley. The experience had its pros and cons: * Pro: There was a nice selection of bourbons to choose from and it was served with one big giant ice cube in the glass. Cheer! * Con: The bill lists $10 for the drink plus $2 for ice. And I asked -- am I actually paying an extra $2 for ice in my glass. The server said no, but they upcharge because there is more bourbon in an on the rocks drink. I'm not sure what I think of their response but it was the oddest bill I've ever received at the end of a meal and I still wondered if I was paying $2 for ice. * Pro: The Grilled corn and Ember-Roasted and Crushed Potatoes were great! The sides we really nice. * Cons: The Organic Half Chicken with Tarragon Aioli is really passable. It was dry and bony. It felt like the tarragon aioli was just trying to cover up a dry piece of meat. * Pro: The Barrel Planked T and T Pork Secreto tasted great! * Con: The barrel Planked T & T Pork Secreto is very visually unappealing on the plate. The meat was beautifully cooked but the rawer parts of the red meat clashed with the red secreto below it. When the plate was served, I thought - did someone vomit on my plate? * Pro: The server was amazingly nice and helpful. The table was kept clean and wiped down between courses. The server did an amazing job of getting us out on time to make it to the theater. * Con: I asked for a piece of bread to go with dinner. I was very nicely told - they don't serve bread. If I'm paying $25 or $30 a plate for dinner, don't you think I should be able to get a piece of bread? In general, I think the new restaurant is fine for an out of town traveler who doesn't want to go too and doesn't expect too much from the food scene in Portland. But the price for performance really wasn't here for me in this experience. I'll spend any amount of money on an amazing food experience but this just wasn't it. Portland has an increasable food scene, and there are a lot better options just down the road and they might even serve bread.
(2)Ashley K.
Three stars because when I went for happy hour the burger and fries were amazing. Burger was juicy, the fries had some sort of deliciousness going on, not sure how they get them to taste so good but they do. However, I went there for dinner and had some sort of pork dish, baked potatoes, and tuna tartare. My dinner companion had a beef dish of some sort (beef shoulder I think). The main dishes were not good, the pork was cold in the middle and raw. I get that this may be the way the chef intended, but it was gross. The potatoes were definitely nothing special. The tuna tartare was good, but again, nothing special. Overall it was a mediocre dinner at best, and came to about $100 total. We only had one beer each too, so that's pretty steep for what we got. If the quality was better I wouldn't mind paying that. The pros were the staff, who were friendly and very good at recommending and knowing their beer selection, and the happy hour discussed above.
(3)Jeanne D.
Had our first and last meal at Imperial last night. The wait staff was friendly but slow. The meal (my husband and I shared) took 25 minutes, while the table next to us got served 2 appetizers and 2 entrees in 20 minutes. The restaurant was extremely noisy with a crowd of 30 drunk women yelling during our entire meal. We spoke to the manager about this and he said he couldn't do anything about it. The portions were extremely small and not worth the price. This restaurant is big disappointment from a very talented chef.
(3)Kelly R.
Very good dinner last night and I highly recommend the lamb roll/spoon lamb dish; nice ambiance and attentive service. Only reason I don't give it five stars is the bar's odd approach to the classic Martini--served in an unchilled champagne glass with a five-inch bamboo skewer through the edges of two unpitted olives. Are they deliberately trying to offend Martini drinkers?
(4)Anna M.
I was excited to try Imperial for a date night fancy dinner. The service was good, and the ambience was hip but rather loud. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed by the food. Had the tuna ceviche to start, which was fine but nothing special. I ordered the shoulder tender steak, which was very tender but extremely salty. The salty garlic butter on top totally overwhelmed the steak flavor. It came with chanterelles, which were slightly better but also covered in salty butter. Also, I ordered the steak medium rare and it was RARE - not what I expected. My boyfriend got the stuffed poblano pepper, which was only ok. The best thing we had was the Iron Chef Radish cocktail. Also, we ordered the Parker House rolls and they were sold out. The waitress was able to bring us some bread instead, but she charged us $2 for it! I was annoyed by that. All in all, very overpriced for the quality. Go to one of the many other great restaurants in Portland instead.
(2)Carl S.
Pre packaged food with a sysco flair. Not enough food on my plate to cover the bottom..tatseless and boring. Skip around to Urban Farmer, they have flavor.
(1)Ian A.
I was a little skeptical about going on the opening night because you want to wait a couple of weeks while they work out their kinks and throw out dishes and add new ones but I was confident that Paley would be ready. And he most certainly was from the customers eyes! LOVE the atmosphere, right when you walk in, its a big city restaurant with a Portland flair - the restaurants here are doing a good job with that. Sat down and started firing orders to our server: duck meatballs, ceviche, rainbow chard gratin, kale salad, roasted chicken, pork secreto, quail, fried rabbit, sausage, carrots in a plum sauce, etc. The Rainbow Chard Gratin is a side dish but the BEST dish we had. The flavor just exploded with every single bite! I will need to ask Vitaly/Ben for that recipe, could eat it every single day! I am excited to see how this restaurant will make changes in the next couple of months, it had a great start! Will be back for seconds!
(4)Robert M.
they are getting it down... i've enjoyed three lunches there and they have smoothed the kinks out. the food is solid and good. the deserts are so nice.. the gingerbread cake desert is all about the right amount of sweet, salt and crunch. nice job.. easy setting. go!
(4)Sara B.
This place is truly awesome...amazing food...friendly staff, even the decor rocks my world! Bike chain chandeliers?! Come and eat here...you wont be sorry!
(5)Josh D.
What was this hostess thinking... I was part of a large group, we had a reservation for the private room at 8:00 pm. The entire party arrived on time and when we were checking in with the hostess she said the group of diners before us still had not left the table, but she assured us that they had paid and it would be no more than 10 minutes. Two rounds of drinks in the small waiting area later, about 45 minutes and multiple questions of "Is our table ready?" The next move was the staff pulled a group of tables together in the center of the restaurant to at least seat us while still being strong armed by the squatters in the private room. They did send out 4 complementary dishes and we all thought that it was wonderful that they where generous enough to do that. 20 minutes at our first table the manager comes and stays that she had just told the table in the private room that there was another group that was waiting and if they could please leave. 1 hour and 15 minutes after our reservation we finally get into the room. Food and service was good, I just could not shake experience with the host. I feel a restaurant like this one with a "famous" chefs name on the door should do better at being punctual with their reservations.
(2)Leigh L.
Soooo, this would have been a 4-star if I had written this review right after I went to dinner at the imperial on 11/16...I thought the dinner was great, especially the kale salad, the steak & fries was also great. However, I went back again yesterday for brunch...I was so excited after looking at the menu and remarked to my friend that I thought everything looked so good from the menu that I wouldn't be able to make a decision. First off, I ordered the daily pastry, I was told it was supposed to be lemon poppyseed muffin, but would be a bread for some reason. What was delivered with no explanation, however, was a gingerbread-ish bread...hmmmm. It was OK, Next I ordered the pastrami hash...Yummmm, right? Wrong. The pastrami was in 1" x1" cubes with a thick layer of fat on the bottom and there were celery pieces the same size and nearly in equal amounts as the potatoes...I don't know, but I usually think of celery as a flavoring, not a side vegetable. With places like Broder and Screen door and Country Cat around to get brunch, the Imperial needs to seriously up their game.
(2)Christa T.
Four of us went for dinner. The tab was $225, including drinks. Parker house rolls, squash soup and grilled romaine salad were shared starters and very good. Three of us had steaks and one had the salmon, again all very good. We ordered the smashed potatoes and carrots for sides to share. The potatoes were sooo good, especially if you like them soft, crispy and buttery! We finished off with the butterscotch pudding and ice cream sundae. Both were very tasty, especially the pudding, which came with two little ginger and cream cheese sandwich cookies. Service was good, though there was a bit of a wait between the starters and entrees, and one of the steaks came out almost five minutes after the other entrees. All in all, very good. The restaurant was filled to capacity, but the flow was good and the service attentive. We will go back again, as there were many other tasty looking things on the menu to try!
(4)Beau S.
One of the best meals I have had in 2015 by far and also one of the the best bangs for the buck. I went with a date and they prefer to serve more family style so we had the Salmon, Carbonara, Broccolini and the fries. -The Fries- super crispy and with a great flavor and a secret sauce. They taste a lot like duck fat fries but, I am not sure if that is what they fry it with Broccolini- This was good except I was not a big fan of the eggplant puree with it KIng Salmon- great flavors paired with grilled peaches that gave it a great sweet kick. Carbonara- WOW!! at $19 they are not making much money on this item ! Tagliatelle with Bacon, egg yolk, Grana Padano, black pepper and giant shaving of Black truffle. I love Cacio E Pepe but this is like a high end super charged fat kid version of it WOW!! It could easily be in the top 10 things I have ever eaten. I also had a couple cocktails Bolo Tie- highly recommended mix of bourbon and pineapple with a rosemary aromatic that brings a great flavor with the smell. 1 inch punch- a solid cocktail with Gin and St Germain flavored with beer and tea overall a great dinner experience with good service and I will come back again to try the crazy menu items
(5)Andy Z.
happy hour food: crispy fried pig tail. it doesnt look like much, but it's delicious. i say its something similar to the filipino crispy pata, but better. not as oily. the pickles balanced it out. the habenero sauce wasnt as spicy as i thought. great taste. ***4/5 service: sat by the bar and the bartender was very attentive. got our order in and even asked us if we wanted to order more before happy hour ended. ***5/5 value: something unique for that price aint too bad. totally worth it. how often do you see pig tail on the menu. ***4/5
(4)Karen N.
I came in during lunch hour around 12 with a friend and I can say that my experience was at most, just decent We ordered the fried chicken and a tuna melt. For drinks we had their house made sodas which was good but nothing special. I was very excited to try the fried chicken because I had heard good things. It took around 40 minutes for the food to come out. The fried chicken was very crispy and still moist which was great and everything you want in a fried chicken. The pickles complimented the fried chicken very well. The only complaint I had was that it was bland. It came with their house sauce and local honey which made it better but I still had to drizzle a lot onto the chicken to make it have more of a kick. Still it wasn't bad but I was a little disappointed because I was so hyped up about it. My friend had the tuna melt and he said it was good except for the fact that it had a block of cheese on top which hardened quickly. The service was alright even though it felt as if our waitress treated us like children especially when she said, " You finished all your food? Good job!". Overall, the food is okay but I wouldn't say it's worth the price and the service/atmosphere didn't make up for it. It was nice to try out this place but I don't think I would want to go again anytime soon but maybe one day since I didn't try a lot off the menu.
(3)Wennie H.
Amazing atmosphere. The restaurant itself is darkly lit and has a very modern pub feel to it. Ample seating and spacing between tables, though it does get loud. I ordered the good problem to have drink (gin, thai basil, lemon, red pepper juice, and ginger syrup) and it was pretty fancy, so fancy in fact that it had a little pushpin holding the basil to the glass. The drink itself was sweet and you don't feel the gin till after the fact. For dinner, we started with the Parker rolls and they were pretty good, I didn't like the butter brushed on only because it got all over my fingers. Entree wise, I got the half chicken and it was incredibly moist, seasoning was on point. The dessert is what blew my mind, I got the blueberry tart with raspberry curd and it was amazing. The crust was the perfect amount of bite, the curd wasn't overly tart and the cream had the perfect amount of sweetness. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Ryan E.
Dougie wasn't there for our visit, but you could taste him...in the food! His fried chicken, paired with the watermelon salad was spot on. M'lady's albacore tuna was lacking, but the kimchi green beans and Parker House Rolls were on a roll... Drinks - tasty, if not a wee weak (sure, your fancy sawed ice is neat, but it's taking up 30% of the volume of glass)... The service was attentive, if not... flighty and discombobulated. Two waitresses danced around table, seemingly fighting for the order and thusly the tip. You earned your 22% tip, but taking the check (and looking at the tip on way back to the kitchen) while we just received our dessert was tacky. I felt rushed, like... "GTFO, so we can turn your table and make more money...". I expected a lot more in that department. And like Dougie's stature, Imperial came up short. Thusly, I wouldn't recommend dropping a C note here and probably won't be back.
(2)Diane S.
I can't get over the drinks here, they're not only tasty but beautiful to look at. I had the "good problem to have" which was the right amount of spicy and tasty. Also, I recommend the oysters (never can go wrong) and the cheese platter. My boyfriend had the burger, and he swears it was one of the best burgers he has ever had. Great place, and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Ombevorder O.
CREATIVE & AMAZINGLY TASTY If, for nothing else, Go here for the fried chicken and the compressed watermelon salad. I am not a fan of fried food. I don't know wether it's the buttermilk marinade, or what, but a bite into the chicken popped succulent and flavorful, with the fried portion retreating into the background. The salad, with a hint of spice was perfect as a contrast. I stole some bites of my grand-daughters burger and all I have to say is that there is a difference in grass fed beef. The Imperial sources it locally. tripadvisor.com/ShowUser…
(4)David S.
Great meal sitting at the bar Wednesday night. Ordered the melon and snap pea salad and then had the halibut for my entrée. Food was fresh and cooked to perfection. Service at the bar was awesome. Can't wait to return to Portland to try some other dishes.
(5)Brad M.
I loved it. Cool place , awesome food and service. Fried chicken was terrific, no bones chicken breast and easy to eat. Hot sauce was fantastic. Gravy soooo good. Just a great experience but now need a nap!
(5)Heather S.
We had an okay lunch experience at Imperial. The place is beautiful! The hostess asked if we had a reservation and then looked surprised when we didn't, though the restaurant was bare when we arrived. I know, I know! The chefs were on Top Chef!!! I get it! ;) Cool. But, there comes a time when you care less about prestige, and you just want a good meal in a lovely atmosphere with friendly service. We ordered the Parker House Rolls, which were good, (fluffy, toasty, buttery, and slightly sweet), except that the salt was not evenly distributed, and I got a full mouthful of salt at the last bite. Ack! I had the kale salad, which was $8, delicious, and, absolutely TINY! Even this word (tiny) is bigger than that salad! ;) I have a small appetite, people, and I left hungry! It would have been extremely helpful to know how small that salad was! For an extra $9 you can order (3) prawns, which I did. But, to my shock, the prawns came with their heads on (eyes and all), and it was quite disturbing. I'm a pescaterian (meaning I only eat fish in the animal world), and I would have loved some kind of warning. My partner had the pork, which she said was wonderful, and actually was a nice-sized portion. On a positive note, they have a delicious Orange-Tumeric soda which was flavorful and, I like to think, healthy, because you know Tumeric has all those anti-inflammation properties. Yay. Our server was very nice, too. However, our meal was quite costly for what we got. My lunch with the roll and the soda came to $22!!! I'm fine paying this for dinner, but for lunch, it's extreme considering how little food I actually received. All in all, I would not recommend Imperial to people who are: a) Hungry and want to spend less than $17 for a normal-sized meal b) Hungry and vegetarian c) Would like a normal-sized meal with a normal amount to pay (like you know, $15 and below), for a lunch in Portland.
(3)Nick N.
I saw the pictures on Yelp and the menu and had to try this place. The fact that they had a crispy fried pigtail, I had to order it. Of course it was fatty, but had a good amount of tasty meat in it. They have it was a hot sauce with it. I didn't think it wasn't that spicy. I kept adding it on and hardly tasted it. It the tail! The rolls are very good with the salted butter. It reminds my of Hawaiian king rolls. A little sweetness to it. My coworker order the fried chicken and she said it was delicious. Had to eat it with the hot sauce and honey. The drinks lot very good. I had the non-alcoholic ginger mule and it was nice, crisp, and refreshing.
(4)Anna G.
Stumbled into this place after searching for a cool place to eat in the food desert that is downtown Portland. So glad I did because it's wonderful! Cool ambiance, equally cool menu. I had the burger and I can easily say it was one of the best burgers I've ever had-so buttery and juicy. Great service, too! Would recommend this place to anyone staying in the neighborhood.
(5)Amy L.
I dropped in for happy hour and it was a great kick start to my weekend in Portland. What drew me in was the Vieux Carre and as hesitant as I was on how that drink could cost $5 on HH and $8 regularly, our wonderful bartender explained how the cocktail is premade to cut the cost of labor. Made sense... it is pretty time-consuming. Their HH menu had a huge selection of great bites. I ordered the chicken liver pate and pig tail. The liver pate was a generous slab (almost looked like a slice of spam) with house crackers. It was too much liver for one person haha The crispy pig tail is very overwhelming. It's like roasted pork and pork belly in one. The skin is very crispy and salty, there is a good amount of fat underneath, and then the meat at the center is very rich and tender. Both are definitely starters for a table of 4, not because of the portion but because of the rich flavors. There is a nice patio on the curb but the interior is very classy. It is a part of the Hotel Lucia so there's an elegant touch while still maintaining a casual vibe. Definitely a great place to check out. Start with HH and stay for dinner!
(4)Amanda O.
So we walked in and restaurant was beautiful. The hostess was very sweet and attentive. I had the French toast which in my opinion could have been cooked a little longer but was still good. My friend had the pastrami special omelet of the day and he raved about it which is rare because he usually doesn't like omelets but he thought it sounded good. Our overall experience was wonderful.
(4)Mike W.
Really cool space with BIKE CHAIN chandeliers! Food is awesome. Potato latke with duck egg...amazing! Homemade bloody mary mix made with smoked tomatoes...so good. And oddly enough the entire staff is very attractive. Show up looking cute or the staff will surely show you up.
(5)Jen S.
Had lunch here and am really happy about our entire experience. I wanted to order a cocktail and appetizers and meals but alas, guess I will have to try and go back for dinner sometime and not during lunch on a work day. I had the fish sandwich- nice piece of pan seared cod on a sesame burger bun with some dill/tarter sauce, pickles and shredded lettuce. It was not heavy and really well done - not as in over cooked but as in they did it right! That with my side salad and an iced tea was a perfect combo. My husband had the fried chicken and a cup of tomato soup. I am always impressed with what he orders and am thankful he let me try both...the soup was amazing. I'm not a tomato soup fan - or so I thought. I guess I have only had cambells so what did I know?! This soup tastes fresh and kind of creamy. The fried chicken was hot and crispy. Served with a side of honey and their own hot sauce in an little eye dropper tincture bottle - delicious and entertaining! Service was friendly and attentive. We easily got a nice table for two at noon but they were filling up by the time we left 45 minutes later. They take reservations of you don't want to chance a walk in.
(5)Adrienne L.
Brunch only review. Went here for Saturday brunch. Wasn't crowded at all around 1 pm, and we were seated immediately with no reservation. Service was very friendly and the place had a great vibe. We started out with the Grilled Grapefruit with basil sugar and mint. I've never tried this combo of flavors and it was freaking delicious I got Doug's Fried Chicken. Crispy, juicy awesomeness. And the biscuits!! OMG. Loved this whole dish. Based on our waiter's recommendation, A ordered the Chorizo & Scrambled Eggs. This was a sleeper hit. While chorizo normally doesn't scream out to me on menus, this was a must-try. All the elements combined to make one tasty dish. The Fried Chicken comes with the House Barrel-aged Fresno hot sauce. Ask them for the Habanero one as well if you like it even hotter. I also tried the Bloody Mary and loved the super smoky flavor. It may be too smoky for some. Delicious food, great drinks, great service, chill ambiance, barrel-aged hot sauce, wood fire grill...this place hit all the right marks for me.
(5)Sofia T.
This would have been close to five stars, if the server hadn't rushed us through our meal. The place was super busy (and super noisy), maybe the downside of going to a "top-chef" celebrity restaurant; each plate was plopped on our table in rapid succession without a pause between courses. We were in the restaurant less than an hour... Not a leisurely dinner. But everything we tried was really good: --grilled flatbread --parker house rolls @$1. I guess the new trend is to charge for bread, but maybe this will help keep everyone's carbs down. ;) --grilled broccolini with charred eggplant puree and olives --basket of fries with secret sauce, yummy yummy, worth the calories! --housemade pickles. This was the only misstep. IMHO, everything was too heavy on the vinegar, lacked balance --the fried chicken deserves all the raves, really flavorful, large portion --grilled sausage du jour was kielbasa, good and smoky --grilled salmon, really tasty and fresh, served with grilled peaches and corn The plates coming from the wood grill looked (and smelled) amazing. We had had so much meat on our trip at this point, so passed. But I'd definitely recommend ordering off this section of the menu. Would I return? Yes.
(3)Leanna L.
Came here for drinks and apps on a week night. Sat at the bar and had a great experience! The fried chicken dish was so good, we ordered another. Poke was good but needed some crackers or crostini. Drinks were really good too. I'm a total Top Chef fan girl and Doug was nice enough to play along; he stepped out of the kitchen for a minute to take a photo! #dreamsdocometrue I would definitely go back and would recommend going here!
(4)Brian H.
My wife and I ate here a day after eating at Paley's Place. The comparison is not fair to make. My wife had the rabbit and I had the potato leek soup. My soup was amazing. Her rabbit wasn't outstanding (falling short of my expectations of Paley's restaurants) but the oysters were on point. It was a busy Saturday night so the bar was busy, but the bartenders were subtlely arguing amongst themselves and with waiters. They seemed to be falling behind the demand. I think I'll only go back if someone invites me to join them there.
(4)Vama H.
We stumbled upon this place walking around and were not disappointed. Good food, great happy hour menu and great ambience. We ordered food from both dinner and happy hour menus as they both had great selections.
(4)Jana C.
2.4, and I'm being so generous! I followed Dougie (now made the Exec Chef here) all the way, rooting for either him or Gregory on this season's TC. excited that I landed a rez during Dining month, the entire dining experience for us was utterly lackluster. We both thought separately how lacking the service was, and our server just seemed to neglect us, with each and every turn. Parker house rolls are so lauded here. We found the outside too dry although the roll was fluffy and moist inside. $1 for one here... yep. Is not included as part of the meal. My citrus salad was so overdressed I could barely eat it. Too acidic and too much liquid!! Dougie's signature PBR cola roast pork shoulder, I found again, toooooo too sweet. How disappointing with the first bite. They probably did plop a 8 oz size cut on my plate, but with no sides whatsoever. Her sig fried chicken... ?? i am lost here. I'm a person who has watched every single season of Top chef, reads Michael Ruhlman books, and every chef memoir that gets published. Also, as a Portlandian lover, I was sad leaving. The restaurant is very loud inside as well. Be prepared for that. The decor is awesome, the lighting is my kind of place, and the verve inside.. very alive! Just wouldn't come back. Horrible first time dinner. I actually think the financier may just have been the best part of the meal last week.
(3)Katie P.
I've eaten here before and been very pleased. My take-out order tonight, however, was so disappointing. I ordered the King Salmon entree with eight of their Parker rolls (in order to have left-overs--they are amazing!). It was a piece of salmon less than the size of the palm of my hand accompanied by four peach slivers. I expected at least a vegetable to be included, as this was a $27 entree. Further, the salmon was fairly undercooked, which I ate anyway, and then regretted it once I looked back at the photo I had taken that really showed the lack of done-ness.
(2)Jone V.
Based on today's brunch experience, I cannot, in all good faith, give this restaurant or Doug's breakfast a very good mark, one of my first 'off' experiences. And my girlfriend DeAnna and I were soooo looking forward to going there!! Because he had appeared on a tv show, and she was all curious. Unfortunately, as the absence of lines should have told us, we were disappointed. DeAnna's order was so drily cooked she had to send it back, and my Eggs Benedict were so-so. The ham did not complement the sauce, it was too salty for the Hollandaise sauce which in turn was not salty enough. The waittress was great and really tried her best. Let's hope the chef figures out how to improve the cooking abilities of his staff. Meantime, I am not going back to spend my hard-earned money there until I read better reviews from others.
(2)Keri N.
Two words: pop tart. Don't ask just get it for brunch, breakfast take out or a snack. You definitely won't be sorry when you bite into that warm flakey pastry crust and warm fruit compote oozes out. It's not overly sweet and incomparable to store bought. While I didn't have a chance to eat brunch at the restaurant my friends said it was delicious - next time portland!
(5)Michael S.
Had the opportunity to partake in the top chef dinner last night. Fabulous. This was one of the best meals of my life. Chef doug and team killed it along with chef mei Lin 4 courses with pairings. Vitally paley you should be proud of your team. Photo of me u will lay out my photos
(5)Lezley L.
I must say this was the most pleasant dining experience I have had in awhile. I made reservations for a post-Valentine's date. I was sorta skeptical since the chef was on Top Chef and thought it had more hype than it should. Oh how I was wrong. We entered and were seated within five minutes. From the hostess to our waiter Mark and everyone in between, they all provided excellent service with a smile. Quite surprising since most customer service in PDX stinks. First we started off with the house rolls- warm, chewy and sweet. It's their version of a Hawaiian dinner roll. Then came our entrees. Each dish had a nice visual presentation. Fried chicken was crispy with moist meat but still prefer my George's. I personally wasn't a fan of the watermelon salad. For me, the melon and fennel didn't work on the palate. Maybe pickled red onions with the melon would work better? The hot sauce dropper and honey was a nice touch. Next the pork chop. Wow! Best pork chop I have had at a restaurant. Perfectly grilled, crispy and tender. Seasoned enough where you don't need the puree. Really this cut of meat is unbelievable that I want to go buy some from Tail & Trotter. I'm drooling thinking about it. Oh and we ordered a side of fries in case there wasn't enough food. To top of the night, we ordered a slice of chocolate cream pie. Move over Random Order, these guys have a better slice of pie with a raspberry sauce. Overall, great evening in a typical PDX interior design with great service and space between tables. Date night again? I think so. Make a reservation just in case.
(5)Judy L.
We didn't get the fried chicken because we just had fried chicken a few hours earlier that day. Instead, we went for the peas and pork belly appetizer and the braised cola pork entree to share. Both were amazing! I highly recommend the peas dish. It was very interesting and flavorful. My husband loved the pork entree. Definitely one of the better preparations we've had. The parker house roll was delicious but I wasn't blown away by it. Tasted just like what good fresh bread should taste like. Server was incredibly friendly.
(4)LJ B.
I've been here multiple times over the past year in the bar and in the dining room and the food is very good, although very limited for vegetarians and nothing for vegans. But even the happy hour has the one veggie salad, there is good beer on tap, and the parker house roll is my guilty pleasure, so I keep coming back. But the staff, oh my goodness. They are so very cool and they are so not interested in serving the unhip over 40 set -- I try to come on off hours, but doubt I could get any service at the bar I were competing with the young and hip. It's kind of expensive for what it is and the table service is very brusque for the price, so I would not make a special trip, but I won't completely avoid it.
(3)Matt S.
Just finished an amazing breakfast. The wife had the latkes and I had the ham steak. Coffee was Caffē D'arte and was too good not to just drink black. Trusted Yelp and was not let down. Almost forgot don't go without the home made hot sauce. Would recommend to everyone!! Enjoy!!
(5)Don B.
im·pe·ri·al adjective: imperial 1. of or relating to an empire, of or relating to an emperor, majestic, magnificent. 2. of, relating to, or denoting the system of nonmetric weights and measures (the ounce, pound, stone, inch, foot, yard, mile, acre, pint, gallon, etc.) formerly used for all measures in the UK, and still used for some. 3. historical (of a size of paper) measuring roughly 762 × 559 mm (30 × 22 inches). noun noun: imperial; plural noun: imperials 1. a small pointed beard growing below the lower lip (associated with Napoleon III of France) When it comes to Imperial, the restaurant, I find myself thinking of a small pointed beard growing below the lower lip. More commonly known as a soul-patch or flavor-saver. Actually, that's not true. I didn't even know that little lip-hair was called an imperial until I looked up the definition of the word while writing this review. No, no... let me start over. Imperial, to me, is simply a damn fine restaurant. A damn fine restaurant run by some talented chefs, lubricated by expert barmen, staffed by top-notch servers, and offering up pretty amazingly tasty food. That really sums it up. What Paley has going on here is good. I've had a few meals and a few more drinks here, and all have been great. The dishes are full of flavor, the foods are diverse, and everything I have tried has satisfied. While the prices are a little aggressive at times, the quality of the fare is there. And the environs are nice too - especially the bicycle-chain chandeliers, which I really, really dig. Paley definitely put a lot of his style into this joint, and it shows. Don't hesitate to try dinner and drinks here at Imperial when you have a chance. It's upscale, but the food meets the bar and the experience is always top notch.
(5)Beth D.
The first thing I noticed was the kitchen. It was open with a bar for seating. Very cool. We were seated at a table close to the kitchen in a booth. So while I couldn't see the kitchen without peaking over the wall, it felt private and cozy. I liked it. The server was amazing. She knew everything about the menu: the spices in the food, the grape varietals in the wines, the sugars in the desserts, the flavors of the digestifs. She was patient, warm, and professional. I've never had such great service. And the food! We had the fried chicken (generous portion and perfectly cooked), the heirloom tomato salad (refreshing and bright), and the duck meatballs (a masterpiece: each bite was more delightful than the one before). For dessert: the chocolate maly creme brule (close-your-eyes good) and the pecan pie special (lighter than you would think and perfect a la mode). It was an all around marvelous experience. Highly recommend it.
(5)Deanna N.
Why have I waited so long to try you? Late night HH from 11-midnight was perfect after our how at the Keller. The standout by far was the kale veggie goat cheese salad. The burger with carmelized onions and bread and butter pickles ordered medium rare was one of the better burgers in this town although smaller for $6. The fries were large and one order was easily split between three people. The atmosphere is spot on minimalistic typical PDX decor.
(4)John S.
First and foremost the service was excellent - just the best service I've had in years. Initially we made reservations for 5. When our groups plans changed and our group went from 5 to 2 the hostess was more than just accommodating; she was warm, kind, and understanding. We came in for the Portland Dining Month *(PDM) meal with the wine pairing. Cocktails were good, wine was paired exceptionally well, and the servers suggestions of adding a starch were perfectly on par with our overall meal. Again, the service was excellent; our server was superb. The three course meal was great: nice light salad with blood orange and pistachios, roasted pork shoulder with greens, and desert was excellent as well. Having never been to Imperial my expectations were far exceeded. Thank you for a wonderful meal.
(5)Carrie C.
What a fun place!! Sat at the bar and shared some awesome happy hour bites with a colleague. Oysters (super fresh), cheese plate (six bucks), pate ( delish- and 7 bucks), and then shared a giant double chicken breast, crispy fried. Top Chef Dougie was in the house- and actually cooking in the kitchen!! These guys are for real in Portlandia folks. My fav of the eve though was twofold. First - the happy hour wines which were exceptional local wines for 8 bucks a glass. And the roasted winter veg with walnut pesto. Wine- easily could get 2x per glass. Was a nice fruit forward but balanced red. Veggies. Roasted cauliflower, red onion, rutabaga, slathered in unctuous pesto. I could eat just the veggies. They were that good. Please go check out this place. It is NOT in the über-trendy Pearl District but it is really really good. I walked over from my hotel and will be happy to do so again.
(5)Brye P.
This place is a really, really great "hotel restaurant". There isn't anything wrong with the food. There just isn't anything going on that makes the trip to a part of town I never go to worth it. The Parker House rolls are awesome, and the house hot sauce is also very good. But that's sorta the thing: the rolls and the hot sauce are the two best things I had off of a large menu from which I ordered many dishes. And the hot sauce isn't on the menu...so it's just the rolls. I have to call BS on the Crispy Fried Pigtail. The quality of the meat is perfect (Tails and Trotters is just the best you can get.) But the fat on this thing melted into an inedible taffy texture. It was fried nicely, but only in that decent fried chicken kind of way. They served it with some really lovely acidic pickles, and (Texas?) Toast . But all of these factors still made for a slab of food that I had to try way too hard to find enjoyable. Cool idea with "meh" to "bleh" results. The cocktails are good, our server was great, and the prices seemed pretty fair. The place just had a get in - have dinner with family members who are in town for the weekend - and get out kind of vibe. Like a cafeteria with class. Give it a go. Maybe a late night burger and drink here would be the ticket.
(3)Kathie H.
Would love to replicate some of their dishes at home. But alas that is why we go to the Imperial......to enjoy new taste sensations. Cooked Radish dish....totally different and delicious. Grilled Pork like I never tasted.....It tasted like beef tenderloin, but better. Sauces are excellent! Service outstanding.
(4)Katherine D.
it was a disappointment. We went for a business dinner, and when we walked in, were ready for a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was pretty awesome, immediately relaxing. We started out with the parkerhouse rolls (all rolls cost $1), but worth it, then ordered a grilled romaine salad to split. It was tasty and a substantial portion for sharing. We should have called it a night right there. I ordered the porceno (or something like that) - - it tasted like it had been cooked in coals from a railroad tie. They said it would have a smoky flavor ---- nope, it had a chemical acrid flavor from the low quality wood they cooked it in - I choked down what I could. My colleague fared much worse. She ordered a ribeye steak, cooked medium (I know, I know). It wasn't cooked medium, it was black and burnt. In a word horrible. The wait staff were absent, they never asked how the meal tasted - they probably knew better. Since it was business, nobody wanted to make a scene so we just paid our bill and went away unhappy. I won't be back, for business or pleasure. I hear the breakfast is tasty, so the guests at the hotel next door can at least get a good start to their day.
(2)Jack S.
Been here several times for happy hour and absolutely loved it. A great happy hour menu with a variety of items that are reasonably priced. They also have a few outside tables which are great during the summer. Tried this place for dinner and while also very nice, was very steep in price. My one complaint would be that it's part of a hotel and the bathrooms are quite the hike from the dining room.
(4)Albert W.
4.33 stars. I have been here once for brunch and once for a weekday work lunch. For brunch, I ordered the Fry Bread - a fantastic and really well done dish. I would attempt to describe it as a fresh and non greasy chorizo dish with great pico di gallo and served atop a sweetened flat-type croissant. This dish gets 5 stars in presentation, taste, and value. For lunch, I ordered the burger. The waitress did not ask me how I wanted it cooked, and I for whatever inane reason did not follow up on the order. The burger ended up cooked done to well done which was disappointing. However, even with that, it still tasted really good so that was a nice surprise. My coworkers and I also split an order of fries with me. Decent. Not quite a 5 star review because I think there are a lot of other fantastic lunch options in the area for less dinero. This restaurant is in a high rent locale with a star chef and great but not necessarily amazing food. Also, my lunch coworkers ordered the Reuben (Produce Row's is best) and stuffed poblano pepper (not filling at all) and were lukewarm to both dishes which I was in semi-agreement with. With that said, service is five stars - very attentive but not in your face. Anyways, a solid place I might revisit every couple months.
(4)Jeff T.
Had our first meal at Imperial last night and I know it won't be our last. Been here at least 3 times and it's been a treat each time. I'm a big fan of the fried rabbit, it's an upscale version of fried chicken and waffles, and really fried bacon, awesome! It's a great addition to the Paley empire and I'm looking forward to coming back. :)
(5)Casimira T.
All the quality you expect from Vitaly Paley without the price tag. We did brunch and were very happy with the portions which was a great main course that was not overwhelmed by sides (no huge hash brown serving here overtaking your plate). We had a unique fry bread scramble with house made chorizo. And a pastrami hash with excellent wild mushrooms and just the right level of pan fried crispness. We will be back to try the neighboring Penny dinner soon.
(5)Elizabeth B.
I have mixed feelings about this place. Our waitress was great, but the dining room is very loud. The ambiance is odd; the place is decorated in a hodgepodge of styles that left me wondering if there was an artistic point in there someplace. (If so, it wasn't obvious to me.) This didn't detract, it was just odd. The food was extremely well prepared. My husband had a smoked salmon chowder that had a wonderful, complex flavor. He also liked his sausage du jour. However, when I read the menu description of the pork chop, it mentioned squash purée. Being from SF, I was expecting a side like mashed potatoes. What I got was a VERY large piece of pork with a squash-based sauce and nothing else. Don't get me wrong: it was very well prepared and very delicious. It's just that I thought I was getting something else, and I couldn't help feeling disappointed. We waited nearly an hour for our food. Our waitress did come by a few minutes before the food came out to apologize for the wait, but it would have been nice to hear from her before then. I'm rating at four stars because it's not that my dinner was BAD; I was just hoping for something else. If you go, ask questions about the entrees before you order.
(4)Lauren G.
I had a gift certificate from the Portland Food Adventures to use. I should note, the PFA I went to here was really really great. I was excited to come back and have a bite to eat on a sunday afternoon. Apparently Sundays are not good days for Imperial. Our server changed about three times while we were there. After each having a drink and splitting a couple small plates, whoever it was that was working just brought us our bill without ever asking if we would like another drink or more to eat. We took that as our queue - to leave for the day and probably not venture back in.
(2)Shawn S.
Excellent food, best pork chop I have ever had, the roasted carrots are also amazing!!
(5)Yvonne D.
Love love love their hh burger! it was delicious, the HH drinks are nice and strong. I love the huge ice block in the cocktail. Service was great as well!
(5)Renee C.
Fried rabbit is a miss, I'm afraid. The meat tastes dried out with all of that breading. Duck meatballs were splendid however as was the chard side. Service was friendly and attentive.
(4)Sharon M.
I would have given Imperial 3 stars, but unfortunately, I couldn't remember eating there until I looked it up on the Internet. I saw the charge on my checking account so I knew I had been there, but I guess it was not very memorable. I started with flavorless beignets, then I had some sort of eggs benedict, but not the traditional kind. It had a bit of a sweet sauce, and aside from the sauce, it was just OK. The restaurant came highly recommended, but maybe brunch is not what they do best.
(2)jake k.
It's not easy to screw up breakfast, but Imperial managed to screw it up in every way possible this morning. I wanted to bring my husband to a nice breakfast for his birthday & since we had such great experiences at Payley's Place, I figured it was going to be at least decent. I made sure to request a candle in his breakfast through my open table reservation, which I don't think is too much to ask. When we arrived, we were met by a frantic & unfriendly manager. We ordered bloody marys to start with & after about 10 minutes, were told he would have to make the mix which took another 15 minutes. I ordered the pastrami hash & my husband ordered the ham & cheese omelet with a side of rashers. It took forever for our food to come with about 4 other tables in the restaurant. When it did, both entrees were ridiculously small & my "pastrami" hash had no pastrami. I sent it back & it took another 15 minutes while my husband's omelet got cold. I figured it took so long because they were making a new one. When it arrived, it was the exact same dish with a small amount of pastrami thrown onto it. The reason I know it was the same food is that the same poached eggs were on top, but they came back with brown spots from being thrown up in the salamander. Nothing was seasoned adequately & there was no salt on the table. The potatoes on both of our breakfasts were horribly greasy & we both left hungry. If you're going to charge $12-$14 for a breakfast entree, it should be spot on. The only reason for the 1 star was the bloody mary & the ok rashers. The worst part was, there wasn't even a happy birthday wish, let alone a candle. Will not be back...
(1)James M.
This should be a much better restaurant than what I experienced tonight. Paley is a wonderful chef and has spawned a number of really talented progeny over the years. I had high hopes for this place and am hopeful that it was an off night because of the Oscars. Meat plate - excellent Oysters - oysters were fine, plating was just plain wasteful. Rock Salt? Really? Lamb dinner - disjointed and lacking flavor. Pork dinner - flavorful and interesting Value to price - nope. The wine list is lazy, generally uninteresting and lacks imagination. Sticking to the mainstays of the industry does not benefit the restaurant or the winemakers. Missed a great opportunity to differentiate themselves from the herd here. Portland is starting to recycle the farm to fork concept and there are a whole bunch of places that are starting to taste the same. I don't know whether this is being driven by the consuming public or the restaurants, but it is time for someone to step up and re-imagine the farm to table concept with different flavors. Kevin Shikami and Kin hit this out of the park, and there is no one in the city who is coming close. Imperial is an ambitious project that I hope succeeds, but based on this evening's meal I will give it a year at best. There is much more interesting food to be had in this city, at a much better price.
(2)Julieann F.
I had a wonderful brunch experience at Imperial. I had heard wonderful things, so I was excited to try it out. We started with the beignets, which were different served with honey, but no less wonderful. I can say that the fry bread with chorizo was exquisite: a little spicy, but amazing. My husband liked his French toast, so all were pleased. The serving staff was attentive and super friendly. I can't wait to sample dinner... My anniversary is coming up!!!
(4)Michael C.
Superb food, service, and ambiance; comfortable. Caitlin was able to guide us as needed. She knew the food and offered assistance with beer choices; there are just so many good ones nowadays.
(5)Richard W.
Brandon Wise, our bartender was very cool. We ordered a Moscow Mule and it was served in traditional cooper cup (well patina'd) and a beer. Once the bartender learned we were from Las Vegas, my next drink was served in a generously sized rocks glass with Las Vegas printed on it. The Four Roses single barrel bourbon was served with a large hand cut (in front of us) crystal clear ice cube. I nursed the drink and the large ice cube made the last sip as good as the first. Great place for cocktails!
(5)Jeremy G.
Through a smart phone faux pas, we ended up here rather than Paley's Place as intended. The food was good overall. Service was only so so. The fried rabbit was amazing! The ember roasted potatoes are a must. The menu does not provide the best descriptions of the dishes. The salmon was not the best - too fishy. The steak was great as well.
(4)Lee Anna B.
I have to say I was a little disappointed. The place was very noisy for one thing and possibly that was because there was a large table next to us with 3 small children who were very active and obviously had no business being at this restaurant. At one point on the little boys was actually outside by the window near our table and was climbing up on the edge of the frame. The manager had to say something at that point. The Parker House rolls were the best part of the meal. I ordered the quail and was surprised to receive one tiny bird nested in a large dish of greens. Barely two bites of meat really. I feel for the price a serving should be at least two birds. It was very tasty thought. One person at our table ordered the roast chicken and it was really dry. Another ordered a steak and as far as I could tell is was close to being medium rather than the medium rare he asked for. My husband ordered one of the signature dishes which is the pork loin and he really got the best meal of the four. One person ordered the grilled romaine salad and found it to be over dressed with a tarragon pesto that was slathered on the top. I little too much. Tarragon is a very strong herb and a little goes a long way. My husband and I shared a berry/rhubarb pie with vanilla ice cream. We found the ice cream to be pretty tasteless, very little discernible vanilla and the pie unspectacular. Overall I feel for the pomp and chatter Imperial receives we didn't get the best effort. Maybe we ordered the wrong stuff from the menu? I don't know... seems like everything on the menu should be perfect and delicious. I don't think I'll go back, for dinner anyway, maybe for lunch.
(3)Priscilla M.
Imperial gets a solid 5 star rating from me. I was a little apprehensive about having our NYE dinner there after reading some of the other reviews, but I was truly blown away. We made our reservations because we had originally booked a room at Hotel Lucia, and I figured the new restaurant adjoining would be a great option (we didn't want to drive anywhere). At the last minute we changed our booking to the Nines, & decided we could walk to Imperial. I did not want to deal with Urban Farmer or Departure on possibly the busiest night of the year. From the moment we walked in until the moment we left, we had a 5 star experience. Despite the reviews ranging from completely positive to extremely negative, I was mentally preparing myself for a clusterf**k of an evening purely due to it being NYE. Some snafus are to be expected, right? Well,no. We arrived about 15 minutes early, but were able to grab a seat at the bar immediately while we waited for our table. The place was packed, very busy and lively. The bartender wasted no time getting our orders and offering suggestions. We are tequila drinkers, but had our first taste of Mezcal last night, thanks to Brandon(? I think that's his name?). The hostess made a point of updating us on when our table would be ready, and it was only 10 minutes past our scheduled reservation. Our server was fantastic- I can't remember her name but her service was unforgettable. She was efficient, informative, friendly, witty, all in all a real pro. We ordered the parker house rolls. Lemme tell ya, nothing is better than fresh out of the oven bread. At a dollar a piece they can't be beat. We also had a half dozen oysters, fresh and clean and from Washington, that's all I remember about those. And it was served on a cut wood block, very rustic and cool. We also had Stan's Meat Plate; it was delicious but what stood out to me were the house pickles. They diefinitely had an Eastern European touch. That may not be your thing, but I was digging it with the meats and flatbread. We both had the special, 20oz bone-in ribeye steak with garlic herb butter and chantarelles. That steak had serious flavor and juice, was perfectly medium rare, this is the stuff famous last meals are made of. Sides we chose were the ember roasted and crushed potatoes; simple and delicious, the basket of fries with secret sauce; they can keep their secret because the sauce didn't really stand out, but it didn't have to. The fries were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. They stand on their own. I had the beefsteak tomatoes to throw a little veg in with our dinner. Again, very simply dressed with some cottage cheese, but they put the steak in beefsteak. They had incredible taste and texture on their own; thats how a fresh vegetable should be! This food was made with love, a love for food. To round it out, Paley was making rounds wishing us all a happy new years. Maybe thats expected, maybe its not, but it definitely made a lasting impression. One that he is truly connected to his craft and his patrons, which is exactly how it was. Thank you Imperial, for a fabulous experience. We can't wait to see you again.
(5)David R.
We went out with another couple--two of us ordered the steelhead, two ordered the trotters and tails (pork) dish and a side dish of chard. All of us were supremely satisfied. The food was beautifully prepared, ingredients outstanding, portions were just right, ambiance and service were fine. I'd go back for sure.
(4)Andrew L.
I love this place. The whole experience is fantastic every time I'm here and I come here a lot when I'm in Portland. I just had their lamb chop dish. It was the best meal I've ever had.
(5)Pink P.
Everyone kept going on and on about how great the new Imperial was supposed to be since it was Chef Paley and all, so I booked our team event there. Those of us who got the dungeoness crab reuben found it to be bland and greasy, and no one else seemed overly impressed with what they got either. The dungeoness crab reuben was I believe $19 - overpriced for what it was (didn't include fries or a salad unless you count the few springs of endives a salad). The staff were certainly attentive and friendly, but fake, trying to make bad jokes, "Happy Hump Day Everyone! tee-hee-hee!" and as we left, 'Au Revoir!". I lived in France and this restaurant isn't French, it just came across as pretentious and.... weird. I'm happy that I didn't pay for my meal myself and that it was on the company dime, otherwise I'd REALLY be disappointed!
(2)Joe W.
I went here for one of the preview dinners just before they hard opened with their full menu, and it was a great experience! The menu is a playful juxtaposition of nostalgia for grand hotel restaurants from the '50s and contemporary Pacific NW New American. There was a snafu with my reservations, but they handled it with efficiency and grace. Our server was friendly, funny, and helpful. Vitaly Paley came out to talk to every table, most likely because it was a preview dinner. The table next to us gave him an earful of some crappy advice (I think he might know what he's doing...), but I couldn't think of anything to say! Bummer. Seating varies from bar to individual tables to communal seating right in the center, and it all works. As good as the food itself was, the cocktails were even more remarkable. The New Money is the second-best cocktail I've had in Portland (second to Aviary's McCarthy's Toronto): bourbon, Nardidi amaro, hickory vermouth, and bitters. The hickory vermouth was incredible. Slightly smoky, herbaceous, spiritous cocktail, which is just what I like. Very well balanced, not sweet. I even overlooked my usual distaste for rocks in this case, which was helped by the fact that the single ice cube was large and pleasantly rough-cut. I didn't have one, but it's super-cool that they have two cocktails on tap, each $7. I'd come back to Imperial just to go through the rest of their cocktail menu, which I'll probably do once they start their cutesy/cleverly-named "Before" and "After" happy-hour(s). The wine menu is nice and has a wide range of prices, including glasses and half-bottles. Quick run-down on the food... the highlight of which was the secreto. Oregon Albacore Tuna Ceviche: hardly spicy, but tangy and refreshing. Barrel Planked T And T Pork Secreto: delicious and perfectly cooked. Steak (I forget which): a nice cut, cooked as ordered (medium-rare). The garlic herb butter was good, but the chanterelles was great! I mean, they're chanterelles, so of course they're going to taste good, but these were exceptionally delicious and perfect with the steak. Ember-Roasted And Crushed Potatoes: a simple side that accompanies meat well. Ember-Roasted Carrots: sweet and carroty, about what you'd expect---which is good carrots! Dessert was Chocolate Ice Box cake (again referencing a bygone era) and something else I can't remember (apple tart?). Both were good, but neither outstanding. Things I'm looking forward to trying the next time I come back: Parker House Rolls (another throwback, but a perfect fit for a hotel restaurant), Duck Meatballs, Fried Rabbit (seriously, this sounds amazing: served with semolina corn cake, Imperial barrel-aged hot sauce, watermelon rind pickles, and Beaumont honey). And more cocktails!
(5)Katrina E.
Went here for breakfast on a rainy Sunday morning, and loved it! The service was fast and friendly and the food was delicious. Our server recommended the Chorizo Fry-Bread, which was delicious and ended up being the favorite of three dishes our party ordered. We also snagged a doughnut, which was cakey and cinnamon-y and completely yummy, and I couldn't stop eating. I didn't do cocktails this time, but I'll be back again soon to try more!
(5)B H.
Did a weekend "away" about a mile from home, at Hotel Lucia. Imperial is their restaurant and it looked fantastic at first glance. Had a late dinner at 9:30 pm. Spent a lot for what we ordered, and didn't really feel satisfied. Everything was fairly heavy and some were downright greasy. Woke up with a stomach ache in the middle of the night, and in the morning, my wife called an audible and moved our brunch reso to Brasserie Montmartre, which was excellent. Imperial looks awesome. It's got great lighting, a peak-through kitchen with an open hearth/oven. The decor is modern and cool. I SO want to love it. But I don't think the food is there yet. Sorry guys. I really want to love you. But I cannot lie. I'm just not feeling it.
(3)B. L.
I have been waiting to go here for some time. Several people have recommended Imperial to me and I guess I was expecting A LOT more for all of the hype. While I was able to get seated without a reservation for dinner seating was cramped and the table space was small and overfilled upon seating. There is zero sound dampening material on the walls so it is very loud even when the place is less than full. The service was okay but far from stellar as I would expect in such an establishment. As an example it appeared to me that my server had never opened a bottle of wine and could barely get the foil off of the bottle. Of course I was there for the food, so lets talk about that. I came in with a preconceived picture in my mind based on what others had told me and that was no the reality, at least not for me. I had the dish known as the Seccrato, which is a pork dish cooked over their wood fire grill on a wooden plank. The description sounded marvelous and I had high expectations. Well, the pork was dry, over seasoned and the portion was far from filling. For the money I spent I would hope to not leave a restaurant still hungry. The one standout here was desert....absolutely spectacular! All in all, I felt it was overpriced and not up to par with similar style establishments. I am not saying that everyone would find it as disappointing as I, but I am positive that some will.
(2)Mark S.
Do restaurant owners taste their own food? Apparently not here. Here's the good, bad, and unfortunately the ugly. The Good: location, decor, and vibe. The Bad: slow service (no reason lunch should take 20 minutes when the place has less than 10 patrons), inattentive service. The Ugly: Little menu 101 planning - Tuna sandwich club is not the same thing as tuna salad! When I order tuna club, Albacore at that, I expect whole pieces of fish not some damn low quality bumble bee canned, overly seasoned, olive oil saturated gut bomb. That was just disgusting. I know bacon is the new "food candy" but there is no reason to over do it. Please rethink this sandwich. I really wanted to like this place but unless they step up their game I won't return.
(2)Everett S.
Went in with my family after they said they had some of the best Parker House Rolls ever here. Unfortunately, the second time around was not as good. They were room-temp and had the texture of the grocery store version. Rolls aside, the food was not bad. We split some smaller plates for a light dinner. Highlights were the brussel sprouts and Kale. The sausage just tasted like a decent bratwurst, not that there is anything wrong with that. I can see that this place will be good in my future visits.
(4)mary r.
Finally yummy food downtown Portland. Four of us celebrating a birthday had a great time. Oysters, yummy, Salad, perfection, Pork shoulder yeah baby, fries, yes please and dessert was delish. I took off 1 star as the menu seemed to scattered. Some small plates and large plates for ala cart but other items were full plates. I will be back this weekend for another dinner.
(4)Tami A.
I had the most amazing dinner here last night. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable about everything on the menu. We ordered several things to share between three people and everything was seriously incredible. They have really interesting and creative things on the menu (my favorite was probably the grilled romaine salad) and I love that their food is local and the meat and fish they serve is free of hormones and antibiotics. The atmosphere is really swanky, but we were dressed casual and didn't feel out of place. This place is perfect for date night or a girls night out. Next time I go back I'll try some of the cocktails!
(5)Gus M.
We dined here on Christmas Eve and it was extremely busy. We were seated at the Chef's counter and got a firsthand look at the kind of teamwork it takes to crank out entree after entree. There was a lot of activity, but nothing felt rushed and the chefs took the time to do some beautiful plating. I enjoyed the Kale Salad and the Pork Secreto, my significant other ordered a Butternut Squash Soup and a very fancy Ribeye and he said it was one of the top ten meals of his life. They definitely could use a little extra serving help on the holidays, our server was working really really hard!
(5)Laura S.
I will be honest--I was worried--I like to go to places with more solid reviews, especially if I know I'm gonna drop a couple hundred on dinner. It seemed like this was a one star or a five star...and I wasn't in the mood to do something that seemed like a gamble. But we had a reservation and I figured we'd give it a shot. In short, dinner was amazing. Very rad space, designed with a super cool (but not uppity) vibe. The service was amazing--please ask for Andie--she is sweet and gracious and absolutely adorable, and her menu suggestions were perfect. (I loved that when I asked her to help me decide between two dinner options, she went with the cheaper one--she really wanted me to enjoy my meal, not take in a better tip.)The steamer clams and the roasted romaine salad were excellent; the ribeye, pork chop, and secreto were flawless in both taste and presentation. Fantastic dining experience, wonderful staff, great location.
(5)Ray D.
Overly loud. Not for a lunch where you would like to talk with one another.
(1)David W.
With Paley's reputation I was excited to have dinner at Imperial to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We were seated at a quiet window table...only problem--there are no quiet tables at Imperial and there was a table right outside the window where it felt they were dining with us. The services was absolutely terrible, slow, inattentive with the waitress barely even "going through the motions." When dinner was presented, I received my dinner nearly 5 minutes before my wife's dinner arrived. Hers piping hot, mine barely warm; even the plate was cold. I sent it back and in their attempt to warm it, the pork was so tough it was like eating jerky. It was not worth eating. They did take it off the bill and but ruined our night.
(1)Christina B.
Love trying new restaurants and this was my birthday dinner location. Delicious:D Great wine selection, dinner was great and they will make substitutions on plate. Server was very friendly:-) had the gingerbread toffee for dessert and they brought it with a candle. Definitely would go here again.
(5)Oregon G.
The duck meatballs with prunes was a little spicy but otherwise excellent. Fried squash salad had very little squash but lots of prosciutto. The squash itself was dry and tasteless. The stuffed quail had little flavor but was warm. The applesauce, apple, and pickled celery sauce was strange at best. The celery was bitter and very salty and blended or contrasted very badly with the rest of dish. Imperial tries too hard but does not pull it off.
(2)Allyson P.
We walked past this spot plenty of times since we were staying next door, and were never really tempted to go in, as nothing on their menu sounded all that interesting. However, the bartender at Little Bird recommended it for drinks, and since he was spot on with Teardrop Lounge, and Imperial is stumbling distance from our hotel, we decided to check it out. I suppose we should have trusted our instinct, because we really weren't impressed. All of the cocktails sounded good on paper, but really didn't deliver. I had the Duty Free Cocktail, which had Ron Zacapa 23 year solera rum, gentaine liqueur, aged aquavit, vanilla syrup, and mole bitters. I like everything that was in the drink, but it really didn't come together. The proportions must have been off or something. I personally can't judge my husband's drink because it involved radish gastrique and I'm not a fan of radishes, but he felt the same way I did, that the actual cocktail wasn't nearly as good as the sum of its parts. I applaud their creativity, and hopefully if they tweak their recipes a bit, they'll taste as good as they sound.
(2)Amy K.
The 5 stars are for the drinks and bartenders. I stayed at a hotel near here so I had happy hour and a night cap here. The whiskey drinks are top notch and some of the best I've had. The bartenders were very nice and fun. I did try some happy hour food and it was very good but I would have given that more of a 4 star but the price is reasonable.
(5)Cathie R.
Food good service sucked! From the beginning at the bar(arrived 20 min early for reservation) took 20 min for drinks. Then didn't have the wine we ordered with apps so we sat there until our waiter offered a different Chablis..the irony was took recommendation from wine spectator and the beverage part of the experience was lacking to say the least. Excuses like we are bringing the Chablis up to temperature!? Just bring the bottle to the table in some ice people ( if u have it!?) and all is good...
(3)Anne S.
I had a party here for 22 people for my husband's birthday. Brandon, Alex, Sean and crew, along with Chef Paley were attentive, professional and instrumental to our very successful party. My expectations were surpassed. Everyone in the party was wowed by at least one dish. All courses were exactly right and expertly prepared. A huge thank you to this wonderful restaurant for making our evening special.
(5)Dan Q.
Whoa! Impressive breakfast. Great decor and the food is outstanding and creative. The pear dish with ricotta with fried bread and warm honey is out of this world as well as the hash. You've gotta go there!!!!!!
(5)Laura F.
These cats know what they are doing. They are creative and want to be different. Each food choice was uniquely seasoned, from the Food and Wine magazine rated duck meatballs that were delicious, to the plank cooked pork in a wood fire oven. Our bartender/ mixologist recommended house made tonic with our drink and it was delightfully flavorful with an interesting tasty twist. This restaurants comes highly recommended.
(5)Tuan N.
Buddy and I stopped in after walking through the Portland Saturday Market for happy hour. Before getting to the food, the décor and layout of the restaurant was pretty impressive. There is an open kitchen concept so you can see where the magic happens. There are only two cocktails on HH special and beer selection was limited to two beers. Both drinks tasted great albeit a little strong (not complaining) but the O Dolly was a little too sweet for me. You must get the crispy fried tail. Probably not good for you but it was delicious. The skin crumbled in my mouth with the inside was perfectly cooked. Lightly seasoned so it was just right. The tongue sliders were very good as well. It was not chewy and with the slaw it almost tasted like a normal slider. For me, believe it or not, was the fries. These were the best fries I've every had. Thick cut, really crunchy on the outside but not overdone. I can't speak for the dinner menu but definitely worth another visit.
(4)Susan C.
The minute we entered Imperial we were on vacation in a sophisticated City. Great bar scene, open kitchen flaming with juicy meats and grilled everything. Dark and cozy best sets the scene for this Top Chef restaurant! . By the way, we were there pre-theater at 5:30. The vibe just kept building upon itself. By the time we left , lines were out the door. So first of all the drinks! I chose a non alcoholic ginger beer mule. It was served in a copper mug and was completely refreshing. My guests had the equivalent to a whiskey sour and a drink called "a Radish Walks Into A Bar". The names were so clever but this review is written the day after and I cannot remember all the names! Everything on the menu was written so cleverly that it was hard to choose. The waiter was excellent and helped us wisely navigate. Dinner was selected based on the waiter's recommendation. I chose the braised pork. Melt in your mouth, savory flavored and just the perfect portion. Extra sides to share included Parker House rolls with sea salt butter, bone marrow sautéed mushrooms and tender potatoes. Both my guests ordered the fried chicken and reported to me that is was delicious especially when their hot sauce and honey was added to the top. I will be back and bring others. Hope I can get a reservation!
(4)Sudipto G.
In an veritable ocean of excellent brunch places, the competition in PDX is so tough that unless you have a very high standard in your brunch offerings you wont be at the top of the pack. Sadly thats the case with imperial. The decor is excellent, service is good, but the food just isnt up to the mark. I for the Imperial hash with the steelhead trout. It was good, a tad too oily but nothing to write home about. For the prices they charge I expect much much better food!
(3)Cam Z.
Wonderful brunch spot next to Penny Diner downtown. The fried chicken with biscuits and gravy was to die for! I was literally cleaning the cast iron skillet to get every last bit! We purchased the hot sauce to take this memory home to enjoy later.
(5)Phoebe W.
I loved everything about this place!!!! They sat 5 hungry, loud asian girls in the middle of their restaurant and we had a blast! Not sure if the very, white crowd at Imperial could handle it, but we had a great time! We even got Doug to stop by and take a quick picture. Very nice of him to; I'm sure we scared him! LOL! Our server was the best! Super attentive and fun. Kept the food and drinks coming. The drinks were strong! Super cute mini clothespins to hold the garnishes in place. Love the little details. We ordered: Portland Poke - this was good poke - super fresh and flavorful Grilled Caesar salad - must get Crispy Fried Pig Tail - slightly scary looking, but it's like a big chicharrones and was super crispy and delicious with the mustard and pickles. i could've had a whole one to myself.... ok, maybe not, but I wanted to! Duck Meatballs - they were good, nothing to write home about, but then I'm not that crazy about meatballs. Still waiting to be impressed by this craze. Fried chicken - much has been written about this.... it was great! have i had better, yes. but it was still delicious and order it with the watermelon salad and this dish is perfection. That watermelon salad is the best I've had! perfectly juicy. Tails & Trotters Bacon Chop - DAYUM! this was my favorite dish! the creamy poblano sauce and blackberries had me licking the plate and digging my face to get every last morsel on the ribs. Love this dish. Lamb special - this was like a middle eastern dish with saffron rice and yogurt. wished it was more tender, the saffron more saffron-y. would've loved some almonds in the rice. Other things that we had that i wasn't sooo excited about - parker rolls (more butter please), grilled broccolini (i guess we needed some veg), ember roasted potatoes (boring to me). Had the peach & fig pie which had a nice crumble on top and a malt creme brulee. All in all, would definitely come back and would recommend this restaurant to everyone I know who visits Portland. Chef Doug is doing it right. Wished I had time to visit the Penny Diner next door.
(5)Cecile L.
Came here for breakfast one morning and it wasn't crowded at all. Can't remember which day but I'm thinking it was a weekday so maybe that's why it wasn't busy. Service was still pretty slow and you're kind of left there twiddling your thumbs. My husband had the Two Eggs Any Style, which he said was good but really how hard is it to make this.. and I ordered the French Toast with Seasonal Fruit, which I was really disappointed with or at least not impressed with it. I guess their breakfast menu is pretty simple, nothing too fancy. Wish we got to try this place for dinner because we're fans of Top Chef and really wanted to see what Doug was up to so maybe next time around.
(3)Meg R.
Great restaurant in downtown. I came here on a weekday at 12:30 and the place was packed! I would recommend making a reservation, even if you're dropping in for lunch. The service was friendly and attentive. My friend and I ordered the Cola & PBR Braised Pork and it was delicious - a bit dry in certain parts, but overall the flavors were incredible and it was pretty tender in most spots. (Note: this dish is $19 on the dinner menu, and $13 on the lunch menu) Also, save room for dessert! Their dessert chef is a PRO and made a mean brown butter pecan pie. We paired it with their housemade honey ice cream and the flavor combo was out of this world! They serve up big portions too, so you can split a dessert and still want to take a nap afterwards. They do a different featured pie each day, so I look forward to trying more... although I lucked out, because Pecan is BY FAR my favorite of all pies :-)
(4)Lexie V.
Bravo! A+! Oh how I loved thee, Imperial!! We discovered this place like most people: the chef made it far on Top Chef, so we had to check it out. We were warmly greeted and seated immediately. Lucky us, we got a table right in front of the open kitchen so we got to watch Doug expedite and run the kitchen throughout our entire meal. From looking at the menu, I admit I was not blown away or super excited by the choices so I asked the waitress for advice. She recommended the kale and vegetable salad with...wait for it... goat cheese vinaigrette. My husband hates goat cheese and was leary about agreeing to split this with me until he tried it. This is hands down the greatest salad I have ever had the pleasure of eating at any restaurant. It is sheer perfection! Had I only had that, I would have been completely satisfied. It is fantastic and I highly recommend it. Oh, and my husband who hates goat cheese? He agreed with me and helped me eat every single morsel! Next stop? Fresh made Parker house rolls with salted butter. Life changing, really. Why have I not had salted butter before exactly? I don't know, but that has all changed now. The rolls had a crusty, beautiful top that opened into soft, hot perfect rolls. $1 each. Order these!! Oh, and that butter elevated these into heavenly territory. The ember roasted potatoes were next. Again, spectacular! This was a very rustic dish akin to something you'd eat camping... if you were glamping! Very very good. For my entree, I kind of HAD to try Doug's Fried Chicken, the very dish he blew his competition away on on Top Chef. I remember all the praise the judges heaped on him and thinking, "It's just fried chicken. Please." And then it was in front of me, served beautifully on a cedar plank in a cast iron dish. It came with a medicinal dropper of hot sauce and fresh warm honey. There were pickled onions on top of the chicken, plus housemade pickles. Oh, and did I mention this is the single greatest fried chicken I have ever had??? This dish is absolutely phenomenally delicious-- the chicken was juicy and I just flat-out adored the pickles and onions. When I come back here, I don't know that I could ever try another entree on this menu knowing this is available for me. Great plate of food, Doug.. I get it now. Imperial has a full-time pastry chef (who made the parker house rolls) so we did try dessert. I can't for the life of me remember what we had but I know we loved it and ate every bite. Again, we were not jazzed reading the dessert menu as it all reads so ordinary, like the dinner menu, but then it arrives and you realize you have been tricked: this place consistently manages to turn what sounds perfectly ordinary into stuff that is perfectly delicious! The waitress also recommended a truly excellent cocktail, the Harlequin. She asked me what i like in drinks and really listened and made a sound recommendation based on that-- I love that kind of service. The Harlequin was kind of like a dry orange soda and went down very easily. I know my husband did not love his vegetarian entree and maybe Imperial needs to improve that bit by offering a more substantial veg entree, but that was his experience, not mine. Overall, I have to say that while I went into this place with doubts, I walked out thinking this was one of the best meals of my life, hands down. I cannot wait to return.
(5)Melvin T.
Imperial is one of my favorite Happy Hours in Portland. It is an adventurous, approachable, and affordable menu. The crispy fried pig tail is a gluttonous dish with perfectly crispy pig skin and luscious fat and tender meat. A very approachable "offal" dish that will have you loosening the belt. The Imperial fries are my favorite in Portland. It's only $3 for a basket of salty, crispy, fluffy frites. I've also enjoyed the $6 Imperial burger and can't wait to try the smoked elk tongue sliders. $5 craft cocktails puts this HH over the top. They have 2 craft cocktails on tap. My choice is the Vieux Carré. A sweet bourbony classic poured over a big block of ice. Imperial is likely to see a big boost in popularity because of the Top Chef effect. Vitaley Paley's Imperial has had a budding superstar chef in its midst. Now, thanks to the TV show, the secret is out...Chef Doug Adams is a Top Chef. On episode one of Top Chef Boston, Chef Doug Adams cooked fried chicken with a watermelon salad that placed among the tops in the show. The dish made an appearance earlier at Feast and is now on Imperial's regular menu. The fried chicken is so good and one of the best in the city. The crunchy boneless chicken thigh is a great blend of savory, salty, and sweet. The watermelon salad is a a bright and refreshing compliment to the fried chicken. If you've yearned to try Top Chef food in real life, this Fried Chicken is for you. I love Imperial because it affords me the chance to try it's upscale and unique menu during happy hour with a nice $5 cocktail.
(5)Rose H.
The food was just so good... We were lucky enough to be seated looking into the kitchen, so that was a great start to the evening. (Food is always better when you watch them cook it in front of you...) We spent most of the meal wishing we could taste everything that came off the grill. Everything that touched the wood fire was like the Mary Poppins of food - practically perfect in every way. We got the pork chop and the steak special, and both were amazing. Cooked beautifully, and super flavorful.
(5)Bob K.
We went here with a group. Very nice place inside. It is a bit noisy and I found it hard to hear people on the other side of the table. Its funny, we were dressed informally, and were placed in a section of the restaurant with the kids and other informally dressed people. The other part of the restaurant was full of people dressed much nicer. I guess that is better for both crowds but I have never experience that separation before. Service was very good with short wait times....except desert took a long while. As far as the food goes it ranged from good to excellent. Then 5 star dishes were the kale salad, palmer buns, the fried chicken with pickles, onions, honey, and hot sauce, the salmon special, and the fries. Oh and the pecan pie and the banana butterscotch brûlée were really really good. We also tried the roasted vegetables, Hamburger, oysters, beet salad and pork shank. All were good to very good but no stars. The place is more expensive than we usually go to. I think that you can get equally good food at a lower price at several other places. But for special occasions... This place was pretty good.
(4)Phil L.
I cam to Imperial for brunch and I was surprised how empty they were at 1:00 PM on an afternoon. A little scared to be honest I'm glad I stopped in here for a meal. First off they make a nice stiff drink and I ended up ordering the latkes with smoked salmon and duck egg. Presentation was beautiful and the food was fantastic. Brunch here was pretty reasonably priced especially for the quality of the food and the service from the bartender was excellent. The restaurant is has a very modern design and definitely a good place to take a date. There's plenty of seating and space between the tables so you won't feel like you're stacked up against the other diners. Definitely would recommend this place based on the food I had here.
(4)Ehow C.
Such a bittersweet review, as the occasion was my farewell lunch for work. Despite our party's... staggered arrival, our server catered to our every whim. (Front of house seemed a bit cold, but maybe that's how they operate.) Still waiting on someone? No worries. Oh, can we sneak in one last order before the kitchen closes? No problem. Ah, this person needs to leave now. Boxes up the burger like a boss. Super friendly, premium service. Now, the food was pretty good, but I'm unsure if the prices matched the expectation and quality. I had a soda for my "side" since the lunch entrees don't come with anything. The flat-top burger was nicely crafted with a buttered bun and super flavorful pickles. The onions came sauteed, which was a nice touch. My biggest issue with the whole experience was requesting rare and it came back... well done. It was still pretty juicy, but I'm very disappointed that they didn't cook it to order. The lack of any side also hampered my experience; I left unsatisfied, and had already exceeded my "budget". Overall I had a good time, I just wouldn't pay for it out of my own pocket. It's just too expensive without exceeding expectations.
(3)Jon B.
The Imperial was recommended to us by the hotel Kimpton next-door. Had the tturkey sandwich and it was full of flavor! It's a must order! My husband had the fried chicken and it did not disappoint! Energy was great and the decore was eye candy! Sorry that we missed meeting Doug, The Executive Chef, who participated in Top Chef last season.
(5)Lynne S.
YUM! The fried chicken here stands up to any of the other heavy-hitters in PDX. Perfectly fried, just enough crispy outer goodness, juicy inner goodness, accompanied by honey and hot sauce. Everything else I sampled--the salads, the rolls, the desserts--was similarly awesome. The interior of this place is sort of like dressed-up lumberjack style, with bike chain chandeliers...cool in a Portland way. The only complaint was that service was pretty slow. But if you're not in a rush, head to Imperial!
(4)Rick O.
I just enjoyed the perfect breakfast at Imperial! First of all, the decor is quite pleasing to the eye, if you're a fan of industrial as I am. The staff all friendly and professional The French toast with maple syrup and fresh fruit (pears today) was mouth watering, and perfectly cooked and seasoned. The egg white omelette was filled w fresh tomatoes and whole button mushrooms. (I stole from my partners plate). Enough small talk - let's talk bacon - God help me. $4 for a side order seemed pricey - I hoped for at least 2-3 hearty slices. Well, it was cooked perfectly, and the SIX slices must have weighed half a pound. Just order up a side of bacon, and call it a meal. My compliments to the chef!
(5)Allegre N.
I really rarely give 5 stars but this place was really excellent. I went with a large group (9 people) and we were seated right around the time of our reservation. The server was knowledgeable about the menu as well as the wine list, and was able to provide a wine recommendation based on my preferences that I really enjoyed. I also tasted a friend's mixed drink called Good Problem To Have (gin, thai basil, red pepper juice, ginger)and it was seriously awesome. This is high praise from me because I rarely drink hard liquor and don't like gin. The cocktail menu is definitely inventive! Since we had a large group I was able to try bites of many dishes although the selfish bastard who ordered the fried chicken refused to share with me, LOL. I hear it's amazing but I didn't get to try it. I tried the Portland poke - the fish was super fresh and silky smooth, had just the right amount of heat and crunch. This was my favorite dish of the evening. The Parker House rolls were warm and soft and perfect. I also tried mushrooms roasted in bone marrow (heaven!), heirloom tomatoes which were flavorful and lots of lovely colors, and the crispy fried pigtail. The pig tail was not my favorite, it had a heavy layer of fat, but once I got past that part to the meat it was juicy and very tender. The honey habanero hot sauce that came with it was a nice complement to the flavor of the dish. This was a great experience, I would love to go back again for a date night or a girl's night out.
(5)Rose B.
Incredible happy hour. The vieux carre cocktail smells divine and has perfectly balanced flavor, while the charleston is sweet with cherry brandy but also extremely nuanced. We tried almost the whole happy hour menu- the pig tail was melt in your mouth and crispy on the surface, with a delicious spicy honey habanero sauce in an adorable dropper bottle, I also loved the chicken liver pate which was smooth and full bodied, the cheese plate paired with delicious local honey, the gorgeous smoked tongue sliders with crunchy pickled vegetables, and the steak frites. We topped off the meal with the watermelon salad, which was mildly spicy and fresh with dill, mint and fennel bulb. The bartenders were friendly and attentive, the space is beautiful and buzzy, and we had a great time. Can't wait to return for dinner!
(5)Jesica F.
Nice server, we stay outside eating in a hot sunny day drinking a cold ice water. Love the fried chicken and their special hot sauce. It's a mix of sweet (honey) and spicy, it blends in together. It wasn't spicy to me compare to Sriracha. I actually like the sauce. I think It's a good combination of you eat it with salad. The burger was juicy and thick, it's yumm. .definitely will go back to this restaurant!
(5)Travis B.
I don't normally write reviews, but this place was amazing! My fiancé and I are in from out east and wanted to try something. This was the best place we ate in Portland by far. The atmosphere was pretty relaxed and felt like a chain, but the food blew our minds. We got the house rolls, fried chicken and carbonara. Each item was better than the last, maybe the tastiest version of each we have had anywhere in the country. Also, great cocktails. The bartender made up a cocktail for my fiancé that wasn't on the menu, one of the best drinks we had in Portland. If you're visiting Portland or are a local, this place is a must!
(5)Iakona C.
For our last dinner in Portland we decided to try Imperial. A great choice. Got to the restaurant around 530pm and was seated right away. Started with the Roadside cocktail. Wonderfully refreshing on a relatively humid Portland day. Here's the rundown: Parker Rolls all around. Great chewy rolls and the addition of sea salt makes the roll. My 8 year old loved these rolls. Portand Poke. Being from Hawaii, I know poke. This was an okay Portland version of Poke but I've had better on the islands. The tuna was fresh and well seasoned. Yeah, I know why order Poke at a haole joint but my kid loves poke (I've trained him well). Grilled Onion Salad. THE BEST dish of the night. I love this salad. The greens were well seasoned and the grilled onions were so delicious. I could eat this salad all day. Ahi Tuna a la Plancha. Perfectly seared ahi tuna on a bed of vegetables. We all loved the varieties of cherry tomatoes. My only complaint was that the tuna could have used just a pinch of salt. Otherwise a great dish. Fried Chicken w/ Texas pickles. Boneless chicken thighs (for convenience I suppose). I love chicken on the bone as it has such great flavor. This was an okay version of fried chicken. The maple syrup w/ hot sauce helped the dish. The star of this dish were the pickles. I loved those pickled onions and could have them with every meal. All in all a great last meal to our Portland visit. I will be back to try the breakfast menu.
(4)Ali D.
Ok, admittedly my boyfriend and I only made a point to go here on our Portland eating and drinking romp because we are huge Top Chef fans and wanted to feast at our recent favorite contestant, Dougie's restaurant. Ok, so now that that's out in the open... Imperial was a great experience. We sat at the bar (my boyfriend was lured by the TV that had March Madness games on!) and were greeted by our bartender who was such a delight. Throughout our time there she was the perfect balance of friendly and helpful, yet cool. But she wasn't JUST a bartender...she was a mixologist! (Portlandia reference, anyone?) HA. We shared the moules frites to snack on and they were scrumptious. Served in a succulent broth of white white and orange saffron butter. The frites were probably the best part though. You know it's a good fry when you can taste the fat that they fry them in. Plus they were perfectly crispy and primed for dipping in a scrumptious aioli.
(4)H. L.
I believe this place is actually better for breakfast than dinner. We have been here once for dinner and once for breakfast. When we came for dinner it was Portland Dining Month and my husband ordered the cola pork and it was too salty. I ordered the pork chop and 1/3 of it was fat. Now the waitress warned me about this, but it was too much fat. The potato purée was nice and creamy however. The citrus salad for Portland Dining Month was refreshing. I have had better Charcuterie plates elsewhere. The beets had a great earthy flavor. When we came for breakfast I had the fried chicken with biscuits and gravy. Now, FYI, it is boneless chicken. It was nice and crispy. They also had homemade hot sauce, which could have a little more kick. The coffee is wonderful. It has a good robust flavor. They undercooked my chicken the first time and it had to be sent back. The staff was so apologetic and compensated my dish. Huge points for customer service. I love the industrial chic look of this place. I also like that there is a good variety of mocktails on the menu, because sometimes you don't want an alcoholic beverage. We'll be back for some breakfast!
(4)Emily T.
The boy wanted to try here because of the good reviews and because of Doug. While we both wanted to try the fried chicken, by the time it was time for our dinner reservation we were both kind of fried food out. I think we should have planned that better. Anyways - service was friendly, ambiance was fantastic. My cocktail had tequila and was delicious. The menu was super extensive... if I were rich I would definitely come here with a few friends and just order off the whole menu because there's something for everyone. I was pleased with a plate of pickled goodies, and a raw fish app of some kind with mango chutney/something on top. So fresh! I had a pesto root veg thing as entree and I was more than satisfied considering it wasn't meat. Each bite had some unique flavor. We were definitely glad we came here, and would go back when in Portland again. One star off because I did wish there were a few more "casual" options. It kind of was like expensive heavy meaty entree, one fried chicken dish, and then lighter salads/veg options. OMG got a peanut butter toffee sundae to share and holy hell, yep.
(4)Ashlee H.
I don't know what to say. The signature dish I was looking forward to was the fried chicken, and I was a bit underwhelmed on that one. I do happen to make some darn good fried chicken, so my 8 year old son was less than impressed. Steak was cooked perfectly, atmosphere was trendy, service was great. The steak dish was tiny though. I really couldn't believe I spent $30 on the littlest piece of meat I ever saw. There wasn't even a side included. Overall the food was tasty, but didn't blow me away at that price point.
(4)Ted R.
Imperial might be among the very best of PDX in it's neighborhood. Call it Southwest Portland, call it downtown, Imperial sits in a charming part of the city and its interior design takes that miles further. This is a truly great restaurant. Great as in worthy of my 500th review great. How might I sum it up after having meals there on back-to-back days of a perfect getaway weekend? Exposed beams, exposed brick, exposed columns. Art-filled interior, superior service, supreme cuisine. So you might wonder how it came to pass that we had dinner at Imperial and felt compelled to return for brunch the next morning. Let's go back to the beginning. We literally walked, had a cocktail and waited for 20 minutes trying to get in at a nearby 'scene' restaurant before going back to Imperial. It seemed too good to be true that the less-sceney restaurant at the site of our fabulous hotel, Hotel Lucia, had such good Yelp reviews and might be worthy of one of our meals in this food-crazed city. Can't waste a single meal when we all know that PDX is synonymous with good eats! It's good that we believed in the power of the Yelpness, because the wait at the other place was too much and Imperial had us seated in three, maybe four minutes. What followed was flawless. Not long after we were seated at a prime table with a view of the wood-fired rotisserie and grill, our kind waiter offered us deep knowledge about several offerings on the wine menu. We were completely psyched about the Belle Pente 2011 Murto Vineyard Pinot Noir he recommended and let him know how delightful we found it. It was pretty damn cute that he was excited that we were into his recommendation. Looking up the wine later, I was impressed that Imperial offers it at mere 2x markup. The entire meal proceeded at that high level. I can't remember the last time I had the last bite of a salad and found myself wishing for more. The Kale and Vegetable Salad with sunflower seed brittle and goat cheese dressing should be considered a legend. Easily one of the best salads I've ever had. I highly recommend getting something from the grill. My gf raved about the cauliflower. Although that's not really my thing, like at all, she was way into it. The pork chop is my thing, and it was five-star all the way! From the first flavor-filled, seared-moist, tender & delicious bite to the last. Now here's the funny thing. We payed extra for bread and did not complain. You know that shxt was good. In fact, the Parker House rolls are five-star exquisite. Dessert was a gorgeous construction, comprised of a gorgeous lemon meringue, made more vibrant by the subtle addition of grapefruit, toasted almonds and vanilla ice cream. The meal was so sublime and amazing that we had hardly made it back to our room before agreeing that we wanted to return for brunch to fit in another Imperial feast before our weekend ended. So let's briefly talk brunch. The croissant sandwich is a delicate stacking of egg, bacon & sausage on a, well, a croissant, duh. And if it seems an ordinary menu item, let me assure you, the execution was remarkable. I was dazzled. And that's before the excellent, must-order Bloody Mary came into effect. Other more adventurous items on the weekend brunch menu include a "Poptart," Buttermilk Pancakes with jalapeno honey butter, and Eggs Benedict du Jour, made with house-made biscuits. Superstar Chef Doug Adams is the real deal! I find all the Top Chefs' restaurants to be at least somewhat impressive, though often overpriced. Imperial goes beyond. While it's not a value option, it is far, far from overpriced. Imperial offers a creative and titillating menu in a gorgeous, thought-provoking setting with service that is worthy of an emperor. You know how museums won't let you bring food and drinks into the galleries? Imperial is the opposite, a restaurant with gallery-level decor, and all you do there is enjoy the food and drink. If there were more time, might we try to fit in a third Imperial session on one weekend? You better believe it! Go there. Enjoy it you will.
(5)Jessica T.
The Imperial is a fantastic spot to go for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. They open early and their staff are extremely patient and personable. I came here for lunch on two occasions and thoroughly enjoyed my healthy, well presented, and extremely flavorful dish. On both lunch excursions - I enjoyed their citrus salad which came topped with pistachios and juicy blood oranges. I paid extra to have grilled local albacore tuna on the salad and it was done perfectly and adorned with fresh sea salt to further bring out the flavor of the fish. It was clear to me on both trips that this place runs smoothly because everyone that works here truly cares about The Imperial and their customers. Though I chose the healthy option - if you're looking to get a more accurate portrayal of Imperial's culinary capabilities - I highly suggest trying their Chef Doug's Fried Chicken- which comes with watermelon salad, Imperial hot sauce, bee local honey - as well as their weekend brunch menu which includes sublime dishes such as Brown Butter Beignets and Eggs Benedict du Jour, made with house-made biscuits. Trust.
(4)Steph W.
Went here for dinner on Saturday and was just bowled over by the combination of flavors and just how each dish were all so damned good. Caramelized Green beans with kimchi, braised elk tongue and egg? I nearly licked the bowl. Mushrooms and marrow? Get it in me! The fried chicken with honey and hot sauce? Good lordy lord I was impressed. Grilled broccolini? Yes, please! Will definitely return. Great service, too.
(5)Shawn M.
I will begin by saying that dinner was fantastic. I got the bacon chop which was cooked perfectly and the poblano sauce and berries were a perfect compliment. We also ordered the kale salad, the flatbread, and the potatoes. Everything was cooked masterfully, just as you'd expect from Dougie. I would not change a thing about the food! The ambiance is decent - good lighting, interesting decor and comfortable seating. Unfortunately, the enormity of the building and industrial style make it quite noisy, difficult to carry on a conversation across the table. Our sever was mostly pleasant, and it was very busy when we were in so I cannot fault her too much but she lacked a bit in attentiveness - several times said she would come back to refill empty water glasses which never happened. Several other reviews I read mentioned that it was expensive, which it is - but honestly, you know that going into it. The portions are excellent and you shouldn't leave hungry. Our bill - including an appetizer salad, two glasses of wine, two entrees and a side - came in at around $100 total which isn't bad for a very nice meal in a fancy restaurant. Highly recommend this place, make sure to make reservations and be sure to know you're going to be spending some coin.
(4)Maria P.
A total masterpiece by Vitaly Paley! The menu is spectacular, but I am personally in love with the buttermilk chicken with locally farmed honey. The smoked salmon latkes with duck egg are also a fave. All of the staff are friendly, knowledgeable, attentive and great (which is rare for Portland). The Imperial interior is dialed with elaborate chandeliers made of bike chains, gorgeous and comfy seating and signature art. Sugar on top is they take reservations and rarely have a wait.
(5)Anita H.
This is a great place for fine dining cuisine that serves you adequate portions for what you pay for. My hubby and I came here for a date night and started out with a kale and vegetable salad, which was delicious. It was diced up kale interspersed with sweet sunflower seed brittle and goat cheese dressing which surprisingly did not have a strong goat cheese flavor. I love the added sweet crunch of the brittle to the kale salad! Delicious. I was a bit skeptical having to pay $1 for one Parker house roll, but holy cow, best $1 I ever spent. If you're GF, it will make you change your mind. Soft and warm Parker house roll sprinkled lightly with Jacobsen sea salt -- spreading butter on that roll takes you to Cloud 9! I ordered the Grilled Kauai Prawns which were phenomenal -- the prawns were a good size and cooked just right. The prawn sauce was amazing and paired perfectly with the black pepper polenta. My husband ordered the duck meatballs and Stan's Sausage Du Jour. We were pleasantly surprised with the portions of the sausage. Nicely spiced and it tasted great with the kolrabi slaw that was underneath. We also ordered the ember roasted potatoes, which was another right choice. Dill, salt, butter with crisp potato skin on -- what a perfect way to eat your starch! We finished off our meal brown butter pecan pie. Needless to say, we were STUFFED. Thanks Imperial for providing us a perfect dining experience for a perfect date night. Service was exceptional!
(5)Lisa E.
I wasn't sure what to order. Everything sounded so intriguing! Even the Crispy Fried Pigtail....! I had my eye on the sausage du jour until I found out it was Blood Sausage (no thanks). In the end we all ordered the Doug's Fried Chicken. We shared an order of the fries that ended up being one of the best we've had. Get the "Winter Citrus Salad". It was salad greens, pistachios, grilled onions, tomatoes, grapefruit slices and an Oregon black truffle vinaigrette with the black truffle shavings on top. Holy COW. BEST SALAD EVER. I've never had a salad this good. I had two bites of my husband's and wished I'd ordered my own. It was incredible. Absolutely, hands-down, incredible. And it was just a salad! The waiter brought out the housemade hot sauce that was in an old-fashioned eye-dropper bottle and honey. Apparently they have beehives on the roof and make their own honey! So Portland. It was amazing, though. The place was so packed and service was slow, but that was expected. I figured it was the new-found celebrity. The waiter was great though and checked in frequently. The fried chicken came out on cast iron skillets atop tree stump trays. :) Again, totally Portland. But the presentation was incredible. Two large pieces of fried chicken with a watermelon salad on the side. Sounds simple but it was so fantastic. The watermelon was perfect, which was weird because it's off season. The watermelon chunks had pickled onions, fennel and a tart vinaigrette on it. It went perfectly with the chicken.The watermelon was so juicy. How was the chicken? It was pretty darn good. I loved the chicken. The hot sauce could have been a little spicier for my tastes, but other than that everything was great. I loved drizzling honey on top of the fried chicken. I'd never thought of that before. So smart! Somehow we got talked into dessert. I have no idea how because we were all stuffed and certainly didn't need anymore food. It was the last dessert and we snagged it. It had been popular that night! We got the "Texas Sheetcake". t was warm, gooey chocolate cake topped with honey ice cream (which I thought was pecan at first) hazelnuts and toasted marshmallow. IT WAS AMAZING. OMG. Thankfully we split it because it was so rich but seriously, I could have eaten that whole thing on my own. Wow. No words. So good. Sadly, we did not spot Doug in the kitchen. Maybe someday. Everything tasted amazing and the service was fantastic. It was a good night all around.
(5)Frank M.
Came here pretty late at night. It was dark and the night was long. But from what I remember, I liked this place. It was dim, relaxing, not too crowded, and I thought the appetizers I ordered were excellent. Service was good, and walking to the bathroom through a clean and bright hotel lobby can be a nice change of atmosphere to be honest with you. Not sure what the normal crowd is here...but I'm a weird tourist. I liked it. Yay for Portland.
(4)Kayrin P.
Went there Saturday for our birthday with family. I had the albacore with Brussel sprouts. Absolutely amazing! Perfectly cooked, very well seasoned! We ordered several bottles of Colene Clemons Rose for the table of 8 of us. Yum! Glad you have a nice local wine selection! A wonderful ending to our meal was a visit by the now famous Doug Adams! He's killing it on Top Chef, and now I know why! He was friendly and down to earth, and gladly posed for a pic with the birthday girls. Great experience, can't wait to return.
(5)Elena T.
Where do I even begin??? Cocktails? Parker house rolls? The service?? All OUTSTANDING! We are huge fans of Top Chef and were Team Doug all the way. So when we booked our 9 day vacation to Oregon, we made sure to visit Imperial. We got a last minute reservation on a BUSY Wednesday night, swapping from a Thursday reservation we originally booked to try some other place (HUGE MISTAKE - other place sucked and we now wish we did 2 nights in a row at Imperial). We still had to wait a little for our table after our reservation time, but the hostess was so nice and so sweet, we didn't really care. Her attentiveness was much appreciated. We were seated near the open kitchen, and we always love that. Our server was a gem, and her menu suggestions were excellent: Parker house rolls, duck meatballs, fried chicken, carbonara. The plates were small enough to enjoy several different items, but filling enough that 3 were perfect for my husband and I. The flavor in the duck meatballs packed a punch. A little sweet, a little savory, and the spice variety was perfect. The carbonara was fresh, delicious, and that broken egg yolk mixed around was rich and creamy. Tip: DIP THAT ROLL IN THE BOWL. The elevated flavors combined with the "comfort food" feeling of the dish had me wanting 58 more bowls. The fried chicken came next. Two perfect pieces for my husband and I, but you had to do some work: alongside the chicken was a small jar of honey and a dropper of a "hot sauce" (I do not do hot and this was DELICIOUS -- and not hot). We were instructed to drizzle and drop to our liking before we enjoyed. It truly was perfect. Crispy chicken skin, juicy meat in the center, perfect flavor. For dessert, my husband had the butterscotch brûlée (creamy and delicious), and I had the chocolate chip cookie with a scoop of St. Germain ice cream. It was the perfect ending. My husband had two of the specialty cocktails and I had two lemon martinis. We cannot wait to come back to Portland to visit Imperial again!
(5)Katrina H.
Nothing spectacular, but definitely good. My boyfriend loved the salmon duck egg latke.
(4)Ramon F.
I'm in from Sacramento on business and stumbled into this spot. The menu was eclectic American dining and it was "freaking delicious' as another Yelper put it. The fried Chicken, Kale salad w/ sesame brittle and finished off with the most delicious brown sugar Pecan pie in a homemade chocolate with a side car of homemade vanilla ice cream..truly a slice of heaven. If your in the area make this place happen for yourself and your team I'd your in a group.. No one will be disappointed!
(5)Charles S.
We had a delightful meal here. Yes, a bit noisy. Yes, a bit expensive. But all in all, an excellent experience.
(5)Jennifer H.
Have you ever been out to dinner and every course and every bite makes you think this is the best I've ever had? Well this was it! We had: Dozen raw oysters Roasted onion salad Potatoes Mushrooms Rare tbone Peanut brittle sundae Pecan pie. Every single bite was AMAZING! Thank you Allen (our server) and Imperial for a perfect anniversary dinner!
(5)Courtney E.
So a friend and I went to Imperial for dinner. It was about 5pm. We were told that the only place we could sit was in the bar area. Annoying, but said okay cause we didn't want to bother with looking for another place. Well, I had a dish picked out and was ready to order. Come to find out, we could only select from the happy hour menu, which would have been fine if there was actual variety and foods that I would have liked to eat. My friend and I ordered one burger to split and a cheese plate. My friend is Canadian and ordered a drink. She showed him her Canadian issued driver's license and he refused to accept this as a valid id. He said that she must show a passport. Ummm, who carries their passport around with them all the time? And, what the hell is the difference between a passport and license? Both are government issued. He claimed it was "the law", but I looked up the law and it clearly states exceptions for Canada and Mexico. We were really turned off. The burger showed up. It was really good actually. The "cheese plate" was a hunk of one kind of cheese with a few crackers and some honey. It was good, but didn't really pass as a "cheese plate". Blah.
(2)Katherine C.
Came here for Portland Restaurant Month and was excited to try this place as a Top Chef fan. The entire menu looked delicious and my roommate and I had to keep ourselves in check not to order more than we could handle. The PDX restaurant month menu did not disappoint. The winter salad as refreshing, the braised pork tender, and the dessert delicious. We also ordered the fried chicken, which still wasn't as good as screen door's, and grilled albacore tuna was amazing. Although pricey, it's a nice treat and will be back to check out their HH menu!
(4)Ling Tzu W.
We booked a reservation because of Portland dining month. However, I was kind of disappointed by the Portland Dining Month menu. So we didn't order the three course meal Instead, we ordered items from the menu and let me tell you .. it was DELICIOUS. I was not disappointed. The fried chicken and the prawns were well made and it was just enough for my husband and I. Also the Debbie's Rolls and the pickled vegetable plate were a good introduction into the courses. For the dessert, we had the Rhubarb Pie, in honor of Pi day, and that was too much pie for me to handle. It tasted good, I was just full from all of the food. Overall, the food was good and the services was excellent.
(4)Laurrena D.
AMAZING! We came for dinner, didn't have a reservation, but we were able to sit at the bar. The bartender (John) was super friendly and an awesome bartender/server. I had a Moscow mule and the burger. BEST BURGER EVER! I'll be dreaming about it for days. My friend had the lamb special which was delicious. Overall, it was a great experience and the food was phenomenal!
(5)Mark L.
Not going to do a full on review at this time as all we got were a couple of breakfast items. This was my first visit to the place and I was certainly pleased. The staff was friendly and took care of our needs. The food was super solid and the bacon is over the top good! It is definitely worth a stop! We will be back to try at dinner as well.
(4)Jason P.
A must: buttermilk fried chicken for brunch - if you get it for brunch it comes with biscuits and gravy and is unbelievable.
(5)Chels J.
I really enjoy the food, but the servers are pretty snooty. I hate when servers try to up charge you on items by offering things as if they are included: for instance, would you like still or sparkling water? All the restaurants I've been to in portland that offer that in the beginning give sparkling on the house (e.g. Ava Genes). $3 a bottle later... This particular server is also a dud at splitting checks - we wrote initials on the bill and she ended up overcharging us still. Definitely asking to NOT be in her section next time, although I won't call her out on here by name. The tuna with fried Brussels sprouts is amazing. Beet dish is very good as well. Husband's fave is the Kauai prawns. Parker house rolls is a must. Do not get the pork belly dish. Pork belly should typically have a strip of fat along the cut of meat, correct? Well this one was a strip of fat which met the right half side of the cut which was ALL fat. Said server above claimed that's how it's supposed to be. Very unsatisfying. Side of fries (ordered in addition) was delicious though - perfectly crispy yet soft inside. Friends were not a fan of the spicy coffee icecream, although their desserts as a whole are typically on point: pies, Texas sheet cake (not with spicy coffee icecream though), banana creme brûlée, chocolate chip cookies, house made pop tart (brunch). One of my fave restaurants in regards to homemade desserts. Tonight was unfortunately more of a 2.5 star experience but paired with the previous two times we've come i'd give it a four overall.
(4)Francis S.
Went there with my wife and baby boy for a late dinner at the same time the top chef finale was showing. It was awesome seeing Doug there watching at the bar. We made sure to say hello and let him know the food was delicious. He's a super nice guy and even took a minute to chat with us and say hello to our baby despite him being busy. Anyway, onto the food. We didn't really have anything we wanted to try in particular going in so we asked the server. He recommended the Sturgeon a la Plancha with truffled potatoes, wild mushrooms, and truffle jus. I decided to go with the recommendation and am definitely thankful that I made the decision. The sturgeon was nice and tender and all the ingredients on the plate were balanced and complimented the fish... especially that truffle jus! Loved the food and ambience and the service and friendliness of the staff. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Vivek R.
Just wow. The cocktails were highly inventive, and the service was attentive and knowledgeable. The more standard drinks (Dolly O'Dare, Vieux Carre) were executed well with clever flourishes and high attention to detail, and their more special creations (a radish-based cocktail based on the chef's Iron Chef "battle radish" victory, a red-pepper and Thai basil gin drink called A Good Problem to Have) were memorable. The only food we sampled was the chicken sausage, which was delicious.
(5)Darren B.
I'd wanted to go to Imperial for a while. We were glad to have made dinner reservations on a Wednesday night because it got crowded. We were seated toward the back and had a view of the entire restaurant including views of the kitchen (Dougie!). The cocktails are inventive and generous. We especially enjoyed the Vieux Carré (cognac, rye, benedictine, vermouth & bitters). They have a comprehensive wine list with an especially good list of Oregon wines organized by AVA. Our vegetable dishes were good though sometimes perfunctory for the level of restaurant we were expecting. The standouts were the simple and savory blistered padrón peppers and the broccolini with the eggplant purée & feta. The eggplant created a cool acidic and slightly sweet contrast to the broccolini. We were satisfied with other vegetables, including the Top Chef featured watermelon salad which is too similar to most other slightly spicy watermelon salads at many other restaurants. The portions of these small plates were somewhat smaller than expected, though. The highlights of the meal were the salmon (buttery, but wish this had been more artfully plated) and pork (tender) dishes. Both cooked to perfection. Each dish was explained when it was brought to the table. The service was mostly attentive and friendly. It was an enjoyable experience and we had a great meal. With so many current great dining options in Portland, though, a return trip isn't in the cards soon.
(4)Tracy D.
OMG. We came here because my wife and I are Top Chef fans. I was expecting great, but the food we ordered was amazing. I'm not unfamiliar with fine dining, and am often mildly disappointed. Honestly, the Portland Poke dish (Tuna) could have used a little salt. That's about the only complaint I could find with the 4 dishes we shared. The cocktails were big, the desserts satisfying, and the service stellar. It was also fun to see both Doug Adams and Katsuji (where did he come from?) both working the kitchen and talking to diners. A small side note - our bill was less than a higher end steak restaurant for 2, by quite a bit, with 4 entrees, 2 cocktails, 2 desserts and coffee. ;-) Loved it, and will definitely be back.
(5)Todd P.
Great service with willingness to explain dishes to first timers. Fun menu, good food presentation, and fun atmosphere. I'd say you can't go wrong here. It was all right (pun intended) for us. All signs point to go! I loved the fried chicken.
(4)Taj K.
Not too far from our hotel, I was able to make a reservation for breakfast on Sunday morning at this restaurant. The space is beautiful, modern with high ceilings, but with a touch of Western/hipster flair. I ordered the breakfast sandwich. It was huge and absolutely delicious. The sausage is one of the tastiest sausages I have ever had. The egg was cooked perfectly over medium and broke nicely as I was chomping through the sandwich. My husband had the chorizo dish and devoured it in seconds. Dishes are in the $10-20 range so definitely not the cheapest breakfast but excellent quality. Our server was incredibly knowledgable as well.
(4)Mara M.
I ate dinner tonight at Imperial and LOVED it. I'm in Portland for business and traveling by myself. I sat at the 'chef's table', which is more of a bar in front of the open kitchen. Both Josh and Justin, chefs at the grill, greeted me and gave me some yummy suggestions off the menu. They were clearly busy but still made time to chat here and there. It provided a great experience, especially for dining alone. The food was amazing. I started with the Mâché and spring onion salad: really fresh and tasty. Then I had the fried chicken. I usually don't EVER order chicken as a rule of thumb when dining out. I'm glad I broke my own dumb rule. It was perfect crispy, HOT (temperature hot), and flavorful. They add a dropper bottle of housemade hot sauce and a container of local honey for adding to each bite. Such an important and great addition. I would come back here again- and plan to on my next visit to Portland.
(5)Felicia W.
We come to Imperial as a fall back when our favorite brunch restaurant is too busy (Tasty & Alder), mostly because there isn't a line to get into Imperial. With that said -- and about a dozen visits here -- I can't recommend it. Here's what to expect: decent cocktails, APPALLING service, okay food. The restaurant is chronically understaffed: expect a wait of ten minutes for water and menus, another 10-15 minutes to order, and thirty minutes before your food arrives, and another 10-15 minutes after you've completely finished your meal to get the check. The food leans towards the heavy side with the more appetizing items sold out by 11 a.m. on a Sunday morning. Also, don't be surprised if they screw up your order; that's pretty common, too. In sum, be prepared to wait, but if you want better food and service, put your name on the list at Tasty, enjoy a cup of coffee at Heart, and have a much better brunch experience than what you'll get at Imperial. In fact, this morning is probably the last time we will dine at Imperial -- a restaurant can't be this mediocre and expect regular customers. :(
(2)Kelly J.
I had both late night drinks and dessert and breakfast here and it was all wonderful. They make a great cocktail, have a nice wine list and their food is fresh and creative. For breakfast I got hash and eggs. I was pleasantly surprised when the plate arrived with huge cubes of corned beef hash. As well as perfectly poached eggs. A most excellent flavor! Loved it! Service was great and very attentive. They have an awesome room with a table for 10 that would be perfect for a special occasion evening shared with friends. The bar is great and I loved the openness of the kitchen. I would go back!
(4)Steve B.
3rd times the charm, well actually every time The Imperial delivers . I vote Best Breakfast in Portland. I'm sure all the hotel concierges will send you to Mothers , and that is fine too. I just appreciate more than sausage gravy and pancakes . The wait staff is great. Best bacon I can think of. Coffee , yes thank you. Smashed potatoes , outstanding. Lunch one day soon, I heard them talking about fried chicken and I wept ....
(5)Ed Q.
This is one of the best restaurants on the west coast not just Portland. Doug is an awesome chef. I've never been disappointed by anything I've ordered. Fantastic bar as well. One of Portland's best places to dine.
(5)Hilary O.
2.5 stars, really. The food was amazing, but the service was so bad as to be distracting. We would sit for long periods of time with no one coming to take our order, clear our plates, or to bring us a wine list. Once our server did finally bring a wine list (after we sat there for 10-15 minutes with empty plates and glasses) I nearly had to grab her arm to get her to stay to take our order. That being said, she did recommend a lovely wine to have with the fried chicken, which was the stuff of legends. The heirloom tomato and melon salad had just the right balance of savory and sweet. I could go on and on about the duck meatballs, but others far more poetic than I already have. Don't waste capacity on the fries though -- there are far more interesting things on the menu -- if you can get someone to take your order.
(3)Adrienne K.
Wow. Everything at Imperial was amazing!!! Came with 11 people and ordered 14 different dishes. Not one dish was horrible. Here are some highlights: - Parker House Rolls are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. One for every two people is good. Don't fill up you tummy with bread when there is way more deliciousness to try! - Dozen oysters were all from the Pacific and sweet as candy - Steak & eggs: super tender beef tongue. Never had tongue cooked this way - Steamed clams with house linguica, fennel, grilled lemon relish, and smoked butter. WHAT IS ALL THIS??? I don't eat clams but everything together was amazing. None of the clams were sandy and it's served with crusty bread to sop up all the juices. - Fried rabbit with semolina corn cake, pickled watermelon rind, and fried bacon. Another GENIUS dish!!! The rabbit and bacon are fried to perfection and flavored to deliciousness. Add a few drops of the hot sauce and some sweetness of the syrup. Pickled watermelon rounds out the flavor palate. I just regret not saving room for dessert.
(5)Katy H.
Well shoot... This place just gets better. Can't believe it's been 2 years since I first came but Imperial is just as great as ever. On this trip I tried - and loved - the following: -Smoked elk tongue with cranberry bean, house bacon, and sweet corn succotash -Crispy fried pig tail with house pickles and honey habanero sauce -Wild mushroom galette with escargot, chicken hearts, and sherry cream with a fried egg *this dish was really, really rich* -Scallop crudo with green pear and foie gras -Beer and whiskey ice cream float A lot, I know! But I wasn't alone. This was plenty of food for two (even three) people. We left absolutely stuffed and the price was extremely reasonable. In fact, it came out to less than I expected considering the ingredients and the quality of the dishes. This is definitely a great place to come for a date. Very impressive and extremely delicious. Pro-tip: Sit at the bar and you can be seated immediately. On a Sat night this place was packed but there were 2 tables and 2 seats avail in the bar area. Lots to choose from. Sitting at the bar will allow you a chance to chat with the bartender though, and had we not done that we wouldn't have ordered the float, which was one of the best things we had all night.
(5)Jenny A.
Great spot! I would recommend this place again and again. We ordered a little bit of everything. Started with cocktails which were great and the house pickles, oysters and fries. The pickles rocked, especially the mushroom and also the sunchokes. Next we ordered a roast chicken, a prawn dish, the seasonal salmon with an anchovy sauce and the PBR pork Aaaand the mushrooms. Everything was great. My personal favorite was the salmon dish and actually I was with four people and everyone thought their dish was the best!! We were extremely happy with our orders and Would order everything again if we came back. Lastly, chef Doug. Honestly hats off to him. He took the time to come meet us. I know it's cliche to say we watched him on Top Chef and loved him. He was my favorite of all the seasons, but he honestly came to the table, shook our hands and didn't seem bothered at all that we wanted to meet him. So gracious and humble. Thanks again for a great evening of great food, great drinks and great ambiance.
(5)Erik B.
This was my first visit to Imperial after having heard positive reviews from friends. We visited on a Tuesday night and were surprised to see how fast the entire restaurant filled up, which we took as a very positive sign. This promising trend was quickly doused after the arrival of our waitress. Her indifferent attitude towards us and the food was immediate and lasting. Her innate inability to provide timely service throughout the entire dining experience was truly impressive. Luckily other staff members were able to lend a hand and serve our food. It's a great space with quality food, but the service was really disappointing. Perhaps removing one of the three expediters/lieutenants and replace them with smiling servers? Looked like a lot of chiefs, but too few indians. I'll be back as the pickled plate, burger, kale salad and flatbread was great.
(3)Dustin G.
Amazing food, solid service. If you are looking for the perfect breakfast cocktail order the Good Problem - if a mimosa and Bloody Mary had a love child, it would be a Good Problem.
(5)Maddie N.
The pickled dish was weird & overwhelming for one person. You would think it would be an appetizer, but it came out with our meal. The fried chicken was AMAZING. GET THAT. Pork tail is unique & you really have to be dedicated for it to work. Great atmosphere, great service. Would definitely go back.
(4)Tom W.
The fried chicken was the most memorable dish. The duck meatballs, crispy pig tail, and green beans were also really good. I heard the watermelon salad was a big deal, but i wasn't a huge fan. Our waitress was really helpful with both food and drinks. I ordered a beer and she said a nicer version of "that's a really dumb choice, you should get this one instead."
(4)Sue L.
Came here and tried out their brunch and it was real good!! Check out their menu as it seems to change on a weekly basis. Fresh ingredients and wholesome.... I had the Egg sandwich which come with 2 fresh made sausage, bacon, and egg. It's was scrumptious! My partner had the Fish sandwich which was just fresh fish and lettuce and pickled onions. We also ordered a side of the chicken sausage patties and boy were they plentiful! Their OJ is freshly squeezed and Bloody Mary packed a punch! They also have an amazing happy hour from 3-6 which includes their signature fries, crispy homemade bread, flatiron steak and more... I suggest you stop by and check it out!
(5)Deb F.
4.5 stars - Imperial is really really great! We went with some friends for a weekday dinner. It was fairly quiet in there when we arrived at 6:45pm but was rockin' when we left - not an open chair to be had! The place is eclectic in its decor but all of it tasteful and modern. It's all hard floors and walls though, so it gets very loud in there. Our food was delicious. I think we all enjoyed everything - certainly all our plates were clean! I had the lentil soup to start. The server made sure to let us know it was NOT a vegetarian lentil soup. The chunks of pork definitely let you know that was the case! It was a thinner soup than I expected but it was not thin on flavor. I really liked it. I had the Barrel Planked Pork Secreto - OMG so good. The pork was very lean and cut into small medallions, served over romesco sauce and with some grilled leeks. The leeks tasted fabulous but they are not a showy side (they looked unappetizing and mushy). Other food at our table: fries - yummy and salty; glazed carrots - ok, not amazing; the Cola & PBR Braised Pork - HOLY COW this was good!; and Fried Chicken - again OMG what did they do here? Juicy chicken with a very tasty fried skin. *drool* Then we had to go and have dessert. "Save room for pie!" is their motto, so I did, barely. I had the pear & marionberry pie - I loved the crust, and the filling, while sweet, was not cloying and even had hints of bitterness. I loved it. The others shared the Peanut Brittle Ice Cream Sundae. There wasn't anything left so I know they liked it. I didn't find service to be very slow on our visit, even though they were busy. Portions were a good size for me (not too much), but I feel like the price is a bit high for what you do get. Still, I would totally go back to Imperial. They've got a lot of items on the menu I would like to try, and the atmosphere is energetic and hip.
(4)Greg J.
Great meal, don't miss the parker rolls. We went here with some friends. The place was super busy, but we were seated at the time we had made for our reservations. We have had brunch here a few times and really enjoyed it, albeit some what annoying that you can't make any substitutions, but that is another story. We came to celebrate my birthday, I have been excited to try the fried chicken...it was delightful. The service was stellar, the food delicious and we all left happy. We had the shrimp dish, rabbit and halibut to go along with my chicken and all of them were very yummy. I would make sure to get the beets, all of the sides were memorable. The only negative was they didn't offer us a coffee refill with our desert. Great stuff.
(5)Kristi P.
Like most reviewers, we were excited to taste some Top Chef cooking. We started with the green beans with elk tongue and kim chi. The flavors were nice with a kick of spice. The only dish from the show is the fried chicken, which was moist and tender, but not the best I've had. Tonight it was served with pickled onions and pickles instead of the watermelon salad. The grilled prawns were tasty, but maybe just a tad over cooked. I don't really like it when entrees don't come with sides, but rather, you are encouraged to also order a vegetable to go with your dish. If you don't want to spend more money on a side, the entree arrives seeming a little incomplete. It also seems petty to charge $1 for a roll. Even if they are delicious (I don't know--I didn't order one), it would be nice not to charge for something many other restaurants provide gratis. All in all, food was fine, not spectacular.
(4)David A.
The Imperial exceeded my expectations and I had high hopes going in. I've eaten in much pricier restaurants that don't come close to the Imperial. Nice atmosphere and great service. I started with the grilled caesar salad with smoked tomatoes. Really delicious. I've never had anything quite like it. I had the flat iron steak which had a sauce that elevated it to a new level. My brother had the albacore tuna. He loved it. Desserts were good, especially the blueberry tart and German chocolate cream pie. The service was friendly and prompt. Executive Chef Doug came out and chatted and even posed for a picture with my wife. It really made he day. We chose this restaurant based on his great showing and demeanor on Top Chef, but will go back again mainly for the food. Top Chef quality.
(5)Adam B.
I have been here three times, and am increasingly impressed. The food is creative, but non-adventurous eaters will be accomidated by a delicious burger or comfort dish. For the rest of us, these chefs know what they are doing. The fried chicken is perhaps my favorite in Portland. Watermelon salad is different, but delicious. The pig tail was like the most moist pork shoulder roast ever, with chicharron crisps. Also, the hot sauce is delicious, and serving it in eye droppers is brilliant (until someone habitually drops the hot sauce in their eye, but come on!). The staff is great. On our visit this evening, the waitress was a die hard foodie, and was super animated in answering all our questions. The one down side: I came here for breakfast, and it was a different experience. It was slow, and by pastrami was just the trimmings (fat) with little meat. The staff never came by to refill coffee or anything. Again, that was one time out of three, so don't hesitate to try Imperial...just be aware that breakfast service may be sub par. Otherwise, I'm quite happy with Imperial.
(4)Varun B.
Went here for after dinner drinks one night. The place has a really nice ambiance. The bar is long with a wealth of choices for your drink. We chose to go with their craft cocktails. I'm a bourbon/rye lover, so I chose the East of Eden, which really had this nice smoky, slightly bitter flavor to it (it may not sound very interesting if you're not into whiskey, but trust me, it's good). My wife had the A Radish Walks into a Bar. Apparently the drink is based off the owner's competition on Iron Chef, where the secret ingredient was a radish. This drink has it's own unique complexity, in that it really highlights the uninteresting radish. The cracked pepper and sea salt on top is a cool touch.
(4)Chris A.
Service here is outstanding. We sat next to the fire grill and got to watch as our food was prepared by top chef Doug Adams who came out and greeted us. I have to say the food was amazing. The drinks are also outstanding my favorite part was watching the bartender carve my ice cube from a giant block of ice.
(5)Valerie C.
The tender-flaky sweet (but not too sweet) "pop tart," the eggs Benedict perfection, the smashed potatoes golden-crispy on the outside and perfectly tender on the inside. One of the most memorable breakfasts ever!
(5)Adelaide A.
Came here for dinner with a group of six adults and one toddler. Service was great and although this place isn't kid friendly as there is no kids menu, they do have high chairs and its loud enough in the restaurant that any fussing would be drowned out. The restaurant is located in a busy part of downtown Portland and attached to a hotel. We had wanted to come here as chef Doug from top chef is the executive chef here. We saw him and also Gregory from the show because it was Gregory's birthday. Service was attentive and our water glasses were always full. To start, we ordered the Parker rolls, poke, and hamachi. The rolls were good- but I would have preferred for them to be warmer. Both poke and hamachi were well flavored and fresh. For entrees, we got the bacon chop which was recommended by our waiter and the fried chicken. The fried chicken came with honey and hot sauce and had pickled onions on top. It was juicy, succulent, and crispy. At $9 a piece of chicken, I would have expected it to be these things. The bacon chop was also really good and the sauce that it sat on totally made the dish. As a side, we ordered mushrooms in bone marrow which was decadent and plenty salty. Others at the table ordered the duck meatballs which were really flavorful and moist. A definite highlight of the meal was the cocktails that we enjoyed. The radish drink is really tasty and unlike anything I've ever gotten before. For dessert, I ordered the chocolate lava cake. As a dessert lover, I am not highly critical of sweets. The cake was good, but nothing to write home about. The best part of the dessert were these little crunches of chocolate that taste like the middle part of ferrero rocher chocolates. I would definitely recommend this casual but swanky place. Service, food, cocktails all came together for a great experience.
(4)Rafael G.
One of my favorite go-to Portland restaurants. Try the fried chicken (amazing!), Parker rolls, Portland poke (if in season), beets, and save room for dessert. Good selection of wines too and the wait staff knows their food and what wines to pair it with. We especially love the hostess. She juggles the busy front well getting us our seats with a smile!
(5)Stacey G.
Had fried chicken, skirt steak, veggies and oysters. Best fried chicken in Portland period. Have to say my expectations were high and I was not disappointed at all with the food. The service was a bit slow, felt a need for things to happen. Things like more water, removal of my plate and bring the next course already... This is my issue I am sure as some people enjoy the long pause.
(4)Takako S.
A Friend from Chicago requested a place to have a good cocktail and mushroom... Hadn't had an idea and head to Imperial, thought they would have something good. I got a jackpot. She loved two cocktails, along with John, the bar master performing the cutting a block of ice. Don't under estimate "wine on tap", they kept well than a bottle opened and sitting at the bar for a loving time. I enjoyed their a glass of Pinot Nor. Grilled beets with ricotta and roasted Oregon hazelnuts, sautéed mushroom with bone marrow. So good Not only good taste of their food, service, entertainment, atmosphere were excellent. I can come back here anytime!
(5)Brittany M.
I've been wanting to check out this place for awhile and decided to make a bold move and try and get in on a Friday night without a reservation around 7pm. The hostess was very nice, and said although the place was busy, she could probably get us seats at the bar within 20 minutes. She delivered on her promise and before she could even bring us over our drinks, we were sat at the bar. Thankfully the bar seats are comfortable, and there was plenty of room for our plates on the bar. I can't stand when you are at a nice restaurant and bar is too small to comfortably eat at. The bar staff was pushing out drinks like crazy since it was a full house, but each one I watched them make was carefully poured, mixed or shaken. We ordered both the Butcher's Bride and Harlequin (Funny enough, the hostess warned us the Harlequin is slightly pink in color, because dudes have been offended when a pink drink shows up). They were both amazing-perfectly boozy, but not too sharp and super flavorful. We took suggestions from the bar staff on what to order for dinner and we're not disappointed. We started with the carpaccio, which was delicate and fresh-my only BEEF with it (get it?!) was it was slightly too cold. I personally prefer carpaccio when it's at room temperature. My feelings on temperature quickly resolved when I got to the fire roasted mushrooms: Oh. My. Gosh. I'm not a huge mushroom fan, but I'd go to Imperial just to get these. They were so flavorful (thanks to some help from that fatty bone marrow) and perfectly cooked. To go with the mushrooms, we ordered the prawns and the flat-iron steak. The prawns were nothing too special on their own, but when eaten with the polenta-they really came to life. The flat-iron was cooked to perfection, not dry or chewy and it had just the right kick from the peppers. I'm kind of embarrassed to admit I had room in my stomach for dessert after all that food, but how could I turn down Banana Butterscotch Brulee?! It certainly did not disappoint, but then again you can top almost anything with caramelized bananas and I'm happy. All and all, great dining experience-Shoutout to Tony at the bar for taking great care of us. We'll be back soon!
(5)sionn a.
No kids menu for breakfast and a rude server who was not flexible to menu portion changes. I'll bring my business elsewhere
(1)Dian K.
I've been here once for brunch and kept coming back for their weekend HH. On tap cocktail, you asked? Yes! This wasn't the first encounter I had with on tap cocktail, and while at first I thought mass produced drink was kinda cheesy, I now prefer it. The master bartender can make sure it's up to his standards and you get a consistent cocktail throughout the night. They make it nice and strong too. Continuing on the cocktail review, their cocktail ice is superb. I saw the bartender personally sawing off a huge clear block of ice to make individual size (big) ice cubes. The food on the HH is pretty standard, but they're all high quality and done well, even the fries. My go-to weekend HH!
(4)Mark P.
Holds its own in a highly competitive Portland food scene. Creative and fresh veggie sides like snap peas, grilled fungus, and Caramelized green beans with Kim Chee and elk. Well cooked rib eye but the fried chicken is the star. Comfort deserts with a featured pie and sundae. Bring the family.
(4)Charles H.
Attentive and accommodating service, with a pleasant atmosphere. Coffee was delicious, as was the fried chicken. A recommended establishment.
(4)Kate F.
Easily one of the top 5 meals I've ever had, AND I got to spy on Chef Doug doing his thing in the kitchen! It was incredible. Don't dare come here and not have the Parker House rolls. We ordered the mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes, and fries to start, and all were incredible (though the mushrooms were the MOST incredible). Then we ordered the fried chicken, carbonara, and pork secreto. The chicken and carbonara were fantastic, the secreto was good but not as good. Then for dessert, because why not, we had the peanut brittle sundae and something else that I can't even remember because I was so full. The whole meal, including cocktails, came to $45 per person...honestly, how could you ever beat that? I'd eat here every night if I lived in Portland. Chef Doug, you're my hero.
(5)Stacey J.
Came for brunch on a Saturday morning. Brown butter beignets were wonderful as was the ginger mule. My husband had the sausage of the day which he enjoyed - portions are a bit small. I had the fried chicken and biscuit and it was not good at all. The chicken had a ton of batter and not a lot of chicken though I will say the chicken was moist. The whole dish just did not have a lot of flavor. Really disappointing. It was not a bad brunch, but there are so many other places that are better.
(3)Tommy T.
Stopped in for breakfast as soon as we hit town and went with the pastrami hash that was really tasty. Everything was pretty good, but not particularly memorable. Bacon was really nice for $4, but this was the same price as a half-grapefruit. That's a tad excessive. Bloody Mary's were smoked and smoked way too much. It was overwhelming instead of just a subtle smokey background. Lastly, our server was kind of out of it. Kept repeating the same things he had already told us every time he came back to the table. Decent breakfast, but missed some marks. Like to try again for lunch or dinner.
(3)Melanie L.
After following the latest season of Top Chef we were excited to try Imperial. It was a little disappointing. The best dish among the four of us was the fried chicken (and I don't think it's that hard to mess up fried food). Oh, also the desserts were good although I now can't even remember what we ordered. So the whole food experience was so-so. In a city of food carts serving such creative, inexpensive fare, I feel that standalone restaurants need to up their game! Open kitchen was nice to look at while dining.
(3)Patti F.
We went for lunch, take note: make reservations (the place fills up). I had the seared ahi which was ah-may-zing, I could have had two. We also shared some fries which again were really REALLY tasty. Prices were on the high-side, but not over the top. Good quality ingredients, fresh menu, and great flavors. I would LOVE to try the cocktails some time - just not during the work week for lunch.
(5)AC J.
One of the best happy hours in PDX. Great food, service, and atmosphere. Worth a stop.
(5)Matthew S.
The house-made pop tart receives the highest possible recommendation. On this day it was strawberry jam in a flaky, light pastry. Then the Imperial Hash was top-rate: house pastrami, crispy potatoes, celery, mushrooms. Unlike so many hashes, this had a balance of taste and wasn't just about quantity.
(5)Emily H.
I followed Doug through Top Chef and was pumped to go to Imperial to try his food and the experience was made even better when I got to meet Chef Doug himself (super nice guy by the way). It was a busy night and we didn't have reservations, so the wait was about 45 minutes, but WHO CARES when you have food as good as we got! The service was fast, the food was amazing (I'm a Southerner and got the fried chicken and it was the BEST friend chicken I've ever had--and that's saying something), and the atmosphere is great (industrial feel with chandeliers made our of bike chains). I also ordered the kale salad with goat cheese dressing (SO GOOD) and ended up getting two cocktails--both a rye based drink called "Butcher's Bride" which was outstanding. Their bartender wasn't messing around. If you're in Portland, put this place on your list. From one foodie to another, you won't regret it!
(5)Clay H.
Yelp needs a 'My all time favorite ever' button for ratings. I have given 5 stars before, but this one was all out the best meal I have ever had. No wonder Doug nearly took Top Chef. Since I had just had a fancy meal a few days before, I went somewhat cheap with a burger, but what a burger! The flavor was bigger and better than anything I have had before. Back to the start. We got some of the rolls and the roasted beets to start things off. The rolls were quite nice as they were obviously made from scratch with care and had a lovely flavor and texture. The beets were quite nice with some charred goat cheese on top. This brought us to our only complaint. It is too popular. We had to wait a pretty long time for our main items. But the place was packed, so we understood. Luckily, we were seated to where we could see the cooks working at the wood burning stove. They were neat to watch and friendly. So, we had entertainment. My date had sturgeon and it was also truly wonderful with all tastes combined in a wonderful way. The shaved truffles were quite the exquisite addition. Dessert was nice as well. We had a banana brulee that was waaay better than your standard creme brulee. I also liked our server a lot. Even though they were slammed, she felt like she was taking her time with us. I didn't feel rushed at all. Well done folks.
(5)Kelsey H.
Very good dinner. We went before a Blazer game and were staying at the hotel. I had the surgeon and ate it all. It was amazing. My bf had the chicken and he said it was a little dry but still ate it all. Drinks were good, service was good. Overall great experience. Get the kale salad it has peanut brittle on it, OMG so good!
(5)Jakie S.
My friends & I were there for lunch. I had the hamburger, the other had french toast, and the other had chorizo. I tried there's, and we're so delicious! The decor is hip & artsy. We enjoyed it here!
(5)Lisa Z.
Holy overrated, batman. I have no idea what people were talking about. Huge let down.
(2)DeathandFood H.
I had high expectation of Imperial and most of them were met but there was something memorable missing from the meal. TL:DR Review- trendy and delicious downtown place best for carnivores and a good place for a gluten free carnivore. The menu looked delicious and our party of 4 was overwhelmed by all the gluten free choices. The sturgeon was good as were many of our dishes but they didn't seem to live up to the description. For vegetarians you'll have to order several of the smaller vegetarian dishes which while all good don't really equal an entree. The stand outs are the things from the wood-fired grill. The service was good if very relaxed, the atmosphere is very fun and the decor very Portland hipster, no big surprise there. All in all, we would return.
(4)Nancy C.
This restaurant is embraced by locals just as much as by tourists. Cocktails: delicious Food: creative and savory (everything we tried was delicious) Service: friendly and just the right amount of check-ins Celebrity chef: check I would recommend checking it out!
(4)Kirk P.
We were sat at the bar with our small service dog in a carrying bag and the bartender in rude fashion asked "is there a dog at my bar" I was so put off by his attitude. I was hoping for better from imperial. We won't be back.
(1)Rosemary P.
My husband and I went here for Portland Dining Month. The menu was: First course: Salad of marinated citrus Second course: Cola and Pabst Blue Ribbon-braised pork Third course: Almond and rhubarb financier I have to say we were more than pleasantly surprised! The salad was by far the best salad I have had in a long time. We even talked about it after we finished our dessert, wanting to have another salad. The pork was delicious, we ordered some potatoes to go with it (which were equally delicious) and the dessert was the perfect finish. The only thing lacking in the dessert was more rhubarb. My husband has an aversion to almonds, so they were nice enough to sub another dessert and brought him a warm chocolate chip cookie (great service!). I suggest making a reservation, as this place was packed. We both took a look at the regular menu and will definitely be back, there are so many things that we are interested to try. When you go, I suggest trying the dinner rolls for $1, they are definitely a great start to the meal. I don't think you can go wrong with anything here. We will see when I return.
(5)Chris S.
[Caveat: visited during Portland Dining Month on the prix fixe menu] TWO HAIKU REVIEW: Balance of service, image, and content is hard, They have it so close The gorgeous entrees are prettier than delicious but so so worth it. Crown (PRO): Very 'pretty' food, and prompt/attentive service Down (CON): More geared toward upscale, gastroenthusiast crowd than attempting to develop a broader loyalty focus
(3)Brooke C.
This place is 5 stars because it is really different than a lot of restaurants. I also went to the Dinet pop-up restaurant which I enjoyed greatly. Don't order the bread rolls (bread should be complimentary anyways, no?). Make sure to ask the waiter/waitress about serving sizes per plate because the seemed to vary greatly. I wish I remembered our waiter's name because he was so excellent and enthusiastic. Food was really well prepped (other than the bread! It was a bit burnt - ha!)
(5)Maxene A.
Reviewing the brunch situation: I've been here a few times now for Brunch and our experience with the food runs just kind of okay. For starters I like an honest answer when I ask "how's the bloody mary" or when I order a spanish coffee and you tell me that the Irish Coffee is better, I'd like to hear a real reason instead of "it's amazing." I took the servers advise and was disappointed, even more so to have the server turn around and say the "it's amazing" answer for everything else we order. hmm hard to decide when everything is "amazing" you see... Foods: Coddled Eggs, Spicy tomato sauce: good taste but not filling, after the eggs are eaten up it just stares back at you as tomato soup and fry bread. $11 The Semolina Corn Cakes: good choice, satisfies the semi sweet (From the corn cakes) and salty (bacon) and feels hearty in your belly from the eggs. $12 House Chorizo, Scrambled Eggs, and Fry Bread: want something with a little spicy kit? order this the dish, the chorizo is delicious and balances great with the eggs, and comes with a serving of their pillow size fry bread! $13 The food is okay, the portions run on the small side, but in reality it's not your typical american portion size, this my friend, is probably the serving size we should be comfortable with, just enough to satisfy but those hunger pangs and the price is reasonable. The bloody Mary runs salty and always chose a Spanish coffee over an Irish coffee-more buzz for your money;) One really great reason I keep coming back for brunch at Imperial -is there has never been a wait, which actually surprises me! perhaps you have a large party, they sure take over the phone reservations too! Vibe: The restaurant is nice, not too upper class snobby, but a place worth putting on some decent outfits for, you really can make the effort in creating your own ambiance at Imperial with a just few select choices in clothing. Want a casual date night-come in jeans, want a hangover brunch- pull your hair in a bun and put on those shades, want to get fancy -well then, get fancy wit yo self! There is garage parking nearby and street parking for blocks.
(3)Tres B.
Iw as here for breakfast, early oon a saturday morning. I am not a fan of eggs benedict, but couldnt' resist the braised beef version and was rewarded with an abolute delicay. A bursting galaxy of complex falvors and nuggest style fired potates with jsut the right crunch. The servers were on spot, if not a bit plastic. In typilc Portland fashion, they ahve their uber snobby quirks. No ice for the water and no salt and pepper shakers because "the chef has pefectly seasoned the food". OK, that was actually true! Lastly, the surroundings are borderline elegant and clever. The big comuunity table built around the large cement support columns is interesting and a highlight of the space.
(4)Frankie L.
Yes yes yes YES! This was easily one of the best decisions I've made on my visit to Portland. Imperial is a real gem, and exceeded all of my expectations. The mushrooms with bone marrow was a great starter, as were the poke.. But the thing I've been raving about is their fried chicken. Hands down, the absolute best fried chicken I've ever had in my life (sorry mom). They serve it with house pickles, honey, and house made hot sauce. Paired with my cocktail selection 'New Money', I was blissfully serene while dining at Imperial. Without a doubt if I'm in the Portland area again, I'll be sure to revisit Imperial.
(5)Shirley C.
Fried Chicken with watermelon salad. Do I need to say more?....... Delicious!
(5)Shea H.
Very trendy looking restaurant. There are some vegetarian and gluten free options on the menu too, which is nice. I had the Perry white wine, which was quite yummy. The only thing that I found frustrating was the vegetable options. There were sooooo many veggie options (artichoke, beets, radishes, collards, kale, grilled romaine, etc) but a lot of them were accompanied by meat, which seemed counter productive. Also, the plates are pretty small. I'm generally not a fan of tapas-type dining. It's not like the small plates are cheap. So to get a fulfilling meal, you have to order a few plates and that can be pricey. I ordered beets and it was probably about 1/3 cup of actual beets on the plate mixed in with entire sprigs (plural) of cilantro and a few pieces of shrimp. Also ordered the artichoke...it was half an artichoke and it was just okay. Great concept. Just not the best execution. I would probably try Imperial again but I would wait until the menu options are cheaper..perhaps during lunch or happy hour.
(3)Lauren T.
My friend and I are quite the foodies - we love going to restaurants and finding the best food while in Portland, a diner's paradise. How delighted we were when we discovered Imperial - over new very favorite restaurant. Every single bite of every dish is heaven. The wait staff was wonderful, the food, HEAVENLY! We can't wait to return!
(5)Steven M.
We went to Imperial because of Top Chef and Doug being on the show. We were able to meet him, but he wouldn't tell us if he won - I hate waiting. The space is very nicely layer out and love the design. We were sat at a comfortable table with a street view. We started with the coal roasted beets and oysters - nice sample of three different oysters which is a nice touch. We moved onto Doug's fried chicken - the chicken was perfectly prepared, and the sauce that you apply yourself was spices and tart - a very nice contrast to the watermelon and onion. The grilled Kauai prawns were spot on and cooked perfectly. The bacon prawn sauce was a wonderful touch. We then hand the pork secrato, the only sour note on the meal. Our waiter informed us that this was a signature dish for the restaurant. It was cooked well, but came out cold and somewhat flat - felt as if it sat for too long. We finished with the Chocolate Chess pie which was wonderful - good way to end the meal. Overall, the staff was very attentive and pleasant. Will be back for the chicken - some of the best I have ever had.
(4)Travis M.
We came in for lunch on a Friday and were extremely underwhelmed. The soup and sandwich were small, necessitating a stop by one of the nearby and far more reasonably priced food trucks after lunch. With prices so high, perhaps you're paying for the service and ambiance, you ask? Not so. The wait staff was short with us, borderline annoyed and fully focused on flipping our smaller table in favor of larger parties. Two stars for food quality; it wasn't bad, just extremely overpriced for the portion sizes.
(2)Jason T.
I'm normally not a brunch/breakfast person as most breakfast/brunch places are pretty standard with their menus. I was, however, impressed by the menu at the Imperial. I had their pastrami hash and it was both unique and incredibly flavorful. My dining partner had more of a traditional farmer's breakfast. I'd highly recommend.
(4)Kelsie V.
I must try their cocktails, but I always go for beer initially. Hospitable, Higher End cocktail lounge Great decor and color scheme. No uppity service. Varied food menu. Lots of options. I had chicken wings once with a friend (not my favorite). Washrooms are a hassle to get to, part of the hotel.
(4)Samuel K.
Truly one of the most underrated new restaurants in town. Paley has taken some liberties with his menu at Imperial and some of the creations he has come up with are truly fantastic, done with impeccable technique and a sense of whimsy and fun. Driving at the heart of his kitchen here is this towering Italian-made inferno-of-a-wood-burning stove, apparently only one of two of its kind in North America. Sit at the chefs counter and you will burn your eyebrows off, but watching the chefs cooking various cuts of meat to slightly charred smokey perfection is worth it. It really is an inferno though; apparently the cooks can't have pocket change in their pants without becoming sterilized. Vitaly is obviously having some fun here. Take for example his raw kale and vegetable salad. Take fresh kale, sliced root vegetables, dressed in a tangy dressing. Now what does he dress this with? Hazelnut brittle pieces. WHAaa...?! But then you take a bite of the tart creamy crunchy salad, and a piece of the brittle crumbles in your mouth, and this sweet caramel creamy flavor melds with the tart creamy thing and all of a sudden you realize that this is frickin delicious, and frickin INSPIRED. Another example: fried rabbit. So what's the big deal? Imagine the best fried chicken you've ever had, then multiply it times 3. Vitaly figured that the only way to make good fried chicken better is to use rabbit instead. Genius. And it's served with pickled watermelon and a corn cake, in case you're not sure of the fried chicken reference. Not to mention a tiny little pitcher of honey and homemade barrel aged hot sauce to drizzle all over that sh*t. Holy Popeye's chicken times 50 Batman. Don't miss the quail or the pork secreto either. The quail is cooked to tender perfection Moroccan style with pearl couscous and enthusiastically overcarmelized. The smokey pork secreto is served with a generous slather of smokey Romesco. Major Deliciousness. And to top off my last meal Vitaly blessed my party with a couple slices of charcuterie made with pork face, seasoned with fennel pollen, salt and pepper a la porchetta, and sous vide'd for 18 hours. Holy pig. Completely melted in my mouth. One of the best pieces of meat, raw, cooked, or cured, I've ever put in my mouth. So, don't believe the lukewarm reviews. Sit at the counter and go to town. Vitaly will serve you right.
(5)Alexei R.
We came across the Imperial while walking to our hotel; the menu caught our eye so we decided to go for breakfast the next morning. We ended up going back for dinner as well. Breakfast: the meal was great, the speed of food coming out of the kitchen was a little slow, but we were not in a rush. The quality of the ingredients was fantastic and the preparation very well done. I had the ham+cheese omelet which included some potatoes. Outstanding. Dinner: we were a party of 4 and got seated right away. The overall meal was one of the best I have had in a long time. Our server was very polite and attentive, but not overbearing. We ordered a few cocktails and they were all outstanding. We then proceeded to order half the menu, all of it was excellent. Of note: grilled romaine salad, fried rabbit, pork chop, and the desserts. Everything was well cooked, very flavorful. Highly recommended!
(5)Tiffany M.
**3.5, Brunch** Dropped in here midday on a Sunday with family, and the place was a ghost town. Decor is pretty awesome, they married industrial/contemporary design nicely. After getting over my initial disappointment of not being able to enjoy a cocktail (the server carded AND I forgot my ID?? Ugh, the humanity!), I was yet again disappointed with the server's lack of interest in having a personality or any interest in actually doing her job well. Yeesh, that's harsh, but I say that with a heavy heart. I loves me some good service. The food itself is more like a 4, to be fair. I enjoyed my semolina corn cakes, polenta-like and topped with poached eggs, served with bacon and some strangely sweet sauce. At first I was really caught off-guard by the sweetness of the sauce but it grew on me. My FIL loved his steelhead benedict, and my Bro-in-Law had good things to say about the fry-bread chorizo plate. Although I must say, the beignets we got as a starter were really flavorless and would recommend skipping those. As my poor FIL found out, "draft cocktail" is code for lighter fluid. They are VERY strong, not sure if they use bottom shelf liquors but it tasted like it. Be prepared if you order one! Prices are average, and in a town with some amazing brunches I wouldn't rank this one very high on the list.
(3)Momo B.
MORE SPACIOUS Selected to sit at the white counter in front of the kitchen. It allowed us to witness first hand how the kitchen prepared our dinner. Ordered their Parker House Roll, Duck Meatballs, Winter Green Salad plus Grilled Lamb Tongue. I would have to say that the Duck Meatballs was pleasantly a large portion and the most tasty dish. The Winter Green Salad was really sprinkling of red cabbage with bits of a ham hock hidden below... in hind sight, wished I had ordered the sausage instead.. As for the Grilled Lamb Tongue, luckily my photographer will eat anything. Parker House Roll could have used a bit more sea salt to take it to the next level. Enjoyed the restaurant's spaciousness and PNW ambiance. It was fun to sit in front of the kitchen and watch the food preparations. Again, I wouldn't mind returning to try their brunch.
(4)Ronald A.
I have lunch here a couple of times. I think my staff and wife enjoy it more than I do. I have had the pastrami and it was fine. The tuna is also fine. They normally come with potato chip, which is not on my diet anymore. Getting a salad instead was a chore. For the regular price, I could have a half sandwich and a salad. If I wanted a full sandwich, I would have to pay extra for the salad, even if I passed on the chips. It was much too hard. They do have good desserts and the rest of my office loves this place. I guess I am the hold out.
(3)W M.
I ordered the flat iron steak and blueberry pie for desert. Both were very good . The trotters seemed very popular at the next table. Very busy restaurant service seemed a tad slow though all if the staff seemed very busy and were very professional
(4)Michael U.
Always doing my homework before taking a trip and realizing that there was no way I could fit in all the breakfasts and brunches I wanted by doing only one a day it was decided that for my last two days in town I would forgo lunch in exchange for a second breakfast and although I'd considered Olympic Provisions as one of the options a fortuitous encounter the night prior at Roe made me reconsider, the end result sending me instead to Vitaly Paley's "Imperial" just after 8am despite a late night and plenty of food and drink between Roe and Tanuki. Arriving downtown on foot after a long morning run and a quick shower I entered The Hotel Lucia in order to browse the lobby's unique art exhibit before making my way through Imperial's doors and after chatting with the hotel's reservationist for a moment I entered yet another dining room with plenty of natural woods, concrete, and high ceilings plus a wide open kitchen and a large wood fired grill - a concept seemingly ubiquitous to Portland and in this case paired with an overhead soundtrack of Beatles, Stones, and The Who plus an almost entirely empty dining room allowing me my choice of seats. Settled in and browsing the menu as my server readied both water and coffee - a rather acidic blend from Caffé D'Arte - it would not be long before I settled on a few choices and after inquiring about the daily pastry specials I ordered a trio of items, specifically requesting they be brought out as separate courses given the previous day's experience at Clyde Common; a request that was granted without question leading to excellent pacing, a warm and golden chocolate glazed cake donut arriving with my first coffee refill and subsequent plates arriving at 15-20 minute intervals. Noting my predilection for sweet to savory and really enjoying the quality of the donut, my second plate to arrive from the kitchen was something I'd sooner associate with Phoenix than Portland and although perhaps better shared given its richness the Warm Ricotta with Grilled Pears and Fry Bread was outstanding; the traditional Indian bread crisp and not excessively greasy, the pears smoky and not overly sweet, and the ricotta rich and creamy - but in a very "first world problems" way, far too large in portion for a single diner. Holding onto the rest of the ricotta because I simply couldn't let it return to the kitchen my final savory of the morning was the "Imperial French Toast with Seasonal Fruit, Thickened Cream, and Maple Syrup" and true to the form of much of the French Toast served in Portland this one was divine - another heavily custard laden brioche with a crispy golden exterior and nearly liquid center rife with smokiness from the wood oven. Paired with both caramelized bananas and more wood roasted pears plus a hefty accoutrement of both smoked syrup and hand whipped cream this was most certainly a dish for those with a sweet tooth and although I'd originally considered adding some of the leftover ricotta to the plate I just couldn't do it, instead ordering an extra slice of toast (no charge) that I topped with the cheese and some left over syrup - gluttony at its best and a great way to finish another superlative Portland morning meal.
(5)Cara U.
We went here after hearing the head chef, Dougie, was going to be a competitor or Top Chef Boston. My husband and I ordered 4 different things off of the menu, two meats and two veggies, to share. They were offering a fried chicken dish with a watermelon salad and in house hot sauce. It was what Dougie cooked on the first episode and it was amazing!! Everything else we ordered was delicious too! Not only is the food good, but the service was decent, they had fun cocktails and the vibe in the restaurant was fun as well. I would recommend this to anyone!
(5)Ron T.
I'm not here to put a crown nor hail Paley. This was my first visit so things could go either way. I would say, I'm impressed with the flavor depth of the food they have but the price could have been justified a little more. I don't see where the price point meets with the serving size. Are we also paying for the prestige and ego of the chef now? The drinks selections are decent. I did order the Coat of Arms. It's refreshing and fruity. I like the subtlety . My friend had New Money. The bourbon is well blended and the aftertaste of wood left a lasting impression. I was surprised by the smoked mussels and roasted beets appetizers. I was expecting a bowl of shells but it was served in a long plate where the beets served as the bed with 6 tiny smoked shelled mussels. It tasted great. The sharp smokey flavor gets balanced by the blandness of the beet with hints of the sprinkled herbs. I did then have the Spit Roasted Lamb and the Spoon Lamb. I was lucky to have it as it was the last one. It came out slightly tough but definitely manageable. The farro made it tougher for me to chew the lamb. A chewy lamb with a chewy emmer farro doesn't help much. Being seated at the marble counter, I felt like I'm having dinner in front of the fireplace. I think this is the only warm place in the whole restaurant. All in all, it was a good experience. The atmosphere is ok. It is loud. You almost have to yell and not appreciate your food while you're trying to have a little convo. If you've been to Oven and Shaker, you will notice the similarity in the design of the place. There is barely any opulence in Imperial with the dark wood, steel and brick design. I like it but not on a restaurant. O&S's decibles are far toned down than Imperial's. You might as well text each other like what most of the patrons are onto. The staff is awesome. They don't have an attitude nor have a scent of a hipster. Bravo for smiling and taking a daily shower/ wearing deodorant.
(3)Alison V.
I only sat outside for a beer, on a beautiful day. I will be back for food. This was by far the best people watching I've seen while enjoying a drink. I couldn't believe all the hipsters out. Maybe because it was Saturday night, but still it was interesting (not in a bad way). The bartender was a little slow, but other than that it was good. I'll have to update my review when I go back for food.
(3)Luis C.
My wife and I chose to come to Portland for our honeymoon. We knew that there would be amazing food in this city so we spent an entire day trying to figure out the perfect restaurant to eat. Last night we chose Imperial Restaurant and everything I ate was like a dream. From the pear and blue cheese salad to the wild mushroom for our starters and ending with the best pork chops I ever eaten. To my wife being adventurous and ordering the stuffed quail, everything was amazing. To finish with the toffee gingerbread with pumpkin ice cream. Our waitress was spot on when she called the pastry chef an "evil genius". Even though I was full I had to eat the last bite. The service was was outstanding as well. Our waitress was so friendly, she helped make our night one to remember.
(5)Lynn S.
Had a rare date night out with my husband sans baby. So when picking a restaurant we always cross our fingers that we made a good choice and Imperial did not disappoint. I cannot rave more about their Portland Poke. It is one of the best poke dishes I've ever had. And we are from Southern CA where poke is served pretty much everywhere. The tuna was so fresh, and the delicate balance of unique flavors of citrusy wasabi, scallion, chilis and hazelnuts was amazing. We also shared the fried chicken which was delicious and definitely order the roasted potatoes with dill- unbelievably good! Dessert was on another level. We couldn't decide between their Banana Butterscotch Brûlée or Peanut Brittle Sundae. We went with the brûlée which was rich but not over the top. Had just enough salt to balance it out and the brûléed bananas were perfect. Our waitress was so nice and could tell we really couldn't decide on which dessert to order,so she brought out some of the peanut brittle from the sundae for us to try. She said it was the best part of the sundae and that was amazing as well. Great service. Amazing food and also nice atmosphere. Date night was a success! We highly recommend Imperial.
(5)Molly H.
Really good! Kind of a surprise. We had put our name in at Tasty n Alder on a Saturday night, but after an hour and 20 minutes of waiting, we decided to try someplace else. (Who knew SO MANY people ate downtown on the weekends??) There wasn't a wait at Imperial, so we gave it a try. Everything was really really good. We had oysters to start, then trout a la plancha with blood pudding and potato puree, and fried rabbit. It was just all really good! Satisfying. The portions were perfectly sized so you didn't need to order 2 appetizers and a dessert to feel like you were getting a whole meal. The service was also confident and unassuming. I really liked Imperial. A lot. I'm not quite sure what else to say other than that it's really really good. And appropriately priced. And pleasant. A nice place to go if you're making the trip across the river into downtown Portland on a weekend. Just know that if you do that, you're then having a "night on the town" with all the other people who come to downtown Portland to have a "night on the town." It's kind of weird. Some people get dressed up IN FANCY LEGGINGS AND LOUBOUTINS (!!) and weird prom hair, when they're probably too old for prom hair . . . . Oh Portland.
(4)Cyndi S.
Stellar night out at The Imperial. Lovely warm atmosphere on a misty foggy night in Portland. Northwest decor with wood smoke transported us to the woods for a cozy evening. Don't miss the Parker House rolls - warm buttery with perfect crust and flaky center. We couldn't resist seconds! Table had cocktails, beer on draft, and delicious house made sodas with interesting combinations: vanilla + almond and bell pepper + fennel. A la carte vegetable choices were beautifully prepared and presented in cast iron dishes on log round trays. We ordered maple carrots, mushrooms, and stuffed eggplant - which were all delicious. Our main courses were fried chicken, grilled cauliflower, pasta carbonara, and grilled prawns. The plating was lovely with hearty portion sizes and excellent flavor. Not a morsel remained of warm Texas sheet cake and lemon meringue with ice cream for dessert. Service was attentive with excellent knowledge of the menu. Overall a terrific evening. We'll be back.
(5)Cathleen G.
Tried the Prix Fix meal for Portland Dining Month. It was excellent. Enjoyed the whole experience. Would definitely return next time I am in Portland.
(4)Brian C.
Dinner Jan 30 Stumbled on this place and glad I did! Very cool menu, cool atmosphere and some great tasting food. Water served at table in old clear whiskey, bourbon, tequila bottles. Each table getting a different unique bottle - very cool! Serving Boston's Famous Parkerhouse rolls! Have to pay for each one but worth it! Winter Green Salad with roasted pears, caramelized onions, and pull pork was exceptional! Pork Secretto was very flavorful and juicy. Served over Red Pepper romesco and a fire grilled leek. Got a side dish roasted potatoes and you can taste the fire in them. Ended the meal with a flourless chocolate cake w/ pistachio and meringue. Very rich, but super delightful! I stay at the Marriott about 100 feet away and will be eating here often!
(4)Gina W.
Service was great and very accommodating when we showed up a bit early to avoid the Starlight parade crowd the same day. Ordered the duck egg with elk's tongue which was delicious. Followed by the pork's blood pasta with clams and the tails and trotters. Tails and trotters a bit salty but the pasta was unique and velvety. But the highlight of the meal? Parker House Rolls. $1 of the most delicious freshly baked roll I've ever had in my life and I was tempted to order a dozen to go.
(5)Elizabeth H.
Four people compromised on an overall grade of "C". Distracted and generally terrible service. No servers scanning the dining room with their eyes as they pass through to see that everyone is happy. Ever. They're just walking fast past you. We thought the server was the water person because she didn't ask for our drinks order as she poured the water. She just left and reappeared a good fifteen minutes later. The pork shoulder was VERY salty-- too savory to be tasty anymore and the other favors, competing sweet and spicy just created more confusion with the "It's too salty" mantra hammering away. The famous hamburgers were "bad" or "Just OK" in the opinion of 2 who ordered those. The chef made his appearance for some foreign tourists but, from our experience last night, the kitchen and the dining room need A LOT more attention from our good Vitaly.
(2)J. J.
We went for Father's Day brunch and were very disappointed. According to Portland Monthly they have one of the 5 best Bloody Mary's in town....really???...it was nothing special and just okay. We split an order of beignets to start and they were fine but had much better ones at a New Orleans bakery in Downtown Disney of all places!! My husband ordered the Pastrami Hash and there was barely any pastrami in it and the portion was small. I ordered the Semolina cake with poached eggs and bacon and the dish was virtually tasteless. The applewood smoked bacon from Trader Joes' was better. Daughter had buttermilk pancakes which she barely touched. I tasted them and they were fine I thought. The dinner reviews are so good we will try again at night time but based on our meal today I would skip going here for brunch.
(2)Juanjo F.
Great menu with lots of varied choices. I have had a hard time to choose and ended asking for more food than I could eat... I just was curious about so many of the dishes that could not avoid trying. None disappointed.
(4)Alena C.
I came here with a dinner crew of ten and we were seated promptly in the glass case of emotion...the glass door with sliding doors. Which is pretty awesome, except this restaurant is lowed and every time a server came in/out they would leave the door open and we would have to shut it behind them. 1) The house rolls are pretty decent. For $1 might as well try it, but I have had better. 2) I had the steamer clams with plum something, and I loved it. Comes out on a cool wood block. 3) I also had the duck meatballs which consisted of two huge meatballs and sauce. I really liked this dish. 4) For an entree I had the blackened cod. It was just perfect! I hate overcooked fish and the cod was not too firm and still flaky and yummy. 4) For dessert I had the pineapple upside down cake which was my favorite thing all night. Get it. The service was slow and spotty, the atmosphere was fun, the food was yummy. I would come back, but only if someone else was paying.
(4)Brian O.
What a night! This restaurant is very chic and a great atmosphere. We were a party of 4 and where close to the back near the kitchen! I loved looking over at how the food was cooked. So unique having everything open and added such flavor from the open fire. I had the grilled romaine salad which was amazing. Then my partner had a basket of fries. Which were fries. When dinner came and I had the king salmon which I seriously wish I had the money to eat that dish everyday. He had a Italian sausage. It was super tasty. This whole meal was topped off with espresso and a peanut brittle sundae that was so rich and delicious!
(4)Stanley M.
My girlfriend, her sister, and I ate here for a nice Friday night out. The restaurant is really nice and the staff were great. I ordered a radish-type drink with a massive block of ice instead of crushed or cubed ice; a nice twist. The drink (I don't remember the name) is a party in the mouth and highly recommended. I also ordered Stan's Meat Platter and although it was very good, I still had to eat some food later; quantity was not its forte. Very good burgers though and the dessert was delightfully sinful.
(4)Barbara B.
Great staff. Polite and customer service oriented. Went for breakfast,have a beignet or four! Delicious !!
(5)Lauren S.
The food was solid but not quite as good as I expected. We just went for lunch and they offer a nice soup/salad/sandwich menu for a casual mid-day meal. I had the chopped salad with tuna on top. They were kind of stingy with tuna (which was a $9 add on to a $7 salad) and I was hoping for more beets. The flavor of fennel in the salad was nice though. My husband got the pastrami sandwich which he liked since it wasn't heavy like the typical NY kind we're used to. And the cup of tomato soup was very good. We went with another couple who also ordered salads and seemed pretty happy with their meals. I was impressed by the waitress who knew the menu very well and got the entire order correct without writing anything down, even though we were a little undecided at first. She did a nice job of trying to upsell us on the bread and pie for dessert even though we turned her down. And they were very accommodating when we asked to change tables to get away from the din of the open kitchen in the back of the dining room.
(4)Renee W.
We had brunch on 12/14. Waited 1/2 hour to get our mimosas. Waiter was not in any hurry to take our order. Six in our party had eggs Benedict - very nicely prepared. My daughter and I had crab omlete - only two eggs and very little crab - no potatoes but a small side salad that was over dressed. We left hungry and were disappointed. I'm not sure I would go there again.
(2)Bethany K.
Customer service review ONLY. While I live/work in LA, we have clients in Portland and wanted to send a more thoughtful holiday gift (a gift certificate for a local restaurant) so I dug around a bit on PDX Eater and found Imperial. Called in yesterday and spoke with Mandy, who was super sweet, helpful, and friendly. She took my info, the amount of the gift certificate, and was able to coordinate the actual mailing of the physical gift certificate so that we wouldn't have to get it sent to LA first, then back up to Portland. BUT, I wanted to get a note included since it was from the office and asked her to hold off on sending til I could get the wording okay'ed. Called back the next day and spoke with someone else (since Mandy wasn't in yet) and found out that the gift certificate had already gotten mailed out. Ugh. She apologized and said that Mandy had written a note about waiting to send it until I had called in with the note wording, but because of the volume of gift certificates, it probably got lumped in with the others and the night host/hostess sent it out. Okay, so at this point a little frustrated/upset because you know, I had asked for something, Mandy had heard and noted it, but yet it still got sent out. I'm thinking okay what could possibly be done to remedy the situation? I ask -- would it be possible to check the mail box to see when USPS picks it up? The person on the phone made it sound like I was asking for something completely ridiculous, even though she had told me the exact location of the mailbox/kioskl that they use. I looked it up--the mailbox was literally two blocks from their restaurant. How much effort would it be for them to walk down, see if it's been picked up, and report back? I asked to speak to a manager and spoke with Garrett (one of the GMs, I believe), who apologized again but restated that there was nothing they could do. I was more at a loss because they obviously messed up but no one was willing to WALK TWO BLOCKS to potentially intercept the gift certificate that shouldn't have gotten mailed out in the first place. Why not? He said, oh we don't know which mail box (which is a lie because the other person told me which one) and oh, it's against federal rules to break into a mailbox... but I wasn't asking them to! If anything, I was really disappointed that aside from a "I'm sorry..." it didn't feel like they were willing to do anything to remedy the situation. Try to get it back? Send out a separate card or gift certificate with my note instead? I ended up just asking them to cancel the transaction and will now try to find an alternative. Again, this is obviously not a review around the food or an in-restaurant dining experience, but if my interactions with them on the phone were any indication of what their customer service philosophy is, I'd stay away. (And as a caveat, I hate those people who randomly write uber emotional biased Yelp reviews after a bad experience... but at the same time, a bad experience is a bad experience.)
(1)Ted D.
The food, as usual with Doug running the kitchen, was great. But the service was terrible. We had to get up to refill our own water bottle (gave up waiting and waving to the waiter). The other irritant, was that the waiter delivered two of the entre accompanying dishes BEFORE the appetizer. He said it was "out of his control." Really??? So we ate those, then the appetizer, then the entre.
(3)Chris M.
I really want to like imperial but have been underwhelmed with my last couple of business lunches. My last experience they totally botched my order which my client pointed out to the staff. I said it was fine...but didn't get so much as a "sorry"
(2)Dr B.
The worst breakfast I've ever had in Portland (and I'm including McDonald's). The bread tasted like fish. The service was slow. There were 8 people in the kitchen. We were one of six tables in there and the food took over 30 minutes to arrive. Half the dishes were burned, the potatoes and corn cakes were charred on the bottoms and tasted burnt. The frybread was good, but not good enough for us to ever come back. If you come here, don't come here for breakfast.
(1)Courtney A.
I eat here regularly, and generally enjoy the food. The kale salad is delicious, and typically the fish is done nicely. The grilled cheese / tomato soup lunch combo is a sure bet. The vegetable sides are usually just delicious. The service can be spotty at times, although recently I think they've made some adjustments (at least at lunch time) and that seems better. I wish they would make some effort to have a vegetarian option soup. Often the soup sounds good, and it doesn't have meat, but it has some sort of meat or chicken stock that places it out of bounds. They have a small room in the back that seats about 10 that is really nice if you're with a group that size.
(4)Genius F.
Made reservations through yelp went smoothly, got right in everything looked fantastic. After not be helped for 20 minutes at the table thought things began to look worse. They were busy but not anywhere near me packed. Finally a waitress came by and instead of taking drink order(which we really wanted) she just walked up to the table and said ohhhh um I'll be right back. Another 15 minutes went by without anything when she finally did arrive I we quickly ordered everything at once so as not to impeded our dining experience or get lost in the ordering system of a place that we aren't particularly sure about. We the. Waited 18 minutes on the nose for a hot toddy for my girl friend and zero drinks for me? What is going on? I couldn't believe it the rest of the brunch went about the same for everything and turned what would have been an all morning leisurely brunch turned into just wanting to get the heck out of there. The food was fantastic and so were the drink. Irresponsible serving techniques and a total disregard for the dining experience really soured me to this place. Hopefully it was a one time experience as the restaurant is beautiful and would love to be able to go again to have a better outing.
(2)Katie H.
Perfect date night restaurant. The drinks are fantastic. Had appetizer of ceviche and the carrot ginger soup. The ceviche had large tuna chunks, and came with a rosemary flat bread that complimented the ceviche perfectly. The soup was hearty and a nice starter. For an entree I had lamb that was done 2 ways with a plum sauce and served in polenta. Yum!!!!!! Big enough to split FYI. Had my entree and starters paired with wine that the bartender recommended. Each helped bring out the flavors of the food. Can't wait to go back and try more. Also.....be adventurous...try something you've never had before and you won't be disappointed here.
(5)S D.
Spectacular. Kale salad and eggplant as firsts, then pbr and cola braised pork and fried chicken as mains. Perfection and so reasonably priced for downtown Portland. My new favorite restaurant.
(5)Brent G.
GREAT DRINKS, and the food is satisfying. The seared albacore was so delicate and different than typical pink sushi tuna. I'm going back for the fried rabbit.
(4)Alex S.
Had some oysters on the half and a basket of fries. Both were very good. My wife had a speciality drink too that was quite tasty. Place seems to be a bit trendy and somewhat expensive but, the staff was very friendly.
(4)Krista G.
I'm not going to write a long winded review because honestly I just wanna forget how much it cost. My cosmo was $12 and it was little, I had 2. Yikes. Wait let me say the nice stuff first. I loved the interior, it really is a beautiful space. Very wide open rustic and warm. The kitchen is open and I love hat. The grilled Romaine salad was pretty tasty and the fries were really good. If our waiter would have come back to check on us I would have had plenty of that secret sauce for dipping. The service was a little meh and for that price they need to be on it! The main was grilled Coho salmon @ $26 it was the tiniest piece of fish ever...and it came with no sides everything is a la carte here. It was cooked perfectly but I guess the price just ruined it for me. We shared a side of swiss chard that I felt like was way overcooked. The sundae was delicious so at least it ended on a high note :) Bottom line for me is that for the price it was not worth it. I could have spent less than half as much somewhere else and had an equally good meal.
(3)Steve B.
Simply fantastic! We stayed across at the Benson and sought every opportunity to eat/drink here. The happy hour deals were great and the food excellent. Especially the Vieux Carré was the best Metropolitan I've ever had!
(5)Craig H.
Food was great and the whole family felt welcome. Service alone deserves 5 stars. Our server Angie did an amazing job and we even got a photo op with Chef Doug for the out of town visitors. Great place and I strongly recommend.
(5)Amireh G.
MEAT!! Rabbit, lamb, beef, pork, fish OH MY!! Gluten free options clearly listed on the menu. Updated weekly menu. Plus crafted mocktails.
(4)Andy R.
Shy of official 5. But close enough! Simply one of the best pork products I've had in my life!!!! The smoked grilled pork secreto is a thing of beauty!!!!
(5)Fay B.
The most wonderful, beautiful supper we have had as of yet......delicious just does not describe the quality and the staff made the evening extra extra special and perfect for us. Admittedly, this ranks with our wedding day.......perfect! You guys are awesome. It was a beautiful Birthday/Anniversary date night.
(5)Reba M.
Wonderful! Pleasant staff. Great food. Elk eggs benedict was amazing. As was the fried chicken and bloody Mary.
(4)Brian C.
I find the prices a bit high at Imperial but the food is always solid if not super inspiring and they have nice cocktails and wine list. I'd put it at 3.5 stars but I'm rounding up to 4 as a nice downtown food option and even though Chef Vitaly Paley isn't here all the time they seem to have pretty good consistency and he has good folks in the kitchen. Happy Hour from 2-6pm is a great time to sit in the bar area with a very nice menu of reduced price food & drink. It's not perfect and it's more expensive than I'd prefer, but you'll rarely get a bad meal at Imperial.
(4)Michael F.
Excellent full meal service at the bar, with a bartender that not only creates the drinks but is extremely knowledgeable on the menu. Here is the big recommendation: fried radishes served with the bone in pork chop accompanied with a great Oregon Pinot
(5)Jen F.
We went for happy hour, with a large group. Tried a variety of small plates - cheese, meats, fries, olives, and the like. The meat plate was quite impressive, everything else was "very good"... and the prices at happy hour are very reasonable. Service was outstanding. The bartender and wait staff are attentive and knowledgeable. Both of my cocktails were tasty and balanced. Beer selection is thoughtful and offers a nice variety. Hope to return some time for lunch or dinner. I would return for happy hour too!
(4)Bell K.
I guess I was expecting something a lot cozier before I got to this restaurant. When I walked in, an "upscale sports bar"is what came to mind. We had a table of 4 people, all ordering starters, salads and a main course. We have no idea why, but most everything came out at the same time in under 5 minutes, with some of the salads about 15 minutes later. We felt rushed to eat this table full of food before the many hot dishes got cold. The biggest complaint among half the table were that the portions were too small. It just wasn't overall an enjoyable evening, it was completely rushed and unsatisfying.
(2)Winema W.
Great service, friendly staff, excellant food! We will be back!!! Couldn't ask for a better time!
(5)Kai N.
The menu was heavily meat based. Service was good. If you like unique dishes this place is for you but not if you want something your normal pallet experiences.
(3)Laura W.
I am between 3 and 4 stars on this nice restaurant. I might have had higher hopes for a Vitaly Paley place. The staffing seemed too low today for the volume although the servers were killing themselves- especially the bar tender to make it work. I had a vegan dish that was good and a good glass of wine. Others in my party had the fried chicken with watermelon, which seemed really good, but underdone. I am not a fan of med rare chicken. I would try it next time on the assumption that it was a mistake during a really busy lunch. This is my second trip to Imperial and both times my expectations were a little higher than what was delivered. I will try it again.
(4)Well-Traveled I.
$85 for breakfast for five seems a bit steep; decor is typical Portland (is it me, or are all restaurants starting to look the same around here) but some of the staff seems a bit-too-cool (and I mean that in a negative - not positive - way). Our waiter was very attentive, but dining companions said eggs were cold and breakfast potatoes were just OK. I guess serving your bill on a wooden block and having a staff with designer European glasses makes it worth the trip.
(3)Nantas S.
I had dinner here last night and breakfast here again this morning. My family has been in the restaurant business 35+ years and I can speak only from my own experience but this has got to be one of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at if not the best.
(5)Mike H.
This place has the food. In fact, Imperial had the best food on our recent trip to Portland but it also had the surliest staff and the largest check. Until Imperial everybody we met was Portlandia nice. You can generate a crowd on the sidewalk by stopping to look at a map. The panhandlers and there are a lot of them greeted me with smile even when I passed them by. Maybe it is Imperial's way of standing out in a crowed restaurant scene but surly and inattentive were not the high points of our dinner. If you are in the area and are interested in some seriously good eats go and enjoy. Just be sure your chi is aligned or it can be a drag.
(3)Pascal F.
This review is based on service alone. Mainly because we were never served. Sat outside on a quiet Father's Day lunch, and while we sat and watched our neighbor table get served...we weren't. No water, no drink order, nothing. So after about 15 minutes of waiting patiently, we left. Service is such a huge factor in my dining experience, and this is going to make me go elsewhere when i'm making my dining decision.
(1)Olivia C.
I went there for brunch on a saturday and it was delicious! We had crab beignets, oysters, frybread with chorizo and brown sugar beignets dipped in honey. Food was amazing, service was so-so, but the overall ambiance was awesome. Heck, Vitaley Paley was on Iron Chef so we have an amazing opportunity to try his food!
(5)Taylor W.
Ordered the fried rabbit and it was delicious. At every table they have some restaurant made hot sauce. It was so good a server said we could take one home. Very busy crowd and noise level. In fact, we were convinced seated next to us were some pimps and their escorts. It was hard not to stare. Neat open style kitchen and loved the decor. Very Portland.
(4)Rachel S.
Favorite happy hour so far! I came here on a Wednesday evening for happy hour. My dad and I each tried the 2 happy hour cocktails and they were incredible. The vieux carre was just what I needed after a long day at work and commuting- it was strong and nuanced. And a steal at $5! All of the food was great, and a bargain. We had parker house rolls, fries, the delicious grilled romaine salad, hazelnuts, and the cheese plate. We followed up with the olive oil pound cake, which really took me by surprise at how delicious it was (and my dad, who doesn't eat much dessert- I almost had to fight him for it). The service was good, the atmosphere somewhat trendy and upscale, and it was overall a great experience. I can't recommend this place enough!
(5)Ashara D.
Came in just before the kitchen closed but they were very nice and got us some excellent food. I believe I ordered beef short ribs, absolutely amazing, the meat was melt-in-your-mouth soft! My friend had fries, also delicious.
(5)Tripp W.
We were a party of eight during the busy holiday season and service was absolutely amazing! I tried the radish cocktail which sounds peculiar but it actually worked very well. We had almost everything on the menu and all of the dishes were presented very well and the taste of each item was right on point. I had the pork secreto and it was deliciously smoky and the romesco sauce was a perfect accompaniment. My companion and I also shared the grilled romaine salad and it was outstanding! One of our diners ordered the burger and fries and proclaimed it the best burger she had ever had! The room is beautiful with super high ceilings and interesting lighting and art. And the prices are very reasonable especially considering the quality of the food. You won't be disappointed with a night out at The Imperial!
(5)Teresa D.
Really great pork chop, roasted cauliflower and parker house rolls. Boyfriend had excellent short ribs and grilled broccoli. Nicely balanced cocktails.
(4)Theresa N.
Stopped in for drinks and appetizers during Happy Hour. Cool place with an enjoyable ambiance and interesting serving bowls. We had the Duck Meatballs and Steamed Clams. Both were absolutely delicious.
(5)Leland M.
What a dining experience!!! I sat at the bar and quickly could tell the sincerity of the service and the quality of product I was in for. The bartenders genuinely cared about my experience and their craft. It was the definition of well made drinks and the care they put into making them was very obvious. They new every aspect of every dish on the menu and could describe them to perfection. Will definitely look forward to going back the next time I'm in town.
(5)yuki t.
I have been there twice, both times being treated by a company expense, and I felt relieved not to open my wallet for mediocre experiences in a very odd decor. Overall, I thought the food was on a heavier side, which I often have to be in the right mood to enjoy. That's why I remember loving the roasted carrot side dish but not much else after two months. What I vividly remember is though........a drum roll, please.......is the dessert, especially the pie! The crust was crisp but soft and the apple filling was perfectly moist without having that gooey starch. The best pie I've had in so long. Kudos to the pastry chef!
(3)Mike R.
Came for the food, will be back for the drinks (and the food)! I've been to Imperial three times over the past few months and enjoyed the food the first two times (and the beer and wine that was consumed with it). However, on trip #3 I tried a few of their cocktails and that is what I keep thinking about. Started with the "New Money" (bourbon with hickory-smoked vermouth, bitters) which has a great smooth smokey flavor, very nice cocktail! Next was one of the "Draft Cocktails" - which at $7 is a pretty good deal - the Vieux Carré, rye, brandy, vermouth, benedictine and 2 types of bitters...again very good! But save the best for last...the "A Radish Walks into a Bar..." is the cocktail I thought about for the rest of the night and the next day (and not in a bad, why'd I have another drink kind of way). I actually couldn't place the flavor right away, but it hit me...tamarind, that immense, layered tamarind flavor was very present in the "Radish", it doesn't have tamarind in it... You have to try it! Also, food is very good too (Paley's Place has been an all time fav for years) and I got to have a very Portlandia moment when the waitress explained to us the Tails & Trotters pork was only fed hazelnuts and cream and specifically where the secreto cut is (which is what we were asking, since we are from Portland and of course are very familiar with T&T ;-). Started with the grilled lamb tongue which had great texture and nice flavor as well. Definitely, eat at Imperial, but make sure to give yourself plenty of time to try a couple cocktails as well.
(5)D W.
My friends and I came in for happy hour on a Wednesday night. The drinks were great but the bartender was incredibly rude. We each had a drink but my friend was charged for a second glass of wine she didn't order. When she pointed this out he just stared at her for a minute then said "Well, we're not going to charge you for it if that's you're trying to say." Then we asked to split the tab between us and he got all huffy and said (in the most demeaning voice) "If you'd told me at the beginning that you wanted separate tabs than I could have just brought you separate bills." Really, guy? Four ladies in the bar getting one drink each and you didn't anticipate that they might want to pay separately? Sorry to inconvenience you. The drink and food were good AND there were other nice people working. This guy was just.the.worst.
(2)Nobu D.
Imperial (and Portland Penny Diner, also operated by Chef Paley) are amazing. The food, service and atmosphere are impeccable. The team is friendly and attentive. Chef Paley creates artisan fare with fine attention to detail and Garret, the General Manager, is always available with a warm greeting. The kale salad is a must. Michelle, the pastry chef, creates the most amazing desserts with cunning flavor combinations. Shelly, the Operations Director, creates fabulous events and is a delight to work with. The entire team deserves kudos. If you are in downtown Portland Imperial and Portland Penny Diner (both located in Hotel Lucia) are a must visit.
(5)Natalie W.
The first time I heard about Chef Paley (or, rather, his original restaurant), was through friends, who announced that they had just eaten the best meal in town. The second time I heard about the chef was through a random waitress at a steakhouse in NYC. If your reputation travels that far, it's got to count for something. My boyfriend and I decided to check out the Imperial for its Portland Dining Month three-course meal. We added on the wine pairings for an extra $16 per person (great deal, especially considering the wine quality). But first, we started with cocktails: Exit Through the Gift Shop for my boyfriend (which he liked, but wished had been better); A Radish Walks Into A Bar for me (smokey and savory, like a gin-based bloody mary without any dense tomato juice). First course was an arugula salad with fresh strawberries (not too sweet, just perfect), hazelnuts, and a pesto vinaigrette. The salad was light and fresh, but still rich and flavorful. Paired with a dry, French rose. Second course was a smoked pork loin, topped with some veggies and a smokey/sweet mustard sauce. I loved how the veggies and sauce didn't overpower the (juicy, juicy, delicious) pork, merely complimented and encouraged the flavor. This was paired with a young Oregon pinot, which opened up after a few sips and brought the food to another level. The dessert course was a delicious honey cake with strawberries and whipped cream, made better only by the rich, honey-forward dessert wine from one of my favorite Oregon vineyard (although I guess those particular grapes were from Washington) (Seven of Hearts, for the record). Someone at the restaurant really knows their wine. The service was outstanding, and all the servers were attentive and friendly. The food, the wine, the service, the atmosphere.. Everything added up to a wonderful dining experience.
(5)Joshua G.
Stopped by here randomly with my boyfriend one afternoon and was pleasantly surprised by the food and service! Friendly staff and willing to stop for a moment and actually engage with their customers. I like that! They pay attention to the details, like hand carved ice cubes and their unique plating. We ordered oysters on the half shell and it came to us on a bed of salt on a cut log. It was surprising and fun. It has a cool atmosphere with a modern, eclectic interior. There is also outdoor seating which is great for people watching on a weekend. Both dishes we ordered were well done and the drink menu was refreshingly filled with bourbon and whiskey cocktails! Strong drinks made us happy campers! Will definitely visit again. A good stop with a group, on a date, or even on your own.
(4)Molly B.
I have been to Imperial for dinner a number of times and have always left feeling overwhelmingly, and delightfully drunk on food. The chicken is sinfully moist and I can't even get over their chanterelles. I would definitely recommend going when you're ready to spend an evening and a bit of cash spoiling yourself. You'd be cheating yourself not to go all out! The staff is friendly, and professional, and it's always fun to see Paley walking around greeting customers. I will definitely be going back!
(5)Robert M.
I grew up in Philadelphia and spent 20 years in San Francisco. I am very used to dining out. I know a far more than the average person about food and wine, as do my dining companions. I also spent a great deal of time in the hospitality industry where I learned of timing and reading a table. In the past three years in Portland I have had a handful of positive dining experiences. Dining out is obviously new to Oregon. It seems to be all about the "turn and burn" no matter how much money you spend. Oregonians seem to love to eat tons of food really fast. We chose Imperial this year for our Thanksgiving dinner. Our small group of 3 or 4 prefer to dine out on Thanksgiving. This year we were just 3. Our reservation was for 7:15. We are not a pretentious bunch, just knowledgable. We started with a dozen oysters on the 1/2 shell. The oysters were yummy but the horseradish sauce masked the oysters sweetness. Our cordial server seemed anxious to get our order into the kitchen. We ordered our next 2 courses but asked that they not be fired quickly because we wanted to drink wine,and relax as we were not in any hurry. The food came out in rapid succession. Mediocre food at that. The oyster stuffing and brussel sprouts I ordered as a side were delicious. The steaks and pork were perfectly fine. $41 dollars a ribeye steak fine? NO. $41 for a 1/2" thick ribeye? The "bone in" pork chop came sliced and was quite fatty, bone on the side. There was next to no interaction with the wait staff other that dropping off plates and picking them up. When asked about preparation and suggestions between 2 different entrees we were asked in return "What are you in the mood for?" was the first response followed by "I don't really eat meat, fish sometimes." A common theme in Portland I've noticed is wait staff with no interest outside their own dietary choices. That is not the way to sell your menu. That is not a way to do business. Our bill came to $250 for our 1 hour 15 minute stay. I must say that when we arrived the hostess was very professional. We were a few minutes early so we got a drink at the bar. The bartender was fantastic! His white wine suggestion was spot on! Will I return? Most likely, not. I know of a few places close by with better food, better service and better prices. I really don't like being disappointed. Portland has so much potential.
(3)Jim W.
Service great, food and drink great, location, great ... a hit! Four of us ate here tonight. The Parker House rolls... fantastic. The Broccoli/Cheese soup - was very good - I'd have appreciated a little more flavor development, but it was very good. One had the grilled romaine salad and said it was very good. My entree was the special - salmon - was VERY good! Two folks had burgers - they raved. One order of a basket of fries - fantastic (though they didn't come out with the meal - no charge) - and I ordered the tomatoes/cottage cheese side. Blah. Tomatoes were not as ripe as I would have liked for a dish they charge $8 for. Miss. Otherwise - very good food - on the pricey side and smaller portions... but very good.
(4)Karen V.
The concierge at the Hilton Portland recommended Imperial and called ahead for a table for us. The craft cocktails and innovative menu did not disappoint. Everything was fantastic. The favorite of our samplings was the Kale salad, we had to force ourselves to eat elsewhere the next, and final day in town. Will visit again when in town.
(5)Beka M.
I'm giving this a lower rating than I expected. There were four in our party celebrating a birthday so we even tried desserts. Some dishes were truly inspired such as the roasted carrots. The green beans with caramelized onions were over salted but otherwise lovely. My steak was over cooked and over salted. The trout was plain but good. But this place is known for great food so things that would have been acceptable elsewhere were a bit of a disappointment here. The cheesecake and sorbets were truly wonderful; but a chocolate pie was not as good as the one you'd get at the Village Inn. The service was fantastic! I would go here again but try completely different things and hope for the best. (Except for more yummy carrots.) The thought that I would not get anything we had again is what makes me sad.
(3)Leah T.
How did I manage to miss reviewing this place!? I am ashamed of myself. It has been a while since I was here but the memory of the fried rabbit and duck meatballs will likely continue to stick with me for a while. I know I usually go on and on with reviews but this place well...just try it. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Lori L.
Dropping our daughter off for college, our first resturant this trip was a success. Duck meatballs so flavorful, pork & rabbit was very good & first time ever had... Side of ember potatoes with dill salty but enjoyable! Chocolate Carmel brownie sundae was the perfect ending! Thx to the recommendation of our hotel!
(4)David H.
If you are a fan of Paley's Place (and I am), then Imperial is probably for you. Vitaly Paley is an amazing chef, so when I heard that he was going to open a Pacific North-West style restaurant, I was both excited and apprehensive. Branching out from French cuisine and into PNW-style is not the most intuitive of leaps. However, Paley never fails to impress. For starters, the staff is exceptional as is the bar. The decor is very PNW, but without the hipster attitude - translation: it's a classy place. The restaurant is very open, so the noise level can sometimes detract, but it isn't often, and it usually depends on if there is a large party in the room. The food is downright excellent. For a starter, I highly recommend the Stan's Meat Plate if you are in to charcuterie. My favorite main courses are the Fried Rabbit, the Spit-Roasted and Spoon Lamb, and my personal favorite, the Bone-In Pork Chop. Finally, make a reservation. Food and service this good are not kept secret in this town, and they get their fair share of Portland's restaurant-lover's population.
(5)Deborah N.
Delicious food, attentive, friendly service, fun drinks. Imperial will be a new regular spot for me in my frequent business travels to Portland. I had dinner and it was amazing. The mussels & beet app was so tasty and the steelhead was beautifully prepared and perfectly accompanied by herbed spaetzle. Dessert was pretty incredible, too. Check out the picture I posted! The chefs clearly put a lot of care and thought into their menu without overdoing it. Go, go, go!
(5)Heather S.
WOW! Pork shoulder, fire roasted mushrooms and cocktails to die for. Service staff was friendly and attentive. Awesome job Chef Doug and team! We are rooting for you on Top Chef!
(5)Lisa K.
Is it ever a good sign when every single person in your party of 5 declines a takeout box for leftovers during lunch? It's too bad this is where I took my staff for their holiday lunch. I had high hopes, but realize next time I plan something like this, I need to actually try the food, before jumping all in. The main theme of the lunch as salt. Those that had fries mentioned how salty they were and were all too willing to share them with the rest of the table. Suspicious. Another person had the fish and chips, and also mentioned how salty her dish was. On another note, one co-worker commented that that another co-worker must like her hamburger still moo-ing. Said co-worker replied back she'd ordered it medium. Hmm. The ambiance and decor are great. Maybe in a few months the menu will be perfected. Until then, I'll be trying other restaurants until I see the ratings for Imperial improving.
(2)Matt M.
Happy Hour Favorites - burger and grilled salad were great but clams on a tree stump needs to be reworked.
(2)Kyan H.
Imperial certainly has some hype behind it. While I enjoyed my lunch experience here, it didn't quite live up to the expectation I had for it. My food was delicious, but lacking the unique air the restaurant has behind it. My service was so-so. I will be back to give them a second try; perhaps their dinner menu will be more surprising. drink: ginger mule (non-alcoholic cocktail; delicious, but overpriced for the volume) starter: cauliflower soup (wonderful) entree: turkey sandwich (incredibly soft bread, but not very inventive)
(3)Linda M.
I took my 16-year-old granddaughter here for a birthday brunch and was extremely impressed. Her burger was delicious and she raved about the "secret sauce." The fries were absolutely wonderful by themselves, so we never touched the dipping sauce. My special-of-the-day omelette was superb. They make their own hot sauce and I must say, it was delicious. It comes with an eye dropper, but I lathered it on. It was not at all too spicy. The potatoes (not the fries) that came with the meal were okay, but nothing to rave about. I would definitely come here again. My granddaughter said it was a little too dark inside for her taste, but I liked it.
(4)Rebecca R.
Only brunch on the weekend. Once again foiled out of lunch. I had the burger and was a bit leery of the rye brioche bun. (Portland seems obsessed with brioce.) I was pleasantly surpised by the flavors contained within the bun. The best way to describe it would be to say it was a fancy version of a patty melt. The first few bites were a bit salty but my mouth quickly adjusted and I enjoyed the rest of the meal. Fries ( ordered seperately) were just crisp enough and tasty. Great dipping sauce to go with them. As a side note, they have great iced tea.
(4)N S.
Parker rolls are fantastic. Great moscow mule. Much hyped duck meatballs were overpowered with fennel seed, ruining the otherwise delicious combo of prunes, orange, and duck.
(3)Art J.
We had an awesome lunch here and a great breakfast the next day. The prices were right up there for both lunch and breakfast, but the food was really good and the service was good too. My wife had a fish sandwich for lunch that was excellent. There were a lot of new combinations and flavors, but they all seemed to work together. I heard the owner was a James Beard award winner. He sure knows what he's doing.
(5)Bill C.
Visited Imperial on a recent trip to Portland - overall, great experience. The food was creative, well prepared and generally delicious, the restaurant has an extensive (and unique) cocktail and drink list, top notch service and helpful staff, and welcoming but rustic atmosphere. Specifically, the vegetable galette appetizer was hearty and flavorful and recommend the Steelhead main course. Only complaints were the desserts were a bit underwhelming (panna cotta was ok but Chocolate Tart was too dense and not sweet enough) and the Amaro flight was bizarre and some of the options were plain disgusting (we tried 8 kinds); unless you are a fan of Amaro, would not recommend.
(4)Zuzana K.
So much hype about this place, I just had to try it out. Atmosphere: Loud, dark, lively. Food: Roasted cauliflower soup had too much cream, the delicate cauliflower taste was lost. Grilled romaine lettuce was well done, but it needed finishing salt. The Quail was excellent, tender and flavorful. The basket of fries or the sausage of the day did not make big impression. The dessert was Sticky Toffee Gingerbread and it was wonderful finale of our meal. Drinks: I don't remember the name of my cocktail but it was perfect. The selection is high quality, one of the best in the city. Service: Not bad just unfocused and unprofessional. All in all, this is a nice place to have drinks but I would have dinner elsewhere. Paley's other place is much much better suited for nice dinner.
(3)Gloria A.
Sweet breads!
(4)Michael C.
Came here on a weekend trip with my wife. We walked here from the Nines Hotel, which was a pretty short walk. We split some oysters to start and I got myself a steak. So nothing particularly revolutionary, but definitely tasty and prepared well. I also loved the atmosphere of the dining room. It was fun and relaxed with some pretty cool stumptown themed artwork to boot. I definitely recommended this place for a nice casual night out with friends or a date.
(4)Lester S.
Wow really, I stopped by after the parade, the menu was small but it looked good, the family and I got a nice table close to the raging fire. The kitchen looked well staffed , the dining room however was not, the manager plus two servers on parade day? So service was slow. We did get a server to ask us about drinks and returned 20 minutes late with our drinks and was then ready to take our order, we were very ready especially the three year old who was not calmed by a tasty Bloody Mary (it was suppose to be smoked? Was not smoked?) Thirty plus minutes later our food arrived, Oddly acidic baked tomato eggs with greasy fry bread Burnt semolina cakes poached eggs bacon and barrel aged hot sauce Dry I mean dry oatmeal with tiny dishes of dried nuts and fruit And 12$ 2 egg breakfast with lovely fish flavored toast I just don't think anyone cares about food at this paley restaurant Sad!
(1)Scott S.
Rolls....how could you even want to not order hot rolls for a buck a piece? Rolls aside. I really enjoyed the meat board the other night that had the best ham I have ever had in my life, like worlds above any other ham I have ever eaten. Also the chicken fried rabbit was quite tasty and perfectly cooked and seasoned. Oh the bartender made us some sparkling lemonade(I am a lemonade fanatic) which was mindbogglingly good. Next time I want to try more grilled meats. The burger I had was good but in my opinion not to the level of the best burgers in town. I will be back
(4)Ryan H.
Atmosphere, service, and attention to detail were amazing. Went on NYE so expected it to be a little busy but definitely did not feel rushed. The suggested wine was less than desirable but we wanted to try something new. Had the short ribs for dinner and were by far some of the best I've ever had. Portions a bit on the smaller side.
(4)Sam A.
I had the 'Iron Chef Radish' savory cocktail and the 'Crab and Shrimp Imperial' on wood-fired oven-baked flat bread. All were exceptional. I love the 'Old Oregon' theme of the dining room. Service was superb. I will return often. So should you.
(5)Kodiak O.
Went there with a group of 14 the other night- ordered the full menu 3 times, the executive chef came out and asked how it all was at the end of the night. He said we ordered over 60 items. It was a roman feast. Delicious and fun! Really interesting combinations of food.
(5)Autumn P.
I had the best old fashioned of my life here the other night. The ice cube was as tall as the glass and after it was made the bartender used a long handled tiny ladle to scoop the drink over the ice cube so that all the flavors melded together. I haven't stopped thinking about how perfect this drink was. Hats off to you, Imperial bartender.
(5)Whitney N.
My partner and I took a spur of the moment trip to Portland for Christmas Eve/Day. We were staying at a hotel down the street and were happy Imperial was open for Christmas Eve dinner. They were busy so we sat in the bar. Looking over the menu we realized they didn't have much to offer vegetarians. We each ended up ordering the pasta and splitting a kale salad. It was delicious! The service was excellent. A little slow, but that was expected on a busy night. The bartender and manager were both friendly and helped us with the menu. Two beers, a salad, and two pastas were $65. Honestly, I was expecting to pay more. Great value, great service. We'll be back on our next trip to PDX!
(4)Joe S.
What a great experience we had at this restaurant. From the minute we walked until the end of our meal. We had the meat platter, clams, duck confit and roast chicken. They were all very delicious. And their complimentary bread was one of the best I've had. What made the experience most enjoyable was our server, Keena! She was so friendly and so knowledgeable of the menu. She made us feel very comfortable and right at home. Her excellent and friendly service made the meal taste even better. It's hard to find great service but she nailed a 5 star in our book. We'll be back, for sure.
(5)Chris W.
It had some good points but overall wasn't very exciting and I have no reason to return. Which is kind of a letdown given the pedigree of the chef. To start, I don't know why everyone raves about the meatballs. They're not bad but not memorable, and the duck aspect of them is unnoticeable. We also had the ceviche which was again just passable. Our entree/side combo was better. We both had the pork secreto, and shared a side of the chard gratin. It's an uncommon cut of pork that gets a delicious crust from the grill, but at times all you can taste is the smoke from the crust. The gratin was actually our favorite dish of the evening, being a less traditional take with a thin cream/cheese broth. Drinks were good - well made and flavorful showing good craft. And the special Pinot Noir (a Boedecker 2009) on tap that night was a steal at $5. The decor is also a bit ho hum and a let down. We both felt like it's trying to be Ox, but without as interesting a design sense. All in all we were unimpressed, and I would tell friends it's skippable.
(3)Tef J.
My girlfriend and I went to dinner at the Imperial a few nights ago, and the food blew us away. Although the service was on the slower side at times, the restaurant was PACKED and they were working as fast as they could, and with the amount of food being ordered and the number of customers they had, I really wouldn't consider it slow service at all. Now, onto the pros: the decor was beautiful and atmosphere was really pleasant. The waitstaff was incredibly amicable and very eager to please. We ordered what seemed like almost everything on the menu: The Appetizers: -Parker House Rolls with whipped butter and Jacobsen salt -Oregon Dungeness Crab and Shrimp Imperial with flat bread -Duck Meatballs with moyer prunes, aromatic spices and orange gremolata -Stan's Meat Plate with house pickles and grilled flatbread The Entrees: -Spit-Roasted Lamb Roll and Spoon Lamb with soft polenta and wild plum glaze -Quail with oyster stuffing, grilled stone fruit and mustard -Stuffed Sea Bass with fennel, preserved lemon, cherry tomato and olives The Sides: -Fries with secret sauce -Ember-Roasted Carrots with wild plumb glaze -Grilled Corn with roasted poblano aioli and parmesan The Desserts: -The icebox cake -Flan -Ginger sticky bread Of these, my favorites were the crab, the meatballs, the house made pickles and mustard with the meat plate, the lamb, the fries, and the sticky bread. That's not to say that they weren't all absolutely fantastic - I just enjoyed those the most. Iron Chef winning Vitaly Paley has definitely raised the bar for other restaurants in PDX with this unique and charming restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the the Hotel Lucia.
(5)Aaron D.
The side dishes and the kale salad made for a vegetarian feast! The stuffed poblano peppers lacked spice but the creamy walnut sauce was nutritious and tasty. The menu changes here often and when people ask me "where in Portland should I absolutely not miss eating," this is the place I recommend. For now.
(5)Eryka S.
My husband, best friend, and I went to dinner at Imperial about a week ago. And whoa! I was blown away by my experience. I didn't experience slow service like others have mentioned--in fact, our server seemed to be right on it! I have food allergies too, and like a good restaurant does, the waitress checked with the kitchen on each item just to make sure I wouldn't accidentally ingest something I can't have. My table ordered lots of small sides: the meatballs (LOVED!), the heirloom tomato salad, the carrots (omG amazing), the ceviche was increeeeddible. and the crab and shrimp with flat bread. All of it was wonderful, and the ceviche and meatballs blew my mind. For entrees, I had the fried rabbit with honey and house made hot sauce. It was perfectly cooked and the crispies were to die for. My hubby had the burger, and he said it held up to his favorite burger joint--another win. It was huge and after all the appetizers he was stuffed. And my friend had the salmon with the roasted shallot green sauce that brought out perfection in the wild salmon. I enjoyed the view of the kitchen! The roaring fire that they cook on is really fun to admire and I love the chandeliers beautifully crafted from old bike chains. All in all, I loved this restaurant and was blown away by everything I experienced.
(5)Boyd D.
Hard to believe this is a Vitaly Paley restaurant. We visited a year ago several times for brunch and dinner, and it was an instant favorite. Visiting again after a long hiatus, it was clear the restaurant's standards have slipped. The highlights of our brunch were standard breakfast foods - eggs over easy and bacon. We tried to order the brown butter beignets, but they were out. Inexplicably, they also ran out of pancakes for my daughter - how do you run out of pancakes? The biggest disappointment was the fried chicken. Fatty piece of meat, flavorless breaking, paired with a dense and totally unpleasing semolina cornbread. The pastrami hash was fine, although lighter on pastrami than I remember. Service was average. Not surprising there was a 90 minute wait at Tasty and Alder while we could walk right in at the Imperial. Please Vitaly, fix this restaurant or make sure they stop using your name and impeccable reputation.
(2)Trevor A.
We recently discovered Imperial and have been back twice already. First, our waitress was out-of-this-world outstanding. She was very attentive, knew the menu inside and out, and so friendly. The food was also amazing. GET THE ROLLS! Probably the best rolls I have ever had. Our dishes were outstanding as well: Duck and Chicken. My only complaint was the food was very salty. This made it delicious at first, but towards the end the salt became overpowering. But not for the salt, this place would be a 5 star.
(4)Philip S.
Seated a party of 6 with no notice. Really great cocktails. Interesting menu of refined dishes and and basic fare. Grilled corn very good.
(4)Jerry U.
This was a unexpected but genuinely great dinner experience. After receiving a last minute recommendation from our porter at the hotel, I approached the restaurant with much apprehension. Upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately convinced I had made the right decision. Service was prompt and engaging throughout and the smells from the grill had me wanting to order quickly. They have a nicely developed craft cocktail selection - I really enjoyed the New Money and was amazed at the perfectly huge block of ice it was served with - a good match to the well selected bourbon (I understand they purchased an entire barrel). My dinner selection may have been one of THE BEST pork dishes I have ever had - The smoked grilled pork secreto with an incredible romesco was simply delicious - so much flavor going on there! And the roasted cauliflower and fire roasted mushrooms were incredibly tasty and well prepared accompaniments. I found the price/value to be fair for the food and experience. My only complaint - charging $1 for a dinner roll? Really? Yes, they were good, but that just seemed insulting.
(5)Dave T.
We love the adjacent hotel Lucia and go out of our way to stay there when visiting Portland. We have dined another time at the Imperial. Good food and drinks. But tonight's unfortunate encounter with Tony the loud mouth bartender has us rethinking coming back. All was well when he (eventually) took our drink/food order (after complaining loudly that he had only made $20 in tips all night). But when I asked for another round he said, "friend, you came in 5 minutes before closing- there is no 2nd round." I was astounded because (a) we sat down at 11:00 (the bar closes at midnight) and (b) after listening to him brag about the "$200 in free drinks he had given" to the woman at the bar (who was the source of his delays in serving us) it seems as if he could have poured a drink for guests of the hotel who were willing to pay for it. Sad really, some hard up bar tender ruined a long standing relationship with a business by insulting its client. Word to the wise Imperial (and by association Lucia) anyone can make a drink- knowing how to treat customers is a skill you should insure your staff has, as you don't know (or care?) who they are turning away... perhaps permanently.
(2)Jo M.
The food here is expensive, but quite good. Next time I'll just have a dish of steamed clams with a Parker house roll - the sauce from the clams is amazing and the rolls are very delicious and large. I would have left full on just this, but of course we ordered more - I always order too much.
(4)Teri L.
First time we have eaten here. The most non-hotel hotel restaurant we've ever eaten at...servers in plaid shirts were friendly, personable and it isn't a pretentious kind of place. We saw families with small children who seemed to be as welcome as the grown-ups. Best wine, delicious duck meat balls (coming from someone who didn't think they liked duck), best chicken and biggest most delicious pork chop. Loved watching them work over the grill too. Don't forget to try the kale salad, it is wonderful.
(5)Robert B.
When a chef (Vitaly Paley, in this case) puts his name all over a restaurant (from the front door right down to the napkin rings, he'd better be bringing his 'A' game. Fortunately, Imperial lives up to the challenge. We had Sunday brunch there, and were impressed with little details like perfectly shucked oysters, creative artisan cocktails and dishes like a Croquette Madam that were absolutely delightful. Our experience persuaded us to return for dinner, and while it was pricey, we felt we received good value for money. Oregon restauranteurs seem fiercely proud of their local wines, meats, and produce, and if our dinner was any indication, they have every right to be. My locally-sourced ribeye steak was wonderful, and my wife's fried rabbit was a delight as well, though we felt topping it with a deep-fried strip of bacon was a case of trailer-park overkill, and more cutesy and precious than creative and clever (sorry kids, but bacon has jumped the shark; putting bacon in unexpected places like donuts, martinis, etc., is about as cutting-edge as a mullet hairdo). Another little beef of mine is charging $1 apiece for the wonderful Parker House rolls. Listen, I 'get' the whole ala carte concept: it gives the diner a bit more flexibility to accessorize their entree just the way they wish, and it adds to the house's bottom line, but darn it, when I'm dropping $55 for a steak, I don't think I'm being cheap if I expect you to comp me some bread, Fred! Leaving that argument aside, on to some other good things: the dining space is very nice; it looks like a set from "Mad Men", and complements the menu well. It is also clear the front of the house staff is well trained, and they do a great job making each patron feel special and that their business is appreciated. Overall, Imperial is a worthwhile stop when you're seeking a unique, high-end dining experience. Check 'em out.
(4)Sarah P.
The roasted half chicken is delicious, as are the beets and grilled romaine salads. Service was ok but with a bit of overselling...we ordered way more sides than we ended up eating based on our server's suggestion.
(4)Robert H.
Four of us had brunch at the Imperial Sunday; oh my goodness! First, the important stuff: Three of us had a Bloody Mary. I have had plenty of Bloody Marys (is that the plural of Mary?) in my life, but I had the best one I've ever had Sunday. It. was. perfect. Absolutely the right blend of vodka, spice, and tomato. It was slow in coming but well worth the wait On to the food! I had eggs and sausage, One could argue that it is tough to screw that up, but the sausage was delicious and the (scrambled) eggs were the perfect consistency. The potatoes are sliced ultra thin and then layered....delicious! the others at the table had the Coddled Eggs; Ricotta and Figs; and the Granola. All were deemed delicious and served in attractive dishes by a server who was attentive and quite helpful (we asked too many questions about the food and the the little pans and bowls in which it was served but she never flinched). We had fun and thoroughly enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. I would go for brunch ASAP because it probably won't be long before the place gets swamped on Sunday mornings. UPDATE: Went back for lunch 10/2 with a business colleague. We both had a great meal. I had the smoked pork sliders, with coleslaw and potato salad (special of the day) and my colleague had the tomato soup and a Dungeness Crab & Shrimp Imperial starter . The soup is made with smoked tomatoes and is excellent. His summation of the experience was: "Most places we go for lunch and we get food; here we get an interesting meal." I couldn't agree more..........
(5)Tedi D.
We were recommended here by our hotel and were really excited with all the hype. Being from SoCal if felt very cool and we enjoyed the atmosphere. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable, I didn't feel rushed even though the restaurant was packed. Now the food was just ok. The fried lamb tongue was probably the best we ordered and the ice box cake. As far as the entree it was seriously lacking, the friend rabbit leg probably could be out done by Popeyes. Definitely not worth the tab!
(2)amy a.
We should have known better since this place only got 3.5 stars on Yelp, but since it is Thanksgiving, and the few restaurants that are open are full, we made reservation to have our dinner here. I'd only rate the hostess a 1 star (she really ruined our experience here, but I'm not going into details), but 3 stars for the food and our waitress. If anyone ask me, I think this is a restaurant I can definitely live without.
(2)Joe T.
What a great find! Such a fantastic place with very great food, atmosphere,and people. If you can get a kitchen counter spot I highly recommended it. Here is a breakdown of what I had (rated 1-5 stars) Carrot Ginger Soup (2 stars): It was a good and very smooth, but not the best carrot ginger soup I have had. I would like to see more ginger or something that would really kick it up a bit Kale and Raw Vegetable Salad (3 stars): This green salad which was really good, it had a sweet sunflower seed crunchy topping that really complimented it well. It was totally different spin on the salad and worth a try. Ember-Roasted Carrots (4 stars): Fresh small and sweet carrots roasted with over the fire covered with a sweet wild plum glaze. It was really good but a little bit too sweet that is why it isn't a 5. I will get this again but want to try their Rainbow Chard next time Barrel Planked T and T Pork Secreto (5 stars) This is FANTASTIC dish! I can't find anything wrong with it other than there wasn't enough for my to consume. I may have to buy two next time. Go with this dish, you will not be disappointed. The cut is cook over an old pinot wine oak plank and the oak flavor is so good. It is soft and tender piece of meat of the pig, best described if you combined a pork tenderloin and beef tenderloin together. Chocolate Icebox Cake (3 stars) Really good end of the night, totally worth a try. Reminded me of have smores a bit with the roasted meringue on top of the ice cream cake
(5)Ameena A.
I had a very nice dinner at Imperial. Our entrees included the Albacore Tuna a la Plancha, the Spit-Roasted Lamb and Spoon Lamb, and the Tails and Trotters Pork. Everything was delicious. Our appetizer, a special including meringue and duck breast was unusual and delicious. The desserts, key lime pie and double chocolate ice box cake, were also very tasty. Overall, a tasty and interesting dinning experience.
(4)Simone G.
I had coddled eggs with a spicy tomato sauce paired with fried bread. It was beyond anything I've ever had, I'm an adventurous eater. The sauce in itself was delicious with a hint of goat cheese. Creamy and smooth with a bit of a kick. I would rate them a 5 star yet the service at the beginning was non existent. We were seated and sat unattended for over 20 minutes. Usually someone will bring a water or have a greeter inform you of any delays. Any time you are in an upscale restaurant they should follow the rule; of having drinks on the table so many seconds after a party has been seated. The fact that we were seated and then left for an extended period of time, is not acceptable. We had a flight to catch out of the country (Greece) and were in a rush. The waitress didn't apologize for the delay and never offered a reason as to why. Which made me a bit more dissatisfied with the experience as a whole. I am writing the service review as lengthy because of how it was handled. Additionally the restaurant when we arrived was not busy whatsoever. We will return and see how the second time around fairs. I would highly recommend others giving this place a try, hoping our experience was a rarity. The food is well worth the drive if you live in the area.
(4)Rich F.
Just took my 5th new person to my favorite Portland restaurant, Imperial. Everyone has come away amazed. I love to sit at the Chef's counter and watch the artistry of fine cooking over an open woodburning oven, one of 2 in the US from Florence, Italy. Started with Stan's Meat Plate as an appetizer which included a spectacular Fois Gras, a steamed shredded rabbit and delicious pork. For the entree, I had the Secreto, which is a rare cut of pork that is a cross between tenderloin and loin with incredible flavor from very well treated oversized hogs. These were from Tails and Trotters and fed Hazelnuts. The pork rested on a Romesco sauce with grilled leeks. I strongly recommend both the restaurant and the Chef's counter to really enjoy the skills of this special restaurant staff.
(5)Joel S.
Brunch was great! Corn cake with house-smoked bacon and maple syrup with house-made hot sauce mixed in, plus poached eggs. Fast service. We'll be back!
(4)Holly O.
We were staying at the adjacent Hotel Lucia and had previously enjoyed dining in Ty-phoon , the Imperial's predecessor. It was Labor Day so we looked at the reviews for Imperial to see if we should book. We did not like the number of negative reviews and tried to book elsewhere only to find most of our other favorites were closed or booked so we did book the Imperial . We were totally impressed. The kale salad , duck meatballs , quail and the amazing fried rabbit were to die for ! As for the service , which had been so badly panned in some reviews , we found our waitress Caitlin , pleasant , efficient and helpful . We came back for breakfast the following day and were also well served by Amanda. Definitely a place we shall recommend to friends. Holly& Brendan.
(5)Paul T.
Went there for brunch and we were disappointed. The food was ok, but they were VERY slow and not even that busy. Won't be going back.
(2)G P.
This coddled eggs nestled in a spicy tomato sauce with fry bread were SPECTACULAR! What a great find!
(5)Eric F.
First time in Portland. Best restaurant we've been to here. Original dishes, fresh taste, just right. Excellent fried rabbit.
(5)Cole W.
Me and my girlfriend made a reservation for 7pm to celebrate our 3 year anniversary. We chose Imperial because of others that rave about this restaurant & the menu has lots to offer at a decent price. Once we arrived we were seated quickly & didn't feel "rushed" at all.. We like it that way. Our server was very kind & knowledgable of the menu & understood we weren't in a hurry. We started out with 6 oysters which were delicious & fresh, our next dish was the fried Rabbit, fried bacon w/ corn cake, pickled watermelon, & house harvest honey, mhmm. We liked the dish very much but the fried bacon wasn't nessasary & no flavor. Next was the Artichoke, for what little meat we got it tasted so bright & had such clean flavor. Our next dish was fire roasted mushrooms w/ bone marrow. This was one of our favorites, we love mushrooms and the roasted, smokey flavor cooked perfectly made us both smile. Our 2 big dishes were the Pork chop with honey & herb glaze. It was our favorite dish of the night. So damn good, we would come back for that pork. The other dish was the steak w/ salsa verde, micro greens, etc. we weren't too impressed with this dish could of had more flavor or some type of finishing salt. We skipped dessert , but overall from start to finish from first dish to last we had a great experience and would reccomend Inperiel.
(4)J T.
Went to dinner here with an old friend last night. Love the decor and ambiance, although it was very loud. Our waitress was great, although I could barely hear her explain the specials over all the noise. The service was unfortunately quite slow. To start, we ordered a half dozen oysters on the half shell - kumamotos and Chelsea gems. They were incredibly fresh and flavorful. We promptly ordererd more of the Chelsea gems, but they had just run out. We each had a house roll, which were warm, buttery and delicious. We ordered the crab and shrimp imperial appetizer which was nothing special. For dinner my friend had the Spit-Roasted Lamb Roll and Spoon Lamb, which I had a bite of and loved. I ordered the Spiced Oregon Albacore Tuna entree. The crab creamed corn and fried onions really made the dish. For dessert we shared a piece of warm apple cider pie with pecans and vanilla bean ice cream. Overall a great experience, with some minor bummers. Looking forward to going back for brunch.
(4)Chuck N.
Expensive and...Meh! Friendly, but detached service, Sinatra music, and really blah food for quite a bit of cost. Had the mushroom, goat cheese, leek omelette which had little flavor, a scalloped potato triangle with no taste whatsoever, and no toast = $13. We had to ask individually for salt and ketchup. When seeking cream for our coffee, it came in the most tiny little thing, forcing us to constantly ask for more. Go instead to The Dinerette, Sweedeedee, Pazzos or The Bijou and step way up.
(2)Witney W.
Favorties: Ceviche Chef's Breakfast cocktail Also good: Duck meatballs Salmon Sit at the chef's counter! It's the best seat in the house.
(4)