4. Restaurants

Rimsky-Korsakoffee House

707 SE 12th Ave, Portland, OR, 97214
  • (503) 232-2640
  • Store is closed

Rimsky-Korsakoffee House Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Jules H.

    maybe you want to like this place more than you should? showed up on a rainy saturday night to listen to some live music and enjoy dessert. after driving around the block a couple of times, we finally stumbled in a victorian house. there was no one at the front room to great or seat since it's a seat yourself situation. the room was dark and oddly decorated with random objects hanging from the ceiling. there were definitely couples on dates, all sitting around small wooden tables that looked to be from the 60s. after about 10 mins, some one came with the menus. you should know it is cash only, and there is a $4 minimum/person. we ordered: hot chocolate (nothing special), coffee, the raspberry fool, and one of the daily specials, the elvis cake (peanut butter + banana). the server was busy because there were only 2 of them! not exactly warm, but functional. drinks came first, at least they were hot. the desserts - raspberry fool was good, not much chocolate. the banana peanut butter cake was dry, dry, dry. music: great to hear some live music, and enjoyed the company, but we'll go else where next time.

    (2)

  • Skittle J.

    I'm not too sure how I feel about this place. I love the location, the property, the decor, the idea. But we walked in after having gone next door to get cash from the ATM since it's cash only, and were greeted with a "we're locking the doors in 15 minutes." I'm not sure why since they were suppose to be open for another hour. But okay, that should be enough time to have a drink and quick chat with a friend. There was a guy playing acoustic guitar which was nice for the ambiance. I just wanted a hot chocolate of course, but .50 cents additional for cinnamon? I was curious if this was some super amazing cinnamon, so I asked the server. She did a super poor job selling me on the cinnamon, and said, that in fact the prices on all menu items change continuously for no apparent reason. Okay, I guess I'll pass on the .50 cent cinnamon. I was ready to be sold, but oh well. The hot chocolate tasted like cocoa powder and milk, nothing special... pretty generic flavor. Not very hot... I guess so I could drink it within the 15 minutes we had left. The sign said to tip the musician at least $1, but we only got to hear 1 song since we were being kicked out. But he was staring at me when we were leaving so I felt obligated... I had given the server my last $1 for tip... I felt lame when all I had to drop in his jar was .50 cents. Guess it's a good thing I wasn't sold on that cinnamon, or it would have been nothing. I probably should have swapped those tip amounts. Oh well.

    (3)

  • Lauren S.

    I took my sister here for her birthday. Family friendly environment. My niece came and was 9 months at the time. In addition to the fun and playful oddities, our server gave my sister a book for her birthday with quotes for each day of the year, AND wrote on her birthday page. This really is one of my favorite secret spots in town.

    (5)

  • Marissa P.

    Rimsky's is just one of the local favorites that keeps Portland unique! I don't want to give away any of the surprises so I'll be brief. It's just a wonderful little dessert & coffee house! They make all of their own baked goods on property! It's an eclectic atmosphere that always has a surprise or two in store for you (especially if you are paying attention)! On a slower week night you may be welcome to sip coffee and hang out with friends all night. However, on a busy weekend please be aware that there is a crowd waiting outside (probably in the rain) for your table. Love the fact that they are always open late. But do be aware that they only take cash and the parking lot is small, you might have to circle around the block several times to find street parking. Try the Rasputin's Vice - Raspberries, Bailey Coffee Ice Cream, and Chocolate! It's divine! They also make a mean mocha valencia!

    (5)

  • Molly H.

    LOVE IT!!!! Have been going here for 15 years. Super casual, fun coffee/dessert place. It's seat-yourself, cash only. Service is friendly, but not extremely attentive, so don't go here if you're in a rush. Very affordable. Desserts are AWESOME - I love the brownie sundae. Best/worst part is the super-creepy mannequin in the bathroom.

    (4)

  • Lisa V.

    I love the weirdness of Portland. I love locally owned owned places. I went to this place with my hubby and some friends on a recommendation last night. Let me tell how things went down.... Saturday night - 9 pm decent weather crowed place - you seat your self. took over 20 minutes to get the server over to us another 15 minutes to get our drinks.... we were at one of the "funky haunted tables", it was motorized, and levitated ever so slightly, that was fun. there was only 1 vegan thing on the menu for dessert.. and they were out. disappointed. sigh. took over an hour to get the check so we could leave, oh yea, and they only took cash. before I forget ... the bathroom. Yes. One bathroom - unisex. it has feet hanging from the ceiling, it's like you are underwater...there is a rowboat with a dead guy dummy in it... funny as hell. will we back? of course we will.

    (3)

  • D R.

    unusual. fancy atmosphere with a kick of goofy. the outright weirdness about this place is actually pretty subtle, i mean, if you don't visit the restroom. the waitstaff is great: smart and efficient, with a sense of humor. some of the furniture is quite remarkable. just extraordinary! and of course, the food* is delicious; although, sometimes choosing that one dessert from the menu can be a pretty depleting task. * dessert only

    (4)

  • Curtis F.

    Went to this place for the first time tonight, and wow! I absolutely loved it. We sat at a table that vibrated at random intervals (it took me a few times to figure out what was happening,) I had an orange cappucino that was excellent and amazingly, not burningly hot, and a very talented man played some fantastic classical guitar. And the bathroom is amazing. A lot of reviews says it gets too loud in there, but I found it pleasant. It was just noisy enough to keep our conversation somewhat private, but quiet enough that we didn't have to raise our voices. We shut the place down, and the waitress was extremely friendly the entire time we were there and didn't try to rush us out even though we only had one beverage each and stayed for 3 and a half hours. Also, it was only about 6 dollars for our two drinks. Less expensive than Starbucks and wayyyy more awesome. Overall, an absolutely fantastic experience. Go with good company and you'll certainly enjoy yourself :)

    (5)

  • H K.

    @ Jennifer J... As a native Portlander born in the 80s... agreed!! For those that gave less than 5 stars and complained about the service... You obviously missed the point. FYI when the hipsters go back home, this place will still be here.

    (5)

  • Angela K.

    The raspberry fool was delicious, and the tea was alright, but most of our dishes came out dirty. We got them replaced, but I'm always a little leery after seeing crusty food on dishes. There was a trick table that the people next to us sat at, and it moved up and down very slowly. I guess this place just wasn't as strange as I was hoping from the reviews it's gotten.

    (2)

  • Hailey F.

    This is one of my favorite dessert places in Portland. The waiters are always entertaining, the desserts are always delicious, especially the Raspberry Fool, it's my favorite! I love taking people here for the first time!

    (5)

  • Jeff H.

    Great cozy atmosphere in older house. Tea and dessert were both very good. Service was good and very friendly. Only open in evening and late. Don't accept plastic. Contrary to main yelp page description, they do have limited outdoor seating that appears to be available only on request.

    (4)

  • Jim C.

    my wife and i checked this out from all the positive reviews and weren't impressed.. thought it was a dump. not eccentric or charming or hip, but dirty and run down. can't review the food, though, cuz we never got any, despite being there for 30 minutes. don't waste your time

    (1)

  • Rachel H.

    This place is super quirky. Yummy teas and desserts.

    (5)

  • Allison D.

    First, I love the name of this place and the fact that they honor it with live classical music. I was really excited to try it. Sadly, my experience was not good. The server was nice, but very inattentive. I think they were a bit busier than they had anticipated, but it didn't seem like it was enough customers to warrant the lack of service. But surprisingly, this isn't why I gave it two stars. (I would only do a low star count for service if I had more than one experience or if it was truly horrible because everyone's allowed a bad day in my book). The lack of stars is for the film and chunks of particles in the dirty cups of water (which they did replace), and for the luke-warm and burned Orange Cappuccino. It was also mostly milk, burned milk, with less coffee than I would expect in a cappuccino. The minimal amount of orange rind was overpowered by a random sprinkling of what I think was a chunky rock-style sugar; something I could have made at home, and I'm not a barista. It was definitely less than stellar. I've heard wonderful things about the desserts they offer but it wasn't the right time to try one. I even received a great review about a raspberry dessert from a party that was waiting for the place to open. Which reminds me, they open at 7pm but the door was locked until well after 7, which I'm sure was an accident as the open sign was on. I wouldn't say I hate this place, but even if the service had been great, and the cappuccino was delicious, the vibe didn't grab me as anything amazing or special like other people had described (especially for Portland). Old house in Portland turned into a cafe? Dime a dozen. But, I still haven't tried the desserts, and they could be heavenly for all I know. The rumors of desserts are the reason for the two stars, instead of just the one. That said, I would still give it another go on the chance that it was an off day. If I ever go back, I'll definitely update my review.

    (2)

  • Kate R.

    I've only been here once, but I loved it! It's an old house turned cafe. Fun atmosphere, the tables show off random ticket stubs, pictures, postcards, etc, that people have slid underneath the glass. The bathrooms are wacky, with a life-size fake person. I went with friends and we ordered delicious desserts. First off, on the menu everything looks SO good. I ended up ordering a brownie treat that I shared with a friend. It was great! But really, all of the desserts looked so good I don't know how you could go wrong. I definitely plan to come again!

    (4)

  • Alyssa B.

    Love this place. It's so quirky, and something amusing always happens when you're here and it's pretty impossible to be bored because there's so many things to look at and read and be confused about.... The bathroom is by far one of the best parts - check it out, regardless of whether you actually need to use it. The live music is a nice touch - I usually enjoy the classical piano music, and the player the other night was pretty good but seemed to be in a bad mood or something - she played some of the songs rather violently. The desserts are always excellent - I came here a couple nights ago and we ordered the Brownie sundae (decadent) and the Apple crisp (pretty classic)...wish they weren't sold out of the peach cobbler :(

    (4)

  • Regina B.

    Its a house.. that looks scary during the day.. lol but a cozy victorian place at night. I love love the fudgeeee brownie ice cream sundae with the extra fudgeee also I love the almond milk. So there is a guy who works there that sounds like Tobi (from family guy) and the funny thing is to have conversations with him about family guy. The under the sea bathroom has a lil creepiness to it but I love it. The decor; if no one realized it yet.. its all decorated with things that start with O.. I need to bring and O item because they say I can hang it if it starts with an O.. I wanted to hang a rubber ducky before.. Oh the rotating table is fun! The first time i went there, I was the only one holding my dessert and everyone's was rotating.. they didnt noticed it move until a couple minutes later. Ring around a rosy it went~ The rattling loud shaking mini table is funny too. I love seeing people sit at the table and they get scared. I know there are some other tricks but i never get to see it.. ---------------------- note: grab the menus and sit down!! someone will approach you and serve you. don't expect a grand service because its just a laid back kinda place with some nights of live music. its nice to sit there and just chill with friends. Cash only and make sure you have singles and fives if you and your friends are splitting the bill. i love the lil notes and drawings the servers gives you. and the dessert containers and the handkerchiefs are uberly cute.

    (5)

  • Laura N.

    "Home of the casually threatening atmosphere"...according to their blog. While they are home to a many number of things, including live classical music and delicious, yet dauntingly simple dessert selections, there is one aspect of this unassuming Victorian house that is more than a little casually threating: The bathroom. I won't ruin it for you, but let's just say that if a friend has the hiccups and needs a cure, this will certainly be the scare they need.

    (3)

  • April G.

    This is a great place to enjoy coffee, tea, and dessert! I'm not giving it a full 5 stars because the setup of the tables and chairs is a little tight, but that's absolutely the only downside to the place. The decorations are wonderful, the food and drink is good, and the staff is friendly. I'm not sure where the reputation of surly staff came from, but the servers we met were nothing but nice. And, as everyone else has said, check out the bathroom upstairs!

    (4)

  • Nyssa A.

    So cozy and cute. The atmosphere is so unique and the desserts are pretty good too. I take everyone who visits from out of town here and smile maniacally while asking them if they need to use the restroom.

    (4)

  • Soror G.

    Sit at the 'revolving table' it moves up & down very slowly while you eat and freaks out newbies who think it is a ghost. Play up that it is a ghost. Really fun around prom time. Sort of a standard in the area to take prom dates and is fun to see all the youngsters dressed up. Mikey the waiter is the best part. He is fun, sassy and brings life to the party. Oh, and the desserts are incredible! There are a few standards but I love it when they have their bread pudding or key lime pie on the menu, which is not often, but when they have it, GET IT! One of my favorite places to go for tea and treats in Portland. Oh and I LOVE the old art deco wall paper.

    (5)

  • Aaron Y.

    It's a cute old house that got turned into a cafe. Perhaps not over night but over the many years of existence it's morphed itself into a cafe only to offer you a haunted house vibe while chillin in the eating area. Live music is great but really loud at times but the dessert, coffe, and tea are great. What you would expect and along with great service. It's open late night so it's a great place to chill if you want to chill in a place without drunk people and the highlight of this place would have to be using their bathroom. The decor is genius. A great use of recycled mannequin parts. Recycling = Environmentally Friendly, thus making their bathroom decor environmentally friendly! Something hipsters and hippies love.

    (4)

  • Eva W.

    Relaxing, and open late. A classical guitar teacher was playing when I was there, and he set a comfortable atmosphere. I had the Chocolate Raspberry Fool, which was all right; tangy raspberries, bitter dark chocolate, and okay cream. For the price, though, I expected more. Also, they only accept CASH or CHECK so be prepared! One more tip: Don't go into the bathroom unless you want creepy things staring at you while you're doing your thing.

    (2)

  • Del R.

    Of course Rimskys is crazy, unique, weird, disorienting, and full of charm. And yes, they have amazing desserts to choose from -- the peanut butter chocolate torte was delightful. And of course you have to go to the bathroom while you are there. Don't ask, just trust me on this one. But hands down, the clencher that pushed my rating over to five star worthy territory was Mikey was the best server ever! He sang to us the entire time making it a fun and entertaining experience.

    (5)

  • Nik R.

    Supercalideliciousistic-extra tasty dishes Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious If you eat it loud enough you'll always seem precocious Supercalideliciousistic-extra tasty dishes! Singing server. Live music. Tasty, tasty, tasty desserts. The orange cappuccino has orange rind in it which is super double scrumptious - but be forewarned: when your server asks "single or double double your refreshment", you may want to go with the single. Unless you like staying up until three in the morning singing show tunes about food - in which case you might want to get two. Take your cash, your hankering for old-fashioned home-made desserts, and your sense of enjoyment. Leave your dignity at home, and lick the plate when you're done. It's worth it.

    (5)

  • Matt F.

    I'm a regular here but don't let the 5 Stars fool you - whether it was my first or 100th time there, I'd still give it a perfect score. The atmosphere is as Portland as you can get - the balance between hipster and hippie, trendy and vintage. The prices aren't ridiculous but for the quality of dessert you are receiving, they are actually quite a cut below the equal level restaurants (think 23rd Avenue). Most desserts range from $4-8, with coffee and tea as little as $2. Everything is quaint and the Portland style - sit yourself, pick up a menu, and be ready when we come. The waiter I normally end up getting is hilarious - he sings and dances and sits at your table. Also, the tables do funky things like go in and out of walls, spin around, etc. One more note. You HAVE to go to the bathroom. Don't ask why...just do it.

    (5)

  • Joseph H.

    Life moves slow in Rimsky, but isn't that the way dessert should be? Coffee, wine, beer, dessert. Check, check, checkkity check-check. I've only been a few times and like Brandy is spinning, you should go at once, but more than that is fairly optional. RK was an original hipster hang out. It's lost a bit of its luster over the years as the area around it has become a wellspring of foodie growth. There are a ton of places nearby that compete directly with RK and do things equally if not better it makes me forget they even exist. In Yelp world it's mediocre but there's no place like it in chain restaurant world. A lot of reviewers seem a little up tight on places like Rimsky's --- they must not blend with the pace and the slow service. Personally I often relish in a restaurant that isn't hounding my table every five seconds and doesn't take themselves too seriously. Rimsky, they've got it in spades, which is probably what brought the hipsters.

    (4)

  • Bruce J.

    Eating at Rimsky's is just such a wonderful experience and can't say enough good things about it. This was one of the places my partner took me when we were first dating. He always gets the Raspberry Fool because he says it's the best thing ever. I love the Apple Cobbler and the almond-steamed milk. The dessert menu does change a little every so often to add variety, and everything is always delicious. Rimsky's is eclectic for sure, so take that into account if you want something more contemporary or family style. Set up in an old house which has barely been altered, you'll love the array of strange decorations everywhere. Make sure you visit the restroom on the second floor. I know that sounds weird, but trust me on this one. Add to that the interesting tables (some with surprises), the live musical performers, and the wonderful mix of people who work there and eat there, and you have a sweet after-dinner hangout for you and your friends, or a date.

    (5)

  • Brandis W.

    I love this place, but it does have it's minor issues. They only take cash, which was a bit annoying at first, but now I know. Been here about 5-6 times with various people/groups and never had a bad really experience. The service is always a bit different, but usually slow, which is the only truly negative thing I can say about Rimsky's. I've had really friendly funny servers, sort of blah ones, and one just downright weird server. I've been here when it's packed and when it's dead, and the wait time is actually pretty similar. Not sure if it's the kitchen staff being slow or if this is intentional, to give you time to talk and take in the decor. Speaking of which, that's one of the best parts of this place. There's tons of interesting stuff to look at. I notice something new every time. And if it's your first time, definitely check out the bathroom (unless you have a weak heart or bladder control issues). The drinks aren't their strongest menu items, but they're far from bad, just somewhat forgettable. But it's the desserts and atmosphere that keep me coming back. The raspberry fool is delicious. And if you're a serious chocolate lover the pot de creme might be your thing. But it's super rich, so don't be afraid to share. The old house has a lot of character and nice ambiance. So, between that, the menu, and the overall quirkiness of the place, Rimsky's can be great for either a romantic late night date, or a fun spot to check out with friends. If you go in looking to take your time over a tasty treat and just enjoy the experience, you'll probably have a great time.

    (4)

  • Heather H.

    I was a bit leary of this place upon reading some reviews about terrible service was worried it was a little too hyped up. After grabbing some dinner at the food carts though... where else would work for late night coffee and desserts? We ventured in and got the last table... it was a tuesday night. We waited for a few minutes to be given a menu, but that time was spent chatting and checking out the atmosphere here. Our server kept checking on us even if she didn't have time to grab our orders. She was obviously busy and we didn't mind the wait at all. We split a couple desserts, which were both delicious, and had a couple cups of one of their specialties... also delicious.

    (5)

  • Katie W.

    I totally loved the vibe of this place. It reminded me of a traditional Viennese coffeehouse, but with a quirky Portland vibe. At first, the place looks like a traditional Victorian house - but then you start to look around and notice the decorations. Notable decorations: picture of Oprah, a note that said "Proud supporters of Operation Dessert Storm", and the trick-table that changed heights (but I'm not telling which it was!). That's not even mentioning the bathroom - it's worth the stairs. I felt like I was in Alice and Wonderland the whole time. The desserts were good - nothing overwhelmingly fantastic, but tasty and creative. We split the Peach Cobbler, Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae and Raspberry Fool and all were great in their own ways. The one thing that was lacking was PEOPLE! We went on a Monday and were the only guests the whole hour and a half we were there! I can imagine that a night where the place is packed and the piano is going and the place is alive would be just great. Guess I'll have to visit again...

    (4)

  • Colin W.

    I've been back to Rimsky since my previous review and have tried some of their coffee. In particular, I tried a cappuccino, and the espresso tasted over-roasted, somewhat burnt, and rather like a particularly bad Starbucks drink. Since my previous review of four stars was predicated on the assumption that Rimsky's coffee drinks would be of similar quality to the hot chocolate and chai tea, I unfortunately am now compelled to drop the rating to three stars.

    (3)

  • Kendrick R.

    i wish the owners of this place adopted me. i could live on the second floor of the house and like some magical kitchen spirit, i can go down and clean and eat the left overs. Someone plays the piano at night. Definitely a home grown decor. Deserts are great. my only complaint is that there's no alcohol. so i recommend a wee flask.

    (5)

  • Coleman Q.

    Great little hole in the wall. The wait is long and the service is not 100% the best BUT the coffee and dessert is really good. Check the bathroom I suggest going with people you enjoy spending time with to kill the wait. Fairly popular place for Portland people. The love music is amazing. Good spot for an end if the date dessert.

    (5)

  • Samuel N.

    What a perfect Portland place. I went on a Saturday night with a couple of friends, and it is a packed little house, and since it is seat-yourself, it did take a little bit to find a table. I wouldn't take more that 4 people, since the tables are small and there is limited seating. The menu had a diverse drink selection, but nothing too out of the ordinary. I tried a Cafe Vienna, and it was a small strong drink that was very delicious for coffee drinkers. I was able to try the hot chocolate, and must admit I was disappointed- it was very watery. The deserts, however were delicious. All very good, I would definitely recommend the mocha cake. Everyone will talk about the bathroom for this place, and I had to check it out. Definitely worth seeing as everybody says. The bathroom and the decor of the house really make this place what it is. Definitely worth seeing.

    (4)

  • Kevin S.

    From the mysterious "height-changing" tables, to the bathroom art, to the fact it is a dessert place in a vintage Victorian-style house--this place reeks of classic "Portland." The desserts are actually pretty tasty. I got a banana split that was pretty good (they used mint as one of ice cream flavors--it even came with sprinkles!). The also serve coffee in all different mugs, which I thought was cool. In all honesty, the best reason to go here is not the food though, its the ambiance/craziness of the place. You have to make sure you go upstairs to "use the bathroom" if you visit--the "decor" is pretty unique. If you go on weekends, they have a piano player that entertains. They have 2 tables (best I can figure) that move up and down randomly (pretty funny actually). All-in-all, this is a very unique place--definitely worth a visit!

    (4)

  • Allie F.

    I fell in love with this place the first time I went there nearly 2 years ago. Such a fun, unique, casual atmosphere. Things to know: *CASH ONLY! *This is not a quick stop. Prepare for a long wait and slow waiter. It's a very popular spot and they get busy even on weekdays. *Small place and is a little hard to find. It's RIGHT next to 7-11 (or ampm or whatever the convenience store is) *a lot of people don't know, but at the entrance is a book case. Find the books that people write in. Quite entertaining and some beautiful drawings from visitors. You can even write your own message! Fun idea *Live music. *CHECK OUT THE BATHROOM BEFORE LEAVING! :) I really think that's all. Delicious deserts and coffees/teas. Enjoy yourself and don't be too uptight to miss the overall experience!

    (4)

  • Marcie C.

    This is a must-see for an after-dinner, after-theatre dessert and coffee place. I had the apple crisp and it was warm, flavorful and had the right texture. I tried the raspberry fool, which is usually sold out early, and now I know why. Lots of raspberry flavor coupled with whipped white chocolate. The raspberry cheesecake was pretty good, too. A visit to their upstairs bathroom is a must for any visitor, whether or not you even have to go...

    (4)

  • Hieu T.

    This is a generous 3-star review...not that my experience was bad or anything. Definitely A-OK. A few of my buddies and I went out to dinner and wanted something a little sweet to balance out the greasefest we had just indulged in (thank you Five Bros). As expected, the place was jam packed and waited for a table to open up. No big deal. Service was fine. Definitely the quirky type of service as mentioned per the other yelpers. Not fast, but not slow either. It was A-OK for how busy it was. I liked how there was a live band playing, at least for lack of a better word The place has A LOT of charm and character. I wasn't blown away myself, mostly because I have been spoiled by the other crazy city known as Eugene. But, you know, I can get why a lot of people like this place. As far as their desserts and drinks go. Meh. I had their caramel cider and, at first sip, in love. Every subsequent sip was more worse than the previous, mostly because of the thick and rich body the drink had. It was SUPER sweet and dense. Ick. I forget what my buddies got, but they were merely ok. Their mango sorbet was fantastic though! Overall, however, I probably won't come back on the basis that the place was elbow to elbow and too claustrophobic for me.

    (3)

  • Jenny K.

    Now granted, I haven't been here in about 5 years, so I'm not sure if much has changed. However, I remember the dessert being amazing. I was visiting a friend in Eugene at the time (after driving from Southern Cali), and we decided to take a day trip to Portland. I was told about this place by someone on a social networking type site. He explained how to get there like a scavenger hunt, saying it was somewhat of a local secret. So after perusing downtown Portland and visiting it's touristy sites, we went in search of Rimsky. When we arrived, it was closed. Thinking that was strange because it was late afternoon. We returned around 7pm when they said they were open. I don't remember what desserts we got, but I remember being blown away by them; comparing them to my visits to Europe. I hope that it has kept it's well made desserts and coffee. I definitely plan to visit when I got back to Portland.

    (4)

  • Margaret R.

    The coffee is amazing! They are open late and are a good hang out spot. They let you relax and often have live music. You must check out the bathroom; I do every time. It is hilarious but I always feel like the guy in the boat is watching me.

    (4)

  • Miss F.

    After 30 years, I finally got around to leaving a review for this wonderful place. 5 stars for being the coolest place in town looong before coffee houses were hip. While other kids were taking bong hits up at Rocky Butte, I was taking dates to this place for a cheap evening of culture. And it worked quite a few times ;) Scrumptious desserts, enticing teas and cloth napkins before green was called green. So glad you are still there.

    (5)

  • Caliope S.

    My bf and I were about to hit the road back to Seattle around 9pm on a weeknight and wanted to refuel--ourselves, not the car--for the three hour trip. The only caffeine-slinging joint open in our vicinity according to Yelp was this place, so we popped the address in our GPS and headed over there. Between the GPS and my cell phone map, we could not find this place and had to circle the block three times before we realized it was in the dark house on the opposite side of the road from where the two maps were telling us it was. We parked and headed inside, excited to check out a local coffee place before leaving town. There were musicians playing, which was nice, and at first I didn't realize that there was no to-go counter hidden somewhere in the back of the house. We hadn't been planning on staying as we really needed to get on the road and simply wanted java to go. We decided to hit the bathroom before ordering, and well, I won't ruin the surprise for you if you haven't experienced it yet. Very cool...and creepy...is all I'll say. After we were downstairs and ready to caffeinate, we realized our error, but decided to stay because a) it was the only place open, and b) we wished there was a place like this in Seattle! We picked out a table in the very crowded place (considering it was a Wednesday night) and the waitress took our order quite promptly. We both ordered a drink (orange mocha for him, a pot of tea for me) and a dessert (an ice cream sundae for me, apple strudel for him). The drinks came out in about five minutes. My tea pot was *scorching* hot. I actually burned my fingers while pouring tea into my cup. Please note that if you order tea, you should use the cloth napkin they provide to lift the lid off the pot and let some hot air out first so the pot cools down enough for you to actually enjoy your beverage without scalding your hands or tongue. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I had plenty of time to sit and wait for the tea to cool down because after over 40 minutes of sitting there (according to my phone since I had facebooked about it when we sat down), our desserts still hadn't arrived-- nor had our waitress ever come back to check on us so we could remind her. Since we needed to get back home, we left cash on the table to cover our bill for the drinks and left. Though we found the place very charming in concept, we were ultimately quite disappointed with our experience there. I can't guarantee that I'd go back on a future trip to Portland, but if I do, I sure hope they get it together enough to actually serve us our entire order. I'd give this place 2.5 stars if I could, but I'll be generous with three in the hopes that the kitchen staff was simply stoned to the point where it would make sense that heating up a piece of apple strudel and scooping some ice cream into a dish would take more than 40 minutes and that this won't be the case if there is a next time.

    (3)

  • Jenny C.

    The two elementary aged kids sitting at the table next to me were engaged in that classic debate: Kid 1: "... and then I was like, 'No! 'Cause it's Opposite Day!" Kid 2: "There's no such thing as Opposite Day!" Kid 1: "Yes there is!" Kid 2: "Nuh-uh! Because if it WAS Opposite Day then the opposite of it being that would be that it WASN'T!" Touché Kid 2... Touché. We've all been trapped in that bizarre conversation, so in honor of the experience, I'll insist: Don't go to Rimsky's. Don't think the brick red queen anne style four square house will be easy to spot when the leafy foliage is in full bloom. Don't expect to walk into a cozy old building, and don't even plan on it being busy from the moment it opens at 7pm. You won't get distracted by the art plastered on the walls or the oddities hanging from the parlour ceiling. You'll find that it's too easy to make a choice on what sounds good on the menu of desserts and coffees and chai. Of course you'll bypass the Chocolate Raspberry's Fool. Don't wander around looking for the strange tables and memorable bathrooms. Don't sit in the neat little window seat halfway up the stairs. Don't expect to get a bill with a sweet little note or drawing on the back. When you leave, you'll never want to come back, let alone sing it's praises to your friends. Because it's Opposite Day and Rimksy's is lame. (And if it's not... well then you should have figured that Rimksy's is cool.)

    (4)

  • Jessica C.

    What a delight! To start my review, I'll go with food and drink. I had the lavender infused honey lemonade. WOW. Loved it. It was crisp and refreshing and I really enjoyed the faint touch of lavender. For dessert, I had a small sliver of the cheesecake and a small sliver of the lemon icebox pie. Both yummy and very satisfying. I couldn't decide between the two - so the waiter brought both -what a surprise! Everyone we were with commented on enjoying their various drinks and eats - so all in all - Rimsky's was a success in regards to food. The decor, as everyone else has mentioned, is unique and fun. Exactly why I decided to come here in the first place. The service was good - but naturally a bit slow. Only one guy working for a while! He made up for that with being funny and entertaining. I would definitely return/frequent this fun spot.

    (3)

  • Andrea P.

    When you walk in you know you are in a place unlike any other. The longer you are there the more it begins to feel like you are in the twilight zone. There was live piano music being played by a really cute old little lady who would turn around and smile at the room as everyone applauded. The desserts and hot cocoa were good and the servers were nice although don't hesitate to flag one down to place your order.

    (3)

  • Heather G.

    What a gem! I love this cute, super "Portlandy" little coffeehouse that's open late, for those who like to sit and talk, but drink tea instead of alcohol. The desserts are delish! I've had the "Ship Goes to Pieces Against a Rock" (which I highly recommend) and the pumpkin cheesecake. I have tried a few others, but I can't remember which... but what I do remember is not being disappointed with anything. The live music is really nice, but can get a little loud. I went on a first date here once, and my date wanted to leave to find a quieter place, but he was kind of lame. I would have happily stayed.

    (4)

  • ToniAnn M.

    HaHaHa.... this place is a trip! What a quaint, yet kitchy little gem! The atmosphere is what it is all about! The bizarre & decorative "art" meshes well with the old brick four square house. As does the piano player, the strange verbiage everywhere, & the mondo-creepy mannequin in the bathroom. The desserts & coffee are par. The Red Velvet Cake didn't knock my socks off, but it was ok, the Peach Cobbler a la Mode however, led me to trade desserts with one of my fellow diners! Buh-Bye RVC, Hello Peachy!! The coffee drinks are fairly decent.... & service is ok....... exactly what I expected. I was not privy to sit at one of these rotating tables I have heard others speak of...... maybe next time. All in all, a very fun experience everyone should try at least once....... or twice!

    (3)

  • Samantha O.

    I've heard about this place as being really great, quirky place to get dessert late at night. I'd describe the decor are creepy-Russian/Victorian kitsch. I love the vibe of old Victorian houses and this place is very well suited for the space it occupies. Rimsky's has a selection of staple desserts and sundaes as well as a list of dessert specials. I didn't quite catch if the specials are meant to be weekly or monthly, but they also looked just as mouth watering as the regular menu items. Sadly they were out of a few options and even ran out of an item right before my boyfriend ordered! It was a total bummer. But the main reason I wanted to come here was for Pot de Creme. I'd say I'm mildly a foodie, but mostly for things of the sweet variety! I have ambitions to be a pastry chef, so I like trying new desserts and expanding my sugar-y horizons. I've never had anything like Pot de Creme before and wow, it was super rich, but super good. My Mexicana mocha was dang tasty too. In my opinion, this is a really nice date place and I'd love to come back on a night when they have live classical music.

    (4)

  • Mollie F.

    this place is absolutely amazing! its like being in a cute, crazy, fun house! theres crazy decorations everywhere, numbers hanging from the ceiling, and a creepy kayaking mannequin in the bathroom. i only had some darjeeling tea while there but it was pretty tasty. it came out in a little tea pot. i felt like i was at a tea party. the waitress was also extremely nice. she sat and talked for a little and gave us recommendations to try. ps the ginger cake was to die for! i will most definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Nicole M.

    Excellent home made desserts and fun atmosphere. They have reasonable prices for the caliber and freshness of their coffee and dessert offerings. I've come here many times over the last 7 years and have always enjoyed it.

    (4)

  • Ken N.

    For me Rimsky wins because of the crazy decor and the moving tables. I love taking friends there who have never been and sitting at the table that moves up and down. They don't notice at first but when they do they freak out. (in a good way) The deserts are good. Not amazing and the service is so so. It just depends who you get. But overall its a fun experience.

    (4)

  • Chris S.

    Good desserts.

    (5)

  • January M.

    Okay so apparently RKH doesn't have a $5 minimum. My mistake. Maybe instead of shaming people on the internet you could clarify this policy to your staff. As it was my server who came back to our table after we ordered and informed me that I (personally) needed to "order something else or leave. We have a $5 minimum". This despite the fact that I was with a four top. Hmmmm. . . completely out of line. It's even more offensive now learning that he was mistaken about the policy. All of this aside: The 1 star remains because I was treated as if my business didn't matter. The server was snippy, pretentious and acted like he was doing us a favor by allowing us to put money in the cash register. I might have gone back at some point. . . and possibly had a fabulous experience causing me to update my review. Could have been that one server having a bad day. But we'll never know now thank's to one overly defensive employee who apparently feel that it's their job to police the internet. So if you do Yelp about your horrible experience at RKH be prepared to get called "unethical" and be told that your review was a "a list of lies" I still say change the name to Kinky-Romanoff House. Because it'd be funnier that way.

    (1)

  • Annette V.

    Went here this past Saturday w my date who had never been to this Portland staple before. We arrived around 9pm and had no trouble finding a table for two. The larger tables were all taken but several small tables were in abundance. The service was exceptionally great, in a matter of 5 minutes we were approached by 3 different servers wanting to take our order. All were pleasant and never did we feel rushed to make up our minds. We ended up having a brownie sundae, some awesome pumpkin cheesecake crummmble (yes, that's how it was scrawled on the menu) and a delicious latte (yay for stumptown). Paired with live music from a pianist wearing a Happy Birthday t-shirt, this was quintessential Portland dessert heaven. Every time I come here, I leave feeling guilty for ever going to Papa Haydn's for dessert. :(

    (5)

  • Gil K.

    If you're visiting PDX, make this a stop. It's got a fair amount of local lore and it's interesting enough that even though you dont' know it, you'll have a good time there. There used to be some live music there, but I don't know if they still offer it. Drinks are usual and nothing out of this world, but that's not the point. So, if you're looking for PDX-style fun and have a few hours to kill, check it out!

    (4)

  • Levi L.

    Average coffee, creepy service, funky location. I'd say you gotta try it once just to say you did. Their Mexican mocha is pretty good.

    (3)

  • Connie O.

    Loved this coffee house. So eclectic and fun. Desserts and drinks are fabulous. However, if you don't like tap water, they don't serve bottled :(

    (4)

  • Jacob G.

    Sure, this place has an eclectic feel, with Victorianish decor. Not to mention classical music. My banana split was decent but not worth writing home about. The place was cozy enough, but I didn't feel like this place was the best ever, judging by most of the other reviews here. I'd go back to meet people for coffee, sure, but it's not that amazing of a place. The bathroom wasn't that great, either.

    (3)

  • Anna L.

    Ummmm, where do I even start. When my friend suggested me go to this place I did a quick search and tried to dissuade her as quite a few citysearch reviews mentioned terrible service and mean staff. She wanted to give it a shot, so we went on a Wednesday night. We weren't greeted at the door so we grabbed a few menus and pulled a few table together for our friends (there were 8 or us). We have all worked in the service industry, so we made sure to pick a few tables that were out of the way. After about 5 minutes the waitress came around and told us we needed to move. She straight up asked a couple a few tables away (in the middle of eating) if they could move to a table across the room! They did and then she pulled table together for us. We all sat down, and despite thinking it was all strange, stayed. About 5 minutes later (when we were ready to order), she came and said 'this just isn't going to work' and without asking, began to re-arrange our tables AGAIN! It was so awkward! Then we asked if we were ready to order. Before we could even respond, she said she would be back when we were ready. We asked her to stay and take our order because she was obviously busy and we would love to get our order in. As she started taking orders she didn't even fight back making rude faces if someone took more than 1 breath to order their beverage or dessert. After a very obvious eye-roll a friend of mine asked her what the face was for. She said ' you all are making it very hard for me to do my job' (we had told her that we were missing 2 people from our party and that they could just order when they arrived)....now I know this isn't ideal for a server, but give me a break!! You get paid to do this! it's not like I put my feet on the table and asked that she start rubbing them! Just take our order, don't roll your eyes, and then bring us the food when it is ready. At this point we all got up and left after clearing up the fact that she was completely rude to us. I have a feeling this woman is always unpleasant, but no one ever calls her out on it. Do me a favor Portland, don't put up with this! I know we are a passive-aggressive city here, but come on! This is unacceptable. No more chimpskies for me!

    (1)

  • Nico B.

    as a native that has been going to Rimsky's for over 19 years I can only comment that the ever mercurial reviews of this place prove that the cranky and compassionate indifference I have come to expect and treasure are completely wasted on "Nu Portland" ( read it with the umlaut) I worship @ the altar of Rasputin's Vice- I adore taking new people there and sending them to the bathroom and waiting for the scream. The problem is quirky has been sold out for whimsy- If you want the proper kiss up service there are many lovely saccharine dessert houses that can offer it up to you-- Personally, I prefer my Rimsky's that is equally the bitter with the sweet.

    (5)

  • Art V. B.

    A must in Portland, but not for the quality of coffee or desserts. This coffee shop is to have fun with friends and to laugh at people who get surprised with the tricky furniture and the scary restroom. Service is slow but fun. They don't accept credit cards.

    (4)

  • michael m.

    If you don't know the 'secret' to this place, I highly recommend going for a potentially entertaining evening. If you know the secret already, then it must be the good desserts and coffee/drinks (non-alcoholic only). The service is abysmal, as a warning, but this is a place you go to to just relax. I've thought of bringing my own coffee as I've waited up to 20 minutes just to have someone stop by and ask what I wanted. One time I DID wait 30 minutes (after I managed to find a seat and actually had sat down) until I got my coffee. It'd be 15min more until I had my pre-made dessert delivered. So why the high rating? It's a fun place to be and they have occasional live music. It's a relaxing party-like atmosphere yet generally quiet enough to have conversations with the people next to you. If you're out late and want a dessert, this would be my #1 pick if the service were good. Like Montage, don't go if you don't like crowds. I do believe I actually had to crawl over someone's lap to take my seat once. But if you're a Portland native (I'm a cheesehead, actually, but Portland is close enough personality-wise), you're likely laid back and will happily laugh along =D Visit the bathroom.

    (4)

  • Erin K.

    I used to like Rimsky's more. The multiple times I have visited and they have been out of a variety of desserts or the server was super out there (not friendly, quirky, or just talkative weird, but really OUT THERE!), or we had terrible service (being ignored for quite a while even without it being busy) that has decreased my interest in this place. BUT, the desserts are very good. Some are more creative and better than others, but I haven't had a dessert I didn't like. And the coffee is usually good too. But, like I mentioned before, they are often out of things, and this may or may not be marked on the menu. It's open late, which is a plus though, and if you are craving something like a brownie sundae at midnight on a Friday, this is probably your best bet. Come with cash, it's all they accept, and they can sort of be buttholes if you forget and try to hand them a debit card.

    (2)

  • Raymond G.

    This place was so cool in so many ways. The wife and I had sugar hopped this one evening. Went from on pastry to shop to another. When we finally got back to our hotel, we were so amped with sugar that we needed to head back out. Did some Yelping and found this place that's open until 2am. It sounded really intriguing so we hopped on the rent-a-car and drove across the bridge to this place. It's basically someone's house that they turned into a coffee shop. It's a lot like your grandma's living room setting with the classical style furniture, creaky hard wood floors and old photos and paintings. Let me rephrase that, it's like your high grandma's living room and setting. For whatever reason there's a bunch of O's cutout from Oprah's magazine hanging from the ceiling. I'm stlll baffled to this day and don't know what to make of it. They had a great selection of teas and desserts. But we went with a classic Banana Cream Pie. Absolutely loved it. Didn't look pretty on the plate, quite a mess in fact, but delicious. And that's what really counts. One thing I noticed about Portlanders is they like to get out. Old and young. There was a family of four with their 8 and 10 year old daughters (est.) hanging out until 1am. I also saw a senior citizen couple having tea and desserts dressed to the hilt like they were out dancing or something. It was awesome to see. Anyway, let me finish my review... because there's more. Towards the end of the evening, after our check was dropped the strangest thing started to happen. Our table started to vibrate. Didn't really think much about it, thought my wife kicked it. But it happened again. This time I'm accusing my wife of pushing the table. She flatly denies it. I started to look under, inspect what's going on... nothing. Then it does it again. I'm tripping out at this time. "What the hell is that!" Just as I'm flipping out the waitress comes to the table to pick up the check. I tell her what's going on with a serious concerned look. I was either thinking haunted? or some strange electrical current is coming from the floor. She gives me this strange smile... I just typed a whole paragraph on what I learned about this place... but soon caught myself. Why would I want to place fear on people? It might have been an isolated incident... Awesome place, awesome crowd, and an unforgettable experience. Go!

    (5)

  • Olivia T.

    I'm always in love with Rimsky's so when I moved about 1 block away from this place,I'm literally jumping up and down. Since then I've been going to this place at least once a week and trying to convert my friends to Rimsky's believers. My favorite is Chocolate Raspberry Fool dessert, I tried the White Chocolate Brownie Sundae with Strawberries and it was really good but nothing compared the Chocolate Raspberry Fool. It's totally a love affair. I love their coffee especially the Orange Mocha and their tea is just sooo good. Chamomile is my favorite. They have live music on the weekend meaning a piano player or a guitar player. Their restroom interior is pretty weird and awesome at the same time. Just don't forget your cash or checks because Rimsky's doesn't take credit card or debit card. Hopefully I won't gain 300 lbs by next year.

    (5)

  • Nic J.

    Super cool spot if your stoppin by Portland. It is truly an experience there, and their drinks are very nice

    (5)

  • kelly s.

    Ok enough, don't act like I"m supposed to like this sh!t hole because it's "weird". It's not exactly like I'm mother Teresa, I have been pretty notorious for my antics over time, and I can handle crazy artsy fun weird. This place is not that- it's a bunch of dirty people serving you slowly in dirty slow dishes- and g@d bless you when it's time to pay and get the f@k out of there. Seriously, don't feel less creative and awesome if you hate this place. If you want an artsy sucky service experience that actually has good desert (keep the "special" service) go to pied cow- or just f@k both of these places and get a pie at zuppan's and invite your friends over without giving them a stomach illness and frustration.

    (1)

  • B B.

    I love their coffee, desserts, music and wackiness....but the service (except for one waitress) is HORRIBLE. I mean horrible with IN ALL CAPS. For reals. Disinterested waiters that don't know the menu, what they have or don't have, once took 1/2 hour to even come to the table to get our order (and it was completely dead - why we didn't just leave is beyond me). My other complaints include: they are consistently out of all kinds of things (and not just the special desserts, I'm talking TEA here!), the cleanliness of the place leaves something to be desired and they don't take debit cards. So, I kind of hate it as much as I like it. I figured that nets 2 stars.

    (2)

  • Tom M.

    I definitely had high hopes for this place. I had been meaning to check it out for the last four years I've lived in Portland and I finally got around to it the other night. Maybe it was the anticipation, but I was a little disappointed. If you've been to the Pied Cow, I can say that it's very similar to that and you'd have a pretty good idea of what it is like. You're in an older house with unique, silly decorations and a warm ambiance. The staff is very casual and they're serving desserts and coffee. They definitely score points for live music (the other night was a classical guitarist, but they also have a piano in there), reasonable prices, and the funny surprise in the bathroom upstairs. There were a number of things that kept me from loving the place, though. One is the set-up. It's mostly just one big room and the volume was a little too high (especially since there was no music playing). It would do them well to section it off and turn the lights down a bit so that you are not hearing and/or seeing every single person in the place. Another is that there is no alcohol. Not crucial, but it would be nice to have the option for a nightcap. It may also cut down on or eliminate the presence of children. Last problem was the check or cash only policy. Come on. This society is clearly going in one direction when it comes to paper payment. Any veritable business that wishes to create and maintain a customer base will swipe a card. The tea and the dessert was delicious and I would certainly give it another try. I just don't know that I can ever love it like I wanted to. I don't know how I ever could or why I would even try when the Pied Cow is only about 20 blocks away.

    (3)

  • Mike S.

    The owners should know that by not accepting credit cards they are in reality hurting the wait staff. Also, you should clearly post on the front door in large letters that you won't accept them for the courtesy of patrons. The musicians are great. We enjoyed our drinks and desserts.

    (2)

  • danielle l.

    rimsky is one of those places that could be over-the-top fantastic if it weren't for the bizarre service. everything about this place is remarkable, and while i admit i only encounter ridiculously rude service about 1/4 of the time, it's enough to prevent me from frequently dropping my money here. the staff is hilarious and entertaining at times, and downright smug at others. if you don't mind being talked to like a baby or told to fuck off by wait staff (or if you've had the pot de creme and know it's worth tuning the self-important hepsters out), this is the place to be. the decor is incredible. situated next door to a plaid pantry, you would never know that inside this beautiful old victorian sits a fantastic dessert bar that's open at night, and features homemade masterpieces. they don't take cards (but it's always fun to hear people ask, because the wait staff is often super pretentious about this, portland-style), so the plaid is conveniently located. i normally name my favorite menu items in reviews, but this is the only place where i can't narrow it down. whether you're in the mood for chocolate, fruit, mint, caramel, EVERYTHING is delicious. especially the bizarre combinations (raspberry and mint chocolate chip). i can only recommend the pot de creme and anything on the specials menu, because those change and almost always sell out. when you go, try to find the "wacky" tables (one has a top that turns ever-so-slowly, another unnoticeably creeps farther from and then closer to the floor). the bathroom is worth checking out even if you don't get dessert. the tables are create-your-own, live classical music some nights, open late... rimsky is a true staple of portland culture, and is definitely worth experiencing, even if it's not "your thing."

    (4)

  • Tyler R.

    OK after reading the reviews I had to check it out. As I've said before, I am almost always late to the party. But once I get there, BOO-YAH. Let's get the party started! I think I could give this place a 5 if they had a bike rack outside. I know, it has nothing to do with the coffee or deserts or super cool Adams Family vibe they have going, but C'mon. It is in P-town. Bike city USA...? I took the family there last night for a little evening snack. We sat at one of the 'haunted' tables, but I heard it was taking the night off. Bummer. The coffee was great. and I love the way the deserts are presented. Ice Cream stuff in a ceramic Ice Cream cone bowl..nice touch. The bathrooms, well all I will say is even if you don't have to pee, stop by. It's worth it. Now that I'm in the know, I can't wait to turn on someone else..

    (4)

  • Ian B.

    Rimskies is one of those classic eccentric coffee houses of Portland that you want to introduce your friends to. It has a slight darkness to it like the ride where the ghosts do some ballroom dancing at Disneyland...and some sweet eccentric touches like the slowly moving coffee table and the nice pianists who are there now and then. The desserts and all are tasty. It's a classic part of a Portland evening...

    (4)

  • Catie L.

    Dessert and coffee has never been so creepy, eclectic and colorful. An old house has been turned into a mural/coffee house and offers some tasty desserts. My friend recommended that we come here because of the ice cream sundae, but failed to note to my brother and I that there are some "haunted" tables. So imagine a table of three enjoying some ice cream and all of a sudden their table erupts into loud rapping and vibrations that scare the living crap out of you. It could cause a person to spit their food on the person across from them, but that would never happen to me, because I am calm and reserved....ahem. Whatever you do, go upstairs to use the bathroom, and experience a visual journey. That does sound a little strange, but you'll get the gist when you go there.

    (4)

  • Andrew H.

    Origami, a steamship, Oprah, angels, Shrek, a bust of Beethoven, raccoon sticker, beads, Christmas ornaments, journals strewn about and art deco wallpaper. A very long history and the first coffee house in this town according to Wikipedia. The house stands since 1902, the business since 1980. Quirky, odd, spooky, mysterious and haunted are words that have consistently been used to describe it. Articles have been written about it. Destinations planned. Tables move on their own. Coffee has been drunk and cake and sundaes have been devoured. The bathroom even has a following. Rimsky-Korsakoffe is a Portland tradition named after a Russian composer. It is a place that helps keep Portland weird. Just because it has quirks, doesn't mean it's bad. This place has been in business for a long time. It means the desserts and the coffee are top notch and you need to find yourself here at some point during your trek to Portland. It has a relaxed feel with a live acoustic guitar player strumming away at classical tunes. The man has been playing here for 30 years. College students and the young at heart have been coming here for decades and the house still stands. Laughter and small talk. Readers, writers, composers, card players do their own thing. Nothing is rushed, nor is the service on a Friday night. Packed house, two people working. It was a bit hard to pin someone down. The specials for the night were a chocolate layer cake, a cobbler and carrot cake. The desserts on the menu are well known and the banana split is something to yearn for. My housemate got carrot cake and coffee and I went with the chocolate layer cake over the chocolate pot de creme or brownie sundae. Any of the three would have been worth it. The red lighting adds an eeriness to the atmosphere and the food has a different cast to it. But the layer cake is simply amazing. I wasn't a fan of the carrot cake because of added pineapple to it. I'd never seen that before. Overall we had a great experience at Rimsky-Korsakoffe (my housemate has been coming here for 23 years, and me, the newbie). I will most definitely return. How I used to walk past this place when I lived in Buckman amazes me. You'd never know a coffee house existed with so much history. Oh and do check out the bathroom, and bring cash. No credit. Enjoy.

    (4)

  • Amy L.

    Wonder why I never wrote a review for being a customer for over 10 years. I discovered this place with my friends in high school and we're hooked. The decor never changed from it's quirky randomness. There's always something to look at or a piece that starts interesting conversation. On Saturday nights there's even a pianist playing Viennese/classical music. Definitely pleasant to have a cup of coffee and a small dessert. Desserts are great if you aren't looking for super fancy french chef made delight. They are solid if you want a sundae, homemade pie/cobbler, all the good old homemade things you get at grandma's house. Love the handwritten menus and the random names they come up with for desserts and drinks. Growing up with this place I never found it terrifying or too weird. It's definitely nostalgic to me and comforting to see it's quirkiness has be preserved. Overall I would definitely keep coming here as long as it's open.

    (5)

  • Christine A.

    Another trip through Portland, and yet another crazy bathroom visit. We came to Rimsky-Korsakoffee at the recommendation of a site for pointing out the delightfully "weird" things to do in Portland. They said the tables were rigged for different gags, but nothing happened with them while we were there. There was, however, a talented young man playing piano in the parlor where we sat right after opening. Had the Raspberry Fool and a pot of Darjeeling. The fool was lovely, and we got a cute teapot with a ceramic pumpkin sugar bowl. Now, yes, the bathroom. That was horrifying. I'm not a fan of being around realistic mannequins, alone, in dark places. After being directed to head upstairs, I passed all the doors with notes on them reading "THIS IS NOT THE BATHROOM," "THIS ISN'T EITHER," "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT COMING IN HERE!" and went for the one that was unmarked. Nudged open the door and suddenly pulled it shut again, thinking there was someone in there. Realizing the face was a bit too odd to be real, I re-opened the door and stared at the dummy on the floor, looking back (photo: yelp.com/biz_photos/rims… ). I have the irrational fear of walking into a bathroom and finding a body. Maybe it's from watching too much TV, but it's genuinely something I worry about. So yeah, fear of dummies, finding corpses, being in the dark -- this bathroom captured the trifecta. I had to slowly side-step around the mannequin sitting in a kayak in the middle of the room, because I really had to go and I was going to be brave about this. Heart pounding, I was certain the thing was going to come to life at any moment and grasp at me. Yeah, it's weird that I'm like this when I can do Halloween attractions, designed to be scary, with nothing more than fascination at how the props, make-up, and effects were accomplished. I go downstairs to finish my tea, and notice a girl at another table head on up. When she came back down, she looked just as shaken. OK... getting off that topic. Service was decent, though, I do concur with others saying it was on the slow side. It's all very lax there. It's like being at a house party where you only know the host and they need to mingle about the room before getting back to you with drinks, desserts, and your check. Even with a three-star A-OK rating, I'd still recommend them for the experience.

    (3)

  • Astha M.

    A true Portland hippy tea/coffee place. The interior is charming and sometimes they have live music too. Their desserts are pretty good. Don't forget to ask for their specials of the day. It's cash only! Their tea selection is great and coffee is a tad bit cheaper than other coffee places but doesn't lack in quality. Another plus is that this place is open late and I love that about this place!

    (5)

  • Yannie S.

    The desserts were ok, according to my friend. Some crazy things might also happen when you're enjoying your desserts too... Go and check it out. And make sure you hang out in the bathroom. That shit was insane!! But it smelled kinda weird...as with all bathrooms... Definitely should visit just to have some ice cream/coffee/tea, then go to the bathroom!!! This is probably one of the places that add to the slogan...Keep Portland Weird!!

    (3)

  • Robbin A.

    Well...I went at night, as I figured was best. Yes, I did go to the bathroom. I was not very pleased with the combination of curiosity and the unfortunate timing of needing to go to the bathroom. Also, it's cash only. I went for the tea. I was not impressed. The desserts were pretty good, though. The raspberry fool was nice. The biggest problem I had was that I had no idea where the servers were. They'd disappear for long bouts of time and it took me 15-20 minutes just to order, another 15-20 minutes for the delivery of tea and dessert, and an agonizing extra 10 minutes when I realized, "Hell, I missed the bus back. Now I have to wait another bloody hour because I can't bloody find anyone." Probably some of the worst service I've had. You're probably fine if you have a large group of easily freaked-out people because you'll all be daring each other to go to the bathroom, or if you're there to study, or just not want more than one dessert in general. One couple we saw almost left because it's pretty much impossible to tell if anyone's actually working there. I get that it can be busy...but dude. Tell your bloody guests! If you put "employees only" signs on every door and make it a challenge to get to one of the staff, it's not really a game I'm keen on playing. After reading all the reviews here, I was really looking forward to these interesting-sounding folks at this weirdly decorated place. I would have definitely appreciated it. The ambiance was definitely weird. Meh. Great job? I guess? In the end, I wasn't impressed. But again, if you've got friends who you like to mess with, certainly bring them along. They'll probably be too busy asking you "WHY did you make me go to the bathroom?!" for 20 minutes for you to notice the wait time.

    (2)

  • Steven G.

    American Horror Story meets Bed and Breakfast. The unfazed pianist in the corner, the red mood lighting, and sassy enthusiasm from the waiters makes for a unforgettable experience. The desserts are tasty and reasonably priced. Just don't go upstairs.

    (5)

  • Joanne H.

    Cute, quirky attraction, but it was quite noisy. I ordered the Trip Cafe... Which wasn't great, and neither was my hot chocolate. I might not have been in the mood, but I'm not sure I'd go again. It really seems like a novelty attraction.

    (2)

  • Damien J.

    The dessert here is very good but today had horrible service. Had to wait half an hour before someone would take our order. If you want to come I recommend not coming on a weekend. Beyond that it gets very warm inside on warm days. Also, people who came in after us, ordered half an hour after us received their items first.

    (1)

  • Kira G.

    As a faithful customer; always stopping by for a visit while back in Portland, I was thoroughly disappointed this last and final visit. Rimskys never dissapoints when it comes to a moody, eccentric atmosphere, however the service was completely non existant for the 3rd time in a row. After tipping the guitarist and waiting over 30 minutes to be acknowledged my friends and I got up to leave the premise. The guitarist apologized for your poor service. We had a great experience at the Pix patisserie down the street.

    (1)

  • Sierra N.

    The all over experience was relaxing and enjoyable. I got the Berry Gudunov and my friend got the special - marionberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. We both enjoyed our treats. They tasted homemade like your grandmother would make them. No secret ingredients, just plain & simple - that's what we wanted in the moment so it worked for us! We also got a pot of the ambiguity tea. It was delicious. Our waiter was sassy and funny and that's what I like in a waiter, not a robot. :) we walked out only spending $7.75 each! Yes, we had to wait 10min to be noticed at our table but who cares? We weren't in a hurry and we were enjoying ourselves. The bathroom was FREAKY though!

    (4)

  • Devandra B.

    Every one needs to go here! Such a gem of Portland's weird! For me it's a must after any visit to the Kidd toy museum!

    (5)

  • Jason K.

    A late-night creepy, local institution serving up coffee, tea and delicious desserts. Rimsky's is an experience. This Victorian home converted to a coffee house with small tables is best suited for couples, especially ones who like things that are a tad off kilter, slightly bizarre. Decent selection of coffee and tea. The desserts are what people come for, if not the decor. A live piano player plays compositions from 19th century Russian composer Rimsky Korsakov. This place is eclectic and wonderfully bizarre. Make sure to have a look around, because even the upstairs (where the bathroom is located) is decorated.

    (5)

  • Amber E.

    I really really wanted to try this place while in town. The funky/creepy atmosphere was awesome, and the dessert choices sounded delicious... But unfortunately we waited 30 minutes without even being greeted, so we left.

    (2)

  • Debbie L.

    I've been coming here for a few years and have always noticed the poor service. But, a few nights ago was the worst and I'm pretty much done esp with places like Lovely's Fifty Fifty and Salt and Straw etc. that offer great dessert and service. Poor service meant asking for our check 3 times over a span of 30 min and finally having to stand up near the woman we thought was our server only to find out she wasn't. We had three different women bring things and take our order. One of the servers finally apologized and said she never wrote down our order even though we saw her do it. Finally we got our check and paid and headed out only after picking up a bunch of garbage the last server dropped all over the floor... other customers bills! Anyways, one other incident July 21st 2013 and yeah I know, that was a while ago but there were about 8 of us in there for my bday dessert and again, crappy service, severely bad attitude and plain meanness to my son when he asked there be no nuts on his sundae. The desserts are delicious at Rimsky but service says a lot especially when you don't get any!

    (1)

  • Jaime C.

    This place is a joke w the worse customer service I have ever EVER dealt with. The yelp reviews don't lie, be sure to look at the reviews not shown. We waited over 10 mins to be acknowledged. Then over 23 mins for water. We asked 2x. We were a 10 top w many of us in the service industry excited to try this place. We sat where it said 5 or more people. Alright, lets start. So. Bug in my glass. Black hairs stuck to my friends spoon. Dirty plate. Food stuck to spoons and forks. Guy waiter didn't know how to describe the chocolate layer cake, (it's chocolate cake w ganache not buttercream btw) and he had a ridiculous piece of string tied around his dripping forehead. He said "I'll have to have someone come back and explain it." No one did. We ordered it anyways. Our waitress kept flopping her hands through her NOT tied back hair, AND THEN handed us our cups by the mouth of the cup. We all stared at her in disbelief. I mean. Do these people have servesafe certifications?! The kitchen door was100% open and a DOG leashed and practically sitting INSIDE of the kitchen!!! So thats where the black hairs came from... ew. Ha! Don't forget NO lemon for the tea or water.... AT A TEA SHOP! They only take cash and yet have no change. Our fast, reckless, and all over the place tweeker waitress tried to shame us about them giving us "all the change we have in house". W.t.f We had to get cash at plaid, bc Rim doesn't have a atm and the store wouldn't give us change when we asked. Desserts were NOTHING special. I mean, if the food was good, I'd be willing to let something pass but it was a joke. We asked if brownie sundae was big enough to share at $6.50 and was told "oh FOR SURE!" It was small, but in a optical illusion type plastic cup, so it was hard to figure out. I got 3 bites, she got maybe 4. Lame. The layer cake was "nothing special" as described by another friend. Dense lack luster chocolate cake w thick more sugar than chocolate flavor of a thick ganache. It felt like I ate a piece of raw dough or a like a animal eating peanut butter. Another friend and I were a bit taken back by the carrot cake that looked like it had been dropped and scooped back together to form a triangle again. Tasted bland. I have NO idea why ANY ONE has given this place 5 stars. Oh!!! And midway of our teas and sweet things this cray cray waitress asked us TO MOVE TABLES. Flaired her arms all over above her head and pointing to a area that had NO tables and a private birthday gathering. I means, she asked a 10 top to move tables less than 5 mins after serving us our desserts. Like ice cream and shit. Things that melt. Time sensitive sugar lovins' . My temp app said it was 89' inside the joint. Place is a joke and it's obvious the owner doesn't care by the crap reviews since 2008. The waitress blamed EVERYTHING on the manager. Then some girl who we hadn't seen once in the place, just started clearing our table. Didn't ask how it was or ASK if we were done!!!! She straight up just started grabbing plates and cups that were NOT empty. She had her gnarly hands all over the rim and on plates so we didn't ask her to leave them. She snarled at us and looked like a miserable misplaced hipster. Oh and wait for it... After we waited almost 20mins for the change, we decided to only leave about a 9% tip which was SO HARD for us to do, since this is our industry, but decided it was valid. Well, then this bitch walks outside to the front and in front of patio guests and all of us asks, "Can you tell me what was so horrible?". Unreal.

    (1)

  • Cherry T.

    Stopped in late night to enjoy some dessert and tea. I immediately felt like I was in some 1920's art deco Parisian lounge. Maybe because there was a group of people speaking French next to us... Yet, it's decor also includes an element of eclectic and quirky. Clangy piano tunes by Korsakov fill the air as you sit in a low-lit dining room with cafe lights strung throughout. We ordered the pot of Ambiguity tea and the Chocolate Raspberry Fool dessert. I know it came highly recommended but I still wasn't prepared for how much I was going to love it. I actually ate it slow to savor it. Another reviewer described this place as "casually threatening." I can't think a more fitting description! I love it!

    (4)

  • Kevin O.

    I thought this place was super cool. Is the service slow? Perhaps, but I wouldn't say slow. I'd say they give the table opportunity to talk. The desserts were delicious (especially the Irish coffee ice cream), the espresso was tasty, and my girls had a great time. Prefect place for a big experience in a short amount of time. Now it's off to eat ramen.

    (4)

  • Missy R.

    Does anybody know if the homeless man sleeping on the patio is real? it wouldn't surprise me if he was fake this place is known to be quirky. So yes I remember coming here as a teen.....I don't remember it feeling this awkward. I thought the tables did stuff but they don't anymore I guess. Also I am sure people live here but here's a tip......if you run a food based business from your home please don't have animals. The smell doesn't mix well. Good service, desserts, and coffee but a little to awkward for be anymore. Bathroom is featured in Best Places To Pee. I love the bathroom but if you really do have to pee its kinda hard with a mannequin at your crotch level in a canoe. He's kinda creepy

    (3)

  • Elise B.

    A strange little place for tea, coffee, and the thrill of mystery. With artwork of scholars, and a few suprise dining experiences, this is a great place to visit. Once a speak easy, then a public house before it became a coffee place, there is an ecclectic vibe here. Visit the bathroom while here, look up when climbing the stairs, take a look at the art wall along the banister, and try to snag a seat at the round table in the back. Write a poem, draw, or just read the journals left lying around for visitors to make their mark. I highly recomend the cheesecake, although the chocolate brownie is also equally delicious. This is the place to go to relax with a group of friends, or alone if that suits you. Don't skip this one. It's unique vibe is what makes it so neat.

    (5)

  • Kristine P.

    Only reason this place gets 1 star is for creativity.. we waited 30 minutes for a waitress to come over... She looked in our direction once but then never came back over.. we had menus if front of us even... FAIL.

    (1)

  • March A.

    Went here for the first time last night with a bunch of my friends and my first impression was that it felt a little bit scary creepy but good ambiance. The desserts were so amazing especially the chocolate hot fudge! It was also nice that there was a pianist playing crazy classical music. Oh and make sure you check out the bathroom lol

    (5)

  • Kiana F.

    My friend and I were looking for some late night dessert, and we stumbled upon Rimsky. It's in an unassuming house. It seriously feels like you're interrupting a fancy dinner party walking in. But it's awesome. And their food and drink is incredible. They keep unique hours, and it feels like a salon, a place to go and have an intelligent conversation, listen to interesting music with interesting people, and eat tasty desserts and drink perfectly thought out drinks. It's just a very thoughtful place. It feels like a finely kept secret, and I'm happy to be in the know now.

    (5)

  • Ziyan C.

    No wait around 10pm on a Friday night, though right after my group sat down at the couches in the back, a lot of people started poking their heads through the doorway looking for seats. I still absolutely love the classical guitar duo. I like the contrast of something so classy with the crazy decor here! Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/rims… * Cafe Borgia (mocha w/ orange. $3.50) - 3.5 stars A nice mocha, with a layer of foam at the top. Unfortunately, I couldn't really taste the orange for how excited I was about it. The bf tasted it and could really taste the orange, though. * Chocolate layer cake (special) - 3.5 stars Pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/rims… Cake layers were soft & spongy, chocolate frosting layers more dense. Still a very intense sweet dessert. * Mocha fudge cake ($5.75) - 4 stars Pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/rims… Much much more dense, almost like a flourless cake. I really liked this one.

    (4)

  • Julia S.

    If I gave this restaurant a theme it would be "Actively Keeping Portland Weird." I can't really describe it in any other way. It is so, so very weird. The desserts are delicious, the ambiance is incredibly strange and the bathroom is terrifying. But, I say this place is a must-see. I'm not sure if I'd ever go back, but I'm glad I went the one time. A note on the service, since there seems to be some varying reviews - I found the service totally fine. Not too slow, not too fast. The gent serving us was polite and we didn't have to wait very long for our food. But honestly, you aren't going here for the service. You're going to see the insanely strange bathroom and the weird, weird dining room.

    (3)

  • ket t.

    oh my goodness... super funky and neat place to chill and have some yummy dessert and listen to some live music. The decor is amazing- from the lights- objects hanging from the ceiling- 'freaky' tables... and the bathroom! A very unique place- and one that keeps Portland weird! You just have to check it out!

    (4)

  • Joshua M.

    My cheesecake and "Mexicana" mocha were just fine, not bad but not awe inspiring. The service while not overly attentive was adequate. The ambiance isn't really cozy... just a bunch of rickety tables, some that even raise and lower I guess hydraulically. If that's some big secret oh well, I just didn't see the point in a table that starts off too tall to be comfortable and a few minutes later is too short to be comfortable. Is that quirky? I guess... the but the practical side of me just doesn't care that much. Something is just off about this place. Rimsky is sort of the like the kid who skipped a couple of grades ahead, who is really smart but gets his ass kicked at recess. I can't really describe it in any other way.

    (3)

  • Courtney D.

    Hidden coffee house is late night must If some friends hadn't brought me here one late night after dinner out, I would have never known about it. It's in a converted Victorian house with no signage out front to give a hint that you've found the right place. That's just part of the charm on the outside. On the inside, you'll find cool tables that all sport some funky secret to them, but it'd be mean to spoil them here, so I'll let you find out for yourself. I highly recommend their desserts here. I had this dense, chocolate mousse bowl, and I salivated over every bite. My coffee friends love their creative drinks, and they also offer some tasty tea choices. They have live music on several nights, which just adds to the already funky ambiance. Definitely end your night here with a date, friend or family -- it's great for anyone. Tip: Tables are hard to come by later at night but hang in there, the wait is worth it.

    (5)

  • Alex T.

    The dessert was tasty and the atmosphere is cool. There definitely is some merit to the complaints about slow, unapologetic service...but if you've got some time to kill and aren't too upset by that sort of thing, it's a nice place to dally away the evening.

    (3)

  • Rachel N.

    Totally awesome, one of a kind coffee and dessert joint. I've seen nothing like it, and the place just amazed me. I love how cozy it is. The food is great. This is a kind of place that you need to explore either before, after, or during your meal. It would be a huge mistake to just eat or drink and then leave. You'll miss out on the uniqueness of the place.

    (4)

  • sara v.

    i wish nobody knew about this place like back in the day! but i guess the cat's out... they've got super desserts and the atmosphere is "i don't care what you think and we don't even have a sign- enjoy your sweets" super cool portland. keepin it strange and yummy. i love this place.

    (4)

  • Alicia J.

    I know, I know... I'm weird but I just didn't dig this place. I thought the dessert tasted stale and not worth repeating. The bathrooms were indeed weird and gave me the creeps. Not my scene, but perhaps it's yours?

    (2)

  • Catherine E.

    wouldn't have ever gone in if a friend hadn't suggested it. we probably wouldn't have even known it was a coffee house. inside you will find dim lighting, lots of cozy tables, warm drinks dessert and a wonderfully entertaining waiter. went on a tuesday after dinner and there were several other groups of people around, definitely not crowded though. as other reviewers noted there is no rushing you out the door at rimsky, so i'd say skip it if you aren't looking to spend some time there. but there was a guy playing guitar which topped off the atmosphere perfectly. i'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Art K.

    This is the old standby of Portland. Not as funky as Pied Cow, but a better place to take grown-ups. Still has its share of amusements, like the cool bathrooms (yes, I'm serious). I'm afraid it may have gotten lost in the wayside with the fancy upstarts like Stumptown. Don't get me wrong, Stumptown's great, but it's not a classic hang-out. Come here for dessert and coffee.

    (4)

  • Erin B.

    Rimsky-Korsakoffee makes my top 10 list for favorite things in PDX. It's quirky, charming, and cozy. The service can be a bit hit or miss but the staff are witty and smart so it's no big deal. Besides, if you're in a hurry, this really isn't the place to be. Instead, it's the perfect spot for a rainy Saturday night of classical music, rich dessert, and hot tea.

    (5)

  • Andrea M.

    This has been one of my favorite places since I discovered it six years ago. I love to take friends from out of town and sit them at one of the two moving tables and wait until they notice. The desserts are great and the decor is really fun. Try the steamed almond milk, it is better than hot chocolate. I also like the ship goes to pieces against the rocks. Mmmmm

    (5)

  • Becca A.

    I'll admit that the service isn't the best, at times I have had to wait an obnoxious amount of time in order to get recognized however this is just one of the those places that I keep coming back to. A Victorian house with no marking that it is a coffee and dessert shop next to a Plaid Pantry...not going to lie makes it seem a little sketch. However, it came with a recommendation from a credible source so I went, and went back, and went back, and will continue to go back. You enter the front door, choose a menu and seat yourself. The decor includes random stuff dangling from the ceiling and each of the tables has Plexiglas over the top-the restaurant put a composer for each table but there is of course the random array of items from past occupants of the table. There are three tables that are considered to be "trick" tables. One moves up and down-from hitting your knees to hitting your chin, another in and out of the wall (not entirely sure how that works without sending everything crashing to the floor...), and the final is the table for groups that works its way around so you end up with someone else's dessert and/or drink in front of you. Zany and unique topped off with live classical or original music most nights a CD player of instrumentals if no one is performing. This is also one of the few places where I will talk about the bathroom. I hate public restrooms, I don't care how clean they are I can wait. However, I would encourage EVERYONE to use Rimsky's restrooms if only to wash their hands. Go up the stair case in the front entrance-way, past the modge-podge of faces as wall paper turn left at the top, past the frame with the baby doll head and take that door on your left. Pre-warning don't scream! The desserts have always been amazing! I have yet to have something I haven't loved! Berries Goudinov (pronounced good enough) have become a favorite but mango, sorbet, ship smashed to pieces against the rocks, or boring old ice cream never fail either. I was disappointed with my tea when I went, granted this could be because Townshend's has spoiled me, but I just wasn't impressed. The price was excellent for the amount of tea I received however the quality and the fact that there were quite a few dregs in the bottom definitely made me turn my nose up. Overall, this is the epitome of someone's dream someplace that is random and crazy as they are, a place where people can enjoy classical music, musicians can show off, and where you can sit, chat, be noisy, and laugh at the occasional scream!

    (4)

  • Olivia V.

    The decor was very well done and I had high hopes for this place but it was terrible! I'm sure it used to be different or maybe I was just there on a bad night but there was AWFUL service. My waitress kept pressuring me to buy things, saying "Oh, obviously you're going to get something else , just let me know" after I had ordered a coffee and a 5 dollar dessert. Then twice again while I was eating if I want to "buy" (her words) anything else. Then "Are you SURE there's nothing else I can get you?" after I had already asked for the bill twice. The waitstaff were boring and obnoxious "normal" type people. The kind of people you'd think would work in a diner, not what I expected for a place with such character. And the desert was boring! My 1 year old could have thrown ice-cream and syrup in a cup, 5 dollars is WAY overpriced. I really, really wanted to like this place. And I would have come again for the atmosphere despite the overpriced desert if I hadn't felt so hassled into buying more!

    (1)

  • jason m.

    I would give it five stars but they kicked me out once for trying to play chess. Coffee? Dessert? Chess? It seemed reasonable and patriotic to me, but they wouldn't have it. Maybe the liabilty would just be too high? Perhaps something even more sinister? Satan? But, the coffee, desserts, art and overall unkemptness make me love this place in an Edward Scissorhands kind of way. Maybe if I arrive in my invisble jet I can play chess with Wonder Woman on our invisble board?

    (4)

  • Katie E.

    I love this place. It was a large part of my teenage years. I will always feel a little misty-eyed when I think about it. The desserts and coffee are good and it's open super late. The decorating is very "keep Portland weird." A great place to hang out and bullshit.

    (5)

  • Carissa W.

    Rimsky's is another coffee house in a converted Victorian house, but it's a Portland favorite. Named for the Russian composer Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, it features music on most nights. The desserts are delicious and inventive, and the drinks are desserts in themselves. This place is awesome for friends, dates, and anything else. It has an all-are-welcome family vibe, perhaps because the same family has been running it since forever. It's also great to hit up this place for some caffeine before heading to Holocene several blocks away. Several of the tables have secrets, which you'll just have to discover because giving them away here would take away the fun. O.k., I will say this: groups should get the large circular table in the back room, and stay put for awhile...muah ha ha!

    (5)

  • Christine S.

    How do I give zero stars???????? I'm going to do my best to try to keep this clean because all I want to do right now is start SWEARING. I CANNOT believe the God awfully horrible service I had here. The waiter and waitress may as well have spit in our faces. Okay here's the scene: my friend and I walk in with our laptops and sit down on a couch. We set our laptops on the table and do not open them. A little time goes by as we try to catch a servers eye and they completely ignore us...there is only one other customer mind you. Our intentions were to order coffee and food and dessert or just coffee and dessert but never the less we were potentially paying customers. So we say "hi, do you think we could grab a menu from you?" The girl says " That couch is reserved for parties of four or more." We say "okay, well if one comes in we will happily move to a smaller table." There is still no menu given as she walks away. The waiter passes by several times and never asks us what we want. After about 12 minutes without another word from them we walk out and head down to 3 friends coffee house (which rocks by the way.) I will never recommend this place to any living soul. I hate you Rimsky-Korsakoffee waiter and waitress!

    (1)

  • Adam C.

    so the deserts are really good. i won't argue with that. and the decor is otherworldly. it's fun the first few times you go but then it just becomes a weird place kids like to hang out at after their prom. if the service was anything other than nonexistant and they tried to be a little more welcoming and a little less creepy then i'd...well no, i probably wouldn't go back. this is the place you take people when your brain isn't coming up with anything interesting and then once you're there you wish it would have been working better.

    (2)

  • Edward J.

    I love tea, and this is my new favourite tea place on the southeast. My boyfriend and I got a pot of green tea. And my friend Chantelle and her boyfriend Dillan got some baked goods and hot chocolates and a pot of jasmine tea. They also have a piano in there. If there were lesser people I would've played a song or two. Overall, its a real cute place for after meal hang out. They also have classical music performances.

    (4)

  • Gina Kathleen G.

    Had a lovely time here! The dessert and the atmosphere were fantastic. I also thoroughly enjoyed the bathroom. Check it out and you'll know what I mean.

    (4)

  • Ms. M.

    This is a VERY classic Portland eccentric coffee/dessert place -- it's just as all the reviewers describe it. Rather slow service, kooky decor, but good and interesting things to eat! When I went with a friend, we swore we heard it opened at 7pm, but it looked like it was dark and locked when we got there. We waited for half an hour with 4 other people who assured us that sometimes they just open late. And they were right. It was kinda spooky to be sitting in front of a rather delapidated house wondering whether someone was going to come and serve us warm desserts on that cold night, but it was worth it. A fond memory and a definitely interesting place to visit!

    (3)

  • alanna m.

    I have always loved this place, its is so weird and fun. Very Portland. The service is always quirky, pleasant and genuine. The desserts are fantastic and the space is a riot. Good times.

    (4)

  • Marc A.

    This was absolutely the worst experience I have had in Portland in a while. All I wanted was a dessert and instead I got a 20 minute wait at a table without a single server taking my order or even acknowledging my existance. Not to mention I had to sit across the room from a gaggle of high schoolers; this is definitely not the place to go for selection, service, and ambiance.

    (1)

  • Jean C.

    Not quite what I remembered from high school, but still a nice cozy place to have a cup of tea and a yummy dessert. Reminds you that you are indeed in Portland. Very funky.

    (4)

  • Corr M.

    Kooky coffee-tea-dessert house with beautiful live music and quirky staff. I go for the dense yummy hot fudge in "the rock that goes to pieces". They are often out of the specials on the back of the menu- but hey just order something else delicious on the front :).

    (4)

  • Kelly M.

    I tend to group Rimsky's and the Pied Cow together in my mind. They are both dimly lit and eclecticly decorated coffee and dessert localities occupying old houses in southeast Portland that stay open late and have somewhat of a cult following in certain circles in Portland. There are, however, a few things that set Rimsky's apart. It is a collectively-run business; they have live music, I've heard classical piano and flamenco guitar here; they have a couple "crazy tables": one slowly, and almost imperceptibly moves up and down while the other rotates at a snail's pace. Note down the address--Rimsky's is one of those Portland legacy that still doesn't have a sign out.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth E.

    I have fond memories of the late evening chats I had with friends over a warm beverage or dessert in this fantastic coffee house. The converted Victorian is rich with unique character. Bring a date, a best friend or two, or your out-of-town guest.

    (5)

  • Chris O.

    Very, very cool vibe here. Along with the delicious drinks and desserts, the wait stuff was fun/lively. Bring cash. Raspberry chocolate fool = yum.

    (4)

  • Nancy L.

    Eclectic, fun atmosphere. Delicious desserts and coffee drinks. A great place to hang out and chat with friends.

    (5)

  • Kathleen B.

    The first time I had dessert here, I was blown away. I had some kind of brownie-peppermint ice cream combo, and it was awesome. I went back recently and the dessert selection was not as expansive as I remember, but I am sticking with my five-star rating. The decorations in this old victorian house are really cool; make sure you check out the bathrooms especially. This is a fantastic place to have a cozy chat with friends/family over dessert and a hot beverage.

    (5)

  • summer x.

    delicious chai. the waiter was so cute, he made a song about bills and change. i like the atmosphere and the staff was quite friendly..the desserts / icecream was fantastic!!! i love the music playing too..next time i am coming back in victorian attire...

    (4)

  • daisy s.

    This place is fantastic. In an converted victorian, it's barely signed form the outside. Inside you'll find alphabetically-themed dessert and drink menus, a grand piano, and lots of cosy tables. Kick off your shoes and spend an evening here!

    (5)

  • DeathandFood H.

    Want to experience "Portland"? Forget about watching Portlandia (which I still haven't seen) and come here. I went with Portland local who cautioned me on how slow the service would be-slower they said then even the usual Portland slow. However service wasn't slow at all. From the gent that greeted us within seconds of entering to the same gent who sang us a song when he gave us the bill, service was a breeze. The Portland friends even complimented our other server on how fast things were and she said it was the second time that night that someone had said something. So perhaps it was a happy fluke. The drinks are delicious with a warm cider with caramel and lots of tea choices. The desserts aren't avant-garde but boy were they delicious too. The chocolate mousse was rich and divine. The raspberry fool was light and airy. The space is quirky and sadly not accessible. The bathroom is a trip in terms of decor but also on the second floor.

    (4)

  • Crystal D.

    Came here after our Dinner for dessert and coffee with my family. The servic was slow but we were in no hurry as we were enjoying looking at everything around us and just visiting! We all got something different and tried bites from everyone's. I thought they were all very delicious! Coffee and tea was very good! My favorite was the mixed berry Crisp. We also got Chocolate Mousse( extremely rich) but ohhhh sooo good! We liked this place much better then dessert at Papa Hayden's as it was quirky and fun! Bathroom did need some attention though a bit dirty but the place was packed and they only have the one.

    (4)

  • Kara H.

    Romantic and tasty! First the atmosphere is the coolest, mood lighting and decor is cute but the tables that move by themselves are awesome! One turns, another moves up and down, and the bathroom is painted like its underwater with feet dangling through the ceiling! Service is friendly, perhaps a little slow but it's dessert if you're in a hurry you're not doing it right. Order the raspberry fool and the chocolate cake, they're perfect for sharing with someone special.

    (5)

  • Stefany V.

    Places like this make me understand the comparisons between Portland and Austin: this is definitely a place you'd find there. From the kooky décor, to the personal-home setting, to the cacophonous music, this place transported me back home to the south Texas capital. BF found this place by searching for Russian food- and once he saw a photo of the menu, his sweet tooth insisted we go that very evening. I'm not big on coffee or desserts, but liked the experience of going. We ordered a double cappuccino, a chai tea, and the raspberry fool. I felt like a fool ordering it, as I had no idea what it was, but everyone gives it rave reviews. Luckily, the lovely lady working explained that it was a layered thick mouse with whipped cream, similar to a custard. It was also served with a bit of chocolate on top, and rasperries and fruit glaze. It was delicious- not overwhelmingly sugary sweet, but not my thing as a non-dessert person. I could definitely appreciate it though, and my BF adored it. I'm pretty sure he got high on it. The double capp was amazing and perfect, the chai tea was one of the best I've had- flavor was balanced, right amount of milk, temperature allowed me to drink it right when it was served. The piano musician is part of the experience- he is clearly very technically talented, but his personal style is very loud. Luckily he rotates between pianos so that you get a break and a chance to talk with your companions. Service was a bit busy despite the fact that they didn't pick up until a bit later when we left. All menu items we tried were perfect, Zagat rating is surprising but not unwarranted. PS, definitely go upstairs to visit the bathroom for a second.

    (4)

  • Libby C.

    Rimsky's is seriously a Portland classic. A friend and I brought my out-of-town boyfriend to Rimsky's last weekend. We got there right when it opened, so we had our pick of the tables, and obviously we picked one of the fun ones. Since there were only three of us, we couldn't justify picking the large one that spins, so we picked the little one that went up and down. When we sat down, the table was at our chests. We drank our coffee and ate out desserts. Next thing you know, the table was resting on our knees. It probably dropped 18 inches. The table moved so slowly you wouldn't really notice it until it had changed a ridiculous amount. As always, the desserts and coffee were fantastic. The atmosphere is phenomenal, so head down to Rimsky's one weekend. It's the unmarked Victorian house.

    (5)

  • Sj S.

    This place is a total blast a must see for any visitor to PDX food atmosphere and service all off the charts great

    (5)

  • Jesselah M.

    This place is the true Portland experience. I always bring my out of town friends to this ice cream/coffee shop. The best word to describe Rimsky's is - eclectic! The bathroom is scary but the music is classy. The food is yummy but sometimes the service is slow. It has an overall musical theme but the dishes and cloth napkins are mismatched. You can't go wrong with the Raspberry Fool dessert but they sometimes run out of the most popular items so don't get their too late! Couldn't give them a 5 star because sometimes I'm waiting too long for my food and my check. Overall, a must go in PDX!

    (4)

  • Breanna C.

    The dessert was great (raspberry fool) & the ambiance is unique, however I wish I could say the same about the service. I'd hate for my first review to be a bad one but I felt like everyone should know this.. If you have 2 or even 3 hours to spare then this is your place. If not, then stay clear!! Don't get me wrong, the server we had was awesome. But we literally waited in increments of 30 minutes for everything. By 30 minutes I mean, took 30 minutes to get our order, 30 minutes to get our dessert, took 30 minutes to get our bill.. Took so long we didn't even wait to get our change. Instead we asked a table next to us for change so we could go home!! We tried giving them the benefit of a doubt thinking there was only one server doing everything, but the wait was just ridiculous. Partially as to why i gave this place 2 stars.. Because of the wait time not because of the service!

    (2)

  • Lindsay F.

    CASH ONLY I will admit this is the first place I have been that is cash only! The food was amazing! We got the raspberry fool and the brownie fudge and Icecream desserts. I also got hot spiced cider! All delicious and will definitely return (with cash).

    (5)

  • Destiny B.

    This a house turned sit-down cafe in a very depressed area of Portland. It's across from a park where homeless congregate with their carts, and next to a forlorn Plaid Pantry. As we walked up the steps of the house-cafe, it was hard not to notice that the steps were strewn with trash. It looked as if someone had dumped a waste bin -- very odd. We approached the door only to discover a charming handwritten sign posted, announcing that they were a cash and check only establishment. Cash and check only, in 2014. For a sit-down cafe. To top it off, they advised to "take heart" -- we could walk to the Plaid Pantry next door, get cash out of their ATM, and then return to the cafe. Because there's nothing at all broken about that user experience. We did indeed walk to the wretched Plaid Pantry, retrieve cash, walk back, over the trashed steps, into the cafe and stood there for a moment in the foyer. It was dark and morose inside; we noticed a server waiting on a table in a connected room. Something just made us turn around, get back in our car and find another venue. We did. Palio House in the Ladd's Addition neighborhood. Completely and utterly antithetical to this place.

    (1)

  • Lauren A.

    This is the most unique tea shop I've ever been to. The bathroom probably is, also. You have to go, but be ready to see wierd, maybe scary things in there, depending on what your tolerance is for that kind of thing. There was a fellow playing numerous instruments quite well that I found to be quite lovely. The tea was quality, and the brownie/fudge/ice cream combo was worth every last calorie. So good, I'm still dreaming of it from last night. I look forward to taking more guests here from out of town, and having a few dates here, too!

    (5)

  • Dan H.

    Finally had a chance to go here. I always forget that this place is here. Most people not in the know don't even know it exists. That was the case with the group I was with. Sue and some of our friends were out celebrating a birthday and after sushi we wanted to get some dessert. We were trying and trying to figure out a place on Division as that is where we were and Division is a mecca of eating establishments these days. We came up with the usual suspects, but the birthday girl wasn't feeling any of them. After a quick Yelp (you saved the day again) search, Rimsky-Korsakoffee came up and I said a hearty "yes" to that one. I sold it to the birthday girl and all of us headed over. It was very busy on a Sunday evening. The place is not large. Set in what looks to be a former house, you walk in the door, grab a menu and take a seat. There is a piano in the main room and there was a gentleman playing. It brought some class to the joint. The dessert menu (I think that is all they have here) is dominated by ice cream type dishes. Things like brownie sundaes and banana splits. They have carrot cake, cheesecake and other things on special. You can also get coffee drinks, hot cocoa or hot cider. Everything one would need to satisfy their sweet tooth. I went with the Raspberry Fool ($5.75) as that is apparently the dessert they are known for. On the menu it says they run out early so I didn't expect they would have it on the night we were there as we got in the door a bit late. I was happy to find out that they did. There are raspberries involved (in this and a few of their other desserts). There is pot de creme involved. There are more raspberries. There is cream. There is heaven. I am glad I tried it first. It was very good, but next time I think I'll try my luck with one of the ice cream dishes. Sue had the brownie sundae and she enjoyed it, but it was a bit on the big side for her. They are cash only. We did not know that before entering, but luckily some of us carry the paper around with us still. A really nice experience and definitely very Portland.

    (4)

  • Vivian H.

    My Portland-native friend pointed me to this crazy little coffeeshop for my PDX weekend, and what a ride it was! There was already a handful of people waiting outside before they opened. All they serve are coffees, teas, and a long list of scrumptious desserts. We had the raspberry trifle (forget what they called it) which was light and went well with our drinks. I advise you get there early, bc we were only there for like 30 mins and they ran out of some menu options. The place is decorated with basically whatever they found in the flea market it seemed, no reason or rhyme to it. And little xmas lights. The restroom is like a little house of horrors. Why would you put a lil guy in a boat in a bathroom with the lights off? C'MON NOW.

    (3)

  • Tiffany C.

    General tips: - Come here at night for a more... shall we say, interesting experience. Take care on the stairs and make sure to look up as you're heading up the stairs ;) - Do not go to the bathroom alone at night unless you're a veteran of being terrified out of your wits. Am I just a wuss here? I almost had my friend stay in the bathroom with me I was so nervous. - Leave something to mark your visit under the glass on your dining table! There's a couple tables with huge stashes of random ticket stubs, pictures, and other memorabilia that people have left behind. - And of course, try the raspberry fool that people have mentioned. It's definitely on the sweeter side, so you might want to pair it with a coffee to round it out!

    (4)

  • Jozef G.

    Horrible. After one bite of the peach cobbler (today's special), I felt sick to my stomach. Same can be said for my dining companions after their tastes of the raspberry fool and banana split. The best part about this place is the water, but don't expect it with ice--they don't have any.

    (1)

  • Philip W.

    the place is cute and *very* cozy, nice ambiance, old Victorian aesthetic. simple menu too. the service was slow, which is somewhat expected in such a place. the people next to me did not sit at a clean table and sat waiting for 40 minutes. sitting at a clean table is one of the many things they tell you to do, along with a $4 minimum purchase on weekends, a tip for the musicians, and cash only purchases. it took a while for our orders to be taken but the desert was delicious. a bit overpriced for the small amount I got though. at the end, my party of 4 was given one check and we were not checked on for over 20 minutes, and when we asked for serrated checks, our waitress was rude and reprimanded us but said she would because we were nice. I tried my best to be patient because I know it's a small, local cafe that's bustling and quite old fashioned, but nonetheless I was not impressed with the service! so.. -bring cash - atm at Plaid Pantry next door -sit at a clean table so they know you haven't been helped -do not be in a hurry -be prepared for the very cozy, small environment

    (2)

  • April E.

    I'm not sure why people are giving this place bad reviews. This place is great! It's quiet, relaxing and soooo Portland. Yes the house is dark, it's a turn of the century house for christ's sake. It's very quarky and that gives it character. This ambiance is great! I had the lemon mousse cake and my friend had the creme de pot. Both were delicious! There's not better place to spend an evening...sitting on the porch, sipping your coffee and indulging in everything sweet!

    (4)

  • Joyce O.

    "What the *bleep*?!" was my first reaction to this place. It's like going to your grandmother's house whose house you suspect might be haunted. I came here on a whim when searching on Foursquare for a late night spot that serves dessert near my hood. When I first drove past this place I wasn't too sure if my GPS had messed up and sent me to someone's spooky ol' house, but when I saw the neon 'Open' sign I knew I was at the right place. What an eerie place this is at first glance. Especially if you're visiting for the first time at night. It was dark and rainy when I visited so I was a bit unsure about it until I got inside. Think your grandmothers house meets American Horror Story (season 1) with a Portland twist. There's a spooky weird vibe that radiates in this place, but I think I like it! Chamomile tea & a slice of Mocha Fudge cake is what I ordered which was a mouthgasm galore! This place is a hidden gem! I will be back.

    (4)

  • Kailyn J.

    Keep trying to come back here because I love their dessert. I just can't do it. The service is horrendous (the people are very very nice though), they've messed up my order almost every single time, or forget to bring something out that I've ordered. The wait is outstanding. Multiple times I end up getting my water and coffee with my meal, which is upsetting when you have to wait 20-40 minutes for a dessert.

    (1)

  • Nell O.

    We've visited Rimsky's several times over the last couple of years, and it has definitely lost its appeal. The desserts are mediocre, the once-cute bathroom is now filthy, and the place seems mismanaged. Nice idea, but now a hipster has-been joint.

    (1)

  • Julie W.

    Very good! Had a lovely orange mocha (with orange scented sugar made on site) and a slice of a delicious flourlrss chocolate cake of some kind. Pleasant atmosphere that is dim and intimate. Was therefore less interested in the musician beginning to play, so I took it as a cue to depart. (But perhaps it was amazing!) Bring cash and expect a rustic shabbiness. Some chairs are broken and some tables may lean, but it is nonetheless lovely.

    (5)

  • Coleman Q.

    Classic hip little Portland place. Serves coffee and desserts. I always come here on dates for dessert. They have live music which is amazing. Sometimes piano sometimes guitar. I'm always a sucker for that kind of stuff. All the tables are really cool and each are unique on their own. Check out the bathroom upstairs. Seriously, go do it even if you don't need to pee. The service is not fast, but its a popular place and in reality the slow service seems like its kind of how it should be. If you're in a hurry don't go here but if you are looking to spend time with friends and enjoy someones company while enjoying dessert? This is the place for you.

    (5)

  • Audrey G.

    It took a bit to get served. But the desert was so worth it. The coffee not so much. But hey perfection is something that is hard to achieve. I took a friend from out of town here and I will be back on cheat days from my Paleo diet. I haven't tried the raspberry fool yet but I really want to. For a first date as a added side note, this place checks most of the boxes.

    (4)

  • Monique C.

    I enjoy bringing tourists here - can't beat the raspberry fool and creepy ambiance.

    (5)

  • Cam-An N.

    I loved this place because it was "so Portland" to me. It's located in what looks like a house and from the outside I thought it was a psychic reader's shop. The decor is very interesting. I had the apple crisp and it was delicious! Bathroom was interesting :) Let's just say I uttered some expletives when I walked in. And if you're lucky to sit at a special table, it will be an extra interesting experience :)

    (5)

  • Angela D.

    This place was mentioned several times when I was looking for weird places to visit on my trip to Portland. Yes the place is weird... the desserts were not that great, the service was almost non existent, the piano player was talented, and the tea was really good . I'm glad I saw it... Once. I don't think I'd return and I certainly wouldn't tell anyone they had I check it out.

    (2)

  • Kristen M.

    CHECK OUT THEIR BATHROOM! THE "bathroom" shouldn't be the only reason why you are visiting this place! (Sorry I've built so much anticipation, but you've got to see the bathroom for yourself!!! I don't want to spoil it for you =P) I must clarify though that you will NOT be going to the bathroom for food poisoning or anything of that nature here. Rimsky-Korsakoffee House is known for their DESSERTS and although their menu may seem a bit simple, once you consume their stuff, you'll be wondering what took you so long to get here! [decor] They say "Keep Portland WEIRD" ............. and I think the decor here totally embodies that. One would think this place is a home from the outside, but they've converted this historical, Victorian home into a restaurant or chill hang out spot. Kitschy, mismatched furniture, eerie or creeper status photos on glass tables and, random doodle notebooks. It's gaudy and decorated as if you're in someone's hippie lounge. [devour] *MARIONBERRY COBBLER ($5.75) a la mode (add an additional $1.50) ( yelp.com/biz_photos/rims… ) *SALTED TOASTED COCONUT CARAMEL SUNDAE ($5.75) ( yelp.com/biz_photos/rims… ) *FROZEN LEMON MOUSSE PIE with raspberries ($5.75) ( yelp.com/biz_photos/rims… ) *CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY FOOL ($5.75) ( yelp.com/biz_photos/rims… ) All of the desserts may look simple, but Jennifer Krahn, the brains behind the delicious pieces of confectionary delights, makes them quite extraordinary! I would say that you can't go wrong with ordering any of the desserts here. They're probably all a **4-5 STARS** kinda deal. Just go with what you're craving for. Everything that I had tried that night was impressive. My personal fave was the cobbler and my fellow grubbers seemed to agree as well. FYI = -Open LATE (1 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, but Midnight on other days) -Check out weekly specials on whiteboard by the lobby -Great to hang out with friends or on a date for coffee and/or dessert -Loose leaf teas (by the pot) available -Coffee, hot chocolate, and spiced cider also available -ALL desserts are $5.75, UNLESS noted otherwise -Live music on weekend nights -Parking on the street or nearby neighborhood streets -Service was GREAT. Our server was hilarious! -CASH OR CHECKS ONLY So, they only have one bathroom. It's upstairs. Check it out and let me know what you think ;) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR DESSERTS Yelp 2013 100+ Reviews Challenge (going for 200!) - Review #155

    (4)

  • Swathi D.

    My fav is the chocolate raspberry fool . I wish they add more raspberries though. My friend ordered the hot fudge brownie sundae, he loved it!! Very interesting place. The decor is beautiful inside and there's live music too. I like the fact that it is open late. I wonder how old this place is.

    (5)

  • Amanda G.

    Rimsky Koffee House is always an interesting experience. We went on a Monday night, late, and there were hardly any people. The dessert quality is average and pricing fair. Someone else reviewed that it is something keeping "Portland Weird", and I'd agree. Id been here a handful of times in high school as well, but more on weekends, when the atmosphere is more lively. I enjoy the quirky decor and plates used for the dishes. Don't have expectations for much, as it won't be as you think. Service is slower, but that kind of fits the entire atmosphere. I love that they are open super late.

    (3)

  • Ramona C.

    As " YIPSTER" lofts are practically built overnight and the Portland architectural landscape gentrifies before our very eyes, some things that made Portland still remain. One of Portland's very first "coffeehouses" back in day, since 1980 it still exists in a haunted turn of century craftsman-style house with a world famous bathroom. Prior to the internet-yelp generation the only way you knew of it was because "someone who knew" told you .. there was no sign, no posted posted phone number, it was truly a hidden treasure. Sure there might be newer, maybe shinier, more posher places in town, but a late night dessert/tea while listening to wonderful classical musicians at the eclectic Rimsky-Korsakoffee House is quintessential Portland. This place has been delightfully WEIRD way before a bumper sticker told you so.

    (5)

  • Nick H.

    I like this place, it has the "Portland look," relaxed environment, and is open till midnight. Fair prices, around $6, unlike some of the fancy dessert places around here. I got the banana split sundae and it was amazing, but I will try something else next time. See the pictures. Oh CASH ONLY. And check out the BATHROOMS, I won't spoil the fun of it by posting a picture.

    (5)

  • Yannie Y.

    [+] One of the few coffee places that open late. Very cozy. I didn't get any dessert although many have said it's delicious. Ordered the Cafe Borgia (mocha with orange); very yums! sooo... I came here after 10pm on a Sunday, I guess not very many people goes to coffee places that late at night... I was able to get the round table that seats like 5+ people- you know, the one with the comfy couch. If you EVER get the opportunity to grab that location, DO IT. Sit there for at least 30+ minutes and tell me if you notice anything. 0.o After your mocha or drink- go use the bathroom. It's a must. Now tell me how you feel. [-] Service was meh, maybe because it was late and we were super quiet. We didn't get that much attention. Waited like 5+ minutes before we even got a greeting. [?] Next time I go there, I will need to try their desserts to go with my mocha. Did I mention it's a CASH ONLY business? Yeah, bring cash or else, no food for youuuuu.

    (4)

  • Ashley D.

    "Very strange" are the only words that could describe this place. My group and I just happened to come here at 9pm because we needed our coffee fix. This is an old house that isn't surrounded by much. When walking in, you aren't greeted by anyone. We were confused about what to do( seat ourselves or wait to be seated?) we saw the sign that suggested we sit at a clean table. The only problem is that it was packed on a Saturday night. So, we waited for like 10-15 for some people to get up. After sitting down and waiting for someone to clean the table off, there about another 10 minute wait. I was starting to have sown doubts about Id we should stay. Then, the waiter came to take our order. He wasn't particularly friendly but hilarious. He most sang to us, which was amazing. He was very knowledgable about the menu items (double plus). In the group, we got a Mexican mocha, the mixed tea, and the peppermint tea. It wasn't fantastic but it was pretty tasty! Another weird part was the bathroom. Upstairs was creepy and the bathroom was abnormal. Experience this for yourself hahaha

    (4)

  • Tien D.

    Okay, so this place is not in the best part of town. You'll see sketchy looking people walking around the streets in broad daylight, jay walking, and doing whatever else sketchy people like to do. While trying to find this place, a homeless man was walking in the middle of the street in front of our car. Even after he saw us behind him, he continued to walk slowly in the middle of the street. After we passed him he threw a rock at our car, gave a loud tribal yell and ran away. WTF? But don't let the crazies deter you from visiting Rimsky's. The place is fun and quirky. Of course, visit the bathroom and try not to pee your pants before reaching the toilet! We ordered some coffee, tea, and the Raspberry Fool. I feel like visiting later in the night would have been best for that eerie, beautiful, romantic vibe. We went when the sun was still out and it felt tea time in grandma's attic. My teapot had a chip in the spout, but I didn't mind. It gave it character. I love the mismatched decor though. So unique and different. The shop is right next door to the Plaid and Pantry. So after you see that, be on the lookout! The shop is on a corner, so there is plenty of parking next to the shop. Park close so you don't get shanked by those crazies walking out to your car late at night!

    (4)

  • Connor B.

    I love this place. Have been going here for years. Live music is fun. Quirky decor throughout the home makes for some interesting observations. Both the coffee and tea is very good. Everything on the menu is tasty and is sure to put you right to sleep. Great as a date spot.

    (5)

  • M B.

    Keep portland weird. Most restaurants, coffee houses or whatever think this means buying $50 of crap, tacking it to a wall and talking about how unique and weird they are. I can stand in some random intersections and point to 5 or 6 places that follow the same trend. Come on portland. Anywhoooo...This place is what keep portland weird is about. Driving by I thought it was just some random house. Going in I thought I could possibly get shanked. Its a little sketch. On the inside it's just a house. It is what it is without adding something to try to make it unique. It's odd, it's weird, it's slightly creepy, but it's awesome because of this. We all got deserts. The banana split came out and I went to get a spoonful and my spoon bounced off this hard brown stuff. Wtf I thought. Then I scooped in harder and found an awesome almost taffy like chocolate covering one scoop. The naner split was caramel-y and delicious. "Best banana split in portland" might be right. The rest of the group ate their deserts before I even got a chance to sample. All rated their deserts as great. The odd bathroom scared my 5 year old a little but was great and definitely unique. I won't give it away. The odd oboe, flute, clarinet trio was totally unexpected but fit perfectly with the mood of the place. The servers were very nice and authentic without some portland "my poop don't stink" attitude. They seemed to just be themselves and we're enjoying what they were doing. Thank you all for having a truly unique, quirky, tasty and authentically weird place. Loved everything about it....plus I didn't get shanked, so win win!

    (5)

  • Anthony A.

    I'm sold, and I only came in for a cup of coffee. As someone who thrives on surprises, I didn't read any reviews before coming here - I just knew I had to come to a coffee house named after one of the Russian Five. Hell, I even had a cat named Rimsky. Walking in the door was quite confusing for me. I expected a bar, maybe some post-romantic expressionist music, or maybe event some Mozart Quartets to create some ambience. Opening the door, I encountered a staircase, a couple rooms with tables, an awesome classical guitarist. So after walking up and down the stairs in search of the bar, I sat myself down and waited a few minutes; enjoying this hybrid of Viennese Coffee House (slow, kurt table service) with the "weird" Portland artsyness (in an old house, local/handmade decor). With the exception of the server, everyone here is just happy. I only had coffee (which was terrible and could only be taken with cream and sugar) took quite a few minutes; something normal in Austria, but undesireable in the States. At first I was bemused by the service, but after enough time waiting for a refill, and 10 minutes to get my check for ... one coffee ... I grew disappointed with the scatterbrained and aloof server, though a cute drawing was included with the bill. Also, please ALWAYS assume that customers need change; I felt like the server took extra time to see if I would leave without getting change. Instead, I nearly left without paying the bill. The difference between a couple bucks is good, honest service. I'm so tempted to leave no TIP, but that's against my principles. Menu is handmade, hard to read, but still rad. No one really listens to the classical guitarist. Watching the server, I see the desserts look awesome. When I flipped the light on in the bathroom, the "decoration" scared the shit out of me... loved it! This place is all about mood; be prepared to spent a LOT of time here. Service blows, the music is "okay," coffee is terrible, but the atmosphere is great. Even giving it 3 stars, I plan on going back, but not to order a black coffee!

    (4)

  • Jessica K.

    A visit to Portland would be woefully incomplete without a visit to this quirky little dessert and coffee place. It's all about character here with a fun (albeit slightly slow) staff and mismatched furniture. The live music is a great touch. I like their coffee and LOVE the delectable desserts. The raspberry fool was so good we all stole a bite from our companion when she wasn't looking. It also makes an exceptional date place. Bonus: You can find out how brave they are by sending them to the bathroom to see if they survive the pee of terror!

    (5)

  • Katie M.

    This place is so kooky! I have been coming here for years and still love it. I swear you can only find it at night when it's lit up. The desserts and tea (my husband said the coffee was very good) are always interesting and top notch. Keep up the kooky!

    (5)

  • Kendle C.

    Fabulous atmosphere. I ordered a single cappuccino, which was plain and perfect! My date ordered a triple Coffee Sunday of sorts. Amazing. Coffee ice cream, Irish cream topping with coffee sprinkles. Which if you were to ask me were the real winner. Was more than enough to feed the both of us.

    (5)

  • Jeremy P.

    How do you tell the difference between quirky and obnoxious? That's something I can't answer, but at Rimsky's, they seem to make a living out of being both. Finding the place is a little obnoxious. It looks just like a normal old house, with a small sign on the front door window that says "Rimsky's." You could drive by it several times before you realize there's a business there. Once you're in there and you're seated at one of the composer-themed tables (we got the Schubert table), you're provided a hand-scrawled menu with a dozen or so desserts and a dozen or so drink options. The composer-themed tables may have been my favorite aspect of this place, although I didn't notice any Debussy tables or Dvorak tables or even a Schumann table. The waitress was obnoxious, although if the place were a little more bustling at the time (we got there pretty close to the time it opened), I can see how it could seem a little more quirky. I suspect she also made the drinks and desserts, because she disappeared, and only reappeared to deliver the goods. The dessert itself was OK, I guess. My brownie fudge sundae was average ice cream on an average brownie, covered with average fudge. I suppose when it comes to brownie sundaes, it is still delicious with average ingredients, but that is what I expect when I have a brownie sundae at a large gathering where brownie fudge sundaes are being served to a herd of guests. The hand-written message on the receipt, the meaning of which is unknown to me, is on the border between quirky and obnoxious. Maybe it was just bizarre. The bathroom was definitely quirky. I mean, how often can you stand their peeing, and look over to see an excerpt from Proust just staring at you?

    (3)

  • Mary B.

    I sincerely love this place. Beautiful ambience, fantastic/funny waiters, and delicious tea and treats. My favorite is the lemon-raspberry frozen delight, but we also like the brownie sundae. The ambiguity tea is especially yummy. We'll keep coming back. It's also a great place to take out-of-town relatives too. And the live music adds to the wonderful whimsy.

    (5)

  • Feren Y.

    What an awesome hideout! I would not know this existed if locals hadn't taken me here. This dessert heaven is located in a very old looking house, when you walk in there are usually not many tables available so make sure you are quick. The night I went there was a guitar player, place was packed but luckily a group of people were just leaving so I made sure I bagged the spot right away. We had to find a few extra chairs and some of them were a bit dodgy. The cool thing about this place is that not every matches but that makes it a bit quirky and fun. Some of the tables play tricks on you and the bathroom is a must check out! We got several desserts and honestly they were all quite good and homey. Dont expect the presentation to be too fancy here but the homey-ness, price and quirky/creepy (depends what you like) is worth a visit.

    (4)

  • Phuong B.

    Fantastic hipster tea house. Hands down best brownie Sunday in Portland. Perfect complement to a cup of mint tea, always a crowd pleaser. Check out their bathroom for a good little surprise and make sure to sit at the big round table, heard it's haunted ..... ;)

    (5)

  • Laryssa N.

    I have been here twice, once on a Friday and once on a tuesday. What a difference the days make! I'm Friday I went with a group of gal pals who knew to be there right when they opened or it would be packed. Right they were! Even so the atmosphere was wonderful, live music, laughter and good conversation. The decor is brilliant and I am drawn to spooky places and this coffee house was A plus. I had an espresso that was great. The second time I went on a Tuesday, it was not crowded at all and it was still a very pleasant experience. Our waiter was the best waiter I have ever had anywhere. He sang for us rapped a little and had some pretty good coffee puns. The coffee with orange was soooooo good holy cow and the sundae literally fell from heaven onto the table. This is the kind of place I want to take all my friends to share the quirky and fun environment. 10/10 spooky as heck lovely as heck

    (5)

  • Dian K.

    This is what you do: 1 You bring unassuming out town guests, make them drink lots of liquid beforehand so you can be assured that they will need to use the bathroom. I'm sure you have lots of things to catch up on, so chit chat until they need to use the bathroom. 2. Sit at one of those funky tables, the ones that continuously rotate slowly and see if they notice. 3. Have a chai or two, this will help to achieve #1. They have the best chai ever!! 4. Smile as they talk about their bathroom experience. :)

    (4)

  • Kerry L.

    Went out for dessert at Rimsky. Ordered drinks then never saw our server again until we had to ask around. Terrible service. Small portions. We were still eating when a buss boy came around and tried to clear our plates! Turned all the lights on and told everyone to leave. How rude! Will not be going back.

    (1)

  • Code M.

    Quintessential Portland -- Good desserts too

    (5)

  • Saawan P.

    The Raspberry Fool and Chocolate Fudge Sundae were good! Ambiance was also nice, live piano player, and it was very unique. I will be back as it is one of my favorite places in Portland.

    (5)

  • Angela D.

    I. Love. This. Place. Whenever I pay homage to my birth-city, I absolutely have to vist Rimsky's. Rimsky's and Powell's. First thing you should know is that it is in a house. Yes, a house. It is very non-descript and I suggest you Google street view the address before you go. It's all street parking and diffficult to find at night if you don't know what you're looking for. Second, there are two tables at which you should try to sit: (1) the one that is taller or shorter than all the other tables and (2) if your group is larger than 6, the biggest table in the room straight ahead from the entrance (aka not the main room). Thirdly, as many reviewers have mentioned before, the bathroom is worth a visit so make sure everone checks it out. As far as the menu goes, I always go for the Raspberry Fool, but their coffee and teas are good as well. You really can't go wrong, everyone that I've taken there has enjoyed whatever they ordered. Don't forget, it's CASH ONLY. In summary, Rimsky's is a very chill and awesome place to relax and catch up with old friend and listen to live music. Be sure to tip the performers! CASH ONLY. (Just in case you missed it the first time.)

    (5)

  • Ev'Yan N.

    Worst. Service. Ever. Perhaps in all of Portland. I honestly don't know why I keep coming here. Maybe it's because I continue to hold onto hope that "next time" it'll be different (i.e., less terrible). Or maybe it's because this is one of the only places in the short distance from my place that offers coffee treats & desserts late at night. Or maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment. Whatever it might be doesn't really matter, as every time I come to Rimsky I am always astounded by how horrible the service is. No matter what time of night (just opened or mid "rush hour"), no matter how full or busy (just me + a friend in the entire place or 15 sweet-toothed patrons) the service is deplorable, absolutely, maddeningly gouge-my-eyes-out-with-a-rusty-spoon god-awful. Let me illustrate. I once waited 30 minutes for change to be brought back from my paid check. Thirty minutes. If it hadn't been a $20 & I had only spent $5, I would've just walked out & left a $15 tip. But I wouldn't give them the satisfaction. It once took me & my party 27 minutes before our waitress -- though kind & apologetic -- acknowledged that we had even entered the place. And this was during a non-busy portion of the night (only 10 chairs occupied, including me & my party). And tonight, I saw a fellow, who was so bored of waiting for his money to be taken, walk straight to the kitchen & try to put some bills in someone's (anyone's!) hand so he could finally leave. I'm willing to forgive the tasteless, tacky decor. I'm willing to overlook how poorly they make their coffee drinks (it was here that I had the worst cafe aulait of my life). I'm even willing -- eager even! -- to forget the downright creepy & disturbing bathroom, wherein I'm sure most of my violent nightmares go to die a painful, slow death. But the service? The obnoxiously wretched service has been permanently etched in my mind; so much so that I lovingly call this place Rimsky-Korsacrappy House. (It has a better ring to it, I think.) I notice a lot of people bring their out-of-towner friends here to experience the "quirky" & "weird" side of Portland. To which I say: Only bring your non-local loved ones here if you secretly hate their guts, 'cause I'm pretty sure this place is literally Hell. And I will probably be back.

    (1)

  • Beth H.

    One star is being generous. When we pulled up I was psyched. Cool old house like all of the reviews say. I love unique places like this. I ordered the raspberry fool. Ugh. Terrible. Looked and tasted like it was a few years old. Raspberries were browning and soggy. Just yuck. Weird black goop on top. Maybe chocolate but didn't trust trying it. Liquidy raspberry sauce as well. Gross. Husband got the coffee ice cream dessert. Icy and old as well. Server called him " buck a roo" run away. Run don't walk. Better yet don't go in the first place.

    (1)

  • Paige Z.

    Best place for dessert in Portland. Authentically Portland, especially the East-side. I feel like I am revisiting my childhood when I go there. The servers are amazing people and if you have time to talk to them you'll understand that Rimskys only hires creative geniuses. To truly get a Portland experience that embodies Portland throughout the decades you have to go to Rimsky's. NO WHERE ELSE. Plus a lot of creative Portland fixtures go there. Don't disregard the servers and the creative atmosphere, just appreciate it and understand that is as close as you'll get to knowing Portland throughout the last thirty years.

    (5)

  • Melanie R.

    I honestly expected more from this coffee house based on the Yelp reviews. And it didn't help that we got cranky because we got lost getting there, and had to call a cab. One, there weren't very many people there. Two, there wasn't very much art there, just a lot of garbage hanging from the ceiling and tacky wallpaper. Three, it was cash only and the menu looked pretty ghetto. The cups for our drinks looked like cheap plastic things I would pick up for my house, not a cafe. But I loved the weirdness of the bathroom. And the weirdness is really what attracted me to this place. So two stars more for that, I guess. But I don't think I'll be back the next time I'm in Portland.

    (3)

  • Marna G.

    This is one of the best, oddest, amazing, crazy places ever. The bathroom is off the hook and just so funny. The desserts are fantastic as well as the tea. I am not going to tell you anything else because you have to experience it first hand - but I will tell you that you will be talking about it for years:)

    (5)

  • Maggy B.

    This place is so fun! Dark and weird, but unexpectedly delicious desserts and fun staff. Very laid back feel. Got raspberry fool and some sort of gluten free brownie! Amazing. Will def go back.

    (5)

  • Brook L.

    Jumping for joy over this great find. It was my first time in Portland and this was one of my final stops on my "I promise I'll visit landmarks that don't inspire me to feed my face" tour, 'cept you do eat food here. Dessert. And it's good. And the ambience -- even better. Live classical music, good conversation and a frightening mannequin in the upstairs bathroom. What more do you want before going to bed?

    (5)

  • Pete B.

    Nice desert. Interesting ambiance. Creepy waiter (like, way more creepy than he was intending to be).

    (4)

  • Jason G.

    This place is [insert well deserved superlative]. The raspberry fool does not mess around, it is seriously delicious. I know you're not supposed to come to a place like this for just black coffee, but I didn't feel like tea or a coffee drink so thats what I ordered. It was pretty meh, but my friends cappuccino was really good. She came from out of town and I sent her upstairs to the bathroom. She came back suitably impressed by the place. It's a strange place, but its a delicious place. All of the desserts are super good, and the vibe of the place is pretty one of a kind even in this town.

    (4)

  • Laura A.

    I absolutely adore this place as a Portland local. My daughter goes here with her friends often as well. Very fun, and a neat atmosphere. A nice look into Portland's fun quirkiness!

    (5)

  • Kevin V.

    I love the simplicity of what this place is, coffee and dessert. It's a fun atmosphere with Portland style. A must go to.

    (4)

  • M H.

    Wonderful---eclectic atmosphere and delicious desserts. You are encouraged to stay and enjoy the great music. We will come again!

    (5)

  • Jenni L.

    This place is awesome. I went here last night with a friend, and although it was difficult to find, the second I walked in I knew this was the place for me. It's this gorgeous little victorian that is equal parts spooky and interesting. There are hidden faces peeking out at you all over hidden in the wall art, pictures and even the glass. My friend was texting another one of our friends about the place while we were there and she asked me to describe it. I just told her to tell her that Edgar Allen Poe and Tom Waits both lived here, which looks like it could have been plausable. The waitress was fun as well. She came over to our table and immediately started yelling at us about our order, and then seemed genuinely shocked when we were already ready. She said she really just wanted to come over and scare us, which I give her props for. Any job where you're allowed to yell and intimidate your cutomers for fun is probably pretty interesting. Hopefully not too many people take it seriously. The cappuccinos were superb as well as the hot fudge sundae, which tasted like it was homeade. The icing on the whole trip there, however, was the famous bathroom upstairs. I had heard that the Rimky has the most terrifying bathroom in the area, but I didn't know exactly what to expect until I went in and checked it out for myself. I almost screamed, actually, and I went expecting something. I will definitely be back here soon, it seems like it's a fun place to go with friends or even just take a book and enjoy some coffee.

    (5)

  • Jordan S.

    The food is great, if you ever get a chance to actually get your order taken. The service is absolutely awful. I love this place, and I love the ambiance of it all, but the service is seriously the worst I have ever seen. Yeah, it's super kitschy and hip. Not worth it though. Last time I came here, I literally sat for 35 minutes and I only saw two waitresses, who rarely came out from the back, and I just got up and left because I was fed up with waiting.

    (1)

  • Nik R.

    Very cool experience :) Selections of coffees is good, and the desserts are awesome. The atmosphere is really cool, especially when the table next to you starts spinning for no good reason. And, yeah, check out the restroom, if you have the guts ;)

    (4)

  • Joey Y.

    One of very few coffeehouses that actually open past 5. (Ava in Beaverton opens 24hours.) They converted a regular house into a cozy, unique coffeehouse that serves mean desserts. Coffee is good and all, but their desserts are amazing. The cheesecake literally punched the living daylights out of me. So good. Few things to do while you are here: -Go to the bathroom by yourself. -Stay past 9 to hear live classical music. -Order desserts. -Go to the bathroom again and slap the guy sitting on the canoe. CASH ONLY!

    (4)

  • Matt L.

    All you need to know about this place can be summed up in three words: Chocolate Raspberry Fool. It's absolutely delicious and pretty much sums up your entire experience all with only taking up a minor part of the menu. The eclectic atmosphere is enhanced even more by the eclectic wait staff. They're hilarious, friendly, and real all at once. They're incredibly helpful and fun to be around. The dining area is comfortable and fun. There's so much to see and so many things that can stimulate conversation. This would be a great place for a first date. The prices aren't too bad, but you have to pay in cash. If you go there and forget, there's a Plaid Pantry just down the street, but it's kind of inconvenient. Especially if you go when they first open--they might not have the correct amount of change to break your larger bills. Overall, if you want a fun, quirky dessert experience, this is a fantastic place for you to hit up. It's a hole in the wall, so pay attention or you'll drive right past it, thinking it's just another house in SE Portland. Also, even if you don't have to use the restroom, you should venture up to the second floor. It's just a part of the whole experience. And I don't want to spoil it for you. Go check it out for yourself!

    (3)

  • Robb S.

    The air was hot, humid, and devoid of circulation in the dining room. Although this is purportedly a good place to go on a date, we could barely hear ourselves over the din of the other guests. Something about the decor, low ceilings, and shape of the room, maybe. The tables were less than half seated and the single server on duty was "in the weeds". (Had panic in her eyes, was taking too long, and was messing up orders.) It's obnoxious enough that you have to pay in cash. Square has been out for a while now making it affordable for small businesses. But we accommodated them by stopping first at a bank to get cash. Unfortunately, the waitress didn't accommodate us by accepting our cash because "I don't have any change yet; just twenties." Even the music was poor: simple classical guitar played in a manner lacking dynamics and rhythm. The crowd seemed appreciative, though. Decaf coffee was fine but our mocha was light on the chocolate. We didn't feel justified leaving one star because we never had fear for our personal safety and what's more, they seemed to mean well.

    (2)

  • Chad Or Lisa S.

    Coffee and desserts in a run down old Victorian house. Table service, Live classical music. We need more places like this in that have live music at a coffee house. What makes this place weird is the trip to the bathroom. I am not going to tell you why. You'll just have to experience this for yourselves. I have more to say I will add an addendum later.

    (4)

  • Nina C.

    I started coming here with my mother at the age of 8, and have been coming back ever since. It is a really fun place to bring first timers especially when you sit at one if the special tables, and no one knows but you. :)

    (5)

  • Kirsten V.

    What?...you're telling me I can high five a couple of deceased composers AND have dessert in a cute, quirky little house? This is one of my favorite places. Period.Ever.

    (5)

  • Vi B.

    Coffee shops in Portland are like Chinese people in China - there are a lot of them. So to stand out, each shop kind of has to have that "something special" to keep the city-folks coming back. Rimsky is the kind of place that has a lot of these special little niches, like cute little tables (which used to convulse), couches, and live music (if you're there at the right place at the right time). It's a great place to go with friends when you're looking for a lively (yet intimate) place to sit and chill for an hour or so. I like the fact that it's casual and located in an old house; the waiters/waitresses are pretty blase, but that's expected when you go to a Portland coffee shop that's more hipster than hippy (which this place definitely is). And also, where else can you see lady legs dangling above your head in a bathroom? Besides Dirty Nightclub, that is.

    (4)

  • James W.

    Amazing dessert place. Atmosphere is so comfortable. Old-fashioned decor and a bustling crowd in a lowly lit, yet not dim, room. Live piano player was playing classic and romanic piano pieces. All the desserts looked good. We got the affogato and ice cream brownie sundae. Both were phenomenal. No regrets. Will definitely hit this place again.

    (5)

  • Jeremy J.

    Loved the eclectic atmosphere here. Just a fun place that screams "Portland" and really makes sense to me. The menu, the atmosphere/decor, and the service really just gels here a creates a unique and streamlined experience that really just works The service here was the biggest draw for me. The server was simply hilarious and made our experience 10 times better. Every time he interacted with any of the tables he had me absolutely rolling. The food here was good but not blow your mind amazing. The Raspberry fool was tasty, and between my gf and I we devoured it in about 3 minutes. 4 stars on taste but I thought the presentation of the dessert was a little lacking. My gf also had an almond steamer, which was delicious. I had the Mexicana, which I was a little disappointed in. Basically just a regular mocha with cinnamon dusted over a whipped cream top, but since the whipped cream was so thick that you had to eat it before you could drink the coffee, it was basically just a glorified Plain Jane mocha. Overall the experience of going outweighs everything else, and I would definitely go back (especially to take an out of towner).

    (4)

  • Jennifer J.

    As a Native Portlander, I have been going to Rimsky's since high school in the 80's. It's a great place to satisfy your sweet tooth. The servers are personable and always interesting. My favorite is the Triple Cafe Irish Coffee Ice Cream. I love their tea, and their collection of vintage china and handkerchiefs for their napkins. A must-go! It was hip before hipsters started migrating in droves to Portland! One thing, their restroom used to be a LOT scarier than it is now. Perhaps they went through too much toilet paper when it was too spooky! ;-)

    (5)

  • Elizabeth K.

    I was really disappointed. Went tonight. No music. Sketchy neighborhood. Desserts were ok but not great. No liquor license. No water service unless you ask. The famous raspberry fool was just a big cup of whipped cream and raspberry sauce - underwhelming. If you go just order a hot fudge sundae to be safe. Nothing special.

    (2)

  • C L.

    We had some great desserts. The only weak point was the apple cider. The apple crumble was a decadent dance in my mouth. The raspberry fool was delightful. The chocolate sundae stood up to any great sundae. Try it out it is well worth it you just have to look hard to find it. My Garmin took me there no problem.

    (5)

  • Violet B.

    This place only takes cash which is very inconvenient and selfish of them. And I always forget this so it makes it more inconvenient. But I still come. And the raspberry fool is the best thing in the world. But they always seem to be out when I get there. So sad. I need the recipe so I can avoid all of this.

    (2)

  • jasmine w.

    Recently discovered this place, now a new fav! The trio playing music was awesome. I had a chocolate custard dish that was really rich and good. The bathroom is a trip!

    (5)

  • Vesper H.

    One of my favorite places in Portland - charming and unique, it is definitely a category in of it self. Great place to grab some coffee and dessert after a heavy meal, and the homey atmosphere is ripe for great conversation.

    (4)

  • Kimi P.

    LOVE this place! The ambiance and atmosphere is awesome. Funny thing is that someone told me to go to the bathroom. You should go if you are in Portland. Visit this place - look through the windows (see the faces) - walk around everywhere! Drinks/food - I just had a tea (good), then ate a carrot cake and lemon sorbet. Everything was good. Crowd - Went there Thanksgiving Eve - it was quiet when it first opened (at 7:00p) but started to get crowded around 8:30-9:00p. Staff - Mikey is amazing! Loved him. Funny. Great service. Try to get him as your server =) Would def. come here again.

    (4)

  • Robert S.

    Risky-korsacoffee is a land of many contrasts. Decor and ambiance are top notch. Ever wonder what you'd look like as one of the Undead? Take a picture of yourself in here. Hell, take 50,000 pictures of yourself--you'll be waiting that long for service. Service is quite wretched. No idea what the problem is. But it's total balls, so you'll get a chance to enjoy the music while you wait half an hour. Fortunately, on Tues nights the music is unfailingly excellent. Classical guitar with a wide range of styles and moods. Even works for tango, and maneuvering through the tables will test your skills. Do not order coffee here. It will arrive burnt in a half washed Goodwill cup. Your wife will glare at you. You will both then leave.

    (3)

  • Jessica B.

    Oh Rimsky-Korsakoffee House, you have seen better days. Depressing to come in and see all the employees slouching around the formerly rotating, now broken table. It seems the magic is gone. Our cute, energetic waiter roused himself to bring me an excellent coffee, but things have gone from shabby-chic and awesome to shabby and sad.

    (3)

  • Svetlana S.

    To get a full impression of Portland, at least of it's weird, eclectic, artsy, earthy, pretentious side, it is a MUST GO! The place doesn't have a sign and looks like an old house, so make sure you look it up on the map. It is also closed all day, opening its old rustic squeaky door at 7 pm only. In best Portland traditions, they despise plastic, so cash or check only. I will not bore you with detailed description of this unique place. To get a full palette of flavors, please come visit. Make sure you have at least an hour to sit back and enjoy. They have live music, so take advantage of that. The coffee house also will give you a great overview of cultural and art events going on in the city. My 4 stars is for their teas & desserts and a bit concise (to my liking) menu. However, one doesn't go there for food only, so don't miss out on the opportunity!

    (4)

  • Shay E.

    Tell me this: What coffee shop have you ever been to that has live classical music in the evenings? SOLD! What's so great about this place is most people don't even catch the reference to the great composer Rimsky-Korsakoff-- "Flight of the Bumblebee." Haha, suckers, RKH is already smarter and more cultured than you. But on a serious note, the decor and ambiance of this place are absolutely unrivaled in Portland. Quirky isn't quite the word. Pleasantly lunatic is more like it! I would imagine a personification of the Cheshire Cat ran this place. The first time I came here, they were actually closed. But as I was snooping around taking photos, somebody inside invited me in and let me take some more pictures inside. What I saw amazed me! The proprieter, I was informed, with her current obsession with the alphabet, had decorated everything with the letter "O." Hand-made ornaments representing anything you could think of that started with "O" were hanging from the ceiling, on the walls, etc. Ogres, Owls, Orange, Oh, the possibilites! The place has a sense of humor and lightheartedness (but not ignoring the aesthetic aspect of it) I have never seen in such a classy establishment. Everybody I have encountered working here is so kind, funny, warm-hearted. I can't see how anybody wouldn't like this place! Even when the service is a little slow, I can be forgiving. Sometimes it gets busy and there's only one person taking care of everybody. Imagine the patience they must be exercising! And they truly care about their customers. You have to check out the bathroom, too. Haha, I can't give it away, but this little touch of humor will startle you. I promise, it's not gross or scary or dirty. Just check it out.

    (5)

  • J K.

    All of the desserts are delicious!

    (5)

  • Eileen W.

    Consistently PDX divine. Always crowded during the later evening hours. May have to wait a long time for seating. But, honestly, the restroom is worth a visit!

    (5)

  • Tnvd C.

    Rimisky-Korsakoffee House is one of those confounding places that leaves you sitting back in your chair starring at a photo of 1992 Oprah Winfrey hanging from the ceiling by Mardi Gras beads saying to yourself: "huhhhghhhh whaaat?" The atmosphere is definitely an interesting one. Coffee and service aside, I think it is worth going just once, (maybe even twice) to experience this severely wallpapered eclectic ambiance. I can't quite figure out how they've managed to stay in business thirty-some odd years, but people seem to love it. Anyway, walking into the hallway, you can peek in and see the place is absolutely packed. There's some handwritten signs depicting some undoubtedly diabetic-shock inducing sweets. You know the feeling when you arrive two hours late to a birthday party when you're five, and everyone is already going at it and having a great time and you're just standing there feeling awkward and invisible holding your present? That's Korsakoffee. You just seat yourself wherever suits your fancy, and wait patiently and hope until a waiter notices that you might be a new customer seated at a table. I would liken it to being a near-death rescue victim waiting on an avalanched mountain for a sherpa. This is fine if you have no plans and you're with friends; flying by the seat of your pants with adventure for the night, but I can easily see how this service would annoy some people. Our waiter was fantastic. He was just pleased-as-pie about life and put on a little show singing some falsetto Beyonce improv. But it took like twenty minutes for us to be noticed. I ordered a soy chai, my friend ordered a cider, and my partner ordered some sort of brownie-cake-in-a-bowl-thing. It took a very long time. I started to think that maybe they were either very understaffed, or are quite possibly watching the end of Titanic and using their filtered tears to make my beverage. Both sound acceptable. Back to the decor: as mentioned before, the walls are severely wallpapered. It is like an overwhelming aunt.The ceiling reminds me of my grandmother's junk-drawer and has a million weird tchotchkes hanging from it by plastic beads. All of the tables are mismatched and wobbly, and the entire building smells faintly of cat-pee. So all in all, you feel like you are having tea in your cat-hoarding relatives' closet. Our beverages and desserts arrived! Oh boy! Our waiter did a little dance for us again. My chai was okay, lukewarm and pretty bland. My friends' cider was good, but he was really hoping he would be able to get an alcoholic beverage there. (Could you imagine drinking here? It would be the best. This place needs a bar!) My partners' dessert was good, but an ungodly amount of brownie, so we all shared it. It was so rich, I felt like maybe I had been graced with having a immaculate parasitic twin once it hit my stomach. It was good like: "Yay Grandma's house!", but nothing like "Whoa, I need to write the papers about this, I think we've found an undiscovered species of nematode!" We began to grow sleepy from the sugar crash, and it took an additional fifteen or so minutes to get our check. I definitely think this place profits mostly on atmosphere, but I would still come again if I have visitors in town! P.S. Go to the bathroom. You'll see why.

    (3)

  • Christina L.

    Wow, I was visiting from NYC, and decided to eat here. The service was so slow. I had to wait nearly a half an hour for some really bad desserts. When I decided that her service was not worth my tip, the waitress had the gall to chase me down. Ridiculous, entitled behavior, especially from someone who provided bad service.

    (1)

  • Tiffany H.

    This is a Portland staple- it's one of those places that even when there's a long line, or even when the last time you went the service was terrible- you still go back because you're a local and it's just what we do, or because you're a tourist who wants to feel like a local and you feel compelled to go back and stare at the awesome undersea themed bathroom. I've been going to this place for 8 years now, and finally wrote a review. All through h.s. and college this place had terrible service- lukewarm water, sometimes dirty silverware, I had numerous occasions I went and the server brought us our food and then literally never checked on us again, not even to give us a bill- once we waited 30 minutes and no one ever came into the room so we eventually left. Why did I keep returning? Tradition. And the desserts are that good. Over the years, prices went up- all desserts used to be $5, now they're $5.50-7 and such, still affordable. The coffee's delicious. Get the mocha fudge cake, with the raspberry and eat them together! Pure bliss. Get it with a delicious mocha on the side. So, how does this place get 4 stars now, after 8 years of bad service? Good news! The last time I went there, the server was fantastic- she took our orders quickly, checked on us numerous times, we get our awesome desserts timely and the bill was brought promptly without a rush though. While we ate, a gentleman played lovely acoustic guitar music in the background. This is a great place to check out. I'd have given it 5 stars, but unfortunately the water was still lukewarm, and they have a rotating menu of seasonal desserts but all but one of them were out (that happens a lot, which is dissappointing). But go, get a dessert, a coffee, and check out the restroom. Grab a book from a table or the shelf- there are books full of drawings, writing and patrons' souvenirs. Place one of your own belongings under the table glasstop and it will go in their book eventually, to be commemorated forever! You'll find movie tickets, love notes and so much more- it's interesting to see. Don't forget that it's cash only!

    (4)

  • Jen C.

    This coffee house is one of a kind. It brings a unique quality to the city. The servers are witty and seem to enjoy working there. I called one time to ask where they were located. Here's how the conversation went: me: Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me where you're located? RK: I'm standing by the fridge me: uh, ok. How about the cofee house? RK: it's located wonderfully in the city of Portland me: great...thanks Make sure you sit at a table along the wall. You'll know what I mean when you sit there :) Also, if it's your first time, make sure to visit the bathroom. Also, it's CASH only so don't forget that.

    (4)

  • Aleasha G.

    Went here, Loved it, Will be back. And will bring others :) Music was fantastic, dessert & tea were standard. The wildlife & entertainment???? PRICELESS!!! Thank you Portland for again...being weird.

    (4)

  • Yun V.

    Good desserts. Nice servers. Check out the bathroom! It is in a big old house :)

    (4)

  • Karin K.

    Having been aware of the cult-like following of this place, I was eager to go after years of hearing stores. Perhaps my anticipation was too great. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. First, I should say that we meet for book club and Rimsky's wasn't a great choice to hold this kind of meeting. Other reviewers refer to the noise level and they aren't kidding. Between the music and the ambient noise, it was very hard to hear. Even if I hadn't been there to listen to others talk, it would have been disturbing. We arrived as they opened at 7pm, and it was chilly inside. However, by the time we left about 8:30, it was like a sauna. The Cafe Borgia was delicious and the ginger cake very good. Our service was attentive. However, because they only take cash, we had to take our large group's pile of cash to the kitchen because after the check was dropped off, we didn't see our server again.. However, everyone was satisfied with their coffee, tea and desserts. Overall, our experience was good and I may come back. However, they need to do some updating. First, the crazy bathroom. I would be more tolerant if it were clean. It's not only dated, it's dirty. The floor...oh, yuck. And Portland Weird doesn't have to be bizarre, people. Second. No cards? Really? In this day and age? That's just laziness. Even mom and pop coffee carts take cards. The whole place seems tired and worn. Things don't have to new or modern to be pleasant, but comfortable and clean are important. They are lacking in this area. The chair I got was rickety, swaying dramatically from side to side like a carnival ride. The sofa was worn and too sinky. Keep your mismatched mugs, silly plates, and complete lack of signage, but it's time for a makeover and a deep clean, Rimsky.

    (2)

  • Karen G.

    This place is like a cross between Disneyland and the inside of a stranger danger's van... Overly stimulating, lots of sweets, and a little bit creepy. Keep Portland Weird? Yeah. Rimsky's does that and then some. But weird isn't the only thing they have going for them. They also have the Raspberry Fool, and Ship Goes To Pieces On A Rock, and the chocolate pot de creme. I also had one of the best pieces of cake in my life at Rimsky's, and it was so good I don't even remember what was in it. Just that it was delicious. Your sweet tooth will want to jump out of your mouth and live here. (And it would look right at home hanging from the ceiling!) This is a great place to take: - a date (if he doesn't like Rimsky's, he's probably a boring stick-in-the-mud. Later dude.) - your out of town parents (Mom will love the rotating table! It's neat.) - a small birthday party gathering (the flamboyant waiter will entertain and loves to play to a crowd.) Easily one of my favorite dessert places in Portland. "See you latte!"

    (4)

  • Kate D.

    This place is so very Portland. The atmosphere is spooky, haunted, and weird. They only serve dessert and coffee/tea, however, those things are very good. I shared a "Ship goes to pieces against the rocks" with my sister, which is a really complicated way of saying I ate mint ice cream with hot fudge sauce. The hot fudge sauce was excellent. The bathroom is exceptionally clean, possibly because no one uses it because it is too darn creepy.

    (4)

  • Daven M.

    This place is haunted. It's only open at night, likely because it's staffed by vampires. The cafe Borgia is the best thing ever, though, so I'd say it's worth the risk. Just make sure you take a friend with you to the bathroom.

    (5)

  • Crystal L.

    What to expect: 1. A dusty Victorian home with very dim lighting 2. Noisy/loud 3. Live piano, eerie-classical songs 4. Weird service "What's the Ambiguity tea?" "It's a mystery." "Oh OK.. how about the Gilt tea?" "That's also a mystery.. are you ready yet or should I come back?" 5. Delicious berry cobbler! We really should've tried all their desserts. 6. Scary decor in the bathroom.. luckily I didn't actually have to go since I wouldn't have been able to alone! Being here feels like being transported to another dimension. Embrace the whimsy and you'll enjoy the experience. Just not a place to take the parents :) 3.5 Stars!

    (4)

  • Hayden N.

    One of my good friends from high school was in town visiting and got nostalgic for Rimsky so she went--in a conversation with her the following day, she said it wasn't the same anymore. That is exactly how I felt when my friends and I went a few weeks ago! I have been coming to Rimsky since high school and, throughout college, met up with old friends there to catch up when I was home on breaks. Rimsky is a coffee house located in a converted Victorian-style house, it's very eclectic with an unique decor and some people find it creepy. There are painted faces camouflaged into the wallpaper. The upstairs bathroom has a dummy in a raft that watches you pee, feet coming out of the ceiling, and hands as the toilet paper holder. I guess it could be nerve-wrecking. Last time I went when it just opened and they weren't quite ready for customers. Even though we were the only ones there, it took a while to get our orders taken and drinks/desserts to come out. I love the one waiter guy that works there, whose name I can't recall right now, he is funny and outgoing--he has been there for long time. The space started filling up fast and the service got overwhelmed. It might be more efficient to have more than one person taking and producing the orders. It was a weekday right when they first opened though. The vibe seems a little better late night and they have a pianist on the weekends. They have a very simple menu of coffee, teas, and basic desserts with rotating specials. As far as the desserts go, I like that ice cream and sundaes. If you are looking gourmet desserts, definitely not the place to go--expect homemade quality desserts. Drinks are decent. I just feel like the quirkiness of the establishment has lost its luster for me over the years...its more clean and less clutter than it was before. Something is different.

    (3)

  • Daniel P.

    If not a place to have coffee...it's definitely a great attraction. This place is odd...and it's suppose to be like that. The coffee is decent, the deserts are alright. The Banana splits are awesome. The Peppermint tea is ...whatever. The servers are awesome and have personality that fit the bill. The restroom is the highlight. Who would think the bathroom would be cool. The biggest plus for our party was that it's open late and they also have live music. If any restaurant I've been too in Portland stays true to the "keep Portland weird" motto...it's this one.

    (3)

  • Kelley Q.

    Experience was unique. Wasn't very busy yet the waitresses seemed to ignore us as it took a while for us to get our desserts and water. The owner was completely crazy and chased after us accusing us of not tipping and saying that we were never welcome back even though we tipped 20 percent. She was attacking us verbally and continuously even though we were trying to tell her that we paid the gratuity that was written onto the check. After she was being so rude she went back to check with the server and she finally realized she was wrong. She yelled out from the store that 'we could leave'. She never apologized. Wow can't believe the service here. Came in to get a nice dessert with my friends and came out with probably one of the worst customer service experience.

    (1)

  • Berta L.

    First time! The food, coffee and atmosphere definitely deserve five stars. The Coffee Mexicana was rich and delicious! However the service was slow and disinterested. They forgot our waters and had to wait a while for the opportunity to ask again since they seem to ignore us. I was waiting for them to take my cash for about 10 minutes and when I received change I was shorted three dollars. Not impressed.

    (3)

  • Leah B.

    OMG, this is the spookiest place to eat dessert ever! I knew I had to go here when my friend showed me pictures of their crazy, underwater bathroom. One helpful thing to note: THEY'RE CASH ONLY. I wish I'd known that before getting all the way to the front door only to turn around, find a cash machine, and return. The pianist was nice but played kind of loudly for the small space we were in. And we were bummed to order the banana split (they claim it's the best in Portland) and they didn't have bananas (how does that happen?!) But the pie I got and the ice cream my friend got were all very good. And the bathroom still creeped the crap out of us. Go here. You won't be sorry (just scared, haha)

    (4)

  • Archie R.

    I always bring the tourists here. This is a must visit place. I shall not tell more nor ruin the surprise. But just go about the place. Maybe check your table. The coffee is good and the desserts are great !

    (4)

  • Kelly S.

    First time here. A Portland tradition. Not super impressed but the dessert was good and I enjoyed the piano player. Service was a little slow, but I guess you should be in a hurry at this place. Just sit down and enjoy. Unfortunately we had a timeline. I know some of the charm of the place is its crustiness, but there was a hole in the wall next to me. Maybe a little spiffing up?

    (2)

  • Heather F.

    When I get married (again) this is where I'm planning on having my wedding. Not the reception where you gather afterwards and eat cake and laugh, but the actual wedding part. The reason why is that this is an old house built in 1902, and they have a sweeping staircase. And though I've never actually dreamed about my wedding before in the last 30 seconds I've decided that it would be really neat to walk down an old wooden staircase with a flow-y dress and veil into the awe-inspired crowd of well wishers waiting below in the crowded, hot entry. And ghosts. Let's not forget the ghosts. Because if you look into Portland lore and tradition, you will discover that this house is haunted. The benefit being you can have more spirits at your wedding without having to pay more money. It's just a good deal all around. For those also interested in making a grand appearance on the staircase just note that there is half of a large puppet hanging from the ceiling over the stairs (see my photo) with a sign attached to its legs saying, "Everyone enjoy engaging in eating, entertainment, escape, enlightenment, euphony. Elsewise, exit!" Haha, alliterations are the best! This also ensures any "not-fun" wedding guests will have to immediately leave making things so much more discreet with less hassle. Rimsky-Korsakoffee offers so much more for a wedding destination. No need to bring a blank journal for guests to sign, as they have blank journals strewn in random spots throughout the house that people have signed over the years and left business cards in. You can just mix your wedding comments with the rest, and be a part of history that will last long after (a pending divorce) or death. The words will out-live your vows between the walls of this old house. Pretty magical stuff. The other cool thing is that since this was named after a Russian composer they typically play live classical music here like the violin. Again, everything you need to make your wedding complete already right here as guests can dance a baroque dance if they feel so inclined and you will have a ready made instrument for your staircase entrance if you 'go classic' and play "Canon in D" or maybe reach a little further 'out there' and have the violinist play the Game Of Thrones theme: youtube.com/watch?v=IP9O… Just be aware that there is only one bathroom upstairs and it is unisex and aquatic themed with weird paintings on the wall and a bathtub with a colorfully painted dummy with his arms outstretched, leaning up to say hello. This might make some wedding guests uncomfortable, along with the fact that the house is rigged to make some of the furniture move, rotate and vibrate. To distract guests from such feelings I suggest playing games, like learning how to spell AND say the name of "Rimsky-Korsakoffee" as fast as you can in 10 seconds or less. The nice part about this is that children can participate too, and your wedding becomes educational as well as fun. You can further this into a discussion of the Russian composer himself if you want to take it to another level. If you choose to have your reception here after the ceremony the nice part is that the #1 thing Rimsky-Korsakoffee house does is serve cake and coffee. Bam. Another built in system that is a turn-key solution for your wedding needs. The neighborhood around the house is a bit sketchy with confused homeless people milling about, as this was the old industrial part of Portland. But nothing beats power in numbers, so as a final send off I suggest all the guests grab hands in a united front, and start cheering and screaming loudly in joy as everybody runs as a group down the porch steps and into their adjoining vehicles to ensure the utmost safety. The only brave soul you will have to leave alone is the photographer as this has got to get captured on video. And since Rimsky-Korsakoffee does no advertising whatsoever be sure to upload on You Tube and help spread the word for future blushing brides and grinning grooms to find.

    (5)

  • David K.

    Tasty desserts, highly quirky (and fun) place. But the service sucks. Not only do they not pay attention to their guests, but the server was visibly annoyed that she had to serve our party of eight. Notably, gratuity of 20% was included in the bill so we could not throttle our tip as a result of the impolite service.

    (3)

  • Jennidia S.

    Amazing service. Waiter was hilarious, the Chocolate Rasberry Fool is amazing. Everything is made on site. Many coffee options and live music. The bathroom is humorous and a true portland spot. They are the reason, "Keep Portland Weird" is a thing. Would love to visit again. Make sure to bring cash, but I have to say the prices are perfect.

    (5)

  • Rebecca C.

    Came with some awesome coworkers hosting us on a night out in Portland. The room was awesome, cozy and inclusive with old world decoration and charm. Service was endearing and the Raspberry fool to die for. Visited the restroom on my way out and wish I had my camera. A definite must do for Portland!

    (4)

  • Deborah H.

    I've decided to Yelp this business because of all the hurtful reviews I read, mostly from the same party. This unique structure, personnel, and business belong to a one of a kind enterprise of quirkiness. There's really very little predictability from the moment one enters to the moment one leaves. Yes, you may have to wait. Yes, your waiter/ess might be busy with a full house to serve. Yes, one is their guest there and even though one may be a demanding, tense, stress-out customer, the bottom line is "the experience" from the levitating table to the aquatically haunted bathroom to the eery live played classical music that seems to be as varied as the customers. This is a product of someone's spontaneity - "Hey, let's serve coffee and kick-ass desserts with a classical theme of composers as the style!" This house is dilapidated a bit and the decorations are a cacophony of bohemian funk....but what fun! What style! If someone wants to go to Denny's instead, then go! If someone wants to immerse in kitschy haunted, Victorian funk, this is "da place"! Where else would a waiter come and sit down with us as he wakes up from a nap and have the most fun conversation of movies and theater? Where else would you hear, "Would you like your coffee black as a starless night or creamy and dreamy? I rest my case. Give yourself some time to experience the whole orb of Rimsky-Korsakoffee, or just go to Denny's if you aren't up to it.

    (5)

  • Shauna M.

    Our group of friends used to go to Rimsky's in the mid to late 90's. It was great! Fun atmosphere, great desserts, cool hang out. Not the greatest service, but in our 20/30 something years, who cares right? Our group started having kids and those times dwindled down. Cut to today, the kids are mostly grown and the parents are now getting back out for late night hang outs. At dinner we were reminiscing about old hangouts and decided to head back to one of our fav's. We are all excited to say the least... Living up to our old standards, YAY US! So... the place was packed, as always. Yet, the interior has never been updated from back in the 90's, paint is peeling and cushions in the couch were shot, you can still only pay in cash (great, because prices are fairly reasonable because of this), the service is just as bad, but now we notice it a lot more. We did get a good laugh though... after not being acknowledged for about 20 min or so, the server finally rolled around to our table and asked us if we needed a few more minutes... Things did turn around... we were in pleasant shock that our items came out of the kitchen lightening fast and everything was tasty, but that doesn't really make up for everything else. I think we are better off holding onto our memories and will call it good, leaving it for the millenials to enjoy now.

    (2)

  • Eric H.

    What can you say that so many others haven't about this place? I've never been disappointed here and I've tried so many things. I am in love with the Mexican coffee they serve. I get it with every desert. Be sure to tip the musician if one is there when you are visiting. Oh, and try to pee before you get there. Trust me on this. Everyone else posting about the bathroom is not your friend.

    (5)

  • Kate D.

    This place is so very Portland. The atmosphere is spooky, haunted, and weird. They only serve dessert and coffee/tea, however, those things are very good. I shared a "Ship goes to pieces against the rocks" with my sister, which is a really complicated way of saying I ate mint ice cream with hot fudge sauce. The hot fudge sauce was excellent. The bathroom is exceptionally clean, possibly because no one uses it because it is too darn creepy.

    (4)

  • Daven M.

    This place is haunted. It's only open at night, likely because it's staffed by vampires. The cafe Borgia is the best thing ever, though, so I'd say it's worth the risk. Just make sure you take a friend with you to the bathroom.

    (5)

  • Crystal L.

    What to expect: 1. A dusty Victorian home with very dim lighting 2. Noisy/loud 3. Live piano, eerie-classical songs 4. Weird service "What's the Ambiguity tea?" "It's a mystery." "Oh OK.. how about the Gilt tea?" "That's also a mystery.. are you ready yet or should I come back?" 5. Delicious berry cobbler! We really should've tried all their desserts. 6. Scary decor in the bathroom.. luckily I didn't actually have to go since I wouldn't have been able to alone! Being here feels like being transported to another dimension. Embrace the whimsy and you'll enjoy the experience. Just not a place to take the parents :) 3.5 Stars!

    (4)

  • Hayden N.

    One of my good friends from high school was in town visiting and got nostalgic for Rimsky so she went--in a conversation with her the following day, she said it wasn't the same anymore. That is exactly how I felt when my friends and I went a few weeks ago! I have been coming to Rimsky since high school and, throughout college, met up with old friends there to catch up when I was home on breaks. Rimsky is a coffee house located in a converted Victorian-style house, it's very eclectic with an unique decor and some people find it creepy. There are painted faces camouflaged into the wallpaper. The upstairs bathroom has a dummy in a raft that watches you pee, feet coming out of the ceiling, and hands as the toilet paper holder. I guess it could be nerve-wrecking. Last time I went when it just opened and they weren't quite ready for customers. Even though we were the only ones there, it took a while to get our orders taken and drinks/desserts to come out. I love the one waiter guy that works there, whose name I can't recall right now, he is funny and outgoing--he has been there for long time. The space started filling up fast and the service got overwhelmed. It might be more efficient to have more than one person taking and producing the orders. It was a weekday right when they first opened though. The vibe seems a little better late night and they have a pianist on the weekends. They have a very simple menu of coffee, teas, and basic desserts with rotating specials. As far as the desserts go, I like that ice cream and sundaes. If you are looking gourmet desserts, definitely not the place to go--expect homemade quality desserts. Drinks are decent. I just feel like the quirkiness of the establishment has lost its luster for me over the years...its more clean and less clutter than it was before. Something is different.

    (3)

  • Daniel P.

    If not a place to have coffee...it's definitely a great attraction. This place is odd...and it's suppose to be like that. The coffee is decent, the deserts are alright. The Banana splits are awesome. The Peppermint tea is ...whatever. The servers are awesome and have personality that fit the bill. The restroom is the highlight. Who would think the bathroom would be cool. The biggest plus for our party was that it's open late and they also have live music. If any restaurant I've been too in Portland stays true to the "keep Portland weird" motto...it's this one.

    (3)

  • Kelley Q.

    Experience was unique. Wasn't very busy yet the waitresses seemed to ignore us as it took a while for us to get our desserts and water. The owner was completely crazy and chased after us accusing us of not tipping and saying that we were never welcome back even though we tipped 20 percent. She was attacking us verbally and continuously even though we were trying to tell her that we paid the gratuity that was written onto the check. After she was being so rude she went back to check with the server and she finally realized she was wrong. She yelled out from the store that 'we could leave'. She never apologized. Wow can't believe the service here. Came in to get a nice dessert with my friends and came out with probably one of the worst customer service experience.

    (1)

  • Berta L.

    First time! The food, coffee and atmosphere definitely deserve five stars. The Coffee Mexicana was rich and delicious! However the service was slow and disinterested. They forgot our waters and had to wait a while for the opportunity to ask again since they seem to ignore us. I was waiting for them to take my cash for about 10 minutes and when I received change I was shorted three dollars. Not impressed.

    (3)

  • Leah B.

    OMG, this is the spookiest place to eat dessert ever! I knew I had to go here when my friend showed me pictures of their crazy, underwater bathroom. One helpful thing to note: THEY'RE CASH ONLY. I wish I'd known that before getting all the way to the front door only to turn around, find a cash machine, and return. The pianist was nice but played kind of loudly for the small space we were in. And we were bummed to order the banana split (they claim it's the best in Portland) and they didn't have bananas (how does that happen?!) But the pie I got and the ice cream my friend got were all very good. And the bathroom still creeped the crap out of us. Go here. You won't be sorry (just scared, haha)

    (4)

  • Archie R.

    I always bring the tourists here. This is a must visit place. I shall not tell more nor ruin the surprise. But just go about the place. Maybe check your table. The coffee is good and the desserts are great !

    (4)

  • Kelly S.

    First time here. A Portland tradition. Not super impressed but the dessert was good and I enjoyed the piano player. Service was a little slow, but I guess you should be in a hurry at this place. Just sit down and enjoy. Unfortunately we had a timeline. I know some of the charm of the place is its crustiness, but there was a hole in the wall next to me. Maybe a little spiffing up?

    (2)

  • Heather F.

    When I get married (again) this is where I'm planning on having my wedding. Not the reception where you gather afterwards and eat cake and laugh, but the actual wedding part. The reason why is that this is an old house built in 1902, and they have a sweeping staircase. And though I've never actually dreamed about my wedding before in the last 30 seconds I've decided that it would be really neat to walk down an old wooden staircase with a flow-y dress and veil into the awe-inspired crowd of well wishers waiting below in the crowded, hot entry. And ghosts. Let's not forget the ghosts. Because if you look into Portland lore and tradition, you will discover that this house is haunted. The benefit being you can have more spirits at your wedding without having to pay more money. It's just a good deal all around. For those also interested in making a grand appearance on the staircase just note that there is half of a large puppet hanging from the ceiling over the stairs (see my photo) with a sign attached to its legs saying, "Everyone enjoy engaging in eating, entertainment, escape, enlightenment, euphony. Elsewise, exit!" Haha, alliterations are the best! This also ensures any "not-fun" wedding guests will have to immediately leave making things so much more discreet with less hassle. Rimsky-Korsakoffee offers so much more for a wedding destination. No need to bring a blank journal for guests to sign, as they have blank journals strewn in random spots throughout the house that people have signed over the years and left business cards in. You can just mix your wedding comments with the rest, and be a part of history that will last long after (a pending divorce) or death. The words will out-live your vows between the walls of this old house. Pretty magical stuff. The other cool thing is that since this was named after a Russian composer they typically play live classical music here like the violin. Again, everything you need to make your wedding complete already right here as guests can dance a baroque dance if they feel so inclined and you will have a ready made instrument for your staircase entrance if you 'go classic' and play "Canon in D" or maybe reach a little further 'out there' and have the violinist play the Game Of Thrones theme: youtube.com/watch?v=IP9O… Just be aware that there is only one bathroom upstairs and it is unisex and aquatic themed with weird paintings on the wall and a bathtub with a colorfully painted dummy with his arms outstretched, leaning up to say hello. This might make some wedding guests uncomfortable, along with the fact that the house is rigged to make some of the furniture move, rotate and vibrate. To distract guests from such feelings I suggest playing games, like learning how to spell AND say the name of "Rimsky-Korsakoffee" as fast as you can in 10 seconds or less. The nice part about this is that children can participate too, and your wedding becomes educational as well as fun. You can further this into a discussion of the Russian composer himself if you want to take it to another level. If you choose to have your reception here after the ceremony the nice part is that the #1 thing Rimsky-Korsakoffee house does is serve cake and coffee. Bam. Another built in system that is a turn-key solution for your wedding needs. The neighborhood around the house is a bit sketchy with confused homeless people milling about, as this was the old industrial part of Portland. But nothing beats power in numbers, so as a final send off I suggest all the guests grab hands in a united front, and start cheering and screaming loudly in joy as everybody runs as a group down the porch steps and into their adjoining vehicles to ensure the utmost safety. The only brave soul you will have to leave alone is the photographer as this has got to get captured on video. And since Rimsky-Korsakoffee does no advertising whatsoever be sure to upload on You Tube and help spread the word for future blushing brides and grinning grooms to find.

    (5)

  • David K.

    Tasty desserts, highly quirky (and fun) place. But the service sucks. Not only do they not pay attention to their guests, but the server was visibly annoyed that she had to serve our party of eight. Notably, gratuity of 20% was included in the bill so we could not throttle our tip as a result of the impolite service.

    (3)

  • Deborah H.

    I've decided to Yelp this business because of all the hurtful reviews I read, mostly from the same party. This unique structure, personnel, and business belong to a one of a kind enterprise of quirkiness. There's really very little predictability from the moment one enters to the moment one leaves. Yes, you may have to wait. Yes, your waiter/ess might be busy with a full house to serve. Yes, one is their guest there and even though one may be a demanding, tense, stress-out customer, the bottom line is "the experience" from the levitating table to the aquatically haunted bathroom to the eery live played classical music that seems to be as varied as the customers. This is a product of someone's spontaneity - "Hey, let's serve coffee and kick-ass desserts with a classical theme of composers as the style!" This house is dilapidated a bit and the decorations are a cacophony of bohemian funk....but what fun! What style! If someone wants to go to Denny's instead, then go! If someone wants to immerse in kitschy haunted, Victorian funk, this is "da place"! Where else would a waiter come and sit down with us as he wakes up from a nap and have the most fun conversation of movies and theater? Where else would you hear, "Would you like your coffee black as a starless night or creamy and dreamy? I rest my case. Give yourself some time to experience the whole orb of Rimsky-Korsakoffee, or just go to Denny's if you aren't up to it.

    (5)

  • Shauna M.

    Our group of friends used to go to Rimsky's in the mid to late 90's. It was great! Fun atmosphere, great desserts, cool hang out. Not the greatest service, but in our 20/30 something years, who cares right? Our group started having kids and those times dwindled down. Cut to today, the kids are mostly grown and the parents are now getting back out for late night hang outs. At dinner we were reminiscing about old hangouts and decided to head back to one of our fav's. We are all excited to say the least... Living up to our old standards, YAY US! So... the place was packed, as always. Yet, the interior has never been updated from back in the 90's, paint is peeling and cushions in the couch were shot, you can still only pay in cash (great, because prices are fairly reasonable because of this), the service is just as bad, but now we notice it a lot more. We did get a good laugh though... after not being acknowledged for about 20 min or so, the server finally rolled around to our table and asked us if we needed a few more minutes... Things did turn around... we were in pleasant shock that our items came out of the kitchen lightening fast and everything was tasty, but that doesn't really make up for everything else. I think we are better off holding onto our memories and will call it good, leaving it for the millenials to enjoy now.

    (2)

  • Eric H.

    What can you say that so many others haven't about this place? I've never been disappointed here and I've tried so many things. I am in love with the Mexican coffee they serve. I get it with every desert. Be sure to tip the musician if one is there when you are visiting. Oh, and try to pee before you get there. Trust me on this. Everyone else posting about the bathroom is not your friend.

    (5)

  • Andrew H.

    Origami, a steamship, Oprah, angels, Shrek, a bust of Beethoven, raccoon sticker, beads, Christmas ornaments, journals strewn about and art deco wallpaper. A very long history and the first coffee house in this town according to Wikipedia. The house stands since 1902, the business since 1980. Quirky, odd, spooky, mysterious and haunted are words that have consistently been used to describe it. Articles have been written about it. Destinations planned. Tables move on their own. Coffee has been drunk and cake and sundaes have been devoured. The bathroom even has a following. Rimsky-Korsakoffe is a Portland tradition named after a Russian composer. It is a place that helps keep Portland weird. Just because it has quirks, doesn't mean it's bad. This place has been in business for a long time. It means the desserts and the coffee are top notch and you need to find yourself here at some point during your trek to Portland. It has a relaxed feel with a live acoustic guitar player strumming away at classical tunes. The man has been playing here for 30 years. College students and the young at heart have been coming here for decades and the house still stands. Laughter and small talk. Readers, writers, composers, card players do their own thing. Nothing is rushed, nor is the service on a Friday night. Packed house, two people working. It was a bit hard to pin someone down. The specials for the night were a chocolate layer cake, a cobbler and carrot cake. The desserts on the menu are well known and the banana split is something to yearn for. My housemate got carrot cake and coffee and I went with the chocolate layer cake over the chocolate pot de creme or brownie sundae. Any of the three would have been worth it. The red lighting adds an eeriness to the atmosphere and the food has a different cast to it. But the layer cake is simply amazing. I wasn't a fan of the carrot cake because of added pineapple to it. I'd never seen that before. Overall we had a great experience at Rimsky-Korsakoffe (my housemate has been coming here for 23 years, and me, the newbie). I will most definitely return. How I used to walk past this place when I lived in Buckman amazes me. You'd never know a coffee house existed with so much history. Oh and do check out the bathroom, and bring cash. No credit. Enjoy.

    (4)

  • Amy L.

    Wonder why I never wrote a review for being a customer for over 10 years. I discovered this place with my friends in high school and we're hooked. The decor never changed from it's quirky randomness. There's always something to look at or a piece that starts interesting conversation. On Saturday nights there's even a pianist playing Viennese/classical music. Definitely pleasant to have a cup of coffee and a small dessert. Desserts are great if you aren't looking for super fancy french chef made delight. They are solid if you want a sundae, homemade pie/cobbler, all the good old homemade things you get at grandma's house. Love the handwritten menus and the random names they come up with for desserts and drinks. Growing up with this place I never found it terrifying or too weird. It's definitely nostalgic to me and comforting to see it's quirkiness has be preserved. Overall I would definitely keep coming here as long as it's open.

    (5)

  • Christine A.

    Another trip through Portland, and yet another crazy bathroom visit. We came to Rimsky-Korsakoffee at the recommendation of a site for pointing out the delightfully "weird" things to do in Portland. They said the tables were rigged for different gags, but nothing happened with them while we were there. There was, however, a talented young man playing piano in the parlor where we sat right after opening. Had the Raspberry Fool and a pot of Darjeeling. The fool was lovely, and we got a cute teapot with a ceramic pumpkin sugar bowl. Now, yes, the bathroom. That was horrifying. I'm not a fan of being around realistic mannequins, alone, in dark places. After being directed to head upstairs, I passed all the doors with notes on them reading "THIS IS NOT THE BATHROOM," "THIS ISN'T EITHER," "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT COMING IN HERE!" and went for the one that was unmarked. Nudged open the door and suddenly pulled it shut again, thinking there was someone in there. Realizing the face was a bit too odd to be real, I re-opened the door and stared at the dummy on the floor, looking back (photo: yelp.com/biz_photos/rims… ). I have the irrational fear of walking into a bathroom and finding a body. Maybe it's from watching too much TV, but it's genuinely something I worry about. So yeah, fear of dummies, finding corpses, being in the dark -- this bathroom captured the trifecta. I had to slowly side-step around the mannequin sitting in a kayak in the middle of the room, because I really had to go and I was going to be brave about this. Heart pounding, I was certain the thing was going to come to life at any moment and grasp at me. Yeah, it's weird that I'm like this when I can do Halloween attractions, designed to be scary, with nothing more than fascination at how the props, make-up, and effects were accomplished. I go downstairs to finish my tea, and notice a girl at another table head on up. When she came back down, she looked just as shaken. OK... getting off that topic. Service was decent, though, I do concur with others saying it was on the slow side. It's all very lax there. It's like being at a house party where you only know the host and they need to mingle about the room before getting back to you with drinks, desserts, and your check. Even with a three-star A-OK rating, I'd still recommend them for the experience.

    (3)

  • Astha M.

    A true Portland hippy tea/coffee place. The interior is charming and sometimes they have live music too. Their desserts are pretty good. Don't forget to ask for their specials of the day. It's cash only! Their tea selection is great and coffee is a tad bit cheaper than other coffee places but doesn't lack in quality. Another plus is that this place is open late and I love that about this place!

    (5)

  • Amber E.

    I really really wanted to try this place while in town. The funky/creepy atmosphere was awesome, and the dessert choices sounded delicious... But unfortunately we waited 30 minutes without even being greeted, so we left.

    (2)

  • Robbin A.

    Well...I went at night, as I figured was best. Yes, I did go to the bathroom. I was not very pleased with the combination of curiosity and the unfortunate timing of needing to go to the bathroom. Also, it's cash only. I went for the tea. I was not impressed. The desserts were pretty good, though. The raspberry fool was nice. The biggest problem I had was that I had no idea where the servers were. They'd disappear for long bouts of time and it took me 15-20 minutes just to order, another 15-20 minutes for the delivery of tea and dessert, and an agonizing extra 10 minutes when I realized, "Hell, I missed the bus back. Now I have to wait another bloody hour because I can't bloody find anyone." Probably some of the worst service I've had. You're probably fine if you have a large group of easily freaked-out people because you'll all be daring each other to go to the bathroom, or if you're there to study, or just not want more than one dessert in general. One couple we saw almost left because it's pretty much impossible to tell if anyone's actually working there. I get that it can be busy...but dude. Tell your bloody guests! If you put "employees only" signs on every door and make it a challenge to get to one of the staff, it's not really a game I'm keen on playing. After reading all the reviews here, I was really looking forward to these interesting-sounding folks at this weirdly decorated place. I would have definitely appreciated it. The ambiance was definitely weird. Meh. Great job? I guess? In the end, I wasn't impressed. But again, if you've got friends who you like to mess with, certainly bring them along. They'll probably be too busy asking you "WHY did you make me go to the bathroom?!" for 20 minutes for you to notice the wait time.

    (2)

  • Steven G.

    American Horror Story meets Bed and Breakfast. The unfazed pianist in the corner, the red mood lighting, and sassy enthusiasm from the waiters makes for a unforgettable experience. The desserts are tasty and reasonably priced. Just don't go upstairs.

    (5)

  • Joanne H.

    Cute, quirky attraction, but it was quite noisy. I ordered the Trip Cafe... Which wasn't great, and neither was my hot chocolate. I might not have been in the mood, but I'm not sure I'd go again. It really seems like a novelty attraction.

    (2)

  • Damien J.

    The dessert here is very good but today had horrible service. Had to wait half an hour before someone would take our order. If you want to come I recommend not coming on a weekend. Beyond that it gets very warm inside on warm days. Also, people who came in after us, ordered half an hour after us received their items first.

    (1)

  • Kira G.

    As a faithful customer; always stopping by for a visit while back in Portland, I was thoroughly disappointed this last and final visit. Rimskys never dissapoints when it comes to a moody, eccentric atmosphere, however the service was completely non existant for the 3rd time in a row. After tipping the guitarist and waiting over 30 minutes to be acknowledged my friends and I got up to leave the premise. The guitarist apologized for your poor service. We had a great experience at the Pix patisserie down the street.

    (1)

  • Sierra N.

    The all over experience was relaxing and enjoyable. I got the Berry Gudunov and my friend got the special - marionberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. We both enjoyed our treats. They tasted homemade like your grandmother would make them. No secret ingredients, just plain & simple - that's what we wanted in the moment so it worked for us! We also got a pot of the ambiguity tea. It was delicious. Our waiter was sassy and funny and that's what I like in a waiter, not a robot. :) we walked out only spending $7.75 each! Yes, we had to wait 10min to be noticed at our table but who cares? We weren't in a hurry and we were enjoying ourselves. The bathroom was FREAKY though!

    (4)

  • Devandra B.

    Every one needs to go here! Such a gem of Portland's weird! For me it's a must after any visit to the Kidd toy museum!

    (5)

  • Jason K.

    A late-night creepy, local institution serving up coffee, tea and delicious desserts. Rimsky's is an experience. This Victorian home converted to a coffee house with small tables is best suited for couples, especially ones who like things that are a tad off kilter, slightly bizarre. Decent selection of coffee and tea. The desserts are what people come for, if not the decor. A live piano player plays compositions from 19th century Russian composer Rimsky Korsakov. This place is eclectic and wonderfully bizarre. Make sure to have a look around, because even the upstairs (where the bathroom is located) is decorated.

    (5)

  • Debbie L.

    I've been coming here for a few years and have always noticed the poor service. But, a few nights ago was the worst and I'm pretty much done esp with places like Lovely's Fifty Fifty and Salt and Straw etc. that offer great dessert and service. Poor service meant asking for our check 3 times over a span of 30 min and finally having to stand up near the woman we thought was our server only to find out she wasn't. We had three different women bring things and take our order. One of the servers finally apologized and said she never wrote down our order even though we saw her do it. Finally we got our check and paid and headed out only after picking up a bunch of garbage the last server dropped all over the floor... other customers bills! Anyways, one other incident July 21st 2013 and yeah I know, that was a while ago but there were about 8 of us in there for my bday dessert and again, crappy service, severely bad attitude and plain meanness to my son when he asked there be no nuts on his sundae. The desserts are delicious at Rimsky but service says a lot especially when you don't get any!

    (1)

  • Melanie R.

    I honestly expected more from this coffee house based on the Yelp reviews. And it didn't help that we got cranky because we got lost getting there, and had to call a cab. One, there weren't very many people there. Two, there wasn't very much art there, just a lot of garbage hanging from the ceiling and tacky wallpaper. Three, it was cash only and the menu looked pretty ghetto. The cups for our drinks looked like cheap plastic things I would pick up for my house, not a cafe. But I loved the weirdness of the bathroom. And the weirdness is really what attracted me to this place. So two stars more for that, I guess. But I don't think I'll be back the next time I'm in Portland.

    (3)

  • Marna G.

    This is one of the best, oddest, amazing, crazy places ever. The bathroom is off the hook and just so funny. The desserts are fantastic as well as the tea. I am not going to tell you anything else because you have to experience it first hand - but I will tell you that you will be talking about it for years:)

    (5)

  • Maggy B.

    This place is so fun! Dark and weird, but unexpectedly delicious desserts and fun staff. Very laid back feel. Got raspberry fool and some sort of gluten free brownie! Amazing. Will def go back.

    (5)

  • Brook L.

    Jumping for joy over this great find. It was my first time in Portland and this was one of my final stops on my "I promise I'll visit landmarks that don't inspire me to feed my face" tour, 'cept you do eat food here. Dessert. And it's good. And the ambience -- even better. Live classical music, good conversation and a frightening mannequin in the upstairs bathroom. What more do you want before going to bed?

    (5)

  • Pete B.

    Nice desert. Interesting ambiance. Creepy waiter (like, way more creepy than he was intending to be).

    (4)

  • Jason G.

    This place is [insert well deserved superlative]. The raspberry fool does not mess around, it is seriously delicious. I know you're not supposed to come to a place like this for just black coffee, but I didn't feel like tea or a coffee drink so thats what I ordered. It was pretty meh, but my friends cappuccino was really good. She came from out of town and I sent her upstairs to the bathroom. She came back suitably impressed by the place. It's a strange place, but its a delicious place. All of the desserts are super good, and the vibe of the place is pretty one of a kind even in this town.

    (4)

  • Laura A.

    I absolutely adore this place as a Portland local. My daughter goes here with her friends often as well. Very fun, and a neat atmosphere. A nice look into Portland's fun quirkiness!

    (5)

  • Kevin V.

    I love the simplicity of what this place is, coffee and dessert. It's a fun atmosphere with Portland style. A must go to.

    (4)

  • M H.

    Wonderful---eclectic atmosphere and delicious desserts. You are encouraged to stay and enjoy the great music. We will come again!

    (5)

  • Jenni L.

    This place is awesome. I went here last night with a friend, and although it was difficult to find, the second I walked in I knew this was the place for me. It's this gorgeous little victorian that is equal parts spooky and interesting. There are hidden faces peeking out at you all over hidden in the wall art, pictures and even the glass. My friend was texting another one of our friends about the place while we were there and she asked me to describe it. I just told her to tell her that Edgar Allen Poe and Tom Waits both lived here, which looks like it could have been plausable. The waitress was fun as well. She came over to our table and immediately started yelling at us about our order, and then seemed genuinely shocked when we were already ready. She said she really just wanted to come over and scare us, which I give her props for. Any job where you're allowed to yell and intimidate your cutomers for fun is probably pretty interesting. Hopefully not too many people take it seriously. The cappuccinos were superb as well as the hot fudge sundae, which tasted like it was homeade. The icing on the whole trip there, however, was the famous bathroom upstairs. I had heard that the Rimky has the most terrifying bathroom in the area, but I didn't know exactly what to expect until I went in and checked it out for myself. I almost screamed, actually, and I went expecting something. I will definitely be back here soon, it seems like it's a fun place to go with friends or even just take a book and enjoy some coffee.

    (5)

  • Jordan S.

    The food is great, if you ever get a chance to actually get your order taken. The service is absolutely awful. I love this place, and I love the ambiance of it all, but the service is seriously the worst I have ever seen. Yeah, it's super kitschy and hip. Not worth it though. Last time I came here, I literally sat for 35 minutes and I only saw two waitresses, who rarely came out from the back, and I just got up and left because I was fed up with waiting.

    (1)

  • Nik R.

    Very cool experience :) Selections of coffees is good, and the desserts are awesome. The atmosphere is really cool, especially when the table next to you starts spinning for no good reason. And, yeah, check out the restroom, if you have the guts ;)

    (4)

  • Joey Y.

    One of very few coffeehouses that actually open past 5. (Ava in Beaverton opens 24hours.) They converted a regular house into a cozy, unique coffeehouse that serves mean desserts. Coffee is good and all, but their desserts are amazing. The cheesecake literally punched the living daylights out of me. So good. Few things to do while you are here: -Go to the bathroom by yourself. -Stay past 9 to hear live classical music. -Order desserts. -Go to the bathroom again and slap the guy sitting on the canoe. CASH ONLY!

    (4)

  • Matt L.

    All you need to know about this place can be summed up in three words: Chocolate Raspberry Fool. It's absolutely delicious and pretty much sums up your entire experience all with only taking up a minor part of the menu. The eclectic atmosphere is enhanced even more by the eclectic wait staff. They're hilarious, friendly, and real all at once. They're incredibly helpful and fun to be around. The dining area is comfortable and fun. There's so much to see and so many things that can stimulate conversation. This would be a great place for a first date. The prices aren't too bad, but you have to pay in cash. If you go there and forget, there's a Plaid Pantry just down the street, but it's kind of inconvenient. Especially if you go when they first open--they might not have the correct amount of change to break your larger bills. Overall, if you want a fun, quirky dessert experience, this is a fantastic place for you to hit up. It's a hole in the wall, so pay attention or you'll drive right past it, thinking it's just another house in SE Portland. Also, even if you don't have to use the restroom, you should venture up to the second floor. It's just a part of the whole experience. And I don't want to spoil it for you. Go check it out for yourself!

    (3)

  • Robb S.

    The air was hot, humid, and devoid of circulation in the dining room. Although this is purportedly a good place to go on a date, we could barely hear ourselves over the din of the other guests. Something about the decor, low ceilings, and shape of the room, maybe. The tables were less than half seated and the single server on duty was "in the weeds". (Had panic in her eyes, was taking too long, and was messing up orders.) It's obnoxious enough that you have to pay in cash. Square has been out for a while now making it affordable for small businesses. But we accommodated them by stopping first at a bank to get cash. Unfortunately, the waitress didn't accommodate us by accepting our cash because "I don't have any change yet; just twenties." Even the music was poor: simple classical guitar played in a manner lacking dynamics and rhythm. The crowd seemed appreciative, though. Decaf coffee was fine but our mocha was light on the chocolate. We didn't feel justified leaving one star because we never had fear for our personal safety and what's more, they seemed to mean well.

    (2)

  • Chad Or Lisa S.

    Coffee and desserts in a run down old Victorian house. Table service, Live classical music. We need more places like this in that have live music at a coffee house. What makes this place weird is the trip to the bathroom. I am not going to tell you why. You'll just have to experience this for yourselves. I have more to say I will add an addendum later.

    (4)

  • Nina C.

    I started coming here with my mother at the age of 8, and have been coming back ever since. It is a really fun place to bring first timers especially when you sit at one if the special tables, and no one knows but you. :)

    (5)

  • Kirsten V.

    What?...you're telling me I can high five a couple of deceased composers AND have dessert in a cute, quirky little house? This is one of my favorite places. Period.Ever.

    (5)

  • Vi B.

    Coffee shops in Portland are like Chinese people in China - there are a lot of them. So to stand out, each shop kind of has to have that "something special" to keep the city-folks coming back. Rimsky is the kind of place that has a lot of these special little niches, like cute little tables (which used to convulse), couches, and live music (if you're there at the right place at the right time). It's a great place to go with friends when you're looking for a lively (yet intimate) place to sit and chill for an hour or so. I like the fact that it's casual and located in an old house; the waiters/waitresses are pretty blase, but that's expected when you go to a Portland coffee shop that's more hipster than hippy (which this place definitely is). And also, where else can you see lady legs dangling above your head in a bathroom? Besides Dirty Nightclub, that is.

    (4)

  • James W.

    Amazing dessert place. Atmosphere is so comfortable. Old-fashioned decor and a bustling crowd in a lowly lit, yet not dim, room. Live piano player was playing classic and romanic piano pieces. All the desserts looked good. We got the affogato and ice cream brownie sundae. Both were phenomenal. No regrets. Will definitely hit this place again.

    (5)

  • Jeremy J.

    Loved the eclectic atmosphere here. Just a fun place that screams "Portland" and really makes sense to me. The menu, the atmosphere/decor, and the service really just gels here a creates a unique and streamlined experience that really just works The service here was the biggest draw for me. The server was simply hilarious and made our experience 10 times better. Every time he interacted with any of the tables he had me absolutely rolling. The food here was good but not blow your mind amazing. The Raspberry fool was tasty, and between my gf and I we devoured it in about 3 minutes. 4 stars on taste but I thought the presentation of the dessert was a little lacking. My gf also had an almond steamer, which was delicious. I had the Mexicana, which I was a little disappointed in. Basically just a regular mocha with cinnamon dusted over a whipped cream top, but since the whipped cream was so thick that you had to eat it before you could drink the coffee, it was basically just a glorified Plain Jane mocha. Overall the experience of going outweighs everything else, and I would definitely go back (especially to take an out of towner).

    (4)

  • Jennifer J.

    As a Native Portlander, I have been going to Rimsky's since high school in the 80's. It's a great place to satisfy your sweet tooth. The servers are personable and always interesting. My favorite is the Triple Cafe Irish Coffee Ice Cream. I love their tea, and their collection of vintage china and handkerchiefs for their napkins. A must-go! It was hip before hipsters started migrating in droves to Portland! One thing, their restroom used to be a LOT scarier than it is now. Perhaps they went through too much toilet paper when it was too spooky! ;-)

    (5)

  • Elizabeth K.

    I was really disappointed. Went tonight. No music. Sketchy neighborhood. Desserts were ok but not great. No liquor license. No water service unless you ask. The famous raspberry fool was just a big cup of whipped cream and raspberry sauce - underwhelming. If you go just order a hot fudge sundae to be safe. Nothing special.

    (2)

  • jasmine w.

    Recently discovered this place, now a new fav! The trio playing music was awesome. I had a chocolate custard dish that was really rich and good. The bathroom is a trip!

    (5)

  • Vesper H.

    One of my favorite places in Portland - charming and unique, it is definitely a category in of it self. Great place to grab some coffee and dessert after a heavy meal, and the homey atmosphere is ripe for great conversation.

    (4)

  • Kimi P.

    LOVE this place! The ambiance and atmosphere is awesome. Funny thing is that someone told me to go to the bathroom. You should go if you are in Portland. Visit this place - look through the windows (see the faces) - walk around everywhere! Drinks/food - I just had a tea (good), then ate a carrot cake and lemon sorbet. Everything was good. Crowd - Went there Thanksgiving Eve - it was quiet when it first opened (at 7:00p) but started to get crowded around 8:30-9:00p. Staff - Mikey is amazing! Loved him. Funny. Great service. Try to get him as your server =) Would def. come here again.

    (4)

  • Robert S.

    Risky-korsacoffee is a land of many contrasts. Decor and ambiance are top notch. Ever wonder what you'd look like as one of the Undead? Take a picture of yourself in here. Hell, take 50,000 pictures of yourself--you'll be waiting that long for service. Service is quite wretched. No idea what the problem is. But it's total balls, so you'll get a chance to enjoy the music while you wait half an hour. Fortunately, on Tues nights the music is unfailingly excellent. Classical guitar with a wide range of styles and moods. Even works for tango, and maneuvering through the tables will test your skills. Do not order coffee here. It will arrive burnt in a half washed Goodwill cup. Your wife will glare at you. You will both then leave.

    (3)

  • Jessica B.

    Oh Rimsky-Korsakoffee House, you have seen better days. Depressing to come in and see all the employees slouching around the formerly rotating, now broken table. It seems the magic is gone. Our cute, energetic waiter roused himself to bring me an excellent coffee, but things have gone from shabby-chic and awesome to shabby and sad.

    (3)

  • Svetlana S.

    To get a full impression of Portland, at least of it's weird, eclectic, artsy, earthy, pretentious side, it is a MUST GO! The place doesn't have a sign and looks like an old house, so make sure you look it up on the map. It is also closed all day, opening its old rustic squeaky door at 7 pm only. In best Portland traditions, they despise plastic, so cash or check only. I will not bore you with detailed description of this unique place. To get a full palette of flavors, please come visit. Make sure you have at least an hour to sit back and enjoy. They have live music, so take advantage of that. The coffee house also will give you a great overview of cultural and art events going on in the city. My 4 stars is for their teas & desserts and a bit concise (to my liking) menu. However, one doesn't go there for food only, so don't miss out on the opportunity!

    (4)

  • Tnvd C.

    Rimisky-Korsakoffee House is one of those confounding places that leaves you sitting back in your chair starring at a photo of 1992 Oprah Winfrey hanging from the ceiling by Mardi Gras beads saying to yourself: "huhhhghhhh whaaat?" The atmosphere is definitely an interesting one. Coffee and service aside, I think it is worth going just once, (maybe even twice) to experience this severely wallpapered eclectic ambiance. I can't quite figure out how they've managed to stay in business thirty-some odd years, but people seem to love it. Anyway, walking into the hallway, you can peek in and see the place is absolutely packed. There's some handwritten signs depicting some undoubtedly diabetic-shock inducing sweets. You know the feeling when you arrive two hours late to a birthday party when you're five, and everyone is already going at it and having a great time and you're just standing there feeling awkward and invisible holding your present? That's Korsakoffee. You just seat yourself wherever suits your fancy, and wait patiently and hope until a waiter notices that you might be a new customer seated at a table. I would liken it to being a near-death rescue victim waiting on an avalanched mountain for a sherpa. This is fine if you have no plans and you're with friends; flying by the seat of your pants with adventure for the night, but I can easily see how this service would annoy some people. Our waiter was fantastic. He was just pleased-as-pie about life and put on a little show singing some falsetto Beyonce improv. But it took like twenty minutes for us to be noticed. I ordered a soy chai, my friend ordered a cider, and my partner ordered some sort of brownie-cake-in-a-bowl-thing. It took a very long time. I started to think that maybe they were either very understaffed, or are quite possibly watching the end of Titanic and using their filtered tears to make my beverage. Both sound acceptable. Back to the decor: as mentioned before, the walls are severely wallpapered. It is like an overwhelming aunt.The ceiling reminds me of my grandmother's junk-drawer and has a million weird tchotchkes hanging from it by plastic beads. All of the tables are mismatched and wobbly, and the entire building smells faintly of cat-pee. So all in all, you feel like you are having tea in your cat-hoarding relatives' closet. Our beverages and desserts arrived! Oh boy! Our waiter did a little dance for us again. My chai was okay, lukewarm and pretty bland. My friends' cider was good, but he was really hoping he would be able to get an alcoholic beverage there. (Could you imagine drinking here? It would be the best. This place needs a bar!) My partners' dessert was good, but an ungodly amount of brownie, so we all shared it. It was so rich, I felt like maybe I had been graced with having a immaculate parasitic twin once it hit my stomach. It was good like: "Yay Grandma's house!", but nothing like "Whoa, I need to write the papers about this, I think we've found an undiscovered species of nematode!" We began to grow sleepy from the sugar crash, and it took an additional fifteen or so minutes to get our check. I definitely think this place profits mostly on atmosphere, but I would still come again if I have visitors in town! P.S. Go to the bathroom. You'll see why.

    (3)

  • Christina L.

    Wow, I was visiting from NYC, and decided to eat here. The service was so slow. I had to wait nearly a half an hour for some really bad desserts. When I decided that her service was not worth my tip, the waitress had the gall to chase me down. Ridiculous, entitled behavior, especially from someone who provided bad service.

    (1)

  • Tiffany H.

    This is a Portland staple- it's one of those places that even when there's a long line, or even when the last time you went the service was terrible- you still go back because you're a local and it's just what we do, or because you're a tourist who wants to feel like a local and you feel compelled to go back and stare at the awesome undersea themed bathroom. I've been going to this place for 8 years now, and finally wrote a review. All through h.s. and college this place had terrible service- lukewarm water, sometimes dirty silverware, I had numerous occasions I went and the server brought us our food and then literally never checked on us again, not even to give us a bill- once we waited 30 minutes and no one ever came into the room so we eventually left. Why did I keep returning? Tradition. And the desserts are that good. Over the years, prices went up- all desserts used to be $5, now they're $5.50-7 and such, still affordable. The coffee's delicious. Get the mocha fudge cake, with the raspberry and eat them together! Pure bliss. Get it with a delicious mocha on the side. So, how does this place get 4 stars now, after 8 years of bad service? Good news! The last time I went there, the server was fantastic- she took our orders quickly, checked on us numerous times, we get our awesome desserts timely and the bill was brought promptly without a rush though. While we ate, a gentleman played lovely acoustic guitar music in the background. This is a great place to check out. I'd have given it 5 stars, but unfortunately the water was still lukewarm, and they have a rotating menu of seasonal desserts but all but one of them were out (that happens a lot, which is dissappointing). But go, get a dessert, a coffee, and check out the restroom. Grab a book from a table or the shelf- there are books full of drawings, writing and patrons' souvenirs. Place one of your own belongings under the table glasstop and it will go in their book eventually, to be commemorated forever! You'll find movie tickets, love notes and so much more- it's interesting to see. Don't forget that it's cash only!

    (4)

  • Soror G.

    Sit at the 'revolving table' it moves up & down very slowly while you eat and freaks out newbies who think it is a ghost. Play up that it is a ghost. Really fun around prom time. Sort of a standard in the area to take prom dates and is fun to see all the youngsters dressed up. Mikey the waiter is the best part. He is fun, sassy and brings life to the party. Oh, and the desserts are incredible! There are a few standards but I love it when they have their bread pudding or key lime pie on the menu, which is not often, but when they have it, GET IT! One of my favorite places to go for tea and treats in Portland. Oh and I LOVE the old art deco wall paper.

    (5)

  • ket t.

    oh my goodness... super funky and neat place to chill and have some yummy dessert and listen to some live music. The decor is amazing- from the lights- objects hanging from the ceiling- 'freaky' tables... and the bathroom! A very unique place- and one that keeps Portland weird! You just have to check it out!

    (4)

  • Shay E.

    Tell me this: What coffee shop have you ever been to that has live classical music in the evenings? SOLD! What's so great about this place is most people don't even catch the reference to the great composer Rimsky-Korsakoff-- "Flight of the Bumblebee." Haha, suckers, RKH is already smarter and more cultured than you. But on a serious note, the decor and ambiance of this place are absolutely unrivaled in Portland. Quirky isn't quite the word. Pleasantly lunatic is more like it! I would imagine a personification of the Cheshire Cat ran this place. The first time I came here, they were actually closed. But as I was snooping around taking photos, somebody inside invited me in and let me take some more pictures inside. What I saw amazed me! The proprieter, I was informed, with her current obsession with the alphabet, had decorated everything with the letter "O." Hand-made ornaments representing anything you could think of that started with "O" were hanging from the ceiling, on the walls, etc. Ogres, Owls, Orange, Oh, the possibilites! The place has a sense of humor and lightheartedness (but not ignoring the aesthetic aspect of it) I have never seen in such a classy establishment. Everybody I have encountered working here is so kind, funny, warm-hearted. I can't see how anybody wouldn't like this place! Even when the service is a little slow, I can be forgiving. Sometimes it gets busy and there's only one person taking care of everybody. Imagine the patience they must be exercising! And they truly care about their customers. You have to check out the bathroom, too. Haha, I can't give it away, but this little touch of humor will startle you. I promise, it's not gross or scary or dirty. Just check it out.

    (5)

  • J K.

    All of the desserts are delicious!

    (5)

  • Eileen W.

    Consistently PDX divine. Always crowded during the later evening hours. May have to wait a long time for seating. But, honestly, the restroom is worth a visit!

    (5)

  • Kathleen B.

    The first time I had dessert here, I was blown away. I had some kind of brownie-peppermint ice cream combo, and it was awesome. I went back recently and the dessert selection was not as expansive as I remember, but I am sticking with my five-star rating. The decorations in this old victorian house are really cool; make sure you check out the bathrooms especially. This is a fantastic place to have a cozy chat with friends/family over dessert and a hot beverage.

    (5)

  • summer x.

    delicious chai. the waiter was so cute, he made a song about bills and change. i like the atmosphere and the staff was quite friendly..the desserts / icecream was fantastic!!! i love the music playing too..next time i am coming back in victorian attire...

    (4)

  • daisy s.

    This place is fantastic. In an converted victorian, it's barely signed form the outside. Inside you'll find alphabetically-themed dessert and drink menus, a grand piano, and lots of cosy tables. Kick off your shoes and spend an evening here!

    (5)

  • Karin K.

    Having been aware of the cult-like following of this place, I was eager to go after years of hearing stores. Perhaps my anticipation was too great. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. First, I should say that we meet for book club and Rimsky's wasn't a great choice to hold this kind of meeting. Other reviewers refer to the noise level and they aren't kidding. Between the music and the ambient noise, it was very hard to hear. Even if I hadn't been there to listen to others talk, it would have been disturbing. We arrived as they opened at 7pm, and it was chilly inside. However, by the time we left about 8:30, it was like a sauna. The Cafe Borgia was delicious and the ginger cake very good. Our service was attentive. However, because they only take cash, we had to take our large group's pile of cash to the kitchen because after the check was dropped off, we didn't see our server again.. However, everyone was satisfied with their coffee, tea and desserts. Overall, our experience was good and I may come back. However, they need to do some updating. First, the crazy bathroom. I would be more tolerant if it were clean. It's not only dated, it's dirty. The floor...oh, yuck. And Portland Weird doesn't have to be bizarre, people. Second. No cards? Really? In this day and age? That's just laziness. Even mom and pop coffee carts take cards. The whole place seems tired and worn. Things don't have to new or modern to be pleasant, but comfortable and clean are important. They are lacking in this area. The chair I got was rickety, swaying dramatically from side to side like a carnival ride. The sofa was worn and too sinky. Keep your mismatched mugs, silly plates, and complete lack of signage, but it's time for a makeover and a deep clean, Rimsky.

    (2)

  • Karen G.

    This place is like a cross between Disneyland and the inside of a stranger danger's van... Overly stimulating, lots of sweets, and a little bit creepy. Keep Portland Weird? Yeah. Rimsky's does that and then some. But weird isn't the only thing they have going for them. They also have the Raspberry Fool, and Ship Goes To Pieces On A Rock, and the chocolate pot de creme. I also had one of the best pieces of cake in my life at Rimsky's, and it was so good I don't even remember what was in it. Just that it was delicious. Your sweet tooth will want to jump out of your mouth and live here. (And it would look right at home hanging from the ceiling!) This is a great place to take: - a date (if he doesn't like Rimsky's, he's probably a boring stick-in-the-mud. Later dude.) - your out of town parents (Mom will love the rotating table! It's neat.) - a small birthday party gathering (the flamboyant waiter will entertain and loves to play to a crowd.) Easily one of my favorite dessert places in Portland. "See you latte!"

    (4)

  • Jen C.

    This coffee house is one of a kind. It brings a unique quality to the city. The servers are witty and seem to enjoy working there. I called one time to ask where they were located. Here's how the conversation went: me: Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me where you're located? RK: I'm standing by the fridge me: uh, ok. How about the cofee house? RK: it's located wonderfully in the city of Portland me: great...thanks Make sure you sit at a table along the wall. You'll know what I mean when you sit there :) Also, if it's your first time, make sure to visit the bathroom. Also, it's CASH only so don't forget that.

    (4)

  • Jules H.

    maybe you want to like this place more than you should? showed up on a rainy saturday night to listen to some live music and enjoy dessert. after driving around the block a couple of times, we finally stumbled in a victorian house. there was no one at the front room to great or seat since it's a seat yourself situation. the room was dark and oddly decorated with random objects hanging from the ceiling. there were definitely couples on dates, all sitting around small wooden tables that looked to be from the 60s. after about 10 mins, some one came with the menus. you should know it is cash only, and there is a $4 minimum/person. we ordered: hot chocolate (nothing special), coffee, the raspberry fool, and one of the daily specials, the elvis cake (peanut butter + banana). the server was busy because there were only 2 of them! not exactly warm, but functional. drinks came first, at least they were hot. the desserts - raspberry fool was good, not much chocolate. the banana peanut butter cake was dry, dry, dry. music: great to hear some live music, and enjoyed the company, but we'll go else where next time.

    (2)

  • Skittle J.

    I'm not too sure how I feel about this place. I love the location, the property, the decor, the idea. But we walked in after having gone next door to get cash from the ATM since it's cash only, and were greeted with a "we're locking the doors in 15 minutes." I'm not sure why since they were suppose to be open for another hour. But okay, that should be enough time to have a drink and quick chat with a friend. There was a guy playing acoustic guitar which was nice for the ambiance. I just wanted a hot chocolate of course, but .50 cents additional for cinnamon? I was curious if this was some super amazing cinnamon, so I asked the server. She did a super poor job selling me on the cinnamon, and said, that in fact the prices on all menu items change continuously for no apparent reason. Okay, I guess I'll pass on the .50 cent cinnamon. I was ready to be sold, but oh well. The hot chocolate tasted like cocoa powder and milk, nothing special... pretty generic flavor. Not very hot... I guess so I could drink it within the 15 minutes we had left. The sign said to tip the musician at least $1, but we only got to hear 1 song since we were being kicked out. But he was staring at me when we were leaving so I felt obligated... I had given the server my last $1 for tip... I felt lame when all I had to drop in his jar was .50 cents. Guess it's a good thing I wasn't sold on that cinnamon, or it would have been nothing. I probably should have swapped those tip amounts. Oh well.

    (3)

  • Lauren S.

    I took my sister here for her birthday. Family friendly environment. My niece came and was 9 months at the time. In addition to the fun and playful oddities, our server gave my sister a book for her birthday with quotes for each day of the year, AND wrote on her birthday page. This really is one of my favorite secret spots in town.

    (5)

  • Marissa P.

    Rimsky's is just one of the local favorites that keeps Portland unique! I don't want to give away any of the surprises so I'll be brief. It's just a wonderful little dessert & coffee house! They make all of their own baked goods on property! It's an eclectic atmosphere that always has a surprise or two in store for you (especially if you are paying attention)! On a slower week night you may be welcome to sip coffee and hang out with friends all night. However, on a busy weekend please be aware that there is a crowd waiting outside (probably in the rain) for your table. Love the fact that they are always open late. But do be aware that they only take cash and the parking lot is small, you might have to circle around the block several times to find street parking. Try the Rasputin's Vice - Raspberries, Bailey Coffee Ice Cream, and Chocolate! It's divine! They also make a mean mocha valencia!

    (5)

  • Molly H.

    LOVE IT!!!! Have been going here for 15 years. Super casual, fun coffee/dessert place. It's seat-yourself, cash only. Service is friendly, but not extremely attentive, so don't go here if you're in a rush. Very affordable. Desserts are AWESOME - I love the brownie sundae. Best/worst part is the super-creepy mannequin in the bathroom.

    (4)

  • Lisa V.

    I love the weirdness of Portland. I love locally owned owned places. I went to this place with my hubby and some friends on a recommendation last night. Let me tell how things went down.... Saturday night - 9 pm decent weather crowed place - you seat your self. took over 20 minutes to get the server over to us another 15 minutes to get our drinks.... we were at one of the "funky haunted tables", it was motorized, and levitated ever so slightly, that was fun. there was only 1 vegan thing on the menu for dessert.. and they were out. disappointed. sigh. took over an hour to get the check so we could leave, oh yea, and they only took cash. before I forget ... the bathroom. Yes. One bathroom - unisex. it has feet hanging from the ceiling, it's like you are underwater...there is a rowboat with a dead guy dummy in it... funny as hell. will we back? of course we will.

    (3)

  • D R.

    unusual. fancy atmosphere with a kick of goofy. the outright weirdness about this place is actually pretty subtle, i mean, if you don't visit the restroom. the waitstaff is great: smart and efficient, with a sense of humor. some of the furniture is quite remarkable. just extraordinary! and of course, the food* is delicious; although, sometimes choosing that one dessert from the menu can be a pretty depleting task. * dessert only

    (4)

  • Catherine E.

    wouldn't have ever gone in if a friend hadn't suggested it. we probably wouldn't have even known it was a coffee house. inside you will find dim lighting, lots of cozy tables, warm drinks dessert and a wonderfully entertaining waiter. went on a tuesday after dinner and there were several other groups of people around, definitely not crowded though. as other reviewers noted there is no rushing you out the door at rimsky, so i'd say skip it if you aren't looking to spend some time there. but there was a guy playing guitar which topped off the atmosphere perfectly. i'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Curtis F.

    Went to this place for the first time tonight, and wow! I absolutely loved it. We sat at a table that vibrated at random intervals (it took me a few times to figure out what was happening,) I had an orange cappucino that was excellent and amazingly, not burningly hot, and a very talented man played some fantastic classical guitar. And the bathroom is amazing. A lot of reviews says it gets too loud in there, but I found it pleasant. It was just noisy enough to keep our conversation somewhat private, but quiet enough that we didn't have to raise our voices. We shut the place down, and the waitress was extremely friendly the entire time we were there and didn't try to rush us out even though we only had one beverage each and stayed for 3 and a half hours. Also, it was only about 6 dollars for our two drinks. Less expensive than Starbucks and wayyyy more awesome. Overall, an absolutely fantastic experience. Go with good company and you'll certainly enjoy yourself :)

    (5)

  • H K.

    @ Jennifer J... As a native Portlander born in the 80s... agreed!! For those that gave less than 5 stars and complained about the service... You obviously missed the point. FYI when the hipsters go back home, this place will still be here.

    (5)

  • Angela K.

    The raspberry fool was delicious, and the tea was alright, but most of our dishes came out dirty. We got them replaced, but I'm always a little leery after seeing crusty food on dishes. There was a trick table that the people next to us sat at, and it moved up and down very slowly. I guess this place just wasn't as strange as I was hoping from the reviews it's gotten.

    (2)

  • Hailey F.

    This is one of my favorite dessert places in Portland. The waiters are always entertaining, the desserts are always delicious, especially the Raspberry Fool, it's my favorite! I love taking people here for the first time!

    (5)

  • Jeff H.

    Great cozy atmosphere in older house. Tea and dessert were both very good. Service was good and very friendly. Only open in evening and late. Don't accept plastic. Contrary to main yelp page description, they do have limited outdoor seating that appears to be available only on request.

    (4)

  • Jim C.

    my wife and i checked this out from all the positive reviews and weren't impressed.. thought it was a dump. not eccentric or charming or hip, but dirty and run down. can't review the food, though, cuz we never got any, despite being there for 30 minutes. don't waste your time

    (1)

  • Rachel H.

    This place is super quirky. Yummy teas and desserts.

    (5)

  • Allison D.

    First, I love the name of this place and the fact that they honor it with live classical music. I was really excited to try it. Sadly, my experience was not good. The server was nice, but very inattentive. I think they were a bit busier than they had anticipated, but it didn't seem like it was enough customers to warrant the lack of service. But surprisingly, this isn't why I gave it two stars. (I would only do a low star count for service if I had more than one experience or if it was truly horrible because everyone's allowed a bad day in my book). The lack of stars is for the film and chunks of particles in the dirty cups of water (which they did replace), and for the luke-warm and burned Orange Cappuccino. It was also mostly milk, burned milk, with less coffee than I would expect in a cappuccino. The minimal amount of orange rind was overpowered by a random sprinkling of what I think was a chunky rock-style sugar; something I could have made at home, and I'm not a barista. It was definitely less than stellar. I've heard wonderful things about the desserts they offer but it wasn't the right time to try one. I even received a great review about a raspberry dessert from a party that was waiting for the place to open. Which reminds me, they open at 7pm but the door was locked until well after 7, which I'm sure was an accident as the open sign was on. I wouldn't say I hate this place, but even if the service had been great, and the cappuccino was delicious, the vibe didn't grab me as anything amazing or special like other people had described (especially for Portland). Old house in Portland turned into a cafe? Dime a dozen. But, I still haven't tried the desserts, and they could be heavenly for all I know. The rumors of desserts are the reason for the two stars, instead of just the one. That said, I would still give it another go on the chance that it was an off day. If I ever go back, I'll definitely update my review.

    (2)

  • Kate R.

    I've only been here once, but I loved it! It's an old house turned cafe. Fun atmosphere, the tables show off random ticket stubs, pictures, postcards, etc, that people have slid underneath the glass. The bathrooms are wacky, with a life-size fake person. I went with friends and we ordered delicious desserts. First off, on the menu everything looks SO good. I ended up ordering a brownie treat that I shared with a friend. It was great! But really, all of the desserts looked so good I don't know how you could go wrong. I definitely plan to come again!

    (4)

  • Alyssa B.

    Love this place. It's so quirky, and something amusing always happens when you're here and it's pretty impossible to be bored because there's so many things to look at and read and be confused about.... The bathroom is by far one of the best parts - check it out, regardless of whether you actually need to use it. The live music is a nice touch - I usually enjoy the classical piano music, and the player the other night was pretty good but seemed to be in a bad mood or something - she played some of the songs rather violently. The desserts are always excellent - I came here a couple nights ago and we ordered the Brownie sundae (decadent) and the Apple crisp (pretty classic)...wish they weren't sold out of the peach cobbler :(

    (4)

  • Regina B.

    Its a house.. that looks scary during the day.. lol but a cozy victorian place at night. I love love the fudgeeee brownie ice cream sundae with the extra fudgeee also I love the almond milk. So there is a guy who works there that sounds like Tobi (from family guy) and the funny thing is to have conversations with him about family guy. The under the sea bathroom has a lil creepiness to it but I love it. The decor; if no one realized it yet.. its all decorated with things that start with O.. I need to bring and O item because they say I can hang it if it starts with an O.. I wanted to hang a rubber ducky before.. Oh the rotating table is fun! The first time i went there, I was the only one holding my dessert and everyone's was rotating.. they didnt noticed it move until a couple minutes later. Ring around a rosy it went~ The rattling loud shaking mini table is funny too. I love seeing people sit at the table and they get scared. I know there are some other tricks but i never get to see it.. ---------------------- note: grab the menus and sit down!! someone will approach you and serve you. don't expect a grand service because its just a laid back kinda place with some nights of live music. its nice to sit there and just chill with friends. Cash only and make sure you have singles and fives if you and your friends are splitting the bill. i love the lil notes and drawings the servers gives you. and the dessert containers and the handkerchiefs are uberly cute.

    (5)

  • Laura N.

    "Home of the casually threatening atmosphere"...according to their blog. While they are home to a many number of things, including live classical music and delicious, yet dauntingly simple dessert selections, there is one aspect of this unassuming Victorian house that is more than a little casually threating: The bathroom. I won't ruin it for you, but let's just say that if a friend has the hiccups and needs a cure, this will certainly be the scare they need.

    (3)

  • April G.

    This is a great place to enjoy coffee, tea, and dessert! I'm not giving it a full 5 stars because the setup of the tables and chairs is a little tight, but that's absolutely the only downside to the place. The decorations are wonderful, the food and drink is good, and the staff is friendly. I'm not sure where the reputation of surly staff came from, but the servers we met were nothing but nice. And, as everyone else has said, check out the bathroom upstairs!

    (4)

  • Nyssa A.

    So cozy and cute. The atmosphere is so unique and the desserts are pretty good too. I take everyone who visits from out of town here and smile maniacally while asking them if they need to use the restroom.

    (4)

  • Aleasha G.

    Went here, Loved it, Will be back. And will bring others :) Music was fantastic, dessert & tea were standard. The wildlife & entertainment???? PRICELESS!!! Thank you Portland for again...being weird.

    (4)

  • Yun V.

    Good desserts. Nice servers. Check out the bathroom! It is in a big old house :)

    (4)

  • Aaron Y.

    It's a cute old house that got turned into a cafe. Perhaps not over night but over the many years of existence it's morphed itself into a cafe only to offer you a haunted house vibe while chillin in the eating area. Live music is great but really loud at times but the dessert, coffe, and tea are great. What you would expect and along with great service. It's open late night so it's a great place to chill if you want to chill in a place without drunk people and the highlight of this place would have to be using their bathroom. The decor is genius. A great use of recycled mannequin parts. Recycling = Environmentally Friendly, thus making their bathroom decor environmentally friendly! Something hipsters and hippies love.

    (4)

  • Eva W.

    Relaxing, and open late. A classical guitar teacher was playing when I was there, and he set a comfortable atmosphere. I had the Chocolate Raspberry Fool, which was all right; tangy raspberries, bitter dark chocolate, and okay cream. For the price, though, I expected more. Also, they only accept CASH or CHECK so be prepared! One more tip: Don't go into the bathroom unless you want creepy things staring at you while you're doing your thing.

    (2)

  • Del R.

    Of course Rimskys is crazy, unique, weird, disorienting, and full of charm. And yes, they have amazing desserts to choose from -- the peanut butter chocolate torte was delightful. And of course you have to go to the bathroom while you are there. Don't ask, just trust me on this one. But hands down, the clencher that pushed my rating over to five star worthy territory was Mikey was the best server ever! He sang to us the entire time making it a fun and entertaining experience.

    (5)

  • Nik R.

    Supercalideliciousistic-extra tasty dishes Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious If you eat it loud enough you'll always seem precocious Supercalideliciousistic-extra tasty dishes! Singing server. Live music. Tasty, tasty, tasty desserts. The orange cappuccino has orange rind in it which is super double scrumptious - but be forewarned: when your server asks "single or double double your refreshment", you may want to go with the single. Unless you like staying up until three in the morning singing show tunes about food - in which case you might want to get two. Take your cash, your hankering for old-fashioned home-made desserts, and your sense of enjoyment. Leave your dignity at home, and lick the plate when you're done. It's worth it.

    (5)

  • Matt F.

    I'm a regular here but don't let the 5 Stars fool you - whether it was my first or 100th time there, I'd still give it a perfect score. The atmosphere is as Portland as you can get - the balance between hipster and hippie, trendy and vintage. The prices aren't ridiculous but for the quality of dessert you are receiving, they are actually quite a cut below the equal level restaurants (think 23rd Avenue). Most desserts range from $4-8, with coffee and tea as little as $2. Everything is quaint and the Portland style - sit yourself, pick up a menu, and be ready when we come. The waiter I normally end up getting is hilarious - he sings and dances and sits at your table. Also, the tables do funky things like go in and out of walls, spin around, etc. One more note. You HAVE to go to the bathroom. Don't ask why...just do it.

    (5)

  • Joseph H.

    Life moves slow in Rimsky, but isn't that the way dessert should be? Coffee, wine, beer, dessert. Check, check, checkkity check-check. I've only been a few times and like Brandy is spinning, you should go at once, but more than that is fairly optional. RK was an original hipster hang out. It's lost a bit of its luster over the years as the area around it has become a wellspring of foodie growth. There are a ton of places nearby that compete directly with RK and do things equally if not better it makes me forget they even exist. In Yelp world it's mediocre but there's no place like it in chain restaurant world. A lot of reviewers seem a little up tight on places like Rimsky's --- they must not blend with the pace and the slow service. Personally I often relish in a restaurant that isn't hounding my table every five seconds and doesn't take themselves too seriously. Rimsky, they've got it in spades, which is probably what brought the hipsters.

    (4)

  • Bruce J.

    Eating at Rimsky's is just such a wonderful experience and can't say enough good things about it. This was one of the places my partner took me when we were first dating. He always gets the Raspberry Fool because he says it's the best thing ever. I love the Apple Cobbler and the almond-steamed milk. The dessert menu does change a little every so often to add variety, and everything is always delicious. Rimsky's is eclectic for sure, so take that into account if you want something more contemporary or family style. Set up in an old house which has barely been altered, you'll love the array of strange decorations everywhere. Make sure you visit the restroom on the second floor. I know that sounds weird, but trust me on this one. Add to that the interesting tables (some with surprises), the live musical performers, and the wonderful mix of people who work there and eat there, and you have a sweet after-dinner hangout for you and your friends, or a date.

    (5)

  • Brandis W.

    I love this place, but it does have it's minor issues. They only take cash, which was a bit annoying at first, but now I know. Been here about 5-6 times with various people/groups and never had a bad really experience. The service is always a bit different, but usually slow, which is the only truly negative thing I can say about Rimsky's. I've had really friendly funny servers, sort of blah ones, and one just downright weird server. I've been here when it's packed and when it's dead, and the wait time is actually pretty similar. Not sure if it's the kitchen staff being slow or if this is intentional, to give you time to talk and take in the decor. Speaking of which, that's one of the best parts of this place. There's tons of interesting stuff to look at. I notice something new every time. And if it's your first time, definitely check out the bathroom (unless you have a weak heart or bladder control issues). The drinks aren't their strongest menu items, but they're far from bad, just somewhat forgettable. But it's the desserts and atmosphere that keep me coming back. The raspberry fool is delicious. And if you're a serious chocolate lover the pot de creme might be your thing. But it's super rich, so don't be afraid to share. The old house has a lot of character and nice ambiance. So, between that, the menu, and the overall quirkiness of the place, Rimsky's can be great for either a romantic late night date, or a fun spot to check out with friends. If you go in looking to take your time over a tasty treat and just enjoy the experience, you'll probably have a great time.

    (4)

  • Heather H.

    I was a bit leary of this place upon reading some reviews about terrible service was worried it was a little too hyped up. After grabbing some dinner at the food carts though... where else would work for late night coffee and desserts? We ventured in and got the last table... it was a tuesday night. We waited for a few minutes to be given a menu, but that time was spent chatting and checking out the atmosphere here. Our server kept checking on us even if she didn't have time to grab our orders. She was obviously busy and we didn't mind the wait at all. We split a couple desserts, which were both delicious, and had a couple cups of one of their specialties... also delicious.

    (5)

  • Katie W.

    I totally loved the vibe of this place. It reminded me of a traditional Viennese coffeehouse, but with a quirky Portland vibe. At first, the place looks like a traditional Victorian house - but then you start to look around and notice the decorations. Notable decorations: picture of Oprah, a note that said "Proud supporters of Operation Dessert Storm", and the trick-table that changed heights (but I'm not telling which it was!). That's not even mentioning the bathroom - it's worth the stairs. I felt like I was in Alice and Wonderland the whole time. The desserts were good - nothing overwhelmingly fantastic, but tasty and creative. We split the Peach Cobbler, Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae and Raspberry Fool and all were great in their own ways. The one thing that was lacking was PEOPLE! We went on a Monday and were the only guests the whole hour and a half we were there! I can imagine that a night where the place is packed and the piano is going and the place is alive would be just great. Guess I'll have to visit again...

    (4)

  • Colin W.

    I've been back to Rimsky since my previous review and have tried some of their coffee. In particular, I tried a cappuccino, and the espresso tasted over-roasted, somewhat burnt, and rather like a particularly bad Starbucks drink. Since my previous review of four stars was predicated on the assumption that Rimsky's coffee drinks would be of similar quality to the hot chocolate and chai tea, I unfortunately am now compelled to drop the rating to three stars.

    (3)

  • Kendrick R.

    i wish the owners of this place adopted me. i could live on the second floor of the house and like some magical kitchen spirit, i can go down and clean and eat the left overs. Someone plays the piano at night. Definitely a home grown decor. Deserts are great. my only complaint is that there's no alcohol. so i recommend a wee flask.

    (5)

  • Coleman Q.

    Great little hole in the wall. The wait is long and the service is not 100% the best BUT the coffee and dessert is really good. Check the bathroom I suggest going with people you enjoy spending time with to kill the wait. Fairly popular place for Portland people. The love music is amazing. Good spot for an end if the date dessert.

    (5)

  • Samuel N.

    What a perfect Portland place. I went on a Saturday night with a couple of friends, and it is a packed little house, and since it is seat-yourself, it did take a little bit to find a table. I wouldn't take more that 4 people, since the tables are small and there is limited seating. The menu had a diverse drink selection, but nothing too out of the ordinary. I tried a Cafe Vienna, and it was a small strong drink that was very delicious for coffee drinkers. I was able to try the hot chocolate, and must admit I was disappointed- it was very watery. The deserts, however were delicious. All very good, I would definitely recommend the mocha cake. Everyone will talk about the bathroom for this place, and I had to check it out. Definitely worth seeing as everybody says. The bathroom and the decor of the house really make this place what it is. Definitely worth seeing.

    (4)

  • Kevin S.

    From the mysterious "height-changing" tables, to the bathroom art, to the fact it is a dessert place in a vintage Victorian-style house--this place reeks of classic "Portland." The desserts are actually pretty tasty. I got a banana split that was pretty good (they used mint as one of ice cream flavors--it even came with sprinkles!). The also serve coffee in all different mugs, which I thought was cool. In all honesty, the best reason to go here is not the food though, its the ambiance/craziness of the place. You have to make sure you go upstairs to "use the bathroom" if you visit--the "decor" is pretty unique. If you go on weekends, they have a piano player that entertains. They have 2 tables (best I can figure) that move up and down randomly (pretty funny actually). All-in-all, this is a very unique place--definitely worth a visit!

    (4)

  • Allie F.

    I fell in love with this place the first time I went there nearly 2 years ago. Such a fun, unique, casual atmosphere. Things to know: *CASH ONLY! *This is not a quick stop. Prepare for a long wait and slow waiter. It's a very popular spot and they get busy even on weekdays. *Small place and is a little hard to find. It's RIGHT next to 7-11 (or ampm or whatever the convenience store is) *a lot of people don't know, but at the entrance is a book case. Find the books that people write in. Quite entertaining and some beautiful drawings from visitors. You can even write your own message! Fun idea *Live music. *CHECK OUT THE BATHROOM BEFORE LEAVING! :) I really think that's all. Delicious deserts and coffees/teas. Enjoy yourself and don't be too uptight to miss the overall experience!

    (4)

  • Marcie C.

    This is a must-see for an after-dinner, after-theatre dessert and coffee place. I had the apple crisp and it was warm, flavorful and had the right texture. I tried the raspberry fool, which is usually sold out early, and now I know why. Lots of raspberry flavor coupled with whipped white chocolate. The raspberry cheesecake was pretty good, too. A visit to their upstairs bathroom is a must for any visitor, whether or not you even have to go...

    (4)

  • Hieu T.

    This is a generous 3-star review...not that my experience was bad or anything. Definitely A-OK. A few of my buddies and I went out to dinner and wanted something a little sweet to balance out the greasefest we had just indulged in (thank you Five Bros). As expected, the place was jam packed and waited for a table to open up. No big deal. Service was fine. Definitely the quirky type of service as mentioned per the other yelpers. Not fast, but not slow either. It was A-OK for how busy it was. I liked how there was a live band playing, at least for lack of a better word The place has A LOT of charm and character. I wasn't blown away myself, mostly because I have been spoiled by the other crazy city known as Eugene. But, you know, I can get why a lot of people like this place. As far as their desserts and drinks go. Meh. I had their caramel cider and, at first sip, in love. Every subsequent sip was more worse than the previous, mostly because of the thick and rich body the drink had. It was SUPER sweet and dense. Ick. I forget what my buddies got, but they were merely ok. Their mango sorbet was fantastic though! Overall, however, I probably won't come back on the basis that the place was elbow to elbow and too claustrophobic for me.

    (3)

  • Jenny K.

    Now granted, I haven't been here in about 5 years, so I'm not sure if much has changed. However, I remember the dessert being amazing. I was visiting a friend in Eugene at the time (after driving from Southern Cali), and we decided to take a day trip to Portland. I was told about this place by someone on a social networking type site. He explained how to get there like a scavenger hunt, saying it was somewhat of a local secret. So after perusing downtown Portland and visiting it's touristy sites, we went in search of Rimsky. When we arrived, it was closed. Thinking that was strange because it was late afternoon. We returned around 7pm when they said they were open. I don't remember what desserts we got, but I remember being blown away by them; comparing them to my visits to Europe. I hope that it has kept it's well made desserts and coffee. I definitely plan to visit when I got back to Portland.

    (4)

  • Margaret R.

    The coffee is amazing! They are open late and are a good hang out spot. They let you relax and often have live music. You must check out the bathroom; I do every time. It is hilarious but I always feel like the guy in the boat is watching me.

    (4)

  • Miss F.

    After 30 years, I finally got around to leaving a review for this wonderful place. 5 stars for being the coolest place in town looong before coffee houses were hip. While other kids were taking bong hits up at Rocky Butte, I was taking dates to this place for a cheap evening of culture. And it worked quite a few times ;) Scrumptious desserts, enticing teas and cloth napkins before green was called green. So glad you are still there.

    (5)

  • Caliope S.

    My bf and I were about to hit the road back to Seattle around 9pm on a weeknight and wanted to refuel--ourselves, not the car--for the three hour trip. The only caffeine-slinging joint open in our vicinity according to Yelp was this place, so we popped the address in our GPS and headed over there. Between the GPS and my cell phone map, we could not find this place and had to circle the block three times before we realized it was in the dark house on the opposite side of the road from where the two maps were telling us it was. We parked and headed inside, excited to check out a local coffee place before leaving town. There were musicians playing, which was nice, and at first I didn't realize that there was no to-go counter hidden somewhere in the back of the house. We hadn't been planning on staying as we really needed to get on the road and simply wanted java to go. We decided to hit the bathroom before ordering, and well, I won't ruin the surprise for you if you haven't experienced it yet. Very cool...and creepy...is all I'll say. After we were downstairs and ready to caffeinate, we realized our error, but decided to stay because a) it was the only place open, and b) we wished there was a place like this in Seattle! We picked out a table in the very crowded place (considering it was a Wednesday night) and the waitress took our order quite promptly. We both ordered a drink (orange mocha for him, a pot of tea for me) and a dessert (an ice cream sundae for me, apple strudel for him). The drinks came out in about five minutes. My tea pot was *scorching* hot. I actually burned my fingers while pouring tea into my cup. Please note that if you order tea, you should use the cloth napkin they provide to lift the lid off the pot and let some hot air out first so the pot cools down enough for you to actually enjoy your beverage without scalding your hands or tongue. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I had plenty of time to sit and wait for the tea to cool down because after over 40 minutes of sitting there (according to my phone since I had facebooked about it when we sat down), our desserts still hadn't arrived-- nor had our waitress ever come back to check on us so we could remind her. Since we needed to get back home, we left cash on the table to cover our bill for the drinks and left. Though we found the place very charming in concept, we were ultimately quite disappointed with our experience there. I can't guarantee that I'd go back on a future trip to Portland, but if I do, I sure hope they get it together enough to actually serve us our entire order. I'd give this place 2.5 stars if I could, but I'll be generous with three in the hopes that the kitchen staff was simply stoned to the point where it would make sense that heating up a piece of apple strudel and scooping some ice cream into a dish would take more than 40 minutes and that this won't be the case if there is a next time.

    (3)

  • Chris O.

    Very, very cool vibe here. Along with the delicious drinks and desserts, the wait stuff was fun/lively. Bring cash. Raspberry chocolate fool = yum.

    (4)

  • Nancy L.

    Eclectic, fun atmosphere. Delicious desserts and coffee drinks. A great place to hang out and chat with friends.

    (5)

  • Jenny C.

    The two elementary aged kids sitting at the table next to me were engaged in that classic debate: Kid 1: "... and then I was like, 'No! 'Cause it's Opposite Day!" Kid 2: "There's no such thing as Opposite Day!" Kid 1: "Yes there is!" Kid 2: "Nuh-uh! Because if it WAS Opposite Day then the opposite of it being that would be that it WASN'T!" Touché Kid 2... Touché. We've all been trapped in that bizarre conversation, so in honor of the experience, I'll insist: Don't go to Rimsky's. Don't think the brick red queen anne style four square house will be easy to spot when the leafy foliage is in full bloom. Don't expect to walk into a cozy old building, and don't even plan on it being busy from the moment it opens at 7pm. You won't get distracted by the art plastered on the walls or the oddities hanging from the parlour ceiling. You'll find that it's too easy to make a choice on what sounds good on the menu of desserts and coffees and chai. Of course you'll bypass the Chocolate Raspberry's Fool. Don't wander around looking for the strange tables and memorable bathrooms. Don't sit in the neat little window seat halfway up the stairs. Don't expect to get a bill with a sweet little note or drawing on the back. When you leave, you'll never want to come back, let alone sing it's praises to your friends. Because it's Opposite Day and Rimksy's is lame. (And if it's not... well then you should have figured that Rimksy's is cool.)

    (4)

  • Jessica C.

    What a delight! To start my review, I'll go with food and drink. I had the lavender infused honey lemonade. WOW. Loved it. It was crisp and refreshing and I really enjoyed the faint touch of lavender. For dessert, I had a small sliver of the cheesecake and a small sliver of the lemon icebox pie. Both yummy and very satisfying. I couldn't decide between the two - so the waiter brought both -what a surprise! Everyone we were with commented on enjoying their various drinks and eats - so all in all - Rimsky's was a success in regards to food. The decor, as everyone else has mentioned, is unique and fun. Exactly why I decided to come here in the first place. The service was good - but naturally a bit slow. Only one guy working for a while! He made up for that with being funny and entertaining. I would definitely return/frequent this fun spot.

    (3)

  • Andrea P.

    When you walk in you know you are in a place unlike any other. The longer you are there the more it begins to feel like you are in the twilight zone. There was live piano music being played by a really cute old little lady who would turn around and smile at the room as everyone applauded. The desserts and hot cocoa were good and the servers were nice although don't hesitate to flag one down to place your order.

    (3)

  • Heather G.

    What a gem! I love this cute, super "Portlandy" little coffeehouse that's open late, for those who like to sit and talk, but drink tea instead of alcohol. The desserts are delish! I've had the "Ship Goes to Pieces Against a Rock" (which I highly recommend) and the pumpkin cheesecake. I have tried a few others, but I can't remember which... but what I do remember is not being disappointed with anything. The live music is really nice, but can get a little loud. I went on a first date here once, and my date wanted to leave to find a quieter place, but he was kind of lame. I would have happily stayed.

    (4)

  • ToniAnn M.

    HaHaHa.... this place is a trip! What a quaint, yet kitchy little gem! The atmosphere is what it is all about! The bizarre & decorative "art" meshes well with the old brick four square house. As does the piano player, the strange verbiage everywhere, & the mondo-creepy mannequin in the bathroom. The desserts & coffee are par. The Red Velvet Cake didn't knock my socks off, but it was ok, the Peach Cobbler a la Mode however, led me to trade desserts with one of my fellow diners! Buh-Bye RVC, Hello Peachy!! The coffee drinks are fairly decent.... & service is ok....... exactly what I expected. I was not privy to sit at one of these rotating tables I have heard others speak of...... maybe next time. All in all, a very fun experience everyone should try at least once....... or twice!

    (3)

  • Samantha O.

    I've heard about this place as being really great, quirky place to get dessert late at night. I'd describe the decor are creepy-Russian/Victorian kitsch. I love the vibe of old Victorian houses and this place is very well suited for the space it occupies. Rimsky's has a selection of staple desserts and sundaes as well as a list of dessert specials. I didn't quite catch if the specials are meant to be weekly or monthly, but they also looked just as mouth watering as the regular menu items. Sadly they were out of a few options and even ran out of an item right before my boyfriend ordered! It was a total bummer. But the main reason I wanted to come here was for Pot de Creme. I'd say I'm mildly a foodie, but mostly for things of the sweet variety! I have ambitions to be a pastry chef, so I like trying new desserts and expanding my sugar-y horizons. I've never had anything like Pot de Creme before and wow, it was super rich, but super good. My Mexicana mocha was dang tasty too. In my opinion, this is a really nice date place and I'd love to come back on a night when they have live classical music.

    (4)

  • Mollie F.

    this place is absolutely amazing! its like being in a cute, crazy, fun house! theres crazy decorations everywhere, numbers hanging from the ceiling, and a creepy kayaking mannequin in the bathroom. i only had some darjeeling tea while there but it was pretty tasty. it came out in a little tea pot. i felt like i was at a tea party. the waitress was also extremely nice. she sat and talked for a little and gave us recommendations to try. ps the ginger cake was to die for! i will most definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Nicole M.

    Excellent home made desserts and fun atmosphere. They have reasonable prices for the caliber and freshness of their coffee and dessert offerings. I've come here many times over the last 7 years and have always enjoyed it.

    (4)

  • Ken N.

    For me Rimsky wins because of the crazy decor and the moving tables. I love taking friends there who have never been and sitting at the table that moves up and down. They don't notice at first but when they do they freak out. (in a good way) The deserts are good. Not amazing and the service is so so. It just depends who you get. But overall its a fun experience.

    (4)

  • Chris S.

    Good desserts.

    (5)

  • January M.

    Okay so apparently RKH doesn't have a $5 minimum. My mistake. Maybe instead of shaming people on the internet you could clarify this policy to your staff. As it was my server who came back to our table after we ordered and informed me that I (personally) needed to "order something else or leave. We have a $5 minimum". This despite the fact that I was with a four top. Hmmmm. . . completely out of line. It's even more offensive now learning that he was mistaken about the policy. All of this aside: The 1 star remains because I was treated as if my business didn't matter. The server was snippy, pretentious and acted like he was doing us a favor by allowing us to put money in the cash register. I might have gone back at some point. . . and possibly had a fabulous experience causing me to update my review. Could have been that one server having a bad day. But we'll never know now thank's to one overly defensive employee who apparently feel that it's their job to police the internet. So if you do Yelp about your horrible experience at RKH be prepared to get called "unethical" and be told that your review was a "a list of lies" I still say change the name to Kinky-Romanoff House. Because it'd be funnier that way.

    (1)

  • Annette V.

    Went here this past Saturday w my date who had never been to this Portland staple before. We arrived around 9pm and had no trouble finding a table for two. The larger tables were all taken but several small tables were in abundance. The service was exceptionally great, in a matter of 5 minutes we were approached by 3 different servers wanting to take our order. All were pleasant and never did we feel rushed to make up our minds. We ended up having a brownie sundae, some awesome pumpkin cheesecake crummmble (yes, that's how it was scrawled on the menu) and a delicious latte (yay for stumptown). Paired with live music from a pianist wearing a Happy Birthday t-shirt, this was quintessential Portland dessert heaven. Every time I come here, I leave feeling guilty for ever going to Papa Haydn's for dessert. :(

    (5)

  • Gil K.

    If you're visiting PDX, make this a stop. It's got a fair amount of local lore and it's interesting enough that even though you dont' know it, you'll have a good time there. There used to be some live music there, but I don't know if they still offer it. Drinks are usual and nothing out of this world, but that's not the point. So, if you're looking for PDX-style fun and have a few hours to kill, check it out!

    (4)

  • Levi L.

    Average coffee, creepy service, funky location. I'd say you gotta try it once just to say you did. Their Mexican mocha is pretty good.

    (3)

  • Connie O.

    Loved this coffee house. So eclectic and fun. Desserts and drinks are fabulous. However, if you don't like tap water, they don't serve bottled :(

    (4)

  • Jacob G.

    Sure, this place has an eclectic feel, with Victorianish decor. Not to mention classical music. My banana split was decent but not worth writing home about. The place was cozy enough, but I didn't feel like this place was the best ever, judging by most of the other reviews here. I'd go back to meet people for coffee, sure, but it's not that amazing of a place. The bathroom wasn't that great, either.

    (3)

  • Anna L.

    Ummmm, where do I even start. When my friend suggested me go to this place I did a quick search and tried to dissuade her as quite a few citysearch reviews mentioned terrible service and mean staff. She wanted to give it a shot, so we went on a Wednesday night. We weren't greeted at the door so we grabbed a few menus and pulled a few table together for our friends (there were 8 or us). We have all worked in the service industry, so we made sure to pick a few tables that were out of the way. After about 5 minutes the waitress came around and told us we needed to move. She straight up asked a couple a few tables away (in the middle of eating) if they could move to a table across the room! They did and then she pulled table together for us. We all sat down, and despite thinking it was all strange, stayed. About 5 minutes later (when we were ready to order), she came and said 'this just isn't going to work' and without asking, began to re-arrange our tables AGAIN! It was so awkward! Then we asked if we were ready to order. Before we could even respond, she said she would be back when we were ready. We asked her to stay and take our order because she was obviously busy and we would love to get our order in. As she started taking orders she didn't even fight back making rude faces if someone took more than 1 breath to order their beverage or dessert. After a very obvious eye-roll a friend of mine asked her what the face was for. She said ' you all are making it very hard for me to do my job' (we had told her that we were missing 2 people from our party and that they could just order when they arrived)....now I know this isn't ideal for a server, but give me a break!! You get paid to do this! it's not like I put my feet on the table and asked that she start rubbing them! Just take our order, don't roll your eyes, and then bring us the food when it is ready. At this point we all got up and left after clearing up the fact that she was completely rude to us. I have a feeling this woman is always unpleasant, but no one ever calls her out on it. Do me a favor Portland, don't put up with this! I know we are a passive-aggressive city here, but come on! This is unacceptable. No more chimpskies for me!

    (1)

  • Nico B.

    as a native that has been going to Rimsky's for over 19 years I can only comment that the ever mercurial reviews of this place prove that the cranky and compassionate indifference I have come to expect and treasure are completely wasted on "Nu Portland" ( read it with the umlaut) I worship @ the altar of Rasputin's Vice- I adore taking new people there and sending them to the bathroom and waiting for the scream. The problem is quirky has been sold out for whimsy- If you want the proper kiss up service there are many lovely saccharine dessert houses that can offer it up to you-- Personally, I prefer my Rimsky's that is equally the bitter with the sweet.

    (5)

  • Art V. B.

    A must in Portland, but not for the quality of coffee or desserts. This coffee shop is to have fun with friends and to laugh at people who get surprised with the tricky furniture and the scary restroom. Service is slow but fun. They don't accept credit cards.

    (4)

  • michael m.

    If you don't know the 'secret' to this place, I highly recommend going for a potentially entertaining evening. If you know the secret already, then it must be the good desserts and coffee/drinks (non-alcoholic only). The service is abysmal, as a warning, but this is a place you go to to just relax. I've thought of bringing my own coffee as I've waited up to 20 minutes just to have someone stop by and ask what I wanted. One time I DID wait 30 minutes (after I managed to find a seat and actually had sat down) until I got my coffee. It'd be 15min more until I had my pre-made dessert delivered. So why the high rating? It's a fun place to be and they have occasional live music. It's a relaxing party-like atmosphere yet generally quiet enough to have conversations with the people next to you. If you're out late and want a dessert, this would be my #1 pick if the service were good. Like Montage, don't go if you don't like crowds. I do believe I actually had to crawl over someone's lap to take my seat once. But if you're a Portland native (I'm a cheesehead, actually, but Portland is close enough personality-wise), you're likely laid back and will happily laugh along =D Visit the bathroom.

    (4)

  • Erin K.

    I used to like Rimsky's more. The multiple times I have visited and they have been out of a variety of desserts or the server was super out there (not friendly, quirky, or just talkative weird, but really OUT THERE!), or we had terrible service (being ignored for quite a while even without it being busy) that has decreased my interest in this place. BUT, the desserts are very good. Some are more creative and better than others, but I haven't had a dessert I didn't like. And the coffee is usually good too. But, like I mentioned before, they are often out of things, and this may or may not be marked on the menu. It's open late, which is a plus though, and if you are craving something like a brownie sundae at midnight on a Friday, this is probably your best bet. Come with cash, it's all they accept, and they can sort of be buttholes if you forget and try to hand them a debit card.

    (2)

  • Art K.

    This is the old standby of Portland. Not as funky as Pied Cow, but a better place to take grown-ups. Still has its share of amusements, like the cool bathrooms (yes, I'm serious). I'm afraid it may have gotten lost in the wayside with the fancy upstarts like Stumptown. Don't get me wrong, Stumptown's great, but it's not a classic hang-out. Come here for dessert and coffee.

    (4)

  • Erin B.

    Rimsky-Korsakoffee makes my top 10 list for favorite things in PDX. It's quirky, charming, and cozy. The service can be a bit hit or miss but the staff are witty and smart so it's no big deal. Besides, if you're in a hurry, this really isn't the place to be. Instead, it's the perfect spot for a rainy Saturday night of classical music, rich dessert, and hot tea.

    (5)

  • Andrea M.

    This has been one of my favorite places since I discovered it six years ago. I love to take friends from out of town and sit them at one of the two moving tables and wait until they notice. The desserts are great and the decor is really fun. Try the steamed almond milk, it is better than hot chocolate. I also like the ship goes to pieces against the rocks. Mmmmm

    (5)

  • Raymond G.

    This place was so cool in so many ways. The wife and I had sugar hopped this one evening. Went from on pastry to shop to another. When we finally got back to our hotel, we were so amped with sugar that we needed to head back out. Did some Yelping and found this place that's open until 2am. It sounded really intriguing so we hopped on the rent-a-car and drove across the bridge to this place. It's basically someone's house that they turned into a coffee shop. It's a lot like your grandma's living room setting with the classical style furniture, creaky hard wood floors and old photos and paintings. Let me rephrase that, it's like your high grandma's living room and setting. For whatever reason there's a bunch of O's cutout from Oprah's magazine hanging from the ceiling. I'm stlll baffled to this day and don't know what to make of it. They had a great selection of teas and desserts. But we went with a classic Banana Cream Pie. Absolutely loved it. Didn't look pretty on the plate, quite a mess in fact, but delicious. And that's what really counts. One thing I noticed about Portlanders is they like to get out. Old and young. There was a family of four with their 8 and 10 year old daughters (est.) hanging out until 1am. I also saw a senior citizen couple having tea and desserts dressed to the hilt like they were out dancing or something. It was awesome to see. Anyway, let me finish my review... because there's more. Towards the end of the evening, after our check was dropped the strangest thing started to happen. Our table started to vibrate. Didn't really think much about it, thought my wife kicked it. But it happened again. This time I'm accusing my wife of pushing the table. She flatly denies it. I started to look under, inspect what's going on... nothing. Then it does it again. I'm tripping out at this time. "What the hell is that!" Just as I'm flipping out the waitress comes to the table to pick up the check. I tell her what's going on with a serious concerned look. I was either thinking haunted? or some strange electrical current is coming from the floor. She gives me this strange smile... I just typed a whole paragraph on what I learned about this place... but soon caught myself. Why would I want to place fear on people? It might have been an isolated incident... Awesome place, awesome crowd, and an unforgettable experience. Go!

    (5)

  • Olivia T.

    I'm always in love with Rimsky's so when I moved about 1 block away from this place,I'm literally jumping up and down. Since then I've been going to this place at least once a week and trying to convert my friends to Rimsky's believers. My favorite is Chocolate Raspberry Fool dessert, I tried the White Chocolate Brownie Sundae with Strawberries and it was really good but nothing compared the Chocolate Raspberry Fool. It's totally a love affair. I love their coffee especially the Orange Mocha and their tea is just sooo good. Chamomile is my favorite. They have live music on the weekend meaning a piano player or a guitar player. Their restroom interior is pretty weird and awesome at the same time. Just don't forget your cash or checks because Rimsky's doesn't take credit card or debit card. Hopefully I won't gain 300 lbs by next year.

    (5)

  • Nic J.

    Super cool spot if your stoppin by Portland. It is truly an experience there, and their drinks are very nice

    (5)

  • kelly s.

    Ok enough, don't act like I"m supposed to like this sh!t hole because it's "weird". It's not exactly like I'm mother Teresa, I have been pretty notorious for my antics over time, and I can handle crazy artsy fun weird. This place is not that- it's a bunch of dirty people serving you slowly in dirty slow dishes- and g@d bless you when it's time to pay and get the f@k out of there. Seriously, don't feel less creative and awesome if you hate this place. If you want an artsy sucky service experience that actually has good desert (keep the "special" service) go to pied cow- or just f@k both of these places and get a pie at zuppan's and invite your friends over without giving them a stomach illness and frustration.

    (1)

  • B B.

    I love their coffee, desserts, music and wackiness....but the service (except for one waitress) is HORRIBLE. I mean horrible with IN ALL CAPS. For reals. Disinterested waiters that don't know the menu, what they have or don't have, once took 1/2 hour to even come to the table to get our order (and it was completely dead - why we didn't just leave is beyond me). My other complaints include: they are consistently out of all kinds of things (and not just the special desserts, I'm talking TEA here!), the cleanliness of the place leaves something to be desired and they don't take debit cards. So, I kind of hate it as much as I like it. I figured that nets 2 stars.

    (2)

  • Tom M.

    I definitely had high hopes for this place. I had been meaning to check it out for the last four years I've lived in Portland and I finally got around to it the other night. Maybe it was the anticipation, but I was a little disappointed. If you've been to the Pied Cow, I can say that it's very similar to that and you'd have a pretty good idea of what it is like. You're in an older house with unique, silly decorations and a warm ambiance. The staff is very casual and they're serving desserts and coffee. They definitely score points for live music (the other night was a classical guitarist, but they also have a piano in there), reasonable prices, and the funny surprise in the bathroom upstairs. There were a number of things that kept me from loving the place, though. One is the set-up. It's mostly just one big room and the volume was a little too high (especially since there was no music playing). It would do them well to section it off and turn the lights down a bit so that you are not hearing and/or seeing every single person in the place. Another is that there is no alcohol. Not crucial, but it would be nice to have the option for a nightcap. It may also cut down on or eliminate the presence of children. Last problem was the check or cash only policy. Come on. This society is clearly going in one direction when it comes to paper payment. Any veritable business that wishes to create and maintain a customer base will swipe a card. The tea and the dessert was delicious and I would certainly give it another try. I just don't know that I can ever love it like I wanted to. I don't know how I ever could or why I would even try when the Pied Cow is only about 20 blocks away.

    (3)

  • Mike S.

    The owners should know that by not accepting credit cards they are in reality hurting the wait staff. Also, you should clearly post on the front door in large letters that you won't accept them for the courtesy of patrons. The musicians are great. We enjoyed our drinks and desserts.

    (2)

  • danielle l.

    rimsky is one of those places that could be over-the-top fantastic if it weren't for the bizarre service. everything about this place is remarkable, and while i admit i only encounter ridiculously rude service about 1/4 of the time, it's enough to prevent me from frequently dropping my money here. the staff is hilarious and entertaining at times, and downright smug at others. if you don't mind being talked to like a baby or told to fuck off by wait staff (or if you've had the pot de creme and know it's worth tuning the self-important hepsters out), this is the place to be. the decor is incredible. situated next door to a plaid pantry, you would never know that inside this beautiful old victorian sits a fantastic dessert bar that's open at night, and features homemade masterpieces. they don't take cards (but it's always fun to hear people ask, because the wait staff is often super pretentious about this, portland-style), so the plaid is conveniently located. i normally name my favorite menu items in reviews, but this is the only place where i can't narrow it down. whether you're in the mood for chocolate, fruit, mint, caramel, EVERYTHING is delicious. especially the bizarre combinations (raspberry and mint chocolate chip). i can only recommend the pot de creme and anything on the specials menu, because those change and almost always sell out. when you go, try to find the "wacky" tables (one has a top that turns ever-so-slowly, another unnoticeably creeps farther from and then closer to the floor). the bathroom is worth checking out even if you don't get dessert. the tables are create-your-own, live classical music some nights, open late... rimsky is a true staple of portland culture, and is definitely worth experiencing, even if it's not "your thing."

    (4)

  • Tyler R.

    OK after reading the reviews I had to check it out. As I've said before, I am almost always late to the party. But once I get there, BOO-YAH. Let's get the party started! I think I could give this place a 5 if they had a bike rack outside. I know, it has nothing to do with the coffee or deserts or super cool Adams Family vibe they have going, but C'mon. It is in P-town. Bike city USA...? I took the family there last night for a little evening snack. We sat at one of the 'haunted' tables, but I heard it was taking the night off. Bummer. The coffee was great. and I love the way the deserts are presented. Ice Cream stuff in a ceramic Ice Cream cone bowl..nice touch. The bathrooms, well all I will say is even if you don't have to pee, stop by. It's worth it. Now that I'm in the know, I can't wait to turn on someone else..

    (4)

  • Ian B.

    Rimskies is one of those classic eccentric coffee houses of Portland that you want to introduce your friends to. It has a slight darkness to it like the ride where the ghosts do some ballroom dancing at Disneyland...and some sweet eccentric touches like the slowly moving coffee table and the nice pianists who are there now and then. The desserts and all are tasty. It's a classic part of a Portland evening...

    (4)

  • Catie L.

    Dessert and coffee has never been so creepy, eclectic and colorful. An old house has been turned into a mural/coffee house and offers some tasty desserts. My friend recommended that we come here because of the ice cream sundae, but failed to note to my brother and I that there are some "haunted" tables. So imagine a table of three enjoying some ice cream and all of a sudden their table erupts into loud rapping and vibrations that scare the living crap out of you. It could cause a person to spit their food on the person across from them, but that would never happen to me, because I am calm and reserved....ahem. Whatever you do, go upstairs to use the bathroom, and experience a visual journey. That does sound a little strange, but you'll get the gist when you go there.

    (4)

  • Olivia V.

    The decor was very well done and I had high hopes for this place but it was terrible! I'm sure it used to be different or maybe I was just there on a bad night but there was AWFUL service. My waitress kept pressuring me to buy things, saying "Oh, obviously you're going to get something else , just let me know" after I had ordered a coffee and a 5 dollar dessert. Then twice again while I was eating if I want to "buy" (her words) anything else. Then "Are you SURE there's nothing else I can get you?" after I had already asked for the bill twice. The waitstaff were boring and obnoxious "normal" type people. The kind of people you'd think would work in a diner, not what I expected for a place with such character. And the desert was boring! My 1 year old could have thrown ice-cream and syrup in a cup, 5 dollars is WAY overpriced. I really, really wanted to like this place. And I would have come again for the atmosphere despite the overpriced desert if I hadn't felt so hassled into buying more!

    (1)

  • jason m.

    I would give it five stars but they kicked me out once for trying to play chess. Coffee? Dessert? Chess? It seemed reasonable and patriotic to me, but they wouldn't have it. Maybe the liabilty would just be too high? Perhaps something even more sinister? Satan? But, the coffee, desserts, art and overall unkemptness make me love this place in an Edward Scissorhands kind of way. Maybe if I arrive in my invisble jet I can play chess with Wonder Woman on our invisble board?

    (4)

  • Katie E.

    I love this place. It was a large part of my teenage years. I will always feel a little misty-eyed when I think about it. The desserts and coffee are good and it's open super late. The decorating is very "keep Portland weird." A great place to hang out and bullshit.

    (5)

  • Carissa W.

    Rimsky's is another coffee house in a converted Victorian house, but it's a Portland favorite. Named for the Russian composer Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, it features music on most nights. The desserts are delicious and inventive, and the drinks are desserts in themselves. This place is awesome for friends, dates, and anything else. It has an all-are-welcome family vibe, perhaps because the same family has been running it since forever. It's also great to hit up this place for some caffeine before heading to Holocene several blocks away. Several of the tables have secrets, which you'll just have to discover because giving them away here would take away the fun. O.k., I will say this: groups should get the large circular table in the back room, and stay put for awhile...muah ha ha!

    (5)

  • Joshua M.

    My cheesecake and "Mexicana" mocha were just fine, not bad but not awe inspiring. The service while not overly attentive was adequate. The ambiance isn't really cozy... just a bunch of rickety tables, some that even raise and lower I guess hydraulically. If that's some big secret oh well, I just didn't see the point in a table that starts off too tall to be comfortable and a few minutes later is too short to be comfortable. Is that quirky? I guess... the but the practical side of me just doesn't care that much. Something is just off about this place. Rimsky is sort of the like the kid who skipped a couple of grades ahead, who is really smart but gets his ass kicked at recess. I can't really describe it in any other way.

    (3)

  • Courtney D.

    Hidden coffee house is late night must If some friends hadn't brought me here one late night after dinner out, I would have never known about it. It's in a converted Victorian house with no signage out front to give a hint that you've found the right place. That's just part of the charm on the outside. On the inside, you'll find cool tables that all sport some funky secret to them, but it'd be mean to spoil them here, so I'll let you find out for yourself. I highly recommend their desserts here. I had this dense, chocolate mousse bowl, and I salivated over every bite. My coffee friends love their creative drinks, and they also offer some tasty tea choices. They have live music on several nights, which just adds to the already funky ambiance. Definitely end your night here with a date, friend or family -- it's great for anyone. Tip: Tables are hard to come by later at night but hang in there, the wait is worth it.

    (5)

  • Alex T.

    The dessert was tasty and the atmosphere is cool. There definitely is some merit to the complaints about slow, unapologetic service...but if you've got some time to kill and aren't too upset by that sort of thing, it's a nice place to dally away the evening.

    (3)

  • Rachel N.

    Totally awesome, one of a kind coffee and dessert joint. I've seen nothing like it, and the place just amazed me. I love how cozy it is. The food is great. This is a kind of place that you need to explore either before, after, or during your meal. It would be a huge mistake to just eat or drink and then leave. You'll miss out on the uniqueness of the place.

    (4)

  • sara v.

    i wish nobody knew about this place like back in the day! but i guess the cat's out... they've got super desserts and the atmosphere is "i don't care what you think and we don't even have a sign- enjoy your sweets" super cool portland. keepin it strange and yummy. i love this place.

    (4)

  • Alicia J.

    I know, I know... I'm weird but I just didn't dig this place. I thought the dessert tasted stale and not worth repeating. The bathrooms were indeed weird and gave me the creeps. Not my scene, but perhaps it's yours?

    (2)

  • Becca A.

    I'll admit that the service isn't the best, at times I have had to wait an obnoxious amount of time in order to get recognized however this is just one of the those places that I keep coming back to. A Victorian house with no marking that it is a coffee and dessert shop next to a Plaid Pantry...not going to lie makes it seem a little sketch. However, it came with a recommendation from a credible source so I went, and went back, and went back, and will continue to go back. You enter the front door, choose a menu and seat yourself. The decor includes random stuff dangling from the ceiling and each of the tables has Plexiglas over the top-the restaurant put a composer for each table but there is of course the random array of items from past occupants of the table. There are three tables that are considered to be "trick" tables. One moves up and down-from hitting your knees to hitting your chin, another in and out of the wall (not entirely sure how that works without sending everything crashing to the floor...), and the final is the table for groups that works its way around so you end up with someone else's dessert and/or drink in front of you. Zany and unique topped off with live classical or original music most nights a CD player of instrumentals if no one is performing. This is also one of the few places where I will talk about the bathroom. I hate public restrooms, I don't care how clean they are I can wait. However, I would encourage EVERYONE to use Rimsky's restrooms if only to wash their hands. Go up the stair case in the front entrance-way, past the modge-podge of faces as wall paper turn left at the top, past the frame with the baby doll head and take that door on your left. Pre-warning don't scream! The desserts have always been amazing! I have yet to have something I haven't loved! Berries Goudinov (pronounced good enough) have become a favorite but mango, sorbet, ship smashed to pieces against the rocks, or boring old ice cream never fail either. I was disappointed with my tea when I went, granted this could be because Townshend's has spoiled me, but I just wasn't impressed. The price was excellent for the amount of tea I received however the quality and the fact that there were quite a few dregs in the bottom definitely made me turn my nose up. Overall, this is the epitome of someone's dream someplace that is random and crazy as they are, a place where people can enjoy classical music, musicians can show off, and where you can sit, chat, be noisy, and laugh at the occasional scream!

    (4)

  • alanna m.

    I have always loved this place, its is so weird and fun. Very Portland. The service is always quirky, pleasant and genuine. The desserts are fantastic and the space is a riot. Good times.

    (4)

  • Marc A.

    This was absolutely the worst experience I have had in Portland in a while. All I wanted was a dessert and instead I got a 20 minute wait at a table without a single server taking my order or even acknowledging my existance. Not to mention I had to sit across the room from a gaggle of high schoolers; this is definitely not the place to go for selection, service, and ambiance.

    (1)

  • Jean C.

    Not quite what I remembered from high school, but still a nice cozy place to have a cup of tea and a yummy dessert. Reminds you that you are indeed in Portland. Very funky.

    (4)

  • Christine S.

    How do I give zero stars???????? I'm going to do my best to try to keep this clean because all I want to do right now is start SWEARING. I CANNOT believe the God awfully horrible service I had here. The waiter and waitress may as well have spit in our faces. Okay here's the scene: my friend and I walk in with our laptops and sit down on a couch. We set our laptops on the table and do not open them. A little time goes by as we try to catch a servers eye and they completely ignore us...there is only one other customer mind you. Our intentions were to order coffee and food and dessert or just coffee and dessert but never the less we were potentially paying customers. So we say "hi, do you think we could grab a menu from you?" The girl says " That couch is reserved for parties of four or more." We say "okay, well if one comes in we will happily move to a smaller table." There is still no menu given as she walks away. The waiter passes by several times and never asks us what we want. After about 12 minutes without another word from them we walk out and head down to 3 friends coffee house (which rocks by the way.) I will never recommend this place to any living soul. I hate you Rimsky-Korsakoffee waiter and waitress!

    (1)

  • Adam C.

    so the deserts are really good. i won't argue with that. and the decor is otherworldly. it's fun the first few times you go but then it just becomes a weird place kids like to hang out at after their prom. if the service was anything other than nonexistant and they tried to be a little more welcoming and a little less creepy then i'd...well no, i probably wouldn't go back. this is the place you take people when your brain isn't coming up with anything interesting and then once you're there you wish it would have been working better.

    (2)

  • Edward J.

    I love tea, and this is my new favourite tea place on the southeast. My boyfriend and I got a pot of green tea. And my friend Chantelle and her boyfriend Dillan got some baked goods and hot chocolates and a pot of jasmine tea. They also have a piano in there. If there were lesser people I would've played a song or two. Overall, its a real cute place for after meal hang out. They also have classical music performances.

    (4)

  • Gina Kathleen G.

    Had a lovely time here! The dessert and the atmosphere were fantastic. I also thoroughly enjoyed the bathroom. Check it out and you'll know what I mean.

    (4)

  • Ms. M.

    This is a VERY classic Portland eccentric coffee/dessert place -- it's just as all the reviewers describe it. Rather slow service, kooky decor, but good and interesting things to eat! When I went with a friend, we swore we heard it opened at 7pm, but it looked like it was dark and locked when we got there. We waited for half an hour with 4 other people who assured us that sometimes they just open late. And they were right. It was kinda spooky to be sitting in front of a rather delapidated house wondering whether someone was going to come and serve us warm desserts on that cold night, but it was worth it. A fond memory and a definitely interesting place to visit!

    (3)

  • Corr M.

    Kooky coffee-tea-dessert house with beautiful live music and quirky staff. I go for the dense yummy hot fudge in "the rock that goes to pieces". They are often out of the specials on the back of the menu- but hey just order something else delicious on the front :).

    (4)

  • Kelly M.

    I tend to group Rimsky's and the Pied Cow together in my mind. They are both dimly lit and eclecticly decorated coffee and dessert localities occupying old houses in southeast Portland that stay open late and have somewhat of a cult following in certain circles in Portland. There are, however, a few things that set Rimsky's apart. It is a collectively-run business; they have live music, I've heard classical piano and flamenco guitar here; they have a couple "crazy tables": one slowly, and almost imperceptibly moves up and down while the other rotates at a snail's pace. Note down the address--Rimsky's is one of those Portland legacy that still doesn't have a sign out.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth E.

    I have fond memories of the late evening chats I had with friends over a warm beverage or dessert in this fantastic coffee house. The converted Victorian is rich with unique character. Bring a date, a best friend or two, or your out-of-town guest.

    (5)

  • Jeremy P.

    How do you tell the difference between quirky and obnoxious? That's something I can't answer, but at Rimsky's, they seem to make a living out of being both. Finding the place is a little obnoxious. It looks just like a normal old house, with a small sign on the front door window that says "Rimsky's." You could drive by it several times before you realize there's a business there. Once you're in there and you're seated at one of the composer-themed tables (we got the Schubert table), you're provided a hand-scrawled menu with a dozen or so desserts and a dozen or so drink options. The composer-themed tables may have been my favorite aspect of this place, although I didn't notice any Debussy tables or Dvorak tables or even a Schumann table. The waitress was obnoxious, although if the place were a little more bustling at the time (we got there pretty close to the time it opened), I can see how it could seem a little more quirky. I suspect she also made the drinks and desserts, because she disappeared, and only reappeared to deliver the goods. The dessert itself was OK, I guess. My brownie fudge sundae was average ice cream on an average brownie, covered with average fudge. I suppose when it comes to brownie sundaes, it is still delicious with average ingredients, but that is what I expect when I have a brownie sundae at a large gathering where brownie fudge sundaes are being served to a herd of guests. The hand-written message on the receipt, the meaning of which is unknown to me, is on the border between quirky and obnoxious. Maybe it was just bizarre. The bathroom was definitely quirky. I mean, how often can you stand their peeing, and look over to see an excerpt from Proust just staring at you?

    (3)

  • Mary B.

    I sincerely love this place. Beautiful ambience, fantastic/funny waiters, and delicious tea and treats. My favorite is the lemon-raspberry frozen delight, but we also like the brownie sundae. The ambiguity tea is especially yummy. We'll keep coming back. It's also a great place to take out-of-town relatives too. And the live music adds to the wonderful whimsy.

    (5)

  • Feren Y.

    What an awesome hideout! I would not know this existed if locals hadn't taken me here. This dessert heaven is located in a very old looking house, when you walk in there are usually not many tables available so make sure you are quick. The night I went there was a guitar player, place was packed but luckily a group of people were just leaving so I made sure I bagged the spot right away. We had to find a few extra chairs and some of them were a bit dodgy. The cool thing about this place is that not every matches but that makes it a bit quirky and fun. Some of the tables play tricks on you and the bathroom is a must check out! We got several desserts and honestly they were all quite good and homey. Dont expect the presentation to be too fancy here but the homey-ness, price and quirky/creepy (depends what you like) is worth a visit.

    (4)

  • Phuong B.

    Fantastic hipster tea house. Hands down best brownie Sunday in Portland. Perfect complement to a cup of mint tea, always a crowd pleaser. Check out their bathroom for a good little surprise and make sure to sit at the big round table, heard it's haunted ..... ;)

    (5)

  • Laryssa N.

    I have been here twice, once on a Friday and once on a tuesday. What a difference the days make! I'm Friday I went with a group of gal pals who knew to be there right when they opened or it would be packed. Right they were! Even so the atmosphere was wonderful, live music, laughter and good conversation. The decor is brilliant and I am drawn to spooky places and this coffee house was A plus. I had an espresso that was great. The second time I went on a Tuesday, it was not crowded at all and it was still a very pleasant experience. Our waiter was the best waiter I have ever had anywhere. He sang for us rapped a little and had some pretty good coffee puns. The coffee with orange was soooooo good holy cow and the sundae literally fell from heaven onto the table. This is the kind of place I want to take all my friends to share the quirky and fun environment. 10/10 spooky as heck lovely as heck

    (5)

  • Dian K.

    This is what you do: 1 You bring unassuming out town guests, make them drink lots of liquid beforehand so you can be assured that they will need to use the bathroom. I'm sure you have lots of things to catch up on, so chit chat until they need to use the bathroom. 2. Sit at one of those funky tables, the ones that continuously rotate slowly and see if they notice. 3. Have a chai or two, this will help to achieve #1. They have the best chai ever!! 4. Smile as they talk about their bathroom experience. :)

    (4)

  • Kerry L.

    Went out for dessert at Rimsky. Ordered drinks then never saw our server again until we had to ask around. Terrible service. Small portions. We were still eating when a buss boy came around and tried to clear our plates! Turned all the lights on and told everyone to leave. How rude! Will not be going back.

    (1)

  • Code M.

    Quintessential Portland -- Good desserts too

    (5)

  • Saawan P.

    The Raspberry Fool and Chocolate Fudge Sundae were good! Ambiance was also nice, live piano player, and it was very unique. I will be back as it is one of my favorite places in Portland.

    (5)

  • Angela D.

    I. Love. This. Place. Whenever I pay homage to my birth-city, I absolutely have to vist Rimsky's. Rimsky's and Powell's. First thing you should know is that it is in a house. Yes, a house. It is very non-descript and I suggest you Google street view the address before you go. It's all street parking and diffficult to find at night if you don't know what you're looking for. Second, there are two tables at which you should try to sit: (1) the one that is taller or shorter than all the other tables and (2) if your group is larger than 6, the biggest table in the room straight ahead from the entrance (aka not the main room). Thirdly, as many reviewers have mentioned before, the bathroom is worth a visit so make sure everone checks it out. As far as the menu goes, I always go for the Raspberry Fool, but their coffee and teas are good as well. You really can't go wrong, everyone that I've taken there has enjoyed whatever they ordered. Don't forget, it's CASH ONLY. In summary, Rimsky's is a very chill and awesome place to relax and catch up with old friend and listen to live music. Be sure to tip the performers! CASH ONLY. (Just in case you missed it the first time.)

    (5)

  • Ev'Yan N.

    Worst. Service. Ever. Perhaps in all of Portland. I honestly don't know why I keep coming here. Maybe it's because I continue to hold onto hope that "next time" it'll be different (i.e., less terrible). Or maybe it's because this is one of the only places in the short distance from my place that offers coffee treats & desserts late at night. Or maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment. Whatever it might be doesn't really matter, as every time I come to Rimsky I am always astounded by how horrible the service is. No matter what time of night (just opened or mid "rush hour"), no matter how full or busy (just me + a friend in the entire place or 15 sweet-toothed patrons) the service is deplorable, absolutely, maddeningly gouge-my-eyes-out-with-a-rusty-spoon god-awful. Let me illustrate. I once waited 30 minutes for change to be brought back from my paid check. Thirty minutes. If it hadn't been a $20 & I had only spent $5, I would've just walked out & left a $15 tip. But I wouldn't give them the satisfaction. It once took me & my party 27 minutes before our waitress -- though kind & apologetic -- acknowledged that we had even entered the place. And this was during a non-busy portion of the night (only 10 chairs occupied, including me & my party). And tonight, I saw a fellow, who was so bored of waiting for his money to be taken, walk straight to the kitchen & try to put some bills in someone's (anyone's!) hand so he could finally leave. I'm willing to forgive the tasteless, tacky decor. I'm willing to overlook how poorly they make their coffee drinks (it was here that I had the worst cafe aulait of my life). I'm even willing -- eager even! -- to forget the downright creepy & disturbing bathroom, wherein I'm sure most of my violent nightmares go to die a painful, slow death. But the service? The obnoxiously wretched service has been permanently etched in my mind; so much so that I lovingly call this place Rimsky-Korsacrappy House. (It has a better ring to it, I think.) I notice a lot of people bring their out-of-towner friends here to experience the "quirky" & "weird" side of Portland. To which I say: Only bring your non-local loved ones here if you secretly hate their guts, 'cause I'm pretty sure this place is literally Hell. And I will probably be back.

    (1)

  • Beth H.

    One star is being generous. When we pulled up I was psyched. Cool old house like all of the reviews say. I love unique places like this. I ordered the raspberry fool. Ugh. Terrible. Looked and tasted like it was a few years old. Raspberries were browning and soggy. Just yuck. Weird black goop on top. Maybe chocolate but didn't trust trying it. Liquidy raspberry sauce as well. Gross. Husband got the coffee ice cream dessert. Icy and old as well. Server called him " buck a roo" run away. Run don't walk. Better yet don't go in the first place.

    (1)

  • Paige Z.

    Best place for dessert in Portland. Authentically Portland, especially the East-side. I feel like I am revisiting my childhood when I go there. The servers are amazing people and if you have time to talk to them you'll understand that Rimskys only hires creative geniuses. To truly get a Portland experience that embodies Portland throughout the decades you have to go to Rimsky's. NO WHERE ELSE. Plus a lot of creative Portland fixtures go there. Don't disregard the servers and the creative atmosphere, just appreciate it and understand that is as close as you'll get to knowing Portland throughout the last thirty years.

    (5)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :7:00 pm - 12:00pm

Specialities

  • Accepts Credit Cards : No
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Good for Working : No

Rimsky-Korsakoffee House

Share with your social network

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

© 2024 Restaurant Listings. All rights reserved.