Food was really tasty. We had brussel sprouts, bruschetta with cheese, butter lettuce salad and salmon. Almost absolutely impeccable. While all dishes were prepared with care and perfect rechnical execution, the salmon was unfortunately overwhelmed by the sweetness of the overabundant strawberry and pepper relish. Again salmon and asparagus prepared to perfection; salmon seared on outside and moist and slightly mefium in center; asparagus al dente. Just the coception of dish unbalanced. Still a wonderful meal and would gladly return.
(4)
maegan c.
I can't believe I've waited so long to come here! The cocktails are amazing, the food is amazing and the service was even more amazing! I had the trip of soup, the espresso crusted tenderloin and roasted cauliflower with currants! All of their items are local, organic and happy!! I appreciated the atmosphere and the overall experience that was created!
(5)
Amanda P.
I had a wonderful experience here at the Picnic House, Portland Oregon. I am from the north east and stumbled across this little jem while visiting a friend. Needless to say I was alone while she was at work, wondering around the city on foot, came in and sat at the bar. The decor was wonderful and kept in the style of the cuisine. The staff was so friendly, the service was great and the food was fantastic! I've been recommending this place to all the people that I knew and that I met while out there, AND I keep talking about it since I've been home. If I ever make it back out to Portland I will be coming back to the Picnic House!
(4)
Kimberly K.
Major meh for lunch at Picnic House. Had the half salad and half sandwich combo with the grilled chicken sandwich and roasted veggie farro salad. The sandwich was flavorless. Definitely needed seasoning. The salad was over cooked and the flavors were indistinguishable. On a positive note, all the ingredients were very fresh and clearly sourced from local farms.
(3)
Abby S.
The food was fantastic--I ordered the cast iron chicken breast and it was so good, reminiscent of fried chicken and mashed potatoes in flavor, but more elegant and less guilt-inducing. Drinks were also great, and I loved the decor--super whimsical and fun with a very vintage feel and great music. Service was also wonderful! An all-around great experience!
(5)
Mr T.
Nice room (very high ceiling), very good service, tasty but small cocktails, decent beer taps. Food was fine, fresh, healthy tasting.
(3)
shannon w.
I am biased. I have loved Jessica's cooking since she cater my sister's wedding in my mom's kitchen 15 years ago. I adored the rice pudding yumminess. But Picnic House BLEW ME AWAY. Subtle and stunning all at once. I want to have a party here. Or sneak away for lunch with my bestie. Best grilled cheese and tomato soup ever. Rock on girl! Lucky Portland to have you.
(5)
Whitney G.
My husband and I went here for an early dinner before a show. The service was excellent. The staff were very aware of our time constraints and recommended dishes that would make our meal quick and not feel rushed to eat. She also told us the time before asking if we wanted additional cocktails. It was very appreciated which lead to a great experience. The food was good, but there are many good places to eat in Portland, so it didn't stick out for us.
(4)
Ozzie L.
The service here was what gave the stars, food was ok. Potentially could have been what we ordered but definitely not 4 or 5 stars. Ambience was cool and different but so is Portland in general. Not sure if I would come back but possibly in a drunken stupor.
(3)
Yin D.
This place was one of our favorite restaurants during our Portland visit. Very good short rib. Everything was fresh and tasty.
(5)
Tiffany Q.
My reason for only three stars is because our dinner entrees weren't memorable. My dish came out room temperature and I didn't even finish it because it just wasn't doing it for me. It's REALLY rare I don't finish my meal or at least take it home but this polenta dish was blan, dry and not hot. Meh. Not pleased by it. My boyfriend ordered a chicken dish and he gobbled that baby up so at least he was happy with his food. However, this review isn't about the entrees. This review is about the dessert and our waiter. So, we were on vacation and in Portland for one night and we decided to try Picnic House based on Yelp reviews and our growing hunger and we sat around our hotel room. The food was a disappointment (for me at least) but we decided to order a S'more Pudding for dessert because we are chocolate fiends. Placed the order and within a few minutes our waiter came back and had to tell us they were all out but he managed to nab the last happy hour version of the S'more pudding and because they weren't able to give us the full size dessert, the mini version was on the house. BOOO but sweet! Oh man, that pudding was amazing. We devoured all four bites within seconds. It was tiny to begin with but we would go back to Portland just for that pudding. We're still talking about it a month after eating it. Conclusion: IF YOU LOVE CHOCOLATE, SMORES AND PUDDING THEN YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS DESSERT. You won't regret it and the hipsters around you will be jealous they gave up sugar, gluten, flavor, whatever.
(3)
Jimi P.
Perfect place. We tried it out based on the yelp community, and they didnt dissapoint us. A cosy atmosphere and really attentive service.
(5)
Katrina B.
Really great food and ambiance. Service very slow, they should hire more staff.
(4)
Jillian R.
We had a wonderful happy hour on Thursday. Aaron our server was great and helped us discover Anthem Cherry Cider *yum*. The menu was perfect for sharing.
(4)
Ava S.
The Picnic House accomplishes every goal that a downtown restaurant strives to achieve! 1* It offers a lively, unique "Portland" atmosphere and environment - from the log slab table to the quirky chalkboards and animal busts. Very charming! 2* Great menu variety and healthy options - I especially love the nutty brown rice salad, the Italian meats sandwich, and every soup that I've ever ordered. For lunch they allow you to do a "pick 1, 2 or 3" of their sandwiches, salads and soups fulfilling every appetite. 3* Can be as convenient and quick or long and arduous as you desire. I've entertained clients there in under 30 minutes and also lounged with friends chatting for more than 1 hour. 4* Service has always been friendly and efficient. Services have offered great insight on the menu options and recommendatiosn proved correct. 5* Added bonus points for historical significance. The space was once the Lobby of an original Portland hotel from the 1920's and still has remnants of the original space. Hip hip hooray for the Picnic House
(5)
David W.
Came here for my friends birthday dinner and overall thought it was ok. Typical American fare. Nothing special that stood out on the menu. I think the menu changes every so often. I had the grilled salmon with asparagus. Prices weren't bad at all. $12 for a salmon dish is really reasonable. Salmon dishes in CA go for about $20 or more at a nice restaurant. Don't forget about tax. That's why I love Oregon!
(3)
Steve B.
Ok where do I begin? Maybe the restroom sign that's stuck to the wall with blue duct tape in each corner. Other than that, the ambiance is nice, oops no...there were more employees scooting around than at a Trader Joes. We were out numbered probably 6 to 1. So, my wife orders a glass of a French wine from the Loire valley. For some odd reason, she thought it was good. I tasted it and noticed right off that it was nearly vinegar. So she agrees and calls the waitress over, and it's agreed that it needs to be replaced. She's requested to order a different wine, she picks one. I see the "bartender" pour the new glass from an already open bottle, not quite a full pour. No problem! She opens another bottle and adds it to the glass!!! When our meal arrives, I take a bite of my sandwich and there's something really crunchy inside...it's a green avocado...crunchier than a crips apple! I told that waitress and returns later saying she has notified the manager. No other contact was made. The bill comes and is unchanged...full price paid for ignorance. Never again folks. Never again.
(1)
Sharon A.
Yummy grilled cheese! Pretty decent Caesar salad too. Funky atmosphere but I really liked this place.
(4)
Albert G.
Excellent food and good venue. Cheese plate is a must order. Very good selection and the presentation was the best my wife has seen. Should have split the salad with my wife, we both order one based on the price and it was almost entree size. Salmon was good, but my wife's chicken was better. My son had the artesian grilled cheese and soup. He liked the mushroom soup the best of the two items. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Bertha F.
Such an unusual and fun place to eat. The location appears to be an old fashioned store or office location of some sort (oddly, it reminds me of my high school prom; I was lucky enough to attend a lovely old high school with a handsome gymnasium). Their approach to food is both fresh and refreshing. I had the lime-marinated shrimp salad which was absolutely delicious! And the shrimp were real diced large shrimp, not those tiny bay shrimp. My dining partner chose the chicken salad sandwich with a cup of red tomato soup and declares this to be the best tomato soup ever! There are so many other things to order. I can't wait to go back next time I'm back west at the OTHER Portland! LOL
(5)
Maling S.
Came here for a quick lunch before heading back home - 6 hour drive. Omg! This lunch was scrumptious! Roast beef sandwich, roasted cauliflower soup with nutty brown rice salad. My favourite was the nutty brown rice salad. Perfect marriage with the roasted hazelnut vinaigrette! Finished it off with Pavlova cake. Can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu.
(5)
Andrew W.
Woohoo! As good as it gets is right! What a gem of a restaurant. My girlfriend and I had a reservation for 7:30 on a Friday night. We arrived closer to 7:00 and they accommodated our request to be seated earlier if possible. Immediately you can tell the ambiance is great because of the old hotel lobby it is situated in. The tables are well placed so you don't feel like you are being crammed into a cattle car. Our server was very prompt and helpful. We started off with an order of the Cheese Crostini and the Duck Fat Potatoes. I also ordered a Seelbach from the drink menu. Each small plate was the perfect size for two and had amazing flavor. My girlfriend even commented that the Crostini might be a perfect plate. The potatoes were full of that duck flavor and along with the Gorgonzola Sauce made for another well balanced dish. Of the two, I liked the potatoes a tad bit more. For our main course, I had the pork chop and she had the short rib. On the pork chop, the bread pudding was amazing...a hint of sweet and a hint of the chedday helped to balance out the savory of the pork and asparagus on the plate. A truly great dish that I would order again. For the short rib, the carrots were cooked perfectly and the pancake that served as the bed for the dish was a light, fluffy, and flavorful sponge for the sauce. Also another dish I would order again. The meal was rounded out with another drink from the bar menu, a Moulin Rouge. Again, another great cocktail that framed the meal perfectly. Also, the pickled blueberries at the bottom were a great end to the entire meal. What a gem of a restaurant that is sure to become one of Portland's favorite and busiest new eateries. Go before it becomes famous and hard to get into!
(5)
Lexie G.
Business must be good for the Picnic House to turn away a party of 6 because their family-style table (ability to seat 14 at least) was occupied by "important" guests planning a wedding. Hope you make money off the wedding because you just lost $200 and our corporate business forever. Oh, and the host didn't even care that we left. Obviously, he is not the owner, and I hope his boss reads this review. PS Rating should be 0 but I couldn't post that.
(1)
Angie A.
This place is really special. We had a table of nine people and we were all attended to very well. The food is fresh and interesting. We could not resist dessert. The cheesecake was my favorite. Cannot wait to go back.
(5)
Sarah H.
Got here for an early reservation on Saturday. Pretty quiet when we arrived but soon filled up. Table for two was tiny, food decent though and not too pricy. I had the wild boar bourguignon and hubby the grilled cheese.Server not altogether with it but nothing major. Stopped for a drink next door at Barlow. Great drinks with a cool cat vibe. I'd go to both again.
(4)
Scott K.
Great atmosphere and great food. The portobello mushroom stuffed with polenta was our highlight.
(5)
Bob R.
Came here first time based on Yelp reviews. Sorry but this place did not make the average for me. Sat down and the sandwiches looked huge so we ordered two combos of a soup and half a sandwich. the half sandwiches are not nearly as big as a half of a whole sandwich. And the portions on my chicken salad sandwich were very skimpy, a thin layer of chicken salad and a few little green leaves. The soups were lukewarm and we sent them back for hot bowls. Next time I would just order a sandwich. Seemed a little pricey and left hungry. Service was adequate, the waitress seemed annoyed after I complained about the soup being cold. She said nobody else had said anything; must just be me, I thought. I thought I should just keep quiet about the sandwich and they can read my Yelp review.
(3)
Kim C.
1st visit won't be our last. Great space, friendly staff, terrific food. Best cheese plate in Portland.
(5)
Ashley C.
Service was scarce when I arrive. Both myself and another group waited for 2 minutes before the waitress came and asked us to wait a few more minutes, since she needs to prepare the tables. They looked prepared. She was very friendly. But one sever for five table seems too much for her to handle. Will see. Everything changed when we got our food. Amazing! Recommend getting the 2 items meal, which will turn it into four items. We had the corn soup, basic greens, and the prosciutto and bacon sandwiches. Delicious! I'm hooked.
(5)
Theresa T.
I was in Portland recently for business trip and found this gem in downtown for lunch. Love the vintage 50s/60s decor here with a touch of hipster charm. Coming from New York City where restaurants are always seem overwhelmingly busy and trying too hard to impress, I enjoyed the great food and service here with the west coast warm, friendly and laid back vibe. I would definitely return next time I'm in town. They also seem to have a great cocktail selection.
(4)
Adam H.
This place definitely feels like Portland. The ambiance is pretty cool. Never thought about putting strawberries on my Salmon, but it was amazing! Also had the brussel sprouts, which I highly recommend. Service was not that great. Waitress seemed kind of cold. My wife and I felt like an inconvenience to her. Wasn't a terrible experience, but not spectacular either. Didn't feel worth $50 after tip, especially since we didn't order drinks... I little spendy for what you get in my opinion.
(3)
J. K.
Amazing! We has the cheese platter, with pretty large portions of heavenly cheese and a grilled cheese with tomato soup. Everything was divine!
(5)
Tim A.
Fantastic. It's a $12 lunch but it's very good, fresh, creative, and excellent! Beautiful decor and music that is 1920's style. Awesome wait staff that is helpful and friendly. Highly recommended! And happy hour from 3-6 pm daily.
(5)
Jeanie S.
Fun eclectic "Portland" atmosphere with a wonderful selection of fresh salads, soups & sandwiches. My companion needed a gluten free selection and she had a large variety of options. I had the tomato garlic soup & my friend had the fresh mushroom which included many slices of mushroom. We agreed that these were both very tasty although we had to ask for hers to be reheated. My sandwich had prosciutto & fig butter-a great unusual combination. Her salad was filled with large berries & lightly dressed. I will definitely return to select different entrees when downtown Portland for lunch.
(4)
Pam L.
I had a simple tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich and it was delicious ! The sandwich had grilled sweet onion and the soup was flavored with yummy spices.. eat there you won't be disappointed. Had a glass of very very nice Chardonnay also terrific!
(4)
Jen E.
so..... I can not believe that I forgot to give this place a review. In fact I feel so bad about it I grounded myself.....however I was never good at following rules.....so really I stayed grounded for like 5 minutes. Okay I discovered this place on line while looking for a place for a bunch of us to meet up for a day of fun, due to unusual things that happened most of my friends were not able to meet up with us.....their loss for a couple of us did make it down there and well..... OH HOLY CRAP! THE FOOD IS EXCELLENT. I ordered the biscuits with strawberry jam and truffle oil. Honestly I was a little afraid to try this combo but was very happy I did. I shared it with my friends who did show up and they turned into piranhas.....in a feeding frenzy. I then got their mushroom soup and all I have to say is wow....just wow. Possibly the best soup I have had in many, many years! I have happy thoughts when I know I am about to eat there. The air seems a bit crisper, the light a wee bit brighter, birds.....birds sing a little more. The inside is the original lobby for the original Heathman hotel. so it is a little weird but weird in a good way. The bear with the monocle and top hat cracks me up and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable about their food. oh and they make a mean cup of coffee...... you can have an intimate table for two or a large table for groups or a huge table running down the middle of the bottom level.... if you have a huge amount of people or dont mind sharing.
(5)
Laura B.
Absolutely delicious! Had the chicken entree which melted in your mouth. Tried the pork chop as well- yummy too. Choc pound cake with salted caramel ice cream for dessert was heavenly. $5 draft local beers. Great staff- wait staff and kitchen too (James came out and explained how he made the chicken dish- yes- it was that good). Would love to have a place like this in my hometown. Portland- you are lucky to have The Picnic House!
(5)
Tom D.
This big open spaced restaurant is a great spot for its food and decor. It is located in the lobby of the old Heathman Hotel, and they have preserved the space really well with a nice three story atrium. The tables are well spaced so you get a feel of being in your own private space. The food here is excellent. There were three of us so we all got different things and shared. Roasted cauliflower, roasted pear salad, and mushroom soup were all delicious. I have no problem recommending this place as a great value for a night out!
(5)
J B.
Amazing service at the end of a Monday night by Matthew the bartender. The salmon in the strawberry/green chili sauce was spectacular. Great and affordable wines by the glass. I wish I lived in Portland!
(5)
Michael H.
Walking into the Picnic House you feel a bit like walking into a STEAMPUNK world. The drinks are delicious, I would def recommend the Moulin Rouge. Very good to the last drop. The service was amazing and very on top of the group and yet not overhwhelming us. For food I had the Prawns and Chorizo. Now in another life I would have maybe said yuck but this was so delicious. Also check out the delicious truffle potatos. Yummy Goodness.
(5)
Cherie G.
This delightful eatery is housed in what was a hotel foyer, built in 1924. Velvet curtains divide the sunny window front of the restaurant from the darker, high beamed room with the bar set in the back, 1920's music filling the cavernous space. It seemed like there should be fashionable flapper women dancing the jitterbug on the original floor. We were seated immediately at one if the small, claw-footed bistro tables that fill the space. A water decanter sits on each table, and was refilled as we needed. The waiters were chicly dressed young men who harkened back to the 20's. We chose the three course meal, starting with a bitter green salad that was perfect. We each chose a different entree--the grilled salmon with salsa tasted as if it were freshly caught that very morning (and likely was), and the lemon chicken was presented in a cast iron skillet on a bed of the lightest mashed potatoes I've ever eaten. The roasted chicken had a crunchy lemony outer skin with tender juicy meat inside. My daughter thought that the chocolate pudding desert was so delicious that nothing else in her future life would ever be as good. The final delight was when the check arrived in an old book, prob from the 1920's. All was served and attended to promptly. We loved the ambiance, the architecture, the servers, the food and the check book. We did make reservations through Open Table, and the place filled up quickly starting around six, so we recommend you consider reservations.
(4)
Leo C.
It was a late night and didn't want anything heavy, so I settled on two sides: brussel sprouts & cauliflower soup. The brussel sprouts were roasted perfectly with just the right amount of char and bits of lardon (bacon) for that added smokey flavor. Along with my nice heaping plate of sprouts, I received a nice cup (bigger than a cup, but not quite a bowl) of roasted cauliflower soup. The soup was silky with hints of brown butter and sage. It came with a crunchy piece of toast. Simple food done correctly. The perfect late night dinner. This is a classy place without being overly pretentious or trendy. Service and prices are great as well.
(4)
Charly S.
There are some phenomenal restaurants in Portland serving foods of all kinds.... and so far this is my fave. 1. It is a huge space which seems a tad overwhelming at first, but somehow they make it comfortable with well placed tables and nicely decorated open areas. The high ceilings and architecture are fantastic. 2. They play lovely dinner music, very 50's rat pack sort of stuff, some jazzy - in this classic building it just fits to create a delightful ambiance. 3. The service was fantastic. One guy working alone so it was not lightning fast, but he was efficient and friendly. He really took the time to explain some of the dishes, answer our questions and have a quick chat. I always appreciate service that is not frazzled. 4. The menu is familiar and comfortable with some great twists. The food was fantastic. You know when you go to a restaurant and your food comes and you think "wow, that looks good" and then it tastes average at best? You will not have that here. The food tasted as good as it looked, and it looked awesome! We commented throughout our meal how good it was.... delicious. 5. The prices are excellent. Our favourite foods; the grilled cheese with roasted tomato soup, even comes with a nice salad and the brussels sprouts roasted with lardons (like bacon but thicker). Thanks Picnic House for a great dining experience. Looking forward to our next trip to Portland already!
(5)
Kyan H.
Nothing spectacular. Food was decent: Citrus Spice Latte - really unique and delicious latte with grapefruit pulp Wild Mushroom Soup - delicious Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwich - 3 out of 5 on a star rating Space: Interesting - formerly the lobby of the Heathman (which confused me, as the Heathman is now across the street)... nice, open space... but could have better utilized the space. It felt a little off. The communal dining room table feels very in the spotlight. I do enjoy the large staircase and decor with the old printing press stamps on the wall.
(3)
Emy F.
Shut up with this place! It's too adorable for words, but it's not SO adorable that you feel uncomfortable. The decor is done with a light enough hand that you're able to appreciate its funkiness without being overwhelmed by a place trying too hard. I appreciate that. The food. the portions were surprisingly big. A colleague ordered a roasted pear salad as a starter and it was entirely entree sized at a starter price. Based on that, I decided to order two starters -- the roasted corn soup and brussels sprouts. The sprouts, oddly, got a little "heavy" because they are cooked in bacon... I could have done with a little less of the oiliness, but for the first 1/2 of my pile of sprouts they were awesome. Would be great to share. The roasted corn soup was complete and total heaven. I could eat that stuff every night. My other colleagues all also reported that their food was excellent. We were committed to dessert but not sure what to try, so based on the server's recommendations we got a grilled pound cake and the creme brulee. Do not pass up dessert. Just plain do not pass up dessert. Delightful. Tom Waits coming from the speakers was the perfect dining companion. Really a great place. I wish I could've packed it into my suitcase and taken it home with me at the end of my business trip.
(4)
Belle P.
We had a group of 8 that went to dinner here on a recent Saturday night. We had early reservations - 5 p.m.; and the place wasn't busy at all (though we made reservations just to be safe). This is a very "Portland" type place - really cute/funky decor - great menu with lots of fresh food options - great service. We ordered appetizers, beer flights, the cheese plate, the charcuterie plate, salmon, pasta - quite a variety of foods from the menu. Everything was excellent. I had the house Pinot Noir, which wasn't exceptional - but for a house wine it was very good. The waitress was happy to split the check between 3 parties, which really helped us a lot. Our service was excellent from start to finish. We were seeing a show nearby and this was just a perfect place to meet for an early dinner beforehand with friends. I would definitely eat here again.
(5)
emily t.
Stopped by here on a whim thanks to Yelp - just wanted to grab a quick lunch before catching our flight back to LA. Incidentally it ended up being our favorite meal of the whole trip! My boyfriend and I each got the half salad/half sandwich/cup of soup lunch combination. The portions were HUGE - we could've easily split one. But at least we had delicious leftovers to have as dinner on the plane. The nutty brown rice salad was so unique and worth coming back for in itself. The wait staff is super friendly and the vibe is classy yet casual. Our waiter informed us that they're now serving brunch, so we'll definitely be back to check that out next time we're in town. Missing Portland's amazing food already!
(5)
Melana Y.
This place is very spacious! Dropped in for happy hour ... a flight of beer and warm buffalo chicken cheese dip, all for just $9?? Yes please!! Service was very friendly and punctual. Beers were tasty, cheese dip even tastier. No complaints, all compliments.
(4)
Stephany F.
Amazing food. Tasty sandwiches (!!!) and salads, great service, cute decor. Can taste the high quality of ingredients.
(5)
Lynn E.
We loved the atmosphere here at the Picnic House. The prices are also reasonable. Some of the staff were super friendly, while one was not. We didn't make reservations beforehand, so we had to sit in the front room and it was really cold! My husband and I enjoyed ourselves and the meal was wonderful.
(4)
Becky S.
this place has GREAT food! I could eat the fresh berry salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
(5)
Stephanie W.
Had dinner here for a friend's birthday. Nothing outstanding here folks, except the building itself. Service was slow (Saturday night, many empty tables) and lackluster. More than one server brought our food out and each one had to ask who ordered what. Cocktails were on the boring side. Their names were much more interesting. Food. Um. It was food. Nothing outstanding. Now, the building itself. Amazing space. They aren't doing nearly enough with it!! I say go ahead and skip this place.
(3)
Katie U.
My husband and I went for happy hour on 7/11/14. We were really excited to try this place out because of all the great reviews. We arrived shortly after happy hour started, there were a few people sitting in the bar area and we were seated quickly. I think they're trying a little to hard on the whole Portlandia vibe. Also, it was warm inside and it was already a hot day outside so a cooler environment would have been nice. The biggest problem with the ambience was the flashing ambulance lights from outside that were reflecting all around the room. I realize that isn't their fault but the hostess said it happens often from an assisted living facility next door so they might want to find a solution- it is seriously seizure inducing light reflection. I found the service to be a little stuffy and that isn't really what I'm looking for in a happy hour. The general manager was giving an interview in the little lounge area next to the bar and it was amusing/awkward to listen to. When we left she was having a conversation with the hostess about why she kept her late and neither of them acknowledged us as we left. We ordered the Chicken Caesar Salad Skewers and the Buffalo Wing Dip. The caesar dressing only tasted like anchovies, I normally like anchovy flavor in my caesar dressing but it was overkill. The buffalo wing dip had very little buffalo flavor and mostly tasted like blue cheese. Overall the food was just okay, nothing special and there is MUCH better food in Portland. There was only 1 happy hour drink special and it was a raspberry mojito, not something we were interested in. Kind of a bummer to go to a place with a really interesting cocktail menu but none of those cocktails were on the happy hour menu. Limited and pretty boring beer selection too. Portland is an awesome city for happy hour and The Picnic House just doesn't measure up. Our happy hour experience has crossed The Picnic House off our list for future dining experiences.
(2)
Emma R.
Love this place. It's got a unique vibe and FANTASTIC food. I'm always a big fan of small plates and having the opportunity to taste lots of things and there's no end of great things to try here. Definitely worth putting on your go-to list. It's not overblown, overpriced or kitschy ... it's perfect for a refined palette looking for something tasty to enjoy alone or with friends. As an a foodie that has spent a lot of time eating in great restaurants in NYC, Picnic House brings the quality and creativity I'm looking for anytime I go out to eat.
(4)
Sarah L.
One of my favorite restaurants in Portland. It was so good, we went here twice within a 6-day trip to Portland. The decorations are so cute and unique, and the food is amazing. Loved the Ricotta cheese with rosemary honey starter plate, the creamy tomato soup, the nutty brown rice salad, and the berry salad. The grilled poundcake was also delicious. A must-try restaurant!
(5)
Lauren S.
Our first meal in Portland hit all the right spots. The combo selection was very satisfying, allowing us to take advantage of squash and mushroom soups, pesto farfalle, and chicken sandwich. The bread on the sandwich was fresh, but a little large. Service was kind, but extremely slow. It was over 10 minutes before we were greeted by our server and in the meantime other servers and the hostess pointedly ignored us.
(4)
Michelle H.
Welcome to the rabbit hole. That's how I describe the awesome interior. It's very 'Alice in Wonderland.' The decor would have led me in on its own, but I was also on good authority that the grub wasn't too shabby either. We tried calling from the office a few times and reached their voicemail that wasn't setup. Odd. There is also online ordering, but not being able to reach someone on the phone made me a little wary. What if they weren't open even though their hours said they were? Seemed like a potential disaster waiting to happen. Even at nearly 1pm, there was a pretty busy dining room. The servers seemed a little understaffed so there was a bit of chaos as those who were there were spreading themselves thin amongst the crowd. We were led back to the bar to take a look at menus and make our order. The lunch menu has combinations of soup, salads, and sandwiches. The price point is slightly higher than I'd normally jump at for a regular lunch ($10-$12 before drink/tip), but you're paying for a little more adventure in the ingredients and the rent they're probably paying for this huge space. My turkey sandwich + brown rice salad combo was equal parts awesome, inventive, and a lot of food. The "small" sandwich would have been sufficient on its own. It still came with chips, too. They classed it up with things like "blueberry glaze, aged white cheddar, tart apple, & fig butter." It wasn't overwhelming with the soft roll and tender turkey. The brown rice salad was nutty from the hazelnut vinaigrette, and bursting with a bunch of roasted vegetables. I definitely was not bummed. Other things eaten included the pear salad with thick slices of chicken breast and the roast beef sandwich with enough delicious horseradish to leave you tasting it for a long time after. From order to food in hand, it was maybe 10 minutes at best. Definitely no complaints. I would have loved to have been able to call it in, though, but my guess is they turned the phone off because there wasn't anyone available to actually answer it. I would have asked, but our interactions with the staff was brief and efficient. I'll be back, for sure, just not regularly. Welcome to the office rotation.
Found this gem on Yelp and brought the family here for dinner after wine tasting on a Friday night. We were seated right away with no reservation for a party of 6 which was very appreciated! We ordered the grilled cheese, Reuben sandwich and sides of soup (some had tomato while others had the wild mushroom). The grilled cheese was PERFECT! Crunchy yet soft bread, ricotta, goat cheese and cheddar grilled to perfection (meaning crispy but won't hurt your mouth when you eat it). The tomato soup was also lovely and accompanied by a generous salad. We also ordered Brussels but they forgot to bring them and they didn't end up on the bill so it was fine and the unexpected salad was a perfect substitute. If I lived in Portland this would be a regular spot for me. Fast service with a smile. Oh and nice drinks too - I had the nymph.
(4)
James L.
I'm tempted to give this place 5 stars, but I'm reserving that for places that I've been to several times and am consistently amazed. We dropped by for happy hour and were really happy with the quality of the food and service. The menu speaks directly to me -- if I were to write my own menu it would probably be something like this. Cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, Reuben, dip and chips....sweetness - comfort food with a bit of a twist - it reminds me a bit of the Tasty N' Sons menu. The service was top notch - our waitress was on point for everything, loading us up with wine and cheese at a pace that was just right. She was very friendly as well. Bonus points for the fellow working at the coffee bar who came over with a friendly reminder that our meter was running out (he parked right next to us), saving us a ticket. That kind of thoughtfulness is something you just don't get everyday - I wish we had noted his name to mention him to management. We'll be back next time we are in the area for sure.
(4)
Jacob M.
Faaannnnnnnntastic!! Great flavor, great presentation, staff was wonderful; this is a must try!
(5)
Lacy C.
The food was DELICIOUS! Very unique and fun menu. Service was not fantastic, waited quite a while for order to be taken, then wasn't checked on. As important as I think customer service is, the food made it worth the crappy waitress!
(4)
John L.
Nice little quaint place. Not a place I'd go back to with so many small establishments to choose from. Had the toasted cheese sandwich with wild mushroom soup. Sandwich was good but small. Soup was just ok and just a bit above room temp when served. Nice atmosphere here but that's where it stops.
(2)
Marty J.
Excellent lunch option. Turkey sandwich (always have them grill it, the bread is lightly toasted and they don't use oils), green leaf salad with chicken, and all the soups (currently tomato, mushroom, and pumpkin) are excellent. I've gone several times now mostly for lunch and once for dinner. It has quickly become one of my favorites.
(5)
Julie R.
I loved this place for lunch. Cozy and fun, the food was very flavorful and healthy in its' selection. It is a tight menu with seasonal items, so don' expect a huge selection...the pumpkin soup was to die for on a very cold day. I would totally go back!
(4)
Jeanne Z.
Loved this place! I was amazed and relieved that it was everything I expected and more. We came here for lunch with my parents and my in-laws and everyone has different taste preferences and dietary restrictions, but everyone was more than pleased. THey had a little bit of everything on the menu, and it was put together very well. I think almost all of us ordered the half sandwich (or half salad) and cup of soup special, some people did get all 3. But, there was no food left on the table when we left, it was amazing! I highly recommend the soups, I had the tomato one and it was very good, but I heard a lot of compliments at my table over the butternut squash soup. Our waiter was amazing, as well as all the staff I contacted today. Like most places in Portland, there seems to be less tables than there are people that want to sit there, but still I was very impressed that they took reservations and honored them. It was nice not to have to worry about finding a seat, especially when you are with people that are 50+, 70+ etc., it is very reassuring to know that you have a table and so you don't have to worry about it. THe ambiance was great here, I loved all the decorations, we will definitely be back. My take away message: make sure to call and make reservations first! (It's counter-intuitive for Portland, I know, but just do it.)
(5)
Shannon H.
My favorite spot in Portland. Everything I had was AMAZING. Started off with some warm caramelized onion dip - I mean, that just sounds great. It was. I had the fish. It came with this fruity relish that was so good I literally ate it by the forkful. The #1 stunner in this place though was the dessert. My friend and I split the grilled poundcake. Best. Decision. Ever. So good in fact, that we stopped by the next night after eating dinner at another place just to get the grilled poundcake to go. Yes. We did. Also, the decor is THE CUTEST decor ever. I mean, it's magical. Seriously. Do yourself a favor and go for the poundcake if nothing else.
(5)
Eric B.
An excellent place for dinner. Delicious food with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, a quintessentially portland atmosphere (The lobby of the Heathman hotel's 1920's location with a steampunk monocle on a bear's head on the wall), and a serving staff that are incredibly proficient and very friendly.
(5)
Jenn S.
Yummy! The space is amazing and the food came out fast and was deeeelicious! The only reason I didn't give them that last star is because of the hot dog. It was good, but not worth $12. It was still REALLY good. I had the lunch combo of a salad and the buffalo salad sandwich and it was awesome. The value was great and I don't know where they get their bread, but it's goooooood. I don't eat bread often, but when I do it will be here!
(4)
Carolyn R.
Charming 1924 building with many original features, like dining indoors under a vintage street lamp. The food is superb and the service excellent. You have to check this place out when you are downtown. Oh, and order the corn appetizer. Amazing! Save room for dessert, too.
(5)
Cait S.
For lunch, this is right near the top of my list next to the VQ. I think it actually has more variety, of at least things I like. If it wasn't competing with Little Bird, I'd give it 5 stars. And for happy hour, I'd give it 5 stars. Sometimes the service is a little slow, but I like having the relaxed feeling that I get inside this place. The bread is always fresh and the ricotta cheese is to die for. I'd have them put it on everything if I could, and I usually try. They're open to it though! I've had better luck with lunch than dinner but maybe I need to try more of the dinner options before I come to a quick judgment. For lunch, I can't resist a soup and sandwich combo. There are too many good ones to pick from! I'm an especially big fan of the cheese crostini with toasted honey almonds for HH. Even though it says almonds in the name, I didn't get past cheese so I thought they were pecans or walnuts but after the waitress asked if I didn't like almonds, I ate every single one! I personally like the grilled cheese at lunch, my friend who isn't a fan of all the cheeses didn't like it as much but she loved the bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich.
(4)
John E.
Very nice ambiance and tasty, tasty food. Plenty of gluten-free options, which is always nice. Full bar with fancy cocktails. The menu listed something about 7up and Coke from scratch; I pictured a 90 yo soda shoppe veteran hiding out in back cranking this out, but I am sure it's just a dude with impressive facial hair like everywhere else. Closing at 9pm? I don't get that because this is the sort of place to head to after a show.
(5)
Tam V.
After gorging on delicious food cart meals all day, we decided we needed some roughage. Yelp came through recommending this place which was a stone's throw from our hotel and not very full on a Monday night. We really enjoyed the berry salad, crostini with ricotta cheese, the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup, as well as some brussel sprouts and cauliflower sides. Too full to have dessert at the restaurant, we took a delicious sour cream chocolate bundt cake to go. Everything was generously sized, the cozy period atmosphere was fun, and the service was fantastic.
(4)
Ben J.
Really cool newer little spot just in the SW area of downtown. Both their food and their appearance is interesting and a bit quirky. I thought it was delicious and fun. The idea is to have gourmet style picnic food and it's an idea they succeed at quite well. I highly suggest this as just a fun little outing for lunch or dinner or even as a date.
(5)
Pat C.
Great lunch. Locally sourced food with a very affordable combination sand/salad/soup option. A little noisy right at the noon hour but quiets down after 1.
Nice ambiance. I wasn't there for long: just enough time to snag an IPA, grilled cheese and soup from the bar. Service was great, though, and so was the food.
(4)
Erik W.
I never give 5 stars for places I've only been once, but the people here were so nice, the space is so fantastic, the drinks were so well crafted and delicious, and the desert I had was so scrumptious that I'm breaking my own rule. I had 4 hours to kill after coming back from a conference on the Oregon coast before my red eye left PDX. After cramming down some delicious vegetarian food at Prasad ( yelp.com/biz/prasad-port… ), I was in search of drinks and desert somewhere near a Red Line MAX station to get to the airport. I came across Picnic House on Yelp because of its stellar review average. Boy was I shocked to find out from the friendly bartendress that they'd only been open for a month. That says a lot. She whipped me up a Fleur de Lis first (blood orange vodka, house-made lemon-lime soda and thyme), while I pondered the desert menu. I settled for the grilled pound cake with lemon curd, strawberries and whipped cream. Oh man. I'm a sucker for lemon curd. And the pound cake was so nice and moist, with nice crispy edges from the grill. One of the best things about Picnic House is the gorgeous space: the restaurant sits inside the original Grand Lobby of the Heathman Hotel, built in the 1920s. The hotel relocated around the corner and the rest of the building was demolished some time later. The lobby remained unused until it was renovated by the Picnic House owners. Truly a glorious place!
(5)
Afton B.
I hate to be negative about a place where the food is so good, but this is a time when actions speak louder than taste. We would have had a perfect evening had it not been for such subpar service. Made a reservation, no note was made as the waitress felt the need to point out several times, leaving us feeling like we were majorly inconveniencing her on her very busy night, might I point out the restaurant was half full at most and it was 7:00. In the middle of our dinner our waitresses switched, without any warning to us, this second waitress even more uninterested than the first, to the point where we waited 20 minutes to ask for the check, finally going to the bar, where she so quickly swiped my card that I almost didn't realize I had been over charged on drinks! 20 minutes after finishing my meal and I don't even remember what I ate because I'm now too concerned about the money that is tied up from her voiding out my first bill.
(2)
Rick K.
We came here about 6mos ago and really liked it, they had the soup/salad/sandwhich for $10 which was an incredible good deal. We were running errands in Portland last week and decided this would be a good place to get some lunch. Much to my surprise they had raised there prices from $10 to $15...that's a 50% rise! And it is now $10 is you only want 2 of the 3 items! The food was still really good w/ the exception of my ceasar salad lettuce being red/old, however i find this kind of price hike to be a little unreasonable! If they had went from $10 to $12 i would have been cool but a 50% hike...there are enough other good places to eat in Portland that i probably wont be back anytime soon.
(3)
Lauren G.
Came here for a quick bite to eat before an author talk at PCPA. The only open seats were at the bar, but that was fine. The guy working was really friendly and pointed us to some menu items that would get us out the door quicker. We got the bruschetta (so so SO delicious), cauliflower (with golden raisins in there - brilliant), mushroom soup (pretty good), and steak salad (also pretty good). We will be back another time when we can try entrees.
(4)
Sally S.
Don't come hungry. No, it's not their fault, it will be your fault for not looking at the menu. You'll be too busy drinking in the fantastic atmosphere. It is absolutely gorgeous in here. Every direction you look has a perfectly placed decoration. I think goldilocks did the design. It's *just* right. Pull your eyes off the wall or floor or ceiling or where ever they may have fallen and take a moment to order one of their delicious cocktails. The fleur de lis was really yummy. I also had the gin cocktail, but can't remember it's name. Possibly because I'm still drunk. Momma had a salad that was massive and perfectly dressed. Instead of croutons it had little sweet potato cubes. How cute! I ate the happy hour grilled cheese and spiced potato soup. I wish I had ordered the full size soup, it was so warming and full tasting with out being heavy. Every time I get a grilled type sandwich at a restaurant the inside of my mouth gets ripped up. That did not happen here! The bread was toasted to the perfect level of crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. Now, I shall sing the praises of caramelized onions on a grilled cheese sandwich. laaaaaaa. Mom, why did you not do this for me as a child?! We got dessert. You should too. Pumpkin rice pudding! Warm chocolate cake! Oh, and the service! It was lovely. Friendly and attentive without being annoying. Picnic House, I love you!
(5)
M K J.
Don't fear the pickled blueberrires! They don't taste like pickles, it just gives them a little tartness to balance the sweet. Having now eaten here two days in a row for lunch, I can say that this place is excellent. We have had between us the caprese style sandwich, proscuitto sandwich, grilled cheese, mushroom and spring veg soups and the grilled pound cake. All are excellent. The toasted bread on the sandwiches is a nice touch. Service was a liitle confused the first day but as long as you're not in a super hurry it's okay. We would love to try dinner!
(5)
Jon T.
Very nice- lots of options in downtown- especially if you want variety and I will probably be back, it is hard though because there are so many amazing places to eat- decor is fun and a bit funky- food was great, service was a tiny bit slow but overall very nicely done
(4)
Byron H.
Very nice. Original, tasty and classy. Reasonably priced. Nice ambiance but a little loud. I would come back.
(4)
Carmel U.
My husband and I love this place. - beautiful decor (complete with painted ceilings and deer doorhangers drilled into tree stumps!) - delicious food (pork loins that weren't dry and cheese plates that weren't boring!!!) - Yummy (and strong) cocktails This is the type of place that I would eat at often (if there was such a place in Boulder). The waitstaff is very friendly. It did have more of a cafe-feel to it than a restaurant. I did notice that you can rent a picnic basket full of picnic implements for $20/day, which I thought was brilliant. Lovely place for early dinner and brunch!
(5)
Jamie F.
We arrived at 8:30pm on a friday night and there was not a server in sight, but the front half of the restaurant was empty. We ended up waiting close to 10 minutes before anyone took the time to notice us standing there and ask if we had been help yet. We were not off to a good start. Once we finally were seated, I had mushroom soup to start and it was amazing. My friend had some tomato jam goat cheese dip that she also said was fantastic. I had the lemon roast chicken as a main, which was also awesome. My friend ordered some kind of pasta dish that she ended up sending back because it was too salty. (I tasted it and it was insanely salty!) We each ordered creme brulee for dessert and it was.. weird. I've rarely had BAD creme brulee so this one definitely takes the cake as the worst. (Or takes the custard, har har.) It tasted super eggy and tasted like it might have had clove in it? Either that or the vanilla beans were really off. I only ended up eating a few bites. I would definitely give this place another try because my first to dishes were so great, but be prepared to not be greeted at the door, and stay away from the creme brulee!
(3)
Cory P.
Good place, good service.
(3)
Splandie J.
The best thing about this place is the exit. The second best would be a server named Joshua, who tried in good faith to fix all the heinous errors that had gone on before, but at that point there was just too much that had been wrong. We arrived at 6 on a Friday evening. We had a party of six. We stood in the empty entry for almost 10 minutes before the hostess came to say we would have to wait.... the place was about a third full. So we got seated, and waited almost 20 minutes for a server to bring water. Didn't ask if we wanted anything else. We asked a server Bethany about getting some drinks, and she said in the vernacular of shitty servers everywhere 'I am not your server. I will let him know.' Ok, eventually got some drinks. Our server took our order, then at the end of all of us ordering, he said "I think I will use my phone to write down your orders. Just so that I get them right." So we had to repeat the whole ordering thing. It took one hour and twenty minutes to get food. On a Friday night in a mostly empty place. Half of us got our food. The others sat for another ten minutes! What, the cook's joint went out and he had to run home and get another?!? And the food, dear god the food. If it was edible at all, it was bland and tasteless. Did I mention bland? My friend ordered the tenderloin. It was burnt on the outside to a crisp. But damp. Like they knew they had cooked the living shit out of it and then spritzed it to make it look like it was remotely edible. Amazing. Another friend ordered plain salad with some chicken. Basic food, right? It came as a plate of lettuce. No chicken or the salt and pepper that she had asked for. The list goes on, I won't bore you with the rest of the debacle other than to say Joshua was really great, tried to fix all the crappy food and previous shitty service, but at that point it had become a tragic comedy and we just wanted the hell out of there.
(1)
Haroun K.
The happy hour brought me in. And I almost melted when I saw "grilled watermelon with feta." I've heard amazing things about the combination of watermelon and feta from my usual co-eater, so I ordered one up right away. The watermelon was nicely grilled (strange, but meaty in a good, watermelony way), but the feta was completely lacking. I'm curious as to what kind of feta it was, because it was super crumbly, and almost devoid of the strong flavor you need in a feta (be it American, French, Greek, or the best Bulgarian). The grilled cheese and tomato soup is a fine option, except the grilled cheese is super minuscule, and it is just a half a (petite) sandwich. The potato chips and cheese dip with onions was tasty, and the portion is pretty huge. The draft beer list is brief, but well thought out. And service was pretty nice. The bathroom, however, was a bit of a trainwreck. I came at an off hour, sure, but it was a mess in there. The manager was sitting at the bar the whole while on his laptop working, but the bathroom should be a primary priority.
(3)
Imelda K.
I met someone on a plane who recommended The Picnic House! I'm so glad I checked this place out. Love the decor and all the little personal touches (like bringing your bill to you in a book). The food is also very good. I've tried the soups, the nutty brown rice salad and the grilled cheese sandwich, and all were delicious. This may just be one of my new favorite eating places in Portland.
(4)
Catriona B.
I've been to Picnic House for dinner twice, and had a great experience both times. For the first dinner, I had a delicious salad (can't remember which one). The rest of the group ordered a variety of dishes, and they were all lovely. The bundt cake for dessert was exactly what I like -- warm and delicious without being too sweet. Most recently, I came back with my parents on a Saturday evening, and we all had great meals as well. I had the mushroom soup, which was lovely with their tasty bread. I like less salt, so was perfect for me. The beets were great with light flavors and not overcooked, and the brussel sprouts were even better with some bacon (or fancy equivalent). Had to have a the bundt cake again. Again amazing. There was live jazz music on Saturday, but was a) nice to listen too and b) didn't overpower conversation. I always feel like a bit of a jerk talking through someone performing, but the sound level made it pretty enjoyable. The service is great, and we had a lovely conversation with the owners. The physical space itself is super cool -- can get a bit loud when everyone is having fun, so set expectations accordingly. Be sure to inspect the bear over the bar. Is he a steampunk bear? I think so. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Mike G.
Decent beer selection, excited to drink a Workhorse IPA somewhere other than Laurelwood. The bar, high ceilings, window table and huge knotty picnic table are great. The remainder of the seating does not fit the decor and is quite awkward.
(3)
Library D.
Charming atmosphere, gracious servers. Had dinner here, indulged in some of the happy hour appetizers. Happy hour snacks were small, but good. Chicken dinner was adequate but not exceptional.
(3)
Jason D.
Randomly looked this place up trying to find a place to have a late lunch on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Wasn't a far walk from my hotel so I thought why not? After I walked in, like many reviewers before me, I couldn't peel my eyes off the decor of this place. I must have spent a full 10 mins snapping photos of the interior design before sitting down to order food. I'm surprised I wasn't escorted out. This place is beautifully designed and restored to (I'd say) a 1920-1940's style saloon. The staff even dress the part! The space itself is massive and I could definitely see it being rented out for private events. I'm told it's a restored hotel lobby with the original floors. It's got very high ceilings and great exposed wooden beams along the ceiling. It was a slow afternoon so me and my party of 4 had the place to ourselves. We sat at a huge, beautiful wooden picnic table. I could see this being a great communal eating table (a tactic that needs to used more often in restaurants IMO) when the place is buzzing. The food was fantastic and so reasonably priced. I had the roasted turkey sandwich with blueberry glaze, aged white cheddar, tart apple, & fig butter. It was served on an incredibly fresh baguette and the sweetness of the glaze brought out the flavor in the turkey was also a nice contrast with the tart granny apple slices. The bartender was super professional and explained all the ingredients of the drinks that he served to us. Overall, a great place to grab a bite before or after a show or if you're a worker bee in downtown Portland. Before taking your first sip/bite and take a couple minutes to soak in the decor. You shant be disappointed.
(4)
Banks E.
Good food but not enough to justify 5 stars. I went here with my wife and she loved it and thought it would be an ideal place to eat with a group of friends for a girls-night-out. It is not a place I would ever recommend to take a group of guys.
(4)
Lori U.
This place has the most amazing VIBE! You feel it the moment you walk in! I was super impressed with the decor....that massive tree community table WOW! The specialty drinks are ingenious! I recommend The Sharab...No details missed...it comes with a spring of rosemary and cool square ice cubes. Its a feast for the eyes, taste buds and then scent of rosemary with each sip.....I put away three of these yummy cocktails! The food is top notch and sooooo flavorful. The presentation is fabulous, art on a plate! Kuddos to the Kitchen Staff...Amazing freaking food! The wait staff is super attentive, fun and professional. They want you to enjoy your experience, its important to them. Love that!! You don't want to miss out on this experience! I hightly recommend it! You won't be disappointed! Its close to the Arlene Schnitzer! This is our GO TO place when we are downtown seeing a concert!! I give it 10 stars!!!
(5)
Jason G.
Great service, and a really cool atmosphere. There is all sorts of variety in the place, different levels, things to look at, cool seating arrangements, delicious drinks, and an equally tasty menu. This would be a pretty great place to start off an evening pretty much anywhere. It's casual, but it wouldn't be out of place to be dressed nicely going to the symphony and show up here at all. I would absolutely recommend the place as an appetizer to the rest of your evening.
(5)
Marie P.
Awesome !! This place is off the hook !!
(5)
Maddy A.
This was such a great and unexpected find! We just happened to parked in front of The Picnic House and were hoping to grab some food and drinks before our concert at the Schnitzer. It looked charming from the outside so we went in, and everything just continued to fall into place after that. We were enthusiastically greeted by the servers and that quality of service continued throughout our dinner. We ordered some drinks, sandwiches and soups, and we couldn't help but nod in delightful approval with each first sip and bite of what we ordered. I'm not a big fan of sandwiches so I'm always pleasantly surprised when I find myself enjoying a sandwich. I had the grilled Italian cured meats sandwich and that was pretty fantastic. Really fantastic. The olive tapenade and chili aioli is what sealed the deal; the two sauces really brought together melt-in-your-mouth flavors of the sandwich. I got a couple bites of the grilled roast beef sandwich and that was almost as good. You can also get a shared plate where you can mix and match your choice of salads, soups and sandwiches, and you'll get half portions of each. Our server did inform us that they change up their menus every once in a while, which makes me want to go back to The Picnic House soon just in case they remove the Italian cured meats sandwich from their menu. Their menu isn't lying when they say they have "tasty sandwiches" and "savory soups." Overall, the food is great. There's also so much charm and history to their location. The Picnic House is located in the lobby of the original Heathman location, and they set up the restaurant just so it almost feels like you're having a picnic. You can even rent a picnic basket and get food to go!
(4)
Lisa W.
On a recent lunch visit we had reservations for a group of eight and they accommodated perfectly. Our (gorgeous, solid wood, rustic and beautiful) table was set up when we arrived and we were seated immediately. The pace of the meal was perfect for a relaxed lunch, and all of our orders came out exactly as we had placed them. Everyone said their food was great. I had half a Thick Bacon with avocado and Gorgonzola sandwich with a cup of the sweet pea soup and they were both simply delicious. The portion was plenty big but because it was so good I could have easily eaten twice as much. I didn't have a salad, but my colleagues did and raved about them. They looked fabulous. I've also visited for happy hour. The menu is somewhat limited, but what I ordered, fresh cheese on crostini and a cocktail, were great. The atmosphere is cool - lots of fun stuff to look at on the walls and stuff - and the service is really good, like the people who work there actually enjoy their jobs. Also, the tables have a lot of space around them, so diners aren't crammed together and shouting to be heard over all the other conversations. It seems like a lot of thought was put into this place and I would highly recommend it all the way around.
(5)
Marty O.
Outstanding! The brown rice salad was super bomb and the roasted chicken breast was cooked perfectly. Very flavurful and the presentation was beautiful. The decor was also very cool. Service was spot on as well. I really didn't find one thing wrong with the entire experience. I was super full, so I didn't get desert, but they have a very original assortment. I will be back for more and save room for desert this time.
(5)
Lauren K.
*Ambrosial* - that really says it all. This place is classy, delightful, and romantic. The menu on their website boasts some small plates and entrees but they've since converted over to all small plates. Thank the food gods that they kept the pork loin; it was succulent, well seasoned and simply perfect. We also had the bavette skewers, fish (can't remember what it was) and roasted cauliflower. I though the bavette skewers were amazing (until I tried the pork loin). The roasted cauliflower was perfectly done and garnished with raisins (interesting choice). The fish was a bit bland but the mango salsa topping helped. We also got the two mixed greens salads. Very pleased with both. Finally, because everyone on yelp said to do it, we ordered dessert. This truly made the experience; we ordered the grilled pound cake and vanilla rice pudding. Both were PERFECT. My favorite meal thus far in my quest to conquer Portland's good eats.
(5)
Susan P.
Excellent food - I really enjoyed the stuffed portabella and I'm not vegetarian! Awesome location especially on nights when you have tickets at the Schnitz. Wait staff was very attentive. So nice to be able to make a reservation.
(5)
Mark L.
Ordered the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup for my wife and I to split. The food came and the soup bowl was half full and the sandwich was really small with just a few bits of cheese. I thought our waiter got us the 1/2 and 1/2. Bill came nope. Think I will pass. Oh, I also got a glass of the house wine, small pour as well.
(2)
Jessica P.
Cute atmosphere and a creative menu. The chairs could be more comfortable, especially for the price. Service wasn't great. No one ever asked how our dinner was. (It was good, but most servers come by and make sure it's good and that you don't want or need anything else)
In a former historic hotel. Fun atmosphere. They do baskets for picnics to go. Came here on a walking tour of PDX. It was our first stop. Really lovely picnic table and benches.
(4)
Marybeth S.
Loved this place! Went with another couple for a night out in Portland. Loved the interior and return to the original design of the 40s. Super cool space. Food was awesome, great sized portions for the price. I had the chicken which was fantastic (I rarely order chicken out but saw on another table and it looked great) and the grilled poundcake - don't miss it!
(4)
Karna G.
Loved this place! Accommodated my party of 10 on super short notice.... The decor is amazing....vintage printer's blocks everywhere and a huge, huge picnic 'bench' made from a tree 100s of years old (that had already fallen when it was utilized to build it). Beautiful. The food is even better than the decor! So fresh and delicious. Can't wait to visit Portland again soon just so I an eat here.
(5)
rich j.
The service wasn't flawless--our server was training, but more generally it still feels like they don't have the flow down. I'm putting that aside. If people experience this in 2013 there's a problem. Charming, quaint, adorable, etc. They have an interesting menu, some thoughtfully prepared dishes, an adorable atmosphere (let's call it French provincial/shabby chic/bohemian). I am optimistic but not sure they earned 4-stars yet. But I will go back and I will recommend to others. 3 stars isn't horrible. Beef skewers were done to varying degrees of, um, done-ness, but the grilled watermelon was delicious. Favorite item: the pavlova. My group enjoyed the infused artisan IMAX free-range cruelty-free shade-gown rustic liquors (in other words, they were fancy), but that's probably because they were liquor. We are cheap drunks. Still, yum! Try it. You've had worse.
(3)
Happy T.
Great eclectic setting for a classy Friday date night or a fun dinner with friends. Perfect ambience for all moods, but a tad expensive.
(4)
Nick N.
We had a really nice dinner here with another couple. Great service and very neat original features in the restaurant. Everything we ordered was just top notch. Very reasonably priced. We'll be back when we're in town again. We ordered: Mixed green salad with roasted chicken Sweet pea soup Grilled pound cake for dessert
(5)
Valerie L.
Okay, I read about this place in a lot of magazines and saw it on Yelp, all glowing reviews. I went here with high expectations and let me just say, they met them all! I had a party of six ladies and we are really into food and drinks, maybe the drinks a little too much, but when in Rome... The owner is so nice, he was very helpful on the phone with making the reservation, he actually answers the phone, getting us a nice table, working with us when we wanted to come in a half an hour early because we were getting too buzzed at Portland City Grill's Happy Hour, he seated us and made sure everything started off without a hitch. We all ordered different things off the menu, shared all of our meals with one another and had the signature cocktails. Okay, for 6 people, all having 2 courses, multiple drinks and wine the bill came to $160, $200 with tip. Where can you go for that? Seriously? Fun atmosphere, great food and drinks, nice owner, reasonably priced. Best food on the menu: Pear salad, mushroom soup, chorizo/prawn/polenta entree Best drink on the menu: The Spaniard (for dessert) My only complaint is the wine menu and wine by the glass selection, leaves a little to be desired.
(5)
Katie B.
This place is amazing. Delicious food. Great atmosphere. Impeccable customer service. The waiter made a mistake and put my order in wrong and they gave us a free appetizer, gave me my meal free AND gave us two free desserts! Seriously, amazing restaurant. I would highly, highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
(5)
Sara J.
Food here was sooo good. The menu is fairly short, but that's fine because what they do, they do well. Soups were perfectly seasoned and I liked the selection they offered, and all the entrees sounded great. Their grilled cheese had a couple of different "gourmet" cheese on it and was one of the better grilled cheese I've had, period. It was grilled just the right amount and absolutely perfect for dipping into a delicious soup. I also tried their stuffed portobello mushroom, which was amazing. It was stuffed with so many different veggies and piled so high (a welcome change from other places that put a little filling in the cap and call it "stuffed") that it was almost hard to eat. The grilled vegetables inside were amazing, especially the little bites of Brussels sprouts. YUM. But the highlight of what I tried there was, without a doubt, their curried roasted cauliflower with golden raisins. Sounds awful, I know.... but it was amazing. The curry was not overwhelming in the slightest, and the raisins gave the dish just a hint of sweetness that complemented it perfectly. I've been thinking about the cauliflower for weeks now and am excited to go back and try it again because wow. THAT is how cauliflower is supposed to be done! The atmosphere of the restaurant is pretty cool too. I liked the decorations and how old-school everything looked. The bar, at the very back of the place, was exceptionally small, with only maybe 6 seats (...why?), but the tables themselves were spaced out okay. The only thing that is keeping me from giving this place five stars is the service. Once you're seated, it's fine, but the service up front was VERY odd. I definitely recommend a reservation so you'll be seated quickly (advice I am going to take myself next time I want to go there!). My date and I showed up without a reservation but assumed it's be fine because probably half the tables in there were empty. When we told the hostess we didn't have a reservation, she told us there were no free tables to seat us. We asked about seating at the bar, and she said that might work but we needed to wait so she could take care of other arriving guests. Ten minutes later (when we were about to just leave), she returned and told us a table had just opened up for us. When we were brought to the table, we discovered even more empty tables. Some never even filled up the entire time we were there, making me wonder why we couldn't have been seated immediately. It was all very odd. The food, and table service, eventually made up for the strangeness with the hostess. But it was an odd way to start the evening. I definitely plan on going back, but I will do so with a reservation!
(4)
Jill S.
Best lunch I've had in a while. Delicious. Very friendly and helpful staff. Def a favorite lunch spot.
(5)
Jessica D.
This was a great lunch spot during my work day. My husband and I had the opportunity to meet and we decided to give Picnic House a try. We both had a delicious meal, in a delightful atmosphere and had great service. The soups that we had were phenomenal. I am looking forward to taking colleagues and friends there for another excuse to go.
(5)
Laura S.
Great food selection with unique menu items. A rich welcoming atmosphere although the building exterior was going through a facelift. Waitstaff was knowledgable and friendly. Greatly enjoyed and can't wait for our next visit.
(5)
Jen M.
Really neat place in the former location of a hotel. Very big space for the amount of seating so I can imagine the wait times get astronomical. And the noise level must get deafening with the high ceilings. Service was a little absent-minded. Our server forgot to bring an iced tea and it took a long time to receive extra salad dressing. And it was dead the night we went. I ordered the mixed greens with chicken and substituted for the fig butter vinaigrette. The lardons (fancy word for bacon pieces in butter) were delicious. My friend got the roasted chicken and said it was excellent. We shared the crostini appetizer which I thought was disappointing. Nothing really great about it and the cheese spread was actually too cold. Had it been served at room temperature the flavor would have been much better,
(4)
Lisa G.
Picnics in Portland have about a three month potential. Let's face it, summer has shrunk and even on sunny days, grass often glistens with the days moisture, making a tarp the only sensible blanket option. So is Picnic House a real substitute for an outdoor picnic? No, but it's a clever premise, a picnic box purveyor for lunch meetings or ready-made sustenance for a wine tasting adventure in the valley. I've never actually had their picnic boxes and while $12 seems a bit pricey for a box lunch, the quality of their food makes the price seem like a steal. More on price: My perfect lunch price is $5 because it's a meal that one does not typically devote much time to beyond sitting at ones desk or a quick jaunt to a nearby food cart. However, for a longer, lingering lunch either on a weekday or weekend, the offerings at Picnic House are well priced and well positioned, as there are several combos (sandwich, soup, salad) that give any clock puncher a sense of choice in an otherwise mind numbing day. The portions are also incredibly generous, providing additional rationale for a spendier lunch. Onto the offerings: From the bavette (beef) skewers to the pickled shrimp, PH knows meat. And unlike the 'bacon with a side of bacon' craze dominating Portland, the vegetarian options are bountiful and delicious. My current veggie faves are the mushroom soup and nutty brown rice salad. The soup is not cream with a side of shrooms, rather it is the exact opposite, allowing the mushroom flavor to shine through. And the salad could be the requisite homage to the city's many vegans and frankly a pile of tasteless veggies on a bag of steamed brown rice. Instead, fresh veggies abound, making this one of the most unique salads I've ever tasted. As a carnivore, I'm hard pressed to fill up on a veggie meal, but whether it's the grilled cheese sandwich or a soup/salad duo, I always walk away full. You know, after a helping of Picnic House's signature rice pudding. The owners of PH also own Puddin' on the Rice, a well, rice pudding restaurant, which has only until this point, existed in my darkest food fantasies. Kudos to one of the owner's grandmothers because as I understand it, her recipe inspired the rice pudding that is the foundation of every creative flavor of this age-old dessert served at both Puddin' on the Rice, as well as Picnic House. My girlfriend claims to hate rice pudding and after agreeing to try a bite (of both coconut and pistachio), has now taken it upon herself to perfect her own home grown recipe of the stuff. And how 'bout that space: One can't help but wonder if Picnic House would stand on its menu alone (and I believe it could) because it's difficult to separate the food from the space. Living in a cavernous setting, the space recalls that of a bank at the early 20th century. One expects Mr. Drysdale and Ms. Hathaway to saunter down the stairs that extend into a mysterious second floor, right off the main dining space. It turns out the space is the old lobby of the original Heathman Hotel and I think about what a treasure it must have been to discover the walls and floor and other remnants of a simpler time and more intricate architecture. This is a perfect space for getting lost in hours of conversation, as you sit in a low lit room, with generous space between tables. The seats are not incredibly comfortable and noise does travel, but if you can't beat 'em, join 'em--I've started bringing larger parties and it's a perfect place for happy hour and meal sharing. Picnic House has quickly become our post-Fox Tower movie dinner go-to spot and really the place we find an excuse to go to whenever we find ourselves downtown. After a show at the Keller, we were delighted to bring friends there because upon entering the space and cracking open the menu it's obvious that this isn't just another Portland dining establishment--it's a labor of love, with creative cuisine, inviting ambiance and if I can't have a picnic, at least I can have Picnic House.
(5)
Tron B.
Reasonable prices, good food, very unique/hip decor in an awesome old hotel lobby. Beets, Pork, and Rockfish were solid. Great service.
(4)
Amanda W.
Delicious seasonal menu, attentive service, powerful air-conditioning (it was in the mid 90's when I last visited). Go, eat, be happy. And the happy hour deals are amazing.
(4)
Chase L.
Well... I had really high expectations for this place based on the reviews but I was pretty disappointed. The ambience was great, the hipster wait staff was pretty funny and not terrible, but after waiting 45 minutes for our food and finding the short rib to be about the serving size of a tapas plate, the whole experience really fell short. Every entree we got was overcooked and and while the prices are fair, a 4.5 star rating is definitely not deserved in a place with as good of cuisine as Portland. Too bad.
(2)
Lori H.
really enjoyed this place. excellent salmon, pork chop delicious, great brussel sprouts, salads, nice wine list. awesome desserts. really friendly service.
(4)
Sandra M.
Ate here with 5 colleagues. It was fantastic! Interesting wine and cocktail menu. I had 2 glasses of the Willamette pinot (think it was about $9 each). One of my colleagues orderd the apple and cherry cider. Said it was very good. The others ordered white wine or beers on tap. Shared an order of roasted cauliflower (it had a great indian spices coating on it) and roasted brussel sprouts. Some restaurants make them too greasy. This was just perfect. I had the salmon for the entry. It was a very large portion, but was farmed and not wild caught. This is disappointing because it IS the season for wild salmon. The waiter did tell me it was farmed but that it had an interesting strawberry sauce. The sauce was good and an excellent pairing with the mild fish. I did not finish the fish because it was big and I am just not a fan of farmed (not enough flavor). We split 2 desserts - the fried pound cake (we had wanted something else - cannot remember what - but they were out of it). We also shared the Pavlova and it was big and with great whipped cream. I would come here again - definitely NOT order the salmon. There are so many interesting things on the menu. They take reservations on OpenTable. The bill was very reasonable (my colleague picked it up and he exclaimed twice that it was "so cheap!").
(4)
Kerri L.
Update: I brought several friends with me this time for a festive lunch. We were really thrilled to get the big picnic table in the front of the restaurant, and it was really great because it was one of our last sunny days, so it did feel like a real picnic. We had a gentleman with us who has some gait problems, so it was difficult for him to get seated at this particular table, so I think in the future when we come back that we will reserve a regular table with stand-alone chairs (no matter, it will still be great fun). Once this gentleman got seated, he thought it was a great place to sit. I loved that the food was just as wonderful as I described to my friends and that they enjoyed their meals as much as I have on both of my visits. Service is still top notch. My friends loved the decor. All in all, our visit and meal made our day, and it was hard to focus on work the rest of the day after having so much fun and wonderful meals.
(5)
Ben C.
One word, amazing! From appetizers to dessert, each course was stellar. The ambience and sheer beauty of the restaurant just adds to the whole experience. Highly recommend the lemon chicken.
(5)
Cheri H.
A charming little restaurant with a romantic atmosphere and delicious food. The service was friendly but incredibly slow and that is why they are receiving 4 stars and not 5.
(4)
Mare R.
Delicious! Loved the Moulin Rouge cocktail... Packed quite a punch! Brussel sprouts were so yummy, as was the cast iron half-chicken; very moist and flavorful. Warm olives were pitted, which is a nice touch. Service was friendly and courteous.
(5)
D K.
This was my favorite restaurant in Portland! The food was excellent, as were the beers. The service was great and both ladies were very helpful. The restaurant is really cute and has a great atmosphere. We ordered the charcuterie board, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, salmon entree, beef bourguignon entree, and a couple beers. Everything was AMAZING and I even ordered a Brussels sprouts to go because I loved them so much. This would be my top recommendation for a healthy, substantial, fun, and fairly priced meal in Portland.
(5)
Beau T.
I went here last night and it was amazing. The service was fantastic. Our waiter's name was Aaron W. If you get his service be very excited, my date and I were given great recommendations for food and really the only time we waited was for our food to cook. The portions were very well sized and everything was delicious. Not only did my date go incredibly well but I am definitely going to go back and soon.
(5)
Kahai D.
Went there after we couldn't get into one of the citys brew houses on a Sat. night....nice find...wife had the stuffed portabello, son had the lemon roasted chicken and I got the spicy shrimp with chorizo and polenta and a couple of beers...also shared the grilled pound cake...all this for less than $60 and very tasty and filling.
(4)
David C.
I am leaving my original review below because I think it's important for people to see it, but I want to say that I've brought this rating up significantly because of the incredibly personal and warm email from Aaron Grimmer, owner of The Picnic House. He discussed my individual points and personally invited me back to the restaurant. He also took the concerns seriously. In my book, a positive response to said original mediocre customer service is better than exceptional service to begin with. So kudos to the Picnic House, and perhaps instead of doing anything negative to the server (he evidently is very new), this can be used as a learning experience. Cheers! PS. And next time I'm in Portland, I WILL be back! **Original Review*** What a very odd experience. I really, really wanted to like this place. After two very small snafus upon arriving (sign said to seat myself so when I did I got scolded and told that the host would seat me, and then there was a good deal of lipstick on my water glass once seated), I was still excited. I ordered half of a salad and half a turkey sandwich. Food was fine; not extraordinary, but not bad. Food is the reason for not giving this place one star (along with a funky ambiance). Everything went downhill from here: -Was excited to order one of their 'fun, exciting' colas and upon asking I was told they add flavored syrup to my Diet Coke. Ok, so not fun and exciting but sure I'll take one. Received my DC with no syrup (sorry, we're out), yet still got charged for that 'fun, exciting' cola. -Server was aloof and odd. It seemed as though everything I asked or said was entirely foreign to him. When my meal was finished, the server immediately brought my check. I said "Oh, sorry, I was thinking of ordering dessert and a coffee." He looked at me quizzically and said, "Oh, um, well, ok." I said "I'll have a warm cookie and a decaf coffee with milk and sugar." He disappeared. Upon return, he brought me a black coffee so again I asked for milk and sugar. Puzzled, he walked away. He returned with a hard, cold cookie in a bag (no plate?) and I said, "Oh you don't warm this?" Again, puzzled, "No, I am not sure what you're talking about." (On my way out I reread the menu to make sure I wasn't going nuts. Sure enough, warm chocolate chip cookie appears on the menu.) Again, (a third time), I reminded him of milk and sugar. Coffee now cold, he returns with milk and sugar. I should add that the restaurant was not crowded. -Cookie from above appeared in a brown paper bag. I know I mentioned that above, but I really feel it needs mentioning again. Coffee in a nice mug at an in-service, sti-down restaurant and dessert in a bag. -Lots of folks were coming in as I sat there looking at the seat yourself sign and (gasp) began seating themselves. One lady even pointed out the sign to the host who explained to her that he would seat her. That's fine, but take the sign down! -Another reviewer said that this place was experiencing the pains of being new. I hope that's all this was, but I am afraid it wasn't. All in all, I won't be back when I return to Portland next.
(4)
Valkyrie F.
Oh my, what a quaint lovely place! Great decor -ask about the printer plates, delicious food with adequate prices, enjoyable music ranging from roaring 20s era to Frank Sinatra, and excellent service - thank you Phillip, you were absolutely divine. Had the ratatouille sandwich - to die for. And if you like tequila, the Quixote is a must - tequila, raspberry liqueur, lime juice & ginger beer - yes! Husband had the tomatoe soup drizzled with basil cream - yummy. Desserts and happy hour menu look very inticing as well. Will definitely be back!
(5)
J P.
I'm giving this place a 5th star for the service. Aaron was terrific! Friendly, quick, he knew the menu well and wasn't afraid to make suggestions - all of which were delicious. Another thing, we were here at around 630 on a Fri night. This place should be packed, but the were only a few other patrons. I assume the construction is part of the problem,but don't be deterred. It's good! The building is really interesting, too. Unlike any restaurant. Apparently it is the location of the original Heathman Hotel. Now the food. Wow. I don't eat meat, so I ordered a roasted veggie stuffed portobello. It was so filling and tasty. In fact, my meat-loving husband even asked for a few bites, which never happens! He had the pork (another shocker, the man was full of surprises). Usually, I want bread pudding for dessert, but the savory bread pudding was so yummy! Let me warn you, their food philosophy is to let the ingredients shine, so not tons of sauces and butter and over seasoning. I love this, but some may not. Sadly. We didn't save room for dessert, but we will be back.
(5)
Jessica D.
I crave their food. I highly recommend trying a 1/2 salad, 1/2 sandwich and cup of soup combo. That way you can try a little of everything!
(4)
Laura S.
We had a great dinner here. The mushroom soup and the tomato soup were two of the best soups I've ever had! The chocolate bundt cake dessert was also amazing. Great decor, great service, great restaurant.
(5)
David P.
Had the buffalo chicken sandwich and tomato soup. Would definitely go back.
(5)
Luke B.
My girlfriend and I braved going to this new spot on a Monday around 1pm. It was a tough place to find with a whole host of construction scaffolds that were camouflaging the entrance but once inside we fell in love with the charm of the place. Upon walking inside we notice there were only a few tables filled with people (3 or 4) and after 5 minutes of waiting (with no one in front of us) we were finally sat at a small table in the back. The menu was quite different from anything else I've ever seen but the food spoke for itself. The bread on the sandwich was toasted perfectly to where only the most outer layer of bread was baked to a flaky crunchy crust that harbors a fluffy moist interior. The mushroom soup was notably good. My only other gripe was it took 25 minutes for a sand/salad & sand/soup combo bringing our total visit to an hour. I would give this place 2 more stars had the service been quicker and the phone that was ringing off the hook in the background been answered.
(3)
Brian O.
The happy hour was great! Definitely recommend the homemade ricotta on crostini, and the service was excellent. Great place for a happy hour.
(4)
Benjamin H.
Very cool environment and excellent food with great service. Sampled from the appetizers, mains, and desserts...all five stars!
(5)
Len L.
Love this spot- the ambiance is unlike anything else in Portland! Its beautifully decorated with fresh and enticing menu options. The artisan grilled cheese panini and tomato soup was incredible. Our sever, Aaron, was very attentive and made some excellent drink recommendations (If you like gin, try the French gimlet).
(5)
Mike M.
Terrible terrible service food and drinks. Do not go here!!! I had two different cocktails that tasted as if the bartender poured corn syrup into them. When I complained the server was incredibly rude and refused to change my order. Really over priced and awful decorating in the interior. Plenty of other great places in the area so hopefully this one will be gone soon
(1)
Mary M.
Last minute reservations.....cheerfully accepted....late to the restaurant by 15 +minutes....this faux pas on our part cheerfully dismissed by our hostess. Our table was ready...the decor was very Portland ...eclectic and almost pop-up ish. Gave my husband pause, but as he says the food makes the restaurant. Our lovely waitress breezed over and apologized for not getting to us quicker. I explained we had tickets to a show. She artfully steered us to items that would be out quickly. My husband took her suggestion of the Boar Bourguignon, though he was leery as boar can be gamey. I went for a small plate, Beef Tenderloins and we shared the roasted brussels sprouts. Hubby drank a whit beer me the Mcmule. Everything was amazing...every bite ecstasy. Not a molecule was left on our plates. The portions were just right for us, we ate to satisfaction. No room for dessert, but that will be for next time. Our check arrived without prompting ..oh and she checked in on us three times during the meal to make sure everything was going well and that we had everything we desired! This will be our new go to place for downtown dining. So happy we found you!
(5)
Sarah Grace M.
Accidentally stumbled across this place yesterday while in search of a late lunch. Absolutely fantastic - cocktails, food, ambiance, service. A hidden gem!
(5)
Jodi J.
I have to say that The Picnic House exceeded my expectations, the food was absolutely incredible!
(5)
Don B.
Very nice place to grab a beer or cocktail. Don't be afraid of the scaffolding on the outside; it's nice and safe on the inside.
(5)
Melissa G.
I took a big group of co-workers over to try their Happy Hour on a recent Friday night. The food was scrumptious, and the servers friendly, timely, and patient with our varied group personalities. We all came away with the conviction that we'd be coming back soon.
(4)
Bell K.
Such a cute place to meet up for conversation, drink and food. Both dinner and lunch time have great choices and I've never seen it overcrowded. A new regular place for me.
With friends for happy hour - sometimes it is hard to find a place where 6 or 8 people can meet and still hear each other in downtown. Nice big tables, fun decor, good small plates for sharing or for dinner, inventive cocktail list.
(5)
foodfoodfood f.
Maple duck leg, OMG. The salads here (although not cheap) are unreal - you can top them with a farm-fresh poached egg, a citrus chicken breast, or a maple duck leg. Owned by the same people that own Pudding on the Rice. The soups are great, too.
(5)
Brian F.
I stumbled across this lovely place with a friend a few days after it opened. My experience began with intrigue, transitioned into awe and then--after chatting it up with the owners, (an adorable young couple), I experienced THE BEST DRINK of my life. Beautiful and just a block away from the Schnitz, this place cannot be missed!
(5)
Justin B.
Went here for a low key end to a batchelor party week long trip. The service was great and the food was fantastic. Crunchy bread great bacon and an amazing atmosphere. If I lived in Portland I would eat here every day. Oh yeah and the mushroom soup was incredible.
(5)
Johnny V.
I dont give out too many 5s but this place deserves it. We just came in to the city for a visit and this was our first stop. We were promptly greeted and the great service continued throughout. We got to meet the owner and were given some background to how they came up with their unique design. The food was amazing, the service was great and the happy hour prices brought it all together. 5s!
(5)
Erin W.
Was downtown looking for somewhere to eat since the food carts were closed for dinner and we came across Picnic House on Yelp. Since it was nearby and had good reviews we decided to try it. I was immediately excited by the unique atmosphere, and we were promptly greeted and taken to our seats. The food was good (soup + sandwiches) although slightly overpriced (not surprising given the type of place it was) and a bit small. I would have given this place 4 stars due to its uniqueness and good tasting food (albeit a bit small and pricey as I mentioned) except that the second half of our visit the service went from good to TERRIBLE. We had to ask numerous times for water refills, it took forever to get our check, and there was a line of people at the door waiting to be seated with NO ONE there to greet them for nearly 10 minutes! One couple left, the others stuck it out, but didn't look happy. Not a good thing for a new place downtown... So needless to say, the tip we left wasn't great due to the service. I'd probably eat there again although it wouldn't be my first choice. I would likely go back to get a grab n' go lunch or rent a picnic basket though. The food was good enough that if I didn't have to deal with the service issues and could just take it to go I'd be more likely to do it. :)
(3)
Keith K.
Great place with exceptional service and high quality food. The bratwurst was probably the best I've ever had and I spent four years living in Wisconsin! The grilled pound cake was also amazing and certainly a first for me.
(5)
Alison M.
I went for lunch and it was awesome! All the entrees sounded so good and it was hard to pick. My friend and I both chose the half and half which was perfect for the price and serving size. The service was excellent and chefs actually know how to season the food perfectly. The rosemary-infused iced tea was a pleasant surprise. I will definitely go back to try their other tasty items. The decor is also amazing. I want that long wood-slab table in the front!
(5)
Alexander F.
I walked into the door a bit skeptical because of the lack of patrons, but I was reassured of the quality of the place because of the warm welcome and fantastic service. That surprisingly isn't the best part! The entire building was gorgeous with a taste of class that often eludes many other restaurants. Although the menu is small the wide array of flavors and textural combinations makes up for it.
(5)
Katie H.
I picked this place via yelp, and I'm so glad I went. I gotta say I almost shied away from the chicken because almost every time I go out, I get dry chicken. but our waiter (who was amazing, attentive, and really fun) suggested the chicken, so I got it. I gotta say, it amazed me. oh and the asparagus? to die for! I swear nowhere ever cooks it right. even fine dining at times fails. all around amazing experience. oh and the music was nice, jazz and such. lost one star because of a sloppy look in spots tho. wallpaper was torn and smudges all over te walls. but if I could give 4.5 I would. definitely check it out.
(4)
Lindsay D.
This place is seriously awesome. In fact, I hesitate to write a review because as soon as people get the word that this place rules, it will be hard to get a table. The atmosphere can't be beat. It really feels like you're on a vintage picnic; open airy space rustic tables, picnic baskets as centerpieces, and greenery as decor. I had the chance to try many different dishes with a group of friends. Service was fast, friendly, and she had lots of good recommendations. We tried lots of small plates and a couple desserts and everything was super tasty. Keep in mind it's fancy picnic style, so no big dinner foods but more lots of smaller gourmet bites to try. I could see how it might seem a little pricey for some since the plates are small, but we had happy hour that was pretty reasonable. You can also people watch out the giant windows that face the Schitzner. I heard you can also order picnic baskets to-go and eat in the park. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
A A.
We are from out of town and wanted a unique place to eat dinner. The hotel recommended here and we were not disappointed. The menu is great. I had the grilled cheese and mushroom soup. Delighted when it arrived with a delicious salad. Portions in general are not huge but my entree was filling and very satisfying for me. One funny part of the meal - we asked the waiter to recommend a good local red wine. He said the house wine was great so we ordered 2 bottles (party of 6). The wine was wonderful but we didn't notice until half way thru the bottle it was made in Argentina and not Oregon. Oh well, still a great meal.
(5)
CC G.
This place is simply amazing. Due to the construction going on outside, it is easy to walk right past, but I highly recommend going in and getting one of their sandwiches. One thing that I absolutely love is that you can do a combo plate of any variation of soups, sandwiches, and salads, even two sandwiches if you want. I couldn't decide what I wanted the other day so that fit the bill perfectly! The server was great too - very attentive and full of good recommendations. I highly recommend this place - do yourself a favor and eat here!
(5)
Susan H.
What a sweet little find in downtown. Easy atmosphere. Attentive service. Nice veggie-friendly menu. Yummy cocktails. All that and a jazzy duo playing for us all. Who knew?!
(4)
Ann S.
Only read this if you have young kids and are considering bringing them along. Otherwise the previous reviews are probably spot on! I hate to break the streak of excellent reviews because this really is an awesome place! I have NEVER written a review for anything before and I am only compelled to write this one hoping the owners will consider making some small changes so that I will feel comfortable coming back. My family and I, including 2 young kids, had lunch here during the lunch hour. Our greeter and server was super friendly. The dining area easily accommodated our group and big stroller. A high chair was provided. Upon arrival it seemed perfect! However, his is NOT a kid friendly place to eat unless you are grabbing take out. Maybe that is intentional but in my opinion any place that supplies a high chair should also supply something that a child of high chair age might eat... I admit I should have taken a closer look at the menu before we were seated. My first clue should have been the fact that both my 2 year old AND 1 year old were served water in delicate-looking glass glasses. I had to ask for plastic then only got one and without a lid. The best bet for them seemed like the grilled cheese hold the onions and grilled watermelon. No go. They wouldn't have anything to do with the grilled cheese. When the server asked I was honest and told him neither of them would eat it. He didn't offer another suggestion ... crackers, a slice of UNgrilled watermelon, bread. My salad, the mixed greens with berries was super good but I had to give all the berries to my kids because they were starving and then had to scarf it down because they were getting unruly by this point with nothing but berries to eat. Maybe I am being unreasonable but the name Picnic House gives a family friendly feeling. I think kids, kites, fresh watermelon, corn on the cob, simple sandwiches, cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, yogurt. But this is really more of a romantic picnic for 2 kind of a place. Another thing, totally gross (I am embarrassed to admit this) but I had to change the 1 year olds diaper on the floor in the bathroom because there wasn't a changing table provided in either of their 2 otherwise very nice and clean bathrooms. Thank goodness it was clean! Maybe this is my fault for staying but in my experience a high chair available = at the very least a kid friendly beverage and container, a kid friendly menu item and a safe place for diaper changing. We have been to plenty of places that don't offer high chairs and that is totally their right but it alerts us to the fact that it is not a good place for us and we go somewhere else. My hope is that this review will prompt the owners to consider making some additions and not the opposite by encouraging them to get rid of the high chairs.
(3)
Randy W.
I highly recommend this restaurant! The staff was friendly, the food was amazing, and the price was right! My soup was so good.
(5)
Katherine R.
Bestest yummiest food ever!!! Great service and fun atmosphere! Love the bear! We will be back,
(5)
Arun R.
Liked their small plates. Tried the roasted cauliflower. The cauliflower soup was good too. However was disappointed with the stuffed mushroom entree.
(3)
Mike J.
Talk about the perfect pre-theater spot! We were on our way to a concert at the Schnitz, and got there a couple of hours early. OK, we thought, time to find some food. Walked about a block, and there was this promising looking place with a beautiful wooden table inside -- well "picnic table" doesn't do it justice. The desert listings looked good, so we thought we'd give it a try. The athmosphere looked like a scene from Paris in the '20s. They had Edith Piaf music in the background. And the food was great -- we did small plates. The cheese plate was exquisite. The aioli on the roasted vegetable place was wonderous. The salad included the perfect balance of balsamic and berries. And the bundt cake was filled with a complex array of chocolates. We'll be back!
(5)
Laura G.
The atmosphere is amazing with all the old time printing blocks on the wall and the magnificent wood picnic table in the front. The whole picnic idea is pretty cool and the food is amazing -- local and fresh. I have to echo Elle C.'s review for sure. Can't wait to get back to PDX and sit around that table with my family again.
(5)
Carole S.
What an unexpected delight!! Now I admit, when my husband suggested this place for dinner, the name had me envisioning barbecue and cole slaw of sorts--not really my thing. But WOW, I was really impressed with the fantastic food featuring seasonal ingredients. Started with the beets, oh MY they were good! My maple salmon was PERFECT, kale and quinoa salad delicious, my husband's chops and potatoes homemade-good; great bar menu (local porter and pumpkin cocktail fabulous!), and truly first class service. Our server Ashley was just wonderful--thoughtful, smart, really knew her menu, and just plain kind--a great experience. Cool setting in the original (not current) Heathman hotel, with a spacious mix of seating, good music, a few huge artisnal wood tables, outdoor street lamps indoors, giving it a perfectly Portland funky indoor-outdoor feel. Really terrific for us locals and for bringing guests. This place is a keeper!
(5)
Christy R.
This place is amazing!! Food is scrumptious, atmosphere is amazing and you can really tell that the owners put love and care into every detail of this place. I wished I lived closer so I could come more often.
(5)
Elaine M.
Really great food at a pretty reasonable price. Gorgeous old building and very Portland from the super skinny hipster in a bow tie seating us to the quirky details, like the check comes to the table in an old book.
(5)
C M.
I try to eat at this Hipsterific sandwich restaurant every time I'm in Portland. I've been for both lunch and dinner meals and while they experiences are different, both are the bees-knees. Personally, I like Picnic House for lunch. The grilled sandwiches are creative with interesting and fresh ingredient combinations. The mushroom soup is divine, but almost too good because it means I haven't tried any of the other soups. I love the decor of the restaurant. The natural wood grains and the faux moss wall aesthetics hark to being outside at a picnic table. The taxidermy above the bar is fun. And there is craft beer on tap!
(5)
Matthew T.
I keep going back and forth on 3.5 or 4 stars so I decided that the wonderful soups were worth the fourth star. Went for lunch, but had read the dinner menu posted outside so I was excited with the idea of the cheese plate or charcuterie, but looks like they don't offer those at lunch. so maybe I was a little bumped by that. But settled for the 1/2 and 1/2. Sandwitch and soup, which is odd for me since I'm not that much of a soup guy, but their's sounded so yummy I had to try them. My whole party went this way. I had the mushroom soup and the hot dog, which sounded good from the description but failed to deliver. Which is why I considered bumping them down to 3 (3.5 stars). But the mushroom soup was amazingly good, as was the pea soup. Other sandwiches were better and there were some other interesting choices in regard to the rice salad, which was huge and tasty. Service was excellent, but citrus latte wasn't all that "citrus" but not the end of the world as it tasted fine for other reason.
(4)
Susan B.
4 stars instead of 5 for the uneven service at the door, and it appeared that the service was inconsistent on the floor (in the weeds a bit) but the service at the bar was great. This place is (New) American cuisine in a 110 year old building- finely crafted cocktails, using fresh herbs, they serve only local beers- tap only- brewers unknown to us out of Townes, but delicious. The grilled cheese was incredible, 3 local cheeses, hint of lemon, perfectly caramelized onions on incredible bread, wild mushroom soup that was so perfectly seasoned and velvety, Pavlova for dessert that tasted like angels made it. Someone in the kitchen here knows exactly what they are doing. If you're in downtown Portland, Oregon, stop here. Small menu, reasonable prices, in a lovely setting. The food was delicious!
(4)
Aria R.
Everything was so amazingly crafted and well done. They had a lovely music choice, the vibe was all around cheerful and classy. All of the waiters were sweet and charming. (The bar tender was especially attractive oh my God.) The best dinner I've had in Portland so far.
(5)
Carrie H.
Cool atmosphere... very trendy portlandia fare. Food was good and drinks were yummy. Definitely a cool place to check out and walking distance from the downtown Hilton which is nice.
(4)
Heather F.
The tomato soup and turkey sandwich were awesome! This is an adorable spot, and everyone there was friendly and attentive. I would definitely come back for a special treat, but it's too far out of my price range for a casual meal. (Half sandwich, half soup for $12 without tip)
(4)
Krystal S.
Wow!! What a great surprise/treat to find Picnic House. We were coming into town to attend an exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society and I was madly Yelping while our Garmin was warning us off the T curves. I happened across Picnic House. Perfect!! Made reservation via Open Table and we found it quickly and close to our ultimate destination. Great space!! Very hipster old-timey (copyright trademark all rights reserved!) So we opted for several small plate items, the crostinis with a lovely soft goat cheese, almonds and honey (sorry, going by memory here, but totally something like that), tenderloin and Gorgonzola, beets infused with great loveliness and a delish charcuterie. We were IMPRESSED! Our "rock and roll" waiter was tops! He recommended a great cocktail that I LOVED and repeated. All in all a great place we'd highly recommend! Oh, only thing I'd say is that the entree menu was a bit limited. That would be my only wee critique. Cheers!!
(4)
Rouzhna N.
Oh how I love their interior design! It uses a lot of wood elements, which works perfectly without looking too "grandpa-y" And their lunch special is fantastic. SO much food, SO delicious, and SO cheap (for the amount of food you get). I really enjoyed everything I got, which was a soup, salad, sandwich combo. We all each got a different thing and there wasn't one that disappointed any one, so you cannot go wrong with those options. Also, the waitors are dressed so nice and they are also very pleasent.
(5)
Jeff P.
I'm not really sure how the majority of was because we were there for over ann hour and still didn't have food. Was going to a show across the street so had to leave and had to cancel order. Service was terrible - took over 20 minutes for drink orders and small amount of appetizers we did get were nothing special. Servers seemed incompetent. Haven't really hard good things about this place from others so definitely not going back.
(1)
Linda T.
did this place just open? I am so surprised there werent too many people around. happy hour menu was good. got the half grilled cheese + roasted tomato soup ($5) and cream cheese with toasted almond and honey crostini ($4). grilled cheese was good, but the soup was bomb! pear, blue cheese, sweet potato, cranberry, candied walnut salad with fig butter vinagriette ($9) was delicious. definitely a getter. service was attentive. ambiance and decorations were nice.
(4)
Julie R.
Great tasting food. BLT and Berry salad were devine. The roasted chicken was a little tough and rubbery; other food was excellent. Decor is unique - loved the colors and calm relaxed feel.
(4)
Belle U.
AMAZING!!!! I was in Portland for a business meeting and was caught in the "winter blast" that shut the whole city down! Luckily I was able to get over to The Picnic House for lunch just before the snow really did its damage. I had the "pick three" combo... which btw, THANK YOU for that option!!! Sometimes a girl is hungry & cant decided between half a sandwich, soup OR salad! So thank you for letting me choose all three! After traveling all morning from LA I needed it! Back to my food... I had: 1/2 Chicken & Bacon With: shaved roasted chicken, thick cut bacon, charred tomato, pickled red onion,avocado spinach, gorgonzola aioli. 1/2 Fresh Berries Salad Which has: mixed greens, pickled blueberries, fresh berries, candied almonds, crumbled feta and fig butter vinaigrette. 1/2 Roasted Tomato Soup All for $15!!! EVERYTHING was delicious!!! The service was ok Nothing spectacular, but not rude either. I was by myself in the whole place (again, winter blast) so that may have made it awkward. Picnic House your food was delicious and I cannot wait to visit you again in November (my next Portland trip).
(5)
kelly v.
We came here for dinner while visiting from Austin and had a fantastic experience. We shared 3 entrees and a small plate between 4 people and it was the perfect amount of food. Not that it matters THAT much but the decor was a little off and think they should close off the curtains to the front room at night. Food was great though and I would definitely recommend going here.
(4)
Brittany S.
This place has an awesome vibe and great food that is reasonably priced... Highly recommend!
(5)
Stephanie H.
Love, love, love this place! The atmosphere is so fun. I wish my house looked like this place. Word of the wise, make a reservation or be prepared to wait. But it is well worth it!! The food is always amazing and the drinks are to die for. Definitely one of my favorite places to go for specialty cocktails. You can't go wrong with any of their signature drinks. They are always changing too it seems like with the fruit that is in season. Every time I have had one of their specials I was blown away, plus their regular menu always has tasty options to choose from. Plus, did I mention how great the service is?! Everyone that works there is super nice, friendly and efficient. Even after waiting for a table, you won't feel like the wait drags on once you are seated. Someone always promptly greets you with water and gets drinks going. Even if they are slammed, the servers are great at keeping you in the loop on wait times and making sure the drinks are flowing! Need to pay Picnic House another visit very soon!
(5)
Alicia C.
Awesome cheese board! The mushroom soup I got was just ok. But the cheese board ... Totally 5star ! 4ppl's serve for $14, seasoned and paired perfectly
(4)
Scott W.
Excellent upscale sandwiches, soups, and salads. Lunch menu has a great two or three item choose-your-own combo option for $12-15. Service was very friendly and food came out quickly. Haven't tried the dinner menu, but I'd certainly recommend it for lunch.
(4)
Michael M.
Very good food and great ambiance. The stuffed portobello was very good, very big and very filling. The Gardenhead is a fantastic drink. I will definitely come here again the next time I am in Portland.
(4)
Lauren Q.
I don't really get what's going on here or what all the hype is about. The food was tasty enough but nothing to write home about, certainly not enough to warrant the mad lunch rush. The decor is truly bizarre--I think they're going for some kind of whimsical Victorian thing but it's in this minimalist modern space and there's some weird-ass writing on the wall in like eight different fonts. They're clearly going for something but not quite hitting it, exemplified by the bad taxidermy wearing a top hat above the bar. What this aesthetic has to do with simple American picnic fare, I don't know. The price point was pretty good though. I guess this place is okay for Portland.
(3)
april s.
During a quick trip to Portland was looking for a great dinner spot for me and mom. This was perfect-thanks yelpers. I agree with the comment about staff seeming confused about seating us, though we were walk-ins so we were just grateful they weren't booked or closed. Our waiter Aaron was very nice, even took the time to answer all of my questions about the menu and the building. So cool that it used to be an old hotel and that they used old printing 'plates' for wall decor. Mom ordered the steak and I, the salmon. She proclaimed the Parmesan quinoa polenta the best polenta she's ever had. We of course shared dishes and I concur it was most excellent. My salmon was cooked perfectly with a nice crispy outside and barely done inside. The balsalmic strawberries were different and very tasty.
(4)
Sher R.
I found this place on Yelp so I was really happy that it lived up to it's rating. Yes it is a funky little place, lots of room and few tables. A very cool little place to have a bite and the food was amazing. We almost left because it took so long for the hostess to show up but I'm glad we didn't . I had just landed in Portland and this was the first place we hit. Both my husband and I had the lunch 1/2 sandwich and side. I had a side salad, he had soup. My sandwich and salad were amazing. The service was great, actually beyond great. Our server gave us a run down on where to go and how to get there. I'll definitely be back. The menu is small which I like, seems that better food always comes from a small menu. They could do a bit of sprucing up; looks a bit like it is still just sort of barely open for business. Really great flavor. Nice welcome to Portland restaurant.
(5)
Mary J.
I must have just come on an off-night. I mean 4.5 stars out of 5 with almost 200 reviews?!? How can you go wrong? But I just feel like it was a "meh" experience. Granted we went in an hour prior to closing, but I still don't think this place should have suffered a 3-star review because of it. Why the three stars? 1) Although the server was funny, nice and charismatic, the service was slow. And I mean, I'd rather not be here past closing time just as much as he wouldn't want to be stuck past closing time, and yet that still seemed to have no bearing on waiting almost 45 minutes just for the entrees to come out... I'm pretty sure they were sitting around for awhile too because I needed a chainsaw to cut through the lukewarm chicken breast. 2) You could tell when they wanted you out. The heat went off, the bathrooms were being cleaned by the same server that just dropped off your meal, and waiting for the check seemed an eternity on top of it all. Honestly, I probably would go here again to give it another try, possibly earlier in the day as to avoid that end of the night bullshit. I loved the environment (I heard it used to be a hotel lobby for the Heathman?), the beer, wine and cocktail options were nice, and the food had potential. Honestly, I just want to try their grilled cheese.
(3)
Liu L.
LOVE the brown rice salad and the grilled pound cake! Order the brown rice salad!!!
(5)
Nate D.
Wonderful food, service, and atmosphere. Go in early and you won't have to wait although a reservation is recommended. I had been to lunch here for great sandwiches and salads but the dinner is off the hook. With the help of the excellent recommendations of our server I had the coulotte steak and my friend had the cast-iron chicken. Both were unbelievable. I highly recommend every aspect of this place, right down to the exceptionally clean restrooms.
(5)
Egg M.
The chicken and truffle mashed potatoes in the Iron Skillet is one of the best chicken dishes in town. The mushroom soup was delicious, as were their drinks. Restaurant is a little loud/cavernous, but the food is great and the staff are great too.
(5)
Jenny B.
Pros: Service Flavors Creativity Cons: A little pricy with small portions.
(4)
Marie E.
This place was definitely a toss up between a 4 and 5 star rating it was so good! I found this place on yelp as I was looking for a good place for a lunch meet up during the holidays. I highly agree with the 4.5 star rating because it was truly amazing. The decor and atmosphere was adorable! It had 4 distinct areas that I could see, with really rustic and eclectic decorations. There was one large community table that was made out of a very large (what I assume was redwood) log slab. They had the details down to a science, including presenting the receipts in old books. The food was by far the best part! It was simple food done right. They had a menu of sandwiches, soups, salads and dessert for lunch. Each was simple in design but there were some elevated flavor combinations and each piece was prepared perfectly. My friend and I each got a half/half combo and shared. We got a shaved turkey sandwich, prosciutto sandwich, grilled cheese sandwich, and the roasted tomato soup. I could probably write a paragraph about each and still go on about how amazing each was, and I'm getting hungry thinking of them now. The staff were all super attractive, friendly and helpful, although a bit slow to being attentive to our needs. We did have quite the wait for ordering, receiving our food, and receipt. This is the sole reason that i'm giving a 4 start instead of a 5.
(4)
Nora M.
My server was beautiful and civil, but disinterested. The other two servers had personality and seemed a lot more fun. The wait staff worked well together - a sign of good management The decor was wonderful! They put your bill in an old book - what fun! The food should have raised this a star. The mushroom soup was delicious - but luke-warm. The polenta was wonderful, but the protein was dried out. In fact the chorizo was so hard the fork couldn't spear it. A little more attention to details would have made all the difference, but I probably could have made something better in the hotel microwave.
(3)
Melissa S.
I really liked the look and feel of the restaurant. I need to go again to give an honest service review. It was ok this time but unlike other yelpers I know you can't blame a restaurant for one experience and one waiter. The food was great. I loved the food and would be happy to go there again! Everything seemed to be very fresh and tasty!
(4)
Laura B.
The food was good- went for lunch and had one of the sandwiches. Let's just say that the atmosphere was very "Portland. " if you're into that thing, great, if not, it won't interfere with enjoying the food. Bears in bowler hats on the walls, random paintings, and super hipster staff.
(3)
Chris M.
Yuuuuuuummmmmmyyyyyy!!! This was such a great choice for lunch.... The shaved turkey sandwich was sooooo tasty. I combo'd it with their delicious tomato soup and I was in lunch time bliss. Full enough to be happy, but still able to move!!
(5)
matthew m.
This place has great food and a great vibe! Our bartender, Matthew, was very personable.
(5)
Jess P.
This place seems derived from a Portland Fairytale. Steampunk embellishments with an quaint/cutesey/antiquey feel (Our check was brought out in an antique novel of French lyrics), this place definitely has atmosphere. I am so happy a place like this exists downtown. Downtown Portland seems to lack middleground. You've got the super casual foodcarts, and the old stuffy/stodgy businessman restaurants. Picnic House fills the void- a cool, yet respectable spot downtown that serves good food at reasonable prices. The lunch menu deal- combine 2 options for $12- was perfect! Grilled cheese with carmelized onions, and butternut squash soup (with cranberry cream, natch)- oh, bliss. The portion was just right for me, although may be a bit small for those moments of roaring appetite. Our individual waiter was so hipster lovely. With round spectacles and a curly mustache, it was as if he walked straight out of the decor. However, I did have a complaint with the OTHER waiter. A young blonde, dare I say good looking (I'd hate to further feed that ego), man who refused to acknowledge me as I waited at the entryway for roughly 5 minutes. It was such an awkward introduction to an otherwise lovely lunch- I stood in the open space, waiting to be seated, as a waiter walked past me time and time again without as much as a simple hello or glance of acknowledgment. Look, I know it isn't your job. You are a waiter, not a hostess. But to the girl standing awkwardly by herself in a big airy space with absolutely nothing to distract from the uncomfortableness of waiting (no books, no chairs, no cornhole- thought I doubt that'd be appropriate- no way for me to otherwise occupy myself), a little gesture of friendliness would have gone a long way. Instead, I had to question whether I was actually standing in the right place: was there a bell to ring? should I have called beforehand? did I just stumble into a secret club? is it because I don't know the passcode? Yet, even the snooty waiter couldn't knock this place down. I am already planning a date night for cocktails and dinner at this wonderful spot.
(4)
Rebecca C.
Went here for the first time yesterday for a business lunch. It was actually a really interesting building, apparently it used to be the lobby for the Heathman before it moved across the street. I loved the decor and the room, and the food was really good too. Which, frankly, if you're reading a review of a restuarant is probably the most important thing you need to know. Both of us did the soup and sandwich lunch combo, and it was just enough food. Usually I'm served huge portions that are lunch and dinner, but this was a perfect enough amount to have me full but not feeling like my gut was going to explode. The food itself was good, fresh and hot which, as it turns out, is harder to get from a restaurant than you would think. The grilled cheese with carmelized onions was really good, had that bite of cheddar that let you know it was there which was delicious. It paired perfectly with the hot tomato soup and frankly on such a cold, rainy day it hit the exact right note. I'm definitely putting this place on the regular lunch rotation.
(4)
Michael C.
Very good dinner! The menu was small but interesting, the food was tasty, the prices were reasonable. the ambiance was fine, and the service was excellent. All four of us were very happy with our meals, and the s'mores dessert was quite unique and delicious. We'll be back!
(5)
Tiffany B.
Sunday lunch spots are really a hit n miss around Portland! It's too late for brunch, and too early for dinner....luckily Yelp directed us to this new little spot! Reading all the other reviews prompted us to stop in and give them a shot. We were so glad we did, and you should too!! The interior, as many others have said, is amazing! When you enter thru the glass door, you just stop in your shoes and take it all in! The waiter was very nice and gave us a little history lesson on the old place. This was the old Heathman hotel lobby back in the 40's. The original tiled floors are still there and look great! The old mill work is beautiful, in the back, the ceiling lifts to major heights and this pretty patina metal ceiling is exposed with surrounding wood beams. Seriously- we sat and looked up and down thru our whole lunch! Our waiter showed us some pictures of the place when they bought it, the former was a jewelry store with low ceilings that covered all this gorgeous history. He said they had no idea when they tore down the plaster, all this wood was there! What a great find! The place is decorated nice, really gives you the park feeling with outdoor benches and this huge, and I mean HUGE, wood table and benches! They have only been open 6 months, and are planning on brunch service soon. This place would do great serving a weekend brunch, IMO. They lunch menu has soup, sandwiches and salads. You can pick any 2 or 3 to make a meal out of. The spiced pumpkin soup was so good on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Went perfectly with my Spanish Coffee! Yes, they have a full bar! The prosciutto with fig butter and arugala hit the spot too! Portions were prefect, not too heavy and we left feeling just right! A great little gem this place is, I hope they do well and stick around for a long time!
(4)
Maegan S.
I have eaten here twice over the past few months, once with a small party of 4 and once with a large party of more than 20. The menu is delightfully small, with a broad scope for different tastes. The stuffed portobello is cooked to perfection, with a spicy polenta-esue topping (the chaotic application of arugula to the top is confusing though). Tenderloin tip appetizers are at the top of my list for sharing, but order several if you have a group. The roasted cauliflower needs work on presentation. Dark chocolate pudding for dessert with homemade marshmallows is like an adult s'more. To die for. The grilled pound cake is a bit of a miss. I give 4 stars because on my last visit the waitress did not bring my dinner out until everyone else was finished with their meals (~30 minute lag). Not a big deal, but no reparations or apologies were made. A free cocktail while I was waiting would have been nice.
(4)
Devrey H.
After watching a play at the Brunish Theatre we stumbled across The Picnic House. I ordered the pork chop with bread pudding and found it to be excellent. The pork chop was seasoned well and juicy, but the star of the plate was the apple, cheddar, and caramelized onion bread pudding. The combined flavors were delicious and the perfect accompaniment to the pork chop. For dessert I ordered the Chèvre Cheesecake, which was to die for. Brilliant meal in a great atmosphere with stellar service. I will definitely return.
(5)
Tony D.
Good food and service. This place is more of a lunch spot, but we walked over here for dinner since it was near our hotel. The place was pretty quiet, but we gave it a shot anyway. The small menu was pretty good and simple. Just soup and sandwiches, plus small starters. It was cheap, easy and hit the spot. It was definitely nothing fancy, but we liked the old building.
(4)
Haley S.
My boyfriend and I are new to Portland and have been trying out new places. Picnic house was average at best. The service was slow and a bit awkward. We couldn't figure out the decor. My boyfriend is a vegetarian and got the portobello mushroom dish. He couldn't eat it because the flavor was so horrid. We won't be coming back.
(2)
Frisky M.
Whimsical space. Open through the day. A tasty cocktail list. A fun yet knowledgeable waitress named Emily. Good food. What more could of you asked for in the middle of the day. Awesome place!
(5)
Crystal H.
There is a TON of comfort food in Portland -- which is awesome, but left me craving something with a more delicate sensibility. This place nailed it. Very similar to our gastro pub back home, The Ravenous Pig. The menu changes every couple of weeks but we got the pulled pork shoulder sandwich and the roasted lemon chicken. The chicken was great, simple and rustic but the pork shoulder sandwich was like OMG holy wow deliciousness! Highly recommend. I will be dreaming about that sandwich in Florida! Service was good, and the ambience is awesome. It's in an old hotel lobby and the decor on the walls and staircase are old printing press plates giving it a bit of color and funkiness. The rest of the decor is reminiscent of decades past. Didn't try any of the cocktails, but they apparently make the mixing soda recipes from scratch!! Sounds awesome. We had the grilled pound cake for desert and every bite was delicate and delicious. Try it!!!! Any foodie will love it.
(5)
Tonya S.
Went here Friday while down in Portland for a girls weekend. We were seated right away, our waitress was excited and friendly (not in an annoying way). We got one of the specials: compressed watermelon salad with a goat cheese stuffed squash blossom. From the menu, an order of rice balls, the fried chicken, and the mushroom lasagna. We each ordered a drink. Our bill was under $100, not bad!! The food was fun and flavorful. I LOVED the lasagna, I cannot stress how yummy it was!!! If you have a thing for sharp cheese and truffles, you have to have it! The chicken had a delightful crispy crust, the chicken must have soaked in a sweet/sugary marinate. The sweetness was a bit much but interesting. The chicken was in the bone, moist and flavorful. I got the drink with blueberries in it. Sweet and tart but not too much of either. My glass came with a crack, the wait-staff was extremely apologetic and took the drink off the bill. We were too full for dessert but they looked great! Definitely on my 'places to go in PDX' list!
(5)
Jeannie O.
Cute decor, friendly staff, and good food. Good salad, good soup, however, the turkey sandwich was crying out for a condiment - too dry. The saving grace and not to be missed was the awesome chocolate cheesecake. Exploding with favor, a delight for your taste buds.
(4)
Susan C.
Perfect end to our Portland Walking tour. Lunch for seven at what was the old Heathman Hotel, now at least for three years The Picnic House. Greeted and seated thanks to reservations via Open Table. Easy, peasy. The majority of the group ordered the mushroom soup and a salad combo, even though the temp outside was reaching 95 degrees. I had the tomato salad, a bit skimpy but delicious. Others had the. Chop salad, Asian salad and then sandwiches with soup. Wonderful. Many in the group had attended functions here for private events and some others frequently lunch here. We will be back.
A tad pricey for the quality of food, especially given the competition in Portland. We had a bunch of things, none of which really jumped off the plate. I went for dinner, which may have been why. Might be worth coming in for some sandwiches/burgers at a more reasonable price at lunch. Although one thing they have going for it is a stuffed bear head wearing a bowler hat.
(3)
Angela M.
I walked in and thought "oh no, this place is upscale-ish". Which can be fine, but not when I am not eating dairy or wheat. Or am starving. In fact, forget the wheat. Almost everything had dairy in it. And I suppose I could have requested no dairy, but I don't really see the point is spending $25+ on an entree if I'm going to remove the most delicious part of it. I suspect I also enjoy lower class plating. I would have preferred a bed of mashed potatoes instead of a sprinkling of roasted baby potatoes. I like to feel as though I will not run out of any ingredient on my plate. You know, a puddle of sauce instead of a drizzle. Or a gravy boat is even better. The pork terrine I ordered was decent. Neither notable or outstanding, I finished half of it before I ran out of potatoes, brussels, mustard mousse, and red pepper puree. Perhaps I was supposed to be forking gigantic mouthfuls of pork terrine into my maw and taking teeny little dabs and nibbles of everything else, but I feel like then the whole meal would have just tasted like pork grease. I think we are just not meant to be. I've also not experienced a place where you have to pay for your bread then pay for butter. But maybe that's a Portland thing. Or a fine dining Portland thing. Or a Picnic House thing. I will mention that the grilled cheese looked good, and if it wasn't made of everything I don't eat I would have ordered it.
(2)
Jana C.
I experience an amazing meal here the night after going to Imperial for PDX Dining month. What a complete polar opposite experience.... so good the service, so good the menu offering that I chose the entire beer pairing to go with the meal, afraid whether I would make it out the door vertically or horizontally. Good thing the Hilton is but a block away. Amazing courses with wonderful textures and flavor. Loved my salad soup starter. Perfect with every bite, paired with an amber ale. The lamb shank with the veg components.... excellent composition, well balanced. Too bad there was not more meat off that bone. I wanted to gnaw it like Fred Flinstone. Sauce, kale, and root veg mousse.. yum!!! so was the Deschutes Obsidian Stout. Dessert was perfect as well. Rosehips from Portland brewing was my fave beer of the evening. I ate in the partitioned section near the dark, historic bar area. So cool, so deliciously decorated, so much character, so Portland. Loved the experience!!!
(4)
Namtran V.
I came here for lunch and the decor is beautiful with a really hip vibe. I waited about 30 mins for a table for 6, but I could see a place like this filling up really quick during lunch. Their menu is easy with a few choices for soups, sandwiches, and salads. I opted for a half sandwich, half salad, and a side of chips. It was a perfect lunch serving. This place is kind of like a classy Panera. I'll definitely be coming back when I'm in the area!
(4)
Ami T.
We checked this place out for Friday lunch and it was definitely busy! It is a cute hip place in SW Portland. The decor is a bit odd. The front part of the place is super cute and looks picnicy. I loved the wooden tree coat rack and the pretty lights in the front. The large communal wooden picnic bench is amazing. As you go further in, the decor looks more antique-y and doesn't match the front. I guess this may be a nod to the fact that the building used to be an old hotel in the 20s. The service was like all service in Portland--slightly slower but polite. The food was exciting and fun. It was a simple menu but everything looked great. I also thought there were a good amount of veggie options. All three soups were vegetarian (no chicken broth). We each got the half-half and soup. I got the grilled cheese which was pretty basic. The brown rice and root veggies salad was delicious and the mushroom soup was the best mushroom soup I have had. The other arugula and tomato sandwich was delicious and the tomato soup is great as well. I wasn't a huge fan of the carrot soup because it tasted more juice-y and thin instead of savory and soupy. The prices were on point for an upscale lunch place. Loved that they bring the check in a book!
(5)
Jonathan R.
I just flew in to Portland on business and had heard about this place. Absolutely outstanding food and the service was exceptional. I look forward to going again. Wish we had this place in Salt Lake City.
(5)
Matt E.
Maybe I'm biased. Picnic House is the first sit-down restaurant my husband and I ate at on our trip to find apartments in Portland, and we were still riding high on a celebratory wave. But I don't think it was simply a rush of endorphins that made me crush on Picnic House, but rather their consistently great service, beautiful interior and of course the delicious food. I'm definitely a fan. Since that initial dinner, I've been to Picnic House a number of times for lunch and all meals have been top notch. Off the (current) dinner menu I've tried the pistachio crusted salmon and the lamb chops. The salmon was prepared perfectly and the pop of the pomegranate made for not only a beautiful dish but also a immensely satisfying one. When it first came out I thought the portion might be a bit small, but it ended up being just right. The lamb? Well, it was good but I didn't closely enough consider the menu when ordering. It's basically DIY gyros, which isn't my cup of tea. The meat was prepared well, but I definitely suffered from envy of my date's meal. As for their sides, the roasted cauliflower and the fried brussels sprouts are both ridiculously good, and I didn't want to share. Some day I'd like to make a meal of just their sides. For lunch the offerings are much more geared towards quick soups, salads and sandwiches, which makes sense as their location is pretty central to downtown worker bees. My favorite sandwich featured charred tomato, caramelized onions, fresh cheeses (goat, feta, cream, ricotta), arugula, basil pesto. Ridiculously good, and if they happen to have a tomato soup on the menu, would pair perfectly. Their mixed greens salad with pickled blueberries is great as well, and I added roasted chicken to make it feel more like a full meal. What can I say? I eat big. My last experience at Picnic House was a bit of a production. I had to put together a dinner for 23 people, with a fairly tight budget. I immediately thought of Picnic House and led by the special events coordinator Ari, their team were fantastic from initial contact to the dinner itself. They assisted in organizing family-style appetizers and deserts, which made service easier and kept costs down. We also selected a small number of entrees to keep ordering simple and not overwhelm the kitchen. Food took a touch longer than I had hoped, but not enough to really worry about. Everybody worked together well, and nobody was left wanting for food or drink. I'd venture to say that everybody fully enjoyed the meal. I don't have the opportunity to return to restaurants all that often, but knowing that it's such a reliable standby, I see myself at Picnic House again soon.
(5)
Jaime C.
this was our last night in Portland and wanted a nice dinner to cap off our vacation. We were not disappointed, the dishes are spectacular as well as the wait staff friendly outgoing and attentive. Try the truffle mushroom lasagna, perfect portion for such a rich dish. The caeser romaine wedge was a big hit as the dressing is truly home made and served with a nice poached egg and cracked pepper.
(5)
Dionne S.
Food was amazing! Drinks well crafted and service top notch. No complaints from this happy girl.
(5)
Nora D.
Wonderful interior design/decor. Really helpful and nice waitress. Wonderfully tasty food. The fried chicken was really good with a combination of sweet and savory. We also had the cheese board. I really like the brie with caramelized sugar on time (like a creme brule crust). I also liked the croquets.
(4)
Briana S.
Same beautiful space, but it just isn't the same. I was a Picnic House regular when I was working in Portland in 2013. Flash forward two years and my friends and I decided to come here before RNR Portland. We were seated quickly, and a friendly waiter was helping us. I tried to order the lasagna, which he had recommended, but he came back and told me another table got the last slice. It was only 7:30 and they were already out?! :( I had the famous grilled cheese, which was still delicious, but not really what I wanted. But I knew I needed some starch and not just a salad (even though their entree salads are great from what I remember). My friends each got the meatloaf, but found the two sides were not warm AT ALL. The owner came over and offered to replace the sides (which she did), but it's surprising that they were able to come out of the kitchen and not be at an appropriate temperature. Really hoping this was just an off night... I used to love this place!
(3)
Ivy C.
This is such a cute place with good service and very high quality, locally sourced ingredients. Their burger is so thick and juicy, and all sandwiches arrive hot and toasty with the freshest bread I've ever come across in any sandwich shop. I highly recommend doing a combination of 3 items for $15, which includes any 3 items in the lunch menu. It says half a salad and half a sandwich, but the sandwich is a decent size. Their desserts are very delicious too! The menu rotates so don't be afraid to ask the waiter what the most popular item is at the moment.
(4)
Tristan R.
The environment was nice and friendly enough. Unique and interesting vibe. Great area. The food was good -- they incorporated novel ingredients to traditional dishes, which was interesting, and they used (to the extent possible) local and organic produce. Menu, however, was a bit too limited and the dishes a little too interesting for my crude tastes (they added an edible flower to the meatloaf). I do like how they focus on doing a few things very very well, but those few things didn't happen to overlap with dishes and/or ingredients that I like and prefer (and I like a lot of things too). I would still try this place again - it appears the menu changes so there's no reason to believe there won't be something that will be appealing to me at some point. Give it a shot.
(3)
Josh S.
Best meal I've had in a long time. Amazing brussel sprouts!! Melt in your mouth fried chicken. Great wine. Awesome service. Thank you for making it a wonderful night!
(5)
Chris P.
Great sandwiches - particularly the grilled cheese. The atmosphere was great - set in a old hotel which gave it a particularly refined elegance. The waitstaff was particularly friendly and helpful. Definitely a lunch go-to lunch spot.
(5)
Stefani D.
The food is really impressive but the decore and everything else lacks First impression walking in neat and kinda trendy but the way this is set up feels like 2 different places when you hear picnic you think wood grass checked clothes but then you walk in the back of the restaurant is doesn't make sense. Plus the service is very slow and also the sliver ware is all mismatched especially when you sell $12 salads But the food is very outstanding I mean very outstanding great balance and great selections I would go back but would sit elsewhere
(4)
Katy H.
What an absolutely fantastic experience I had here the other night. I was in Portland participating in a big work trip with nearly 2 dozen people. It's not easy to find a place to eat with a group that size but The Picnic House delivered! Well, no... I mean they made it happen. They didn't literally deliver, they have a huge communal table fit for kings in the front room of the restaurant. Just beyond it there are 4 tops and 2 tops for smaller, more intimate dinners. The service for our group was impeccable. Lots of refilling of water glasses, lots of checking in to see if we needed more of anything, and lots of pouring of wine. Totally outstanding considering they had other tables to take care of at the same time our massive group was there demanding a lot of attention of the wait staff and kitchen. The food was superb and the dessert was gone within minutes. I had the pork terrine and it was delicious. I also sneaked a few bites of the salmon and it was great as well. This is definitely a great spot for dates and catching up with friends over a lovely meal. Prices aren't unapproachable but the quality of the food makes it almost feel that way.
(5)
Jessica K.
Came here for a birthday, the menu didn't have many options and everything was a little too unique for me. I thought I played it safe by going with grilled cheese but even that had some stinky cheese in it and I could barely eat it. Also the coffee tasted really burnt and just not good. Would not try this place again.
(3)
Chelsea M.
Wohoo! As good as it gets! This place, for me, screams Portland. Fresh, local ingredients, awesome atmosphere and eclectic decor. So here's the rundown of my experience there on a Saturday night: 1. Reservations: made them through Yelp, seated on time. Would definitely suggest reservations because I was not seeing many people seated without them. 2. Drinks: What a great menu! I had a raspberry and rosemary concoction that was so unique, well balanced, and delicious. I would definitely recommend their cocktail list. My husband's Long Island was more of a rum and coke, so I would stick to their menu. 3. Cheese board: This is how a cheese board should be done! Generous helping of cheese and a medium-sized baguette. Easily shared between two people and probably could stretch it to four people. Delicious! Five stars! I love cheese! 4. Food: My husband loved his risotto even though it had mushrooms. It was well cooked and appropriately creamy. My lamb chops were phenomenal. The tzatziki and the other sauce with the pine nuts and arugula, yum! This was truly a well thought out plate with layers of deliciousness. The only down score here was that one of my three chops was under cooked, like still seeing a little pink before you cut into it. Unfortunately, it was the last one I cut into so not much to be done but the waitress did apologize and say she would let the chefs know. 5. Price: Pretty spot on for Portland. We walked out of there with a $74 tab - 2 entrees, 2 drinks, and a cheese board (did I mention I loved the cheese?). 6. Time: We were in and out of there, not rushing, in 45 minutes. This was great! I wonder if it comes from being across from the Schnitzer and people rushing to get to their show. So, if you are looking for a meal that will not drag on, this would be a great place! Other notes: Back seating section was darker/more intimate, we were seated in the front next to the windows and it had a more exposed feel, I would ask for a back room table next time. Moderate noise level, not horrible, but not quiet. Portions are appropriately sized her, nothing too big, but enough to make you feel like you are getting your money's worth.
(5)
Nick M.
Well, we came here for dinner before the theatre, and, overall, it was great. The food was really good, the staff friendly, the decor really interesting. I think we must just have been there on a off-night in terms of service though, because while the staff were really friendly and helpful, they didn't really have the basics down. The beer pairings never arrived with the food, and twice we had to remind them to bring them at all, and drinks orders had to be followed up on. It's not a big deal, but at this price point the small stuff should be screwed-down pretty tight. I'll definitely be back, because the food was great, and I'm willing to believe we just picked the wrong night.
(4)
Kendra D.
My husband and I ate dinner here last night. Reservations - no problem and we were seated five mins after arrival. Hostess - polite and got us our drinks quickly. Waiter - took our food order, brought us our bill. Nothing in between. Did not ask us how our food was, did not ask if we wanted a second drink, did not check on us at all! In fact, he seemed like he had a chip on his shoulder! ???? Weird. Food - Salmon was meh. Nothing special and tasted fishy. (Higgins salmon much better.) Salmon was not worth the $$. Lamb chops, however, were good. Nicely presented and well cooked. No problems there and worth the $$. No bread, butter or extras provided as you sip your drink and wait for your food. Not a problem for me, but surprising. Mixed Drink - Sharab was tasty. Very tart, but I liked it. The restaurant would probably be worth another try food and cocktail-wise, because their website pics look amazing. But I'm not sure I'd give them a second chance because of how we were treated by the server. Again - very odd treatment. Luckily, here in Portland there are lots and lots of other fantastic restaurants to choose from with better treatment by servers.
(2)
Case W.
My friends & I were going to a show at the Schnitz and decided to have dinner here before because it was close and convenient. It was the same night as the Rose Festival Starlight Parade however we manage to find parking and away from the parade crowd. When we arrived we wanted to sit in the main dining area but was told it was reserved for a private function and they seated us in front entrance area which remind me of a deli or lunch cafe where you ordered your food first and they will call your name when it's ready. No feel of a hipster restaurant whatsoever It was hard to figure out who our server was as several people approached up and never introduce themselves and said they were going to be our server for the meal. One of them put a huge carafe of water and not bother to pour it in our glasses. After mulling over the menu we started out with the chicken liver mousse and the cauliflower dish. The mousse was good but we had to ask 2 different servers to provide us an extra loaf of bread which they took their own sweet time to get it to us. The cauliflower was okay but nothing to write home about. I ordered the Fried chicken which had no flavor and the crust was like biting into chalk with discouraging. My friends had the salmon over the risotto which was better but again no flavor. When we were finished, I left very disappointed and felt I spent a lot of money for a less than mediocre meal.
(1)
Valerie J.
Had a lovely dinner here, thanks to a recommendation from my out-of-town friend. I also happen to take a different out-of-town friend with me. Both had high praise for how "Portland" they found it to be. Which pretty much sums it up. It was very good, and a great place to take tourists who are looking for an organic, slightly quirky, non-chain dining experience downtown. Watch as they thrall over the pine entryway and 1930's French cabaret soundtrack!
(4)
Gabe P.
Pretty fancy and nice, well thought and well managed. The service here is impeccable, Patrick I believe was our guy, but the others we talked to were perfectly helpful and knowledgeable. The small tables are close together and you get to share your impressions with your neighbors, that adds a social factor to the experience. The food is great, had the Roasted Salmon (that comes topped with pomegranate seeds, yeap!) and Potato gnocchi, both delicious! There are many other appetizing options but you can only eat that much in 3 rounds of dinner in one night!
(5)
Mike D.
Visiting from the east coast and popped in here for a late lunch. Certainly did not disappoint. Very cool ambiance. Wait staff was extremely attentive. And the chicken sandwich and mushroom soup among the best I've had. Very unique flare on what could otherwise be common sandwiches. They even bring the checks over in an actual book which I thought was neat. Definitely check it out for lunch if you're in the area.
(5)
Ken L.
The roast beef sandwich combo: Roast beef sandwich with the perfect proportions of thinly sliced roast beef, caramelized onions, a touch of horseradish mayo aioli, cheddar, and arugula packaged in-between two slices of light crunchy bread*. Accompanying this beauty: the spring vegetable soup, and as a reminder I am not a big fan of soup, had me begging for more with its richness and smooth flavor. After all is said and done, this lunch meal combo gave me just enough to fill my belly but yet at a 100% satisfaction level. Price at $12 is higher than what I would have liked thus the one star deduct. ___________ *My pic shows half a sandwich (the smaller half) I shared. Menu online: media.wix.com/ugd/7034c9…
(4)
Chris O.
Overall things were pretty good here. The menu isn't too big which is good and it's somewhat seasonal so you'll get new choices every time. I had a few things, one was the shaved kale salad added duck legs which was a very tasty salad although I'd recommend to add the chicken breast instead as the duck was expensive and had hardly any meat. I also shared a cheese plate which was good but a little heavy on the strong blue cheese, and I like blue cheese. They had a good selection of wines and beer, although I'd like to see more ciders as somehow I think it would go with the farm to table style food well. The service was good. Service was good and the atmosphere was pleasant. A great place to eat before or after the symphony which is right next door.
(4)
Anne K.
Fantastic food, warm service, great atmosphere, fun people - the Picnic House had it all when we went there last night for our 15th wedding anniversary. My husband had lamb chops and I had the salmon with a scrumptious asparagus risotto. We shared the roasted cauliflower appetizer with caramelized onions, chickpeas, and currants. It was all cooked to perfection, with portion sizes that were generous without being overwhelming. What a treat! We had a special welcome from general manager Amy, who is clearly doing a terrific job in this place that blends history with modern twists, and classic comfort food with contemporary tastes. The place was upscale and hip without being stuffy or pretentious. We loved it all. After dinner we enjoyed a nightcap at their new bar addition, Barlow, and were thoroughly entertained by the bartender who grows his own rosemary and other elixir flavorings - plus, it was a real show to see him use bubbly liquid nitrogen to chill the glasses. Wonderful evening, all the way around. Thanks, Picnic House crew, for making our wedding anniversary so special! We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Naomi L.
This place was pretty delicious! We came about an hour to closing on a Saturday night, luckily found nearby free meter parking, and walked right in. It was late, so there were plenty of open tables. Instead of seating us near the front to make the place look busy, the host/server took us to the back area. I'm so glad he did since we were able to see more of the decorations! Inside was like a nice garden party that made a baby with a hipster who was really into Alice in Wonderland. I guess that's a lot of the esthetic in Oregon, but I absolutely loved it after being so many more rustically decorated placed in NOLA. Food-wise, I enjoyed my sirloin culotte and had enough for the next day. My friend liked her pan fried chicken breast (also huge and enough for a 2nd meal). We agreed it was delicious, but not totally knock your socks off. I would totally bring visitors here to eat again if I went to visit again.
(4)
Ronald A.
I have been here for lunch and dinner. It is always good. It has a good menu that is not too big. I had the lamb that was grilled. It is served with Grilled vegetables, including an olive. The salmon was encrusted with pistachios. Each dish was very good. Pork chops, irk terrine and a grilled cheese sandwich. Everything was wonderful. The wine lust has some very good choices with very fair prices. There are some expensive wines. There are some less expensive. Great meal. Come try it.
(4)
Vi B.
I had a pretty okay experience here. Location: Right off Broadway. Parking can be hard to find. Walking in, I saw that the restaurant was mostly empty (possibly because it was a weeknight?). I didn't have anyone greet me, but I eventually found my friends in the back of the restaurant. The service from the waiter was great and the food was tasty, but I'm not sure if the full experience was worth the price.
(3)
Janet H.
Picnic House was SO good that even though we weren't hungry at all, we finished EVERYTHING. Yeah, Clean Plate Club! We actually had pretty low expectations for this place, considering we had a pre-dinner at 5pm and became voracious fatties and decided to make reservations here for 8:45 pm. We strolled in, to discover how cutely decorated this restaurant is, how funny and witty our server is, and how amazing the food was! It was the best decision EVER to eat dinner number two here. This honestly was probably my favorite meal in Portland. First off, our server was absolutely hilarious and sarcastic -- I love it! He made dinner so entertaining :) He also gave great suggestions and checked on us constantly. As weird as it sounds, I secretly wished he could be my friend in real life... Now, onto the food... for the appetizers, I recommend the Moroccan cauliflower and the duck fat potatoes! The Cauliflower was so flavorful, with a great assortment of spices sprinkled on it! And, the duck fat potatoes... mmm... who doesn't love potatoes doused in fat? Hey, and don't feel bad. They did a study in France and noticed those who ate more duck fat were less likely to have cancer... And the main dish... get the pork chop. It was so divine! It was a bit on the dry side, but loved the flavors and the mixture of sweetness on it. Finally, the dessert. You must get the pavlova! It's a definitely a picture-worthy moment upon arrival, so get your camera ready. It's this ginormous dessert with whipped cream and berries that can feed 4 people. It's also reasonably priced. The last time I had it was in San Francisco for the same price and a size of my palm. I loved how they added their own twist with Granny Smith Apples to add a sour tang to the treat. Picnic House, I'm so glad we ate here. Be prepared, as I'll come back in a couple years.
(5)
Sarah B.
The Picnic House is the perfect place for a flip-flopper like me. When presented with a menu, it's like my mind instantly goes blank. I want one of everything! As soon as I decide on something, something else catches my eye. What if that thing is better? What if I regret my decision? What if I order incorrectly and everyone hates me? Worse, what if I hate my food, and therefore myself? WHAT IF MY LUNCH ORDER BRINGS ABOUT THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE?! Such heady decisions are obviously hard on little old me. So The Picnic House's approach to lunch decisioning - letting me choose a little from Column A, B, and/or C (a smidge of sammich, a smidge of soup, AND a smidge of salad?! YES PLEASE) is the ultimate in responsibility absolution. When I dine here, I can rest assured in the knowledge that if the zombie apocalypse begins, it won't have been because I made the wrong lunch choice. On my last visit, I chose the wild mushroom soup, an uber-tasty portobello sammy, and a crazy-yummy butter lettuce salad. Naturally, since it was lunchtime (WHAT? Sometimes my workday ends at lunch, OK?) I also ordered a Rose City cocktail, which was diviiine. 'Twas a little like an aviation without the creme de violette, and such a perfect light, summery accompaniment to my fall-themed lunch. The service was GREAT, AND they take reservations, so I'm really pleased with this place. I don't have time to sit around waiting for a table at lunch time (or anytime, really, but especially not lunchtime), so reservations are key. The decor and ambiance is swell to boot - with quirky art, wood beamed high ceilings, and mirrors galore. I'm not downtown very often, but when I am I'll make sure to seek this place out.
(4)
Vanessa S.
During my stay in Portland and before going up to Seattle, I think I tried coming here twice. The first time, it was closed. The second time, they were closed for a private event. After taking the bus back down to Portland from Seattle, I saw that the bus stop was pretty much a block away from The Picnic House and they were open. It was in the afternoon when we arrived. We waited a little bit to get a table even though the place wasn't that busy. We finally got seated by the window and ordered from the happy hour menu (my visit here was last year and I don't think they have happy hour here any more). My mom and I ordered the tomato soup and half grilled cheese. It was very good and nice to have after being on a bus. It was a very small portion, but helped to hold us over. A nice little spot. I'll come back here the next time I'm in Portland with an updated review.
(4)
Sirayuki H.
When I pass in front of this restaurant I look in the window but haven't been inside. Today finally I went there and it was great! Inside was huge, bigger than I thought. And very cute! I and my friend got a lunch combination which is we can choose two of Soup, Salad and Sandwich from lunch menu. I ordered a salad with brown rice and a sandwich with shred prosciutto. Yum. I love this salad! I should have remembered this salad's full name! Anyways, that amount was perfect! I enjoy it! I should bring my husband next time! He will love there for sure!
(5)
Ryan F.
Had a couple friends suggest Picnic House for dinner. Decided to give it a try for a lunch meeting and was very pleased. Good lunch selection, especially with the mix and match of soups, sandwiches and salads. Turkey sandwich was delicious, soup was great and so was my salad. Good cocktail selection and my friend said his burger was amazing. Had a peek at the dinner menu and will be back to try next time I'm in town.
Service: 4 stars Ambiance: 4 stars Food: 2 stars I really like what they're trying to do. Unfortunately they don't actually get there The service was very good - not "cheesy hi-my-name-is-Howz-that-tasting", which is a plus. Human scale, honest, not at all pretentious (a miracle for this city!). The wine list is fine, and has a very serviceable Nebbiolo. But the food... Oh, the food... It's... Dull. Like, anyone with a Williams-Sonoma cookbook does this dull. Maybe things just Portland? What do I know? I'll just have some more wine and be fine with it.
(3)
Katie M.
We came here for dinner before a show at the Schnitzer. We had a reservation, and our table was ready right away. The menu looked great. It was a Tuesday at 6 p.m. Unfortunately we never got to taste any of the food, since over an hour after we sat down, we had only received drinks (not even the bread we ordered!) and had to cancel our order and leave in order to be able to go somewhere to eat something, anything, before the show. I felt terrible for our waitress; clearly they were understaffed or something since we did not see her until at least 30 minutes after we were seated. The kitchen was incredibly slow. We ordered all our food at once, asked for it all to be brought out in any order, and got our check when we ordered, but they still couldn't manage to get one morsel of food on the table for an entire hour. And they didn't even comp our drinks! On the upside, the staff was very apologetic when refunding us (and the several other parties who came to the bar with the exact same issue at the same time as us), and all the food we saw around us looked like it would have been great. And the Jalapeño McChicken that I stuffed into my starving mouth before running to the Schnitz was delicious.
(1)
Isocephaly B.
Arrived at around 2 pm Friday and just missed the lunch rush; the staff was clearly trying to recover, so everything was a bit slow, but had delightful, leisurely meal of soup and sandwiches, paired with fun cocktails and excellent wine--all for completely reasonable downtown price. Staff and ambiance were entirely charming; from the chalk-board in the entryway to the lamp-post in the dining room, the management brings a sense of fun and whimsy to its meals. The quality of the ingredients was clearly very high, so although the lunch menu basically comprises soup and sandwiches, the meal was entirely satisfying. Would gladly eat there again.
(5)
Pip A.
Delicious - great for a light meal or a heavier one. Very accommodating wait staff. Had the grilled cheese and the tomato soup pairing and it was amazing. My friend had the burger and said it was the best he had ever had. The apricot cider is delicious as well. Highly recommend here. Vibe and decor is adorable too!
(5)
steven s.
Drinks were not so good, but our food was. The chicken was great. Our server screwed up our order tho so we ended up eating one of our appetizers (we just thought he forgot) after our entres. That's fine, it happens to everybody but he should have appologized for making the mistake, instead he kind of insinuated that we had misled him by saying we'd like the risotto. Besides how weird that interaction was we still had a great time an enjoyed our food.
(3)
Shirley K.
The food is Soooooooooooooo yummy here!! Came here for lunch and did the half sandwich and half salad combo for $12. It is $15 if you choose a half sandwich, half salad and cup of soup. The portion is big enough to share but you may need to also order a dessert - which is what we did! We had the pavlova with whipped cream and fresh berries for dessert. It was so much fun to eat that towering and patriotic dessert on the 4th of July (see pic)! The service was super friendly and helpful. Love this place!!
(5)
Jessica H.
I've been here 3 times. The first time was soooo amazing! I had a delicious piece of salmon served on a cedar plank and it was so good I declared picnic house my new favorite restaurant. Unfortunately, my second experience was not so great. The service was slow, our waiter mixed up or omitted our order on two different items, and to top it off, the food didn't have the same "wow factor" it had the first time. I wasn't ready to give up. I tried picnic house for a third time... It was similar to my second experience. The waiter forgot parts of the order, the food was good, but "good" doesn't cut it when you live in a city that has so many wonderful food options. Honestly, the food probably deserves 3-4 stars, but the totality of my experiences have been disappointing. And for that, picnic house only gets 2 stars.
(2)
Ophelia Y.
I feel like the Picnic House is one of Portland's best kept secrets. I've been here twice, and it's been really chill. The place has a rustic feel, with high ceilings, and is vintage and beautiful. The lunch menu features a solid collection of soups, salads, and sandwiches, and you can get and combinations of them that you'd like. It's very affordable for the quality and freshness of the food, and just tastes absolutely divine! I got the roast beef sandwich and a cup of soup. Perfect meal for a rainy Friday in Portland! I've gotten a really good salad from here and a ridiculously awesome berry dessert as well. A very solid Portland spot. Looks Portland. Feels Portland. Tastes Portland.
(5)
Kim P.
Unbelievably good drinks and lunch. The beet and arugula salad was beautiful and delicious. Great atmosphere...will definitely return...
(5)
Doug K.
Had to dine solo after my party cancelled. A quick seat at the bar at the height of the lunch rush and I had a great salad of Kale with roasted chicken with a fried over easy egg on top and all was good in the world. The slices of chicken were moist, the kale clean-other places I get dirt and grit but not here! and the addition of the over easy egg-I always order one when ever possible, was great! Service was fast and attentive and the bill didn't make my jaw drop. Great quality ingredients, excellent service and reasonable prices what more can one ask for??!!
(4)
Tamara H.
Phenomenal food. I had the Pork Terrine. It was cooked perfectly and served with the most beautiful mustard sauce, mustard greens and potato gratin. My boyfriend had the Cold Smoked Duck. Amazing! The service was impeccable. The ambiance is cozy but airy. We have found a new gem in Portland and cannot wait to return to work our way down the menu!
(5)
Forrest P.
Very good service, great food, interesting atmosphere. I was accidentally given the wrong entree (ordered daily special salmon, was given the menu version), once the error was noticed the staff quickly brought out the correct food, so I ended up with both-- definitely the right way to resolve the issue. Food was very good, and the staff even complimented my bow tie.
(5)
Gabe J.
AWESOME - AWESOME! I read some of the stellar reviews as well as not so stellar, if you can find one, someone mentioned it was like the cheese cake factory and I was a bit put off but there were too many great review to ignore. I went for lunch while traveling and was seated right away by the friendly host, actually she asked if I wanted to sit at the bar as there wasn't any wait, otherwise it might be 5 minutes, I went over to the bar area and only 1 other person was there so we had plenty of space and room. The server/bar tender with a batman tie, he was awesome and said everything was great but had some favorites, I ordered the mushroom soup and the salad with the brown rice, which probably sounded the least appetizing but thought to try something different. LOVED, LOVED all of it, the mushroom soup was creamy and fresh tasting with just the right amount of seasoning. The salad I absolutely loved and want to make at home for my family, had lots of shredded and diced veggies with the brown rice and not too much dressing....the whole thing was super great, I was full but had wanted to try at least one of their desserts, at least a bit, so I ordered the pound cake with strawberries and my one bit turned into two, ok, maybe three, it was worth it. YUMMERS, can't wait to bring clients here, I'm sure it's already one of their faves. By the way whoever said it's like the cheesecake factory, I want to go to yours because mine is nothing like this place, the ambiance or the food. Don't know whacha talkin' bout Willis...
(5)
Jillian R.
Very cool experience. I loved the steampunk ambiance (I do wish the bathrooms carried the theme over, but I'm just a weirdo who likes themed bathrooms). I loved the way that check was presented (spoiler alert: an old book). The food was also excellent; we had the cheeseplate, the pork chops, the grilled cheese and the chicken breast. For dessert, we had the grilled pound cake and the smores pudding. I loved the cheeseplate! There were four different types (2 hard, 2 soft) served with a loaf of bread. Make sure that they give you an extra loaf or else you will run out of bread. My main course was the chicken breast. I have to say, I am normally a beef eater and don't love chicken. This dish blew me away. So flavorful...the lemon and thyme were superb. For dessert I had the pound cake. Only criticism was that it had way too much whipped cream on it, but otherwise the dish was delicious. I loved the subtle (not too sweet!) flavors and the spring of mint on top was a perfect way to end the meal. Great experience, great food! Highly recommend.
(4)
Irene S.
Came here for my birthday. The food was really good and the mood was very classy! Me and a group of friends ordered 4/dishes and shared it. For me personally I think it was on the pricier side with a smaller portion, but it wasn't too bad. Service was a little slow but the servers were all very friendly.
(3)
Chris T.
This place was great, epic food, great ambiance-but please hire more servers. The service is slow, I could give you 5 stars if you fixed your service. So for starters I don't think the service is bad-just slow. They clearly don't have enough people on the floor. They do know their menu. All of it beer/wine and food. Honestly though there are only a handful of people running the whole wait staff and it shows. The food was wonderful. We started with the beet salad which was great, very fresh and the feta cheese added a nice richness to the salad. The standout was the cauliflower, epic flavor with a little kick! The steak was delicious but poorly cooked. It definitely shows the meat quality when the medium well cooked steak was still tender...even when it was ordered rare. All in all my wife and I love the meal. Just please hire more staff. Then I can rate you what you deserve.
(4)
Robert G.
I can't emphasize how good our first meal in Portland was. We had no idea what to do when we first got here, and the 2-year old was behaving kind of crazy after a long car ride. So I decided to start with the wild mushroom soup. This was lovely, and wasn't blended to complete smoothness, which I liked. I also very much liked the chunks of mushrooms sparingly added, though I couldn't tell you what kind they were. After that the wife and I settled on a trio of small plates: Crostini - the best starter plate of a great bunch. Crispy, thin crostini topped with goat cheese (among others) and tasting of sweet lavender honey. Crunchy, toasted almonds were spread over the plate and dotted with the honey. I don't have much experience rating "farm-to-table" experiences but I this is *exactly* what I hoped it would be. Beef tenderloin - a very good plate that keeps the a skewer of beef tender and medium-rare on the inside, while charring the outside. The skewer alternates beef with goat cheese, which lends good creaminess to the plate. Duck fat potatoes - The potatoes are fried in the duck fat, and fortunately they're not greasy (although unfortunately, I couldn't quite taste the duck either. Ah well.) This is served with horseradish and chives, and reminds you more of sour cream than horseradish. Another great plate. Thanks, Portland, for a great introduction to your food scene. I'm ready to take on the rest!
(5)
Ryan L.
My beau and I went here for lunch. For $15 I got a cup of soup, salad and 1/2 a sandwich. It was quite a bit of food for the price and it was delicious. The potato salad was delicious. The potatoes were cooked perfectly and it had a lot of flavor but not too much dressing. The sandwich was a roast chicken sandwich. It was great. I loved the bread. The cauliflower soup with brown butter and crispy kale was phenomenal. It was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The service was excellent. The cocktails were great also.
(5)
Mike T.
Solid overall experience. Nice atmosphere and the food met expectations. The service, as others have suggested, was not rushed (slow). I do not recommend PH if you are looking for a quick bite. My kale salad was tasty, but overly dressed and salty. The Italian meat sandwich was good, but not excellent. Portion size was fair. The acoustics in the restaurant, like others said, makes it loud when the restaurant is full. I would not recommend taking people who are sensitive to loud restaurants here, but I felt that it was fine for my informal business/networking meeting. Enjoy!
(4)
Bethany K.
TIME&PLACE: Wednesday night take out Had seen Picnic House on Yelp for a while, and finally took the plunge to eat there... or order take out, which counts, right? But, it was kind of a weird and underwhelming experience the entire way. 1) Called in to order takeout, but the gal on the phone asked me for how many people were in our party... that's strange, right? She also put me on hold at least three different times -- first to make sure the kitchen had capacity (which they did -- and when I went to pick up, there was literally a DOZEN empty tables. so I don't get it). She also put me on hold to confirm my order and how long it would take, and then a third time because she had to call me back about there not being any more cauliflower (which I had wanted) 2) Okay, so when she told me the cauliflower was out, I asked for other vegetarian side recommendations, and she suggested the brussel sprouts. I totally should have known but THEY WERE NOT VEGETARIAN. I had a bite and got a big whiff of something meaty -- it was pork. WHAT? Ugh. Didn't finish it, but was more just annoyed because I had specifically asked for something vegetarian. 3) Ordered a mushroom soup (which was good/fine!) and asked if it came with bread or anything (as soups often do) but she said no, it didn't. But she then offered to include a side of bread (or do something about it) but lo and behold - charged for it on the receipt. Sigh. 4) I will say that I really liked the hipstery decor and feel of the restaurant, though it was weird because it was so empty. Just a lot of weird experiences that left a kind of bleh taste in my mouth... not to mention the food itself was just okay. Not coming back!
(2)
Clay H.
When the tip costs more than you would pay for an entire meal at a fast food joint, you may get dinged a star for slip ups. That being said, it was a nice meal. The ambiance was great and the service was about as good as it gets. We went the on Valentines day and selected to have the prix fixie meal. Course 1) My date had the oysters (her first time ever) and loved them. She raved about them for a good long time afterwards. I had the beet salad and found it delightful. Course 2) I had the duck, while my date wisely chose the trout. This was my first time having duck, but it seemed a bit chewy and just a bit flavorless. That would be fine given my lack of experience, but the potato croquettes that accompanied it were pretty tasteless. I give that portion 2 stars. Her course was delightful, however. We loved the barley risotto and the carrots along with the fish. It was the star of the night. Course 3) The dessert was lovely. Heavenly creme brulee along with tasty macaroons ended the night well. Drinks - My date had a moulin rouge that made her happy. Highly recommended. Overall, go there if you want a great date night experience, but skip the duck.
(4)
Amy A.
This place is cool. The menu is interesting, delicious, and cooked to perfection. The cocktails are hand-crafted and tasty. The service is great! And the venue is awesome! I would love to rent this place out for a private event...There is a gorgeous staircase near the rear of the restaurant that looks like it goes up into a ballroom or dining area, but I asked our server about it and she said it was just a couple storage areas upstairs. Thats too bad, if The Picnic House management created a neat rentable venue upstairs, I could see it doing VERY well! All in all, I love this place, and fully intend to go back--over and over again!
(5)
Jorie T.
I ate here with a party of 9, at lunchtime on a Friday. We had a reservation for 12:10pm, so there was no wait for our table. The service was great, up until the very end when it took our waitress 45 minutes from the time we were all done eating to get us our bill, pick up the card, and get us out the door. That, in combination with the time it took between the first and last plate to be served at our table is the reason for my 4 stars instead of 5. The atmosphere is very... Portland. There is moss on some of the walls, antique woodblock printing blocks embedded in moss walls and creating mosaics on other walls. There is a bear head with a bowler hat, some cutesy poems and sayings painted on the walls, and they bring your bill to you in an antique book. All of these "weird" things mesh together pretty well but there is a definite vibe that Picnic House is trying to "keep Portland weird". For lunch, you can choose to have a combo of half salad, half sandwich, and cup of soup, or just two of those three options. I chose to do a combo of 3, to sample as many of their menu items as possible, since everything sounded really tasty. The wild mushroom soup with white wine and thyme was probably my favorite. It was so good in fact, that I almost question if this item was vegetarian. The soup was full bodied and hearty, which made me wonder if there was a chicken stock base. I forgot to ask before and after ordering, but it wasn't indicated anywhere on the menu that there was meat in it, so I'm hoping there wasn't. I'm also told this place is pretty vegan friendly, so I'm guessing it was just ridiculously good soup. For my half sandwich, I chose the grilled cheese with caramelized onions, aged cheddar, and fresh cheeses. This was really closer to a cheese panini than a grilled cheese, as I don't think there was any oil or butter on the exterior of the sandwich to brown it, and it had grill press lines on the outside. The cheeses and onions inside were good, but the winner in this sandwich was really the bread. Very crispy/crunchy and fresh tasting. The salad I tried was the mixed greens with pickled blueberries, seasonal berries, candied almonds, feta cheese, and a fig butter vinaigrette. This was also really wonderful. Of the three, this definitely had the most complex flavor profile, and every element worked together. The fig butter vinaigrette was the one part I wasn't sure I'd care for, but it really complimented the pickled blueberries and greens very well. All in all, the food was superb and I'd have no problems going back a second or third time to sample everything (vegetarian) on the menu.
(4)
DeathandFood H.
Holy Hipster Portland! The Picnic House is all things hipster yet some how it all works and the sum is better than the whole. TL:DR review-trendy decor, picnic inspired food that is surprisely good. Food- luckily they don't go over board on the picnic theme and with entrees under 20 and soups and shared plate from 6 to 16. We shared a lot of the smaller ones. Highlights were the wild mushroom, white wine, fresh thyme soup, the potato gnocchi, sauteed wild mushroom ragout. All the food was tasty if not always memorable. The decor is very Portland with a more modern area up front and then an other more charming space further in.
(4)
Amanda C.
I came here on a weekday for an early dinner just past 5pm. The place was empty at first but became busy quickly. The front of the restaurant does look outdoorsy as though you were really at a picnic. However, towards the back of the restaurant, the lights become dimmed and the ambiance seems more romantic. Either way, great place for a date. Food was stellar, especially given that entrees were under $20. I ordered the coulotte steak and requested mashed potatoes instead of the quinoa which they were happy to accommodate. Boyfriend had the maple-brined pork chop with onion bread pudding - also good. The only thing that I did not think was worth it was the espresso crusted beef tenderloin. It was under the small shares menu but at $14, I was expecting a larger portion, especially considering price of entrees. Still yummy though. PS - I was under the impression The Picnic House does happy hour based on the previous yelp reviews/pictures but they are not any longer. They instead directed us to their sister bar next door.
(5)
Lana N.
We actually had reservations for 830pm, but since we were in the area an hour earlier, we decided to stop by and see of anything was available. Once we came in we were greeted by the hostess which told us that she actually had a table. We came with the two little ones so I was a bit nervous that it would be an adult only place, but the staff were all so friendly and welcoming. Once we sat down our server was busy buy she acknowledged us and said that she would be right back. Once she came back, we just decided to order everything at once. It was Valentine's Day, so we were sure it would be busy. We then ordered the following : - McMule - their version of the Moscow mule. Tasted the same and it came in a very cool copper mug. - Roasted Duck - this was so tender and delicious. The duck was cooked perfectly and a side of potatoes and salad. The sauce on the plate was tangy and sweet, paired perfectly with the duck. - Pappardelle - thick pasta, served with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and a creme fraiche like sauce. The pasta was fresh and so were the vegetables Overall it was a great experience for our first night in Portland. The decor is rustic and I absolutely loved the cafe lighting in the front. They had some chairs and tables made out of wood and tree stumps, which were very cool. Staff was exceptional and food was fabulous, I'm definitely visiting again!
(5)
Jennifer C.
Had a really great meal here. I would give a 4.5 if I could. Delicious squash soup, beet salad with omg chèvre panacotta!?!? and beef tenderloin. I focused on the small plates and loved it all. Service was fine, not overly friendly but totally fine. They were extremely accommodating of gluten free needs!
(4)
Shirley K.
Wow I haven't been this impressed in so long! We had a 6 o'clock reservation but came an hour early to have some drinks. We were presently surprised when we were told we could be seated right away. So we decided to just have an earlier dinner. We loved how the menu was small. We started off with the beef tenderloin and
(5)
Russ C.
I really loved this place. The food was great. Drinks excellent. We sat outside, but inside the place also has so much character. Definitely a don't miss spot. Good for vegetarians too!
(5)
Beth M.
I had high hopes for The Picnic House, because Yelpers always send me to the yummiest destinations. This time I left feeling a little empty inside. I found the staff to be friendly, and the decor was whimsical, but the space itself was cavernous and loud, and the food was okay....nothing to write home about. I had the mushroom soup, which was fine, but not in any way exemplary. I also had the mushroom onion tart, which was equally okay, and a wedge salad that had more core than leaf. Hubs and guest each had the burger, and there were high hopes, but they both commented that they'd had much better, and our guest even questioned if they'd slipped him a veggie burger, because the texture seemed off. On the plus side, Hubs thought the tempura style onion rings were tasty. It was kind of them to seat us away from others, because it is a loud loud place, and impossible to have a conversation when the dining room is full. Back in the day, it would've been amazing to have this spot next to the symphony for a quick and inexpensive alternative to The Heathman. But, I am 100% sure that I would rather eat a Heathman Pub burger than The Picnic House version. I will come back for dinner sometime. Perhaps I caught them on an off day.
(3)
Ryan M.
Great place! Met an old friend for lunch and was very impressed by the atmosphere and the staff. Our server was super friendly and attentive. Ever have a chicken salad sandwich? Me too. But have you ever had a buffalo chicken sandwich? Me neither....until yesterday! I'm glad I chose it. Super rich and creamy with a hint of spice. So good.
(5)
Zach G.
Amazing waiters/service and even better food. Try the cauliflower and ask about the history of wrestling and Scientology in the building
(5)
Shane W.
This place is lovely. The menu is very limited but pretty good. A friend and I shared 2 plates: I ordered the grilled cheese and tomato soup and it was perfect and fantastic. She had the cheese burger. It was soso.... Nothing special. The prices were great. The service was fine. I would go back
(4)
Derek N.
Date night for my wife and I. Chris Issak was in concert next door within an hour 1/2. We found this location and set reservations. It was an experience to remember. I had the following: coulotte steak with gremolata butter, quinoa polenta, mignonette, shaved parmesan $19 My wife had: stuffed portobello mushroom, polenta bread, caramelized onion, roasted sweet potatoes, corn, brussels, green onion $15. Both were great choices and we shared our meal. I cannot get over how they handled the sauce that goes with this steak. I have tried researching how to recreate but have come up short. This is a work of art. My wife's meal was good, but I love how they did my steak dinner. Great location, atmosphere and service. I would give them 4.5 stars if this was an option.
(4)
Barbara p.
We came with a birthday group for dinner and what a pleasant experience. The interior has very cute decor with tall ceilings. The service was excellent and the food was good too. Try the Stuffed Portebello Mushroom, soooo good!
(4)
C H.
Updated from 1 to 2 stars based on the owners responsiveness and sincerity in trying to make it better. Hopefuly can give a full 5 next time we go!
(2)
Jennifer C.
Fabulous food -- inventive, thoughtful flavor combinations that constantly surprise the palate. Interior is a former hotel lobby that makes for an entertaining ambiance. Convenient location across from symphony hall.
(5)
Alexandra S.
The atmosphere is unique as it was part of the original Heathman Hotel (that's what the waiter told us). I had the nutty brown rice salad with sweet potatoes, turnips and hazelnut vinaigrette. Think almost fried rice except much healthier. It was really tasty, but I wouldn't call it a salad as it is mostly brown rice with a little bit of veggies. My husband had the pork shoulder sandwich. Both were fantastic! I also like that I can order online for pick up! I'd say the Picnic House is definitely worth trying if you haven't already..... we'll for sure be going back!
(4)
Laura Q.
I loved this place! Never heard of it before today so there were no preconceived notions of what to expect. What pleasant surprise. I ordered 1/2 roasted pear salad and 1/2 roast beef sandwich and found the lunch to be delicious and filling. I will definitively be going back again. Yumm!
(5)
Jj I.
Awesome food and service. The roasted turkey sandwich was great!
(5)
Sam A.
Today I had lunch at the Picnic House. The design of the restaurant is warm, creative and fun. The food is tasty and the staff pleasant. This was my third visit to the restaurant. It is easy to see the Picnic House becoming a downtown lunch standard that everyone will enjoy.
(4)
Kristen C.
Oh my goodness this was an AMAZING lunch. I had looked over the menu beforehand, and was glad I did because it all sounded so good! I ended up getting a 1/2 sandwich and salad plate. I had the Blueberry Glazed Roasted Turkey sandwich, which was incredible. The bread...oh the bread!! It was so flavorful in itself without having any particularly strong flavor to it. I chose the green salad with berries, cinnamon almonds, house made ricotta, and a pickled blueberry vinaigrette. It was the best salad I've ever had. For dessert, I split a piece of the Sour Cream Chocolate Bundt cake with my friend. SO good.Oh, I also had the best ginger ale I've ever experienced. They even MADE the coke my friend had. You KNOW you want to try it all!!!
(5)
Kristin K.
We enjoyed a great lunch at The Picnic House - good food, fresh ingredients, thoughtfully prepared. I very much like the brown rice salad with roasted veggie, dressed with hazelnut vinaigrette - delish! The prices are what I would consider reasonable (this said by a frugal gal raised in the great mid-west:-)
(4)
Renae P.
Amazing ambiance and fresh, delicious, lovely food! We will definitely be back often.
(5)
Jaimie K.
Great food! I can't wait to go back and try something different. And you MUST get dessert!
(5)
Elle C.
This may be my new favorite restaurant. The atmosphere just makes you feel good. I mean the place is REALLY lovely. I had the fresh berry salad with gorgonzola and added roast chicken breast. The berries looked perfect and tasted farm fresh. Made me savor every bite. The chicken was moist and flavorful. First time I've had a salad that made me think I was eatting dessert! They were very busy at lunch today, but Aaron, one of the owners, was running around making sure everyone was kept happy.
(5)
Gillian T.
I stumbled on this place on my way to a show a the Schnitz one night and was very pleasantly surprised. The menu offerings all sounded delicious and everything my group ordered was flavorful and expertly prepared. The service was really great as well. We had a very friendly server who didn't hover too much, but paid enough attention to know when/if we needed something. I can't remember which drinks we all ordered, but I remember everyone in the group enjoying them. I had no idea how big of a place it was until I walked in and saw that the space kept going and going. When we were there, there wasn't a host or any sign indicating whether we should seat ourselves or wait, so I think that could be a spot to improve upon because I felt a little lost at first. But the experience was a very positive one and I am definitely planning on trying it again for lunch or their happy hour because both look like they have good prices and I'm going to assume large portions based on my experience ordering dinner. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious food in a no fuss atmosphere.
(4)
Kayla N.
OMG I think this was my favorite stop in Portland. The mushroom soup lived up to it's Yelp reviews! I could have had 5 bowls of it. But my dinner was delicious anyways so I left very happy. What I really love was the ambiance, the dim lighting and intimate feeling even though it's packed and loud. It's definitely a chill hipster type of place and dress matches that. I would love to go back and try the lunch menu. The drinks were also very tasty, different concoctions that mixed well. Great vibe! They are doing things right here!
(5)
Brianna S.
YUM!! Stopped in for a light dinner while traveling solo in Portland. It was the perfect combo of relaxed, casual and trendy. I sat at the window bar area. Not the most comfortable of seating arrangements, but I was there for the food :) I started with their tomato soup which was tasty, loved the bread crouton that went with it. Per my knee jerk reaction and the waitresses recommendation, I got the salmon with strawberry and jalapeno salsa. Unsure how that flavor profile would work, I'm so glad I went with it. It was delicious - the portion was huge and the salsa + asparagus side were pure bliss. Would definitely return with a group to make my way through the menu. Next time, dessert!
(4)
K B.
We come here every time we travel to Portland because the service is great and the food is incredibly tasty and always so fresh. Their salads are all wonderful- next time, I might make an entire meal out of all of the salads.
(5)
Cristy S.
We enjoyed our dinner at Picnic House - the bar is quaint and the cocktails were tasty. For dinner, being vegetarian, I enjoyed the mushroom lasagne. My husband had the Pork Terrine and seemed to enjoy it - I tried the mustard whip that accompanied his meal and found it light and tasty! The scalloped potatoes were a bit oily but we enjoyed dessert. I recommend Picnic House as a solid spot for dining while in Portland.
(4)
Chelsea S.
we went for portland dining month, which might have been the problem. We got there right when they opened and i got the impression they were annoyed. food was just okay, couldn't imagine paying more than i did for the deal.
(2)
Joni W.
Huh. I don't think I understood the concept here. Huge place, sparsely filled, decor was a little all over the map. The dinner menu didn't feature fun, picnic-y style food as I was expecting but rather just plain ol Portlandy basic lunch fare, and not even very good lunch fare at that. I'll likely be back to give it another try. Given the fun theme, I was expecting a lot more creativity with the selections.
(2)
Sean S.
Picnic house feels like a cross a between a trendy boutique and rustic log cabin with simple but amazing food at amazing prices. Their shrimp salad sandwich is light yet flavorful on fresh baguettes from a local bakery. The tomato soup with oregano and fresh basil is a must try and their butter salad is beautifully crafted and well garnished. The service is fantastic, esp Emily who was very helpful suggesting local haunts to out of towners like myself. Would definitely come back next time in Portland.
(5)
Sophie L.
Simple lunch but looks gourmet. It's a wonderful place to treat yourself. The price is not bad. And the decor is interesting. If you like to have a nice lunch with a friend or two. I highly recommend this semi cozy atmosphere.
(4)
April C.
I have been not so patiently waiting to try this place and finally, the perfect time to try was happy hour! They have a small but unique menu of dishes including desserts and drinks. We ordered the chicken cesar skewers, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, and the crostini with goat cheese, honey, and nuts. The first two were small portions but the flavor was there and the crostini were quite plentiful and crazy good (I plan to recreate at home)! We also accidentally ordered the full-sized pavlova off the regular menu and wow, this was the greatest way to end an already stellar meal. Just try it. The ambiance is great with a vintage vibe and low lighting. I was here with a friend but this would be an amazing place for a date night, especially if you are going to show at the Schnitz. Like mentioned in the previous reviews, the hostess is a little frazzled? confused? not sure. She told me that she would have a table available in just a few minutes but there was only about three other twosomes there at that point, around 4:30pm. I was confused but we were seated and the waitress and bartender were lovely. Also, they are planning to open up a bar area that will serve over 20 beers/ciders on tap in the next few months. Renovations are happening right now!
(5)
Vera L.
I ordered the Mushroom soup and the grilled cheese sandwich and I was pleasantly surprised. The portions are just right and the food is delicious! Our waitress was super attentive and helpful. Overall a very good experience.
(5)
Gev M.
Walked in around 9:30 pm on a Saturday night, without a reservation, and were seated within 5 minutes. We were immediately taken with the decor (landmark meets quirk) and ambience (lively without being overwhelming). Cocktails were amazing! We deferred to our waiter in that regard, and his recommendations did not disappoint. Our server (whose name I unfortunately cannot recall) was super awesome. Equally amazing was the food: (1) the mixed green salad not only surprised me, it sneaked up on me and slapped me in the back of my head. Flavors are remarkably complex and well-balanced - an astounding feat for a starter salad. And pickled blueberries? It's a win-win folks; (2) stuffed portobello mushroom is a veggie party in your mouth. Again, really good and complex flavors, simple ingredients. I think they may be on to something here.... Overall, great food, great service, and great atmosphere. Oh, and very reasonably priced. Another huge plus: although we came in a little before their closing time, we did not feel rushed at any point in the evening. I can't wait to come back!
(5)
Jim W.
When you take a bite of food and the response is "OMG - this is amazing" ... you know you've hit something special. I had a bowl of their tomato soup - and I was in tomato soup heaven... swimming in the perfectly seasoned appropriately thick steamy bowl of yumminess! Paired with their thick cut bacon and tomato sandwich... I was a happy lunch camper. Can't wait to go back and try something else!
(4)
Celeste S.
The picnic house had excellent food, ambiance and service. It felt like I was being transported back in time with its vintage feel. We went during lunch and the pick three option was amazing. The tomato soup, Berry salad and Blt sandwich was very good. I'm definitely going back!
(5)
Mike C.
Went in for lunch with my girlfriend today without reservations, had no problem getting a table. We had the half sandwich and soup, wild mushroom soup and buffalo chicken sandwich. My girlfriend had the turkey sandwich. Food arrived quickly and was delicious!! Our server Rachelle seemed rushed and was quite impersonal. Said was too busy to clear our table, which sounded odd. Anyway, I will go back as the food was quite delicious.
(4)
Mark M.
This was a fantastic fare, and my favorite meal in Portland. Very reasonably priced as well. I had a great pork belly here, and some really well-braised ribs. Those ribs were served with some of the best Yorkshire pudding I ever had - even better than when I had them in England. They also had a grilled chicken, and I do not know what was in it, but it was like crack with the pureed celery. Really a fantastic fare here. What I liked about the food here was also it was full of fresh produce and flavors of the harvest. If you are out in a place like Portland, what is a better representation of all things green and good in nature? The wines here are also well picked, and went perfectly with the food. There was nothing that I could criticize here, as it was hands down a beautiful experience.
(5)
Liz T.
This is a fun place downtown Portland. I came here with my mother and we really enjoyed this quirky / innovative place. Our food was really nice and I appreciated the small menu. As Steve Jobs says, "Choices cause confusion." I actually didn't mind only having a couple of delicious looking entrees. The prices were fair and we enjoyed our meal. My only complaint is that it is extremely loud when you sit in their ballroom and by the mirrors. We talked loud enough to have a good conversation, but after we left we realized we were screaming. We ordered local cider that was well described by the waiter. I was kind of craving a beer and didn't find anything on the menu I was craving... but it ended up OK since I liked the cider. We enjoyed our time and were impressed with the service. I would recommend this place, but possibly not for a first date or if you want to have a deep conversation.
(4)
Mike G.
Like everyone else, we ordered the brown rice salad with nuts and quinoa. We literally ordered three of them. Like everyone else, we thought it tasted nutty. 4 stars, not 5 (one of us probably gave it a 3, so please keep your expectations reasonable). The mushroom soup was actually the standout dish that was surprisingly flavorful. I normally can't stand cream in soup, but this was worth it and had very little cream I think. The ambiance was fun although it took the hostess nearly 10 minutes to acknowledge our presence and seat us at one of the many open tables. Maybe move to self-service seating when your staff is busy?
(4)
Nique F.
You know that feeling when a restaurant just "gets you"? When the menu doesn't include a single thing you don't love? When the ambiance makes you smile the minute you walk in, like you've found your happy place? That, for me, was the Picnic House. It doesn't hurt that they have an amazing local wine & beer list, too! The holy lunch trinity -- soup, salad, sammies -- is the focus here. And, you can have all three at once! Their half sandwich, half salad & soup combo (for $15) is a dream, and they put no limits on your choices. I had the half Buffalo Chicken Salad sandwich with pickled banana peppers blue cheese & arugula, perfectly zesty, lightly sauced, on a fresh baguette. My half soup was the roasted tomato with basil cream, and my half salad: Mixed Greens with lardons, sugar snap peas, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and toasted almonds. All three items arrive on a long rectangular plate. One of the most exciting sampler platters I've ever seen! With that, we had some Willamette Valley rose and an Oregon IRA. 1 hour into our vacation, and we were officially in love with Portland. The space is huge, with a small cafe in the front and a more grandiose dining room & little bar in in the back. The decor is jazzy 1920s salon style, with a few Northwestern touches like hefty rough-cut wood tables. Service was so friendly and low-key, we almost felt like locals. I will definitely be eating lunch here every time I'm in Portland!
(5)
Angel S.
Fun decor. Tasty Happy Hour and Well Made Drinks. Lots of rave reviews about the brown rice salad and I found it pretty meh. Missing punch for the price.
(3)
Leigh P.
I LOOOOVVVVE this place. It is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. This place is so amazing and vintage. It is a must see and the food is AMAZING! I had the tomato bisque soup and a wonderfully tasty salad. My lunch mate had the roast beef sandwich which got rave reviews and came with homemade potato chips that were awesome. Don't question your decision....GO HERE!
(5)
Naomi S.
Rustic and stylish restaurant. I love their sandwich bread. The dressing for shrimp sandwich amazing!! I would definitely come back again when I visit Portland next time:)
(5)
Sarah W.
Awesome restaurant due to great design & feel as well as wholesome and filling dishes! *** THE AMBIENCE *** I don't know what the history of the building is, but it definitely has old charm. The main dining area is quite large and grand, in fact, but the uniquely-crafted wooden tables and artwork make it very cozy. There were many others dining at this popular lunch spot, but fortunately we didn't feel like we had to scream to hear each other. And even with nearly a full house, the service was quick and we were out to our next meeting with time to spare. *** THE FOOD *** The food is delicious and extremely reasonably priced. I took the Half Soup/Half Salad/Half Sandwich Combination option, but felt like I was getting full portions of each! I selected Curry Pumpkin soup which was like the taste of autumn, Mixed Greens & Berries salad which was fresh with a pop of sweet crunch from candied nuts, and the Shaved Prosciutto sandwich which was a blend of sweet, salty, and savory.
(4)
Olive K.
Wow. First of all, the decor is very interesting and the building is unique. It must have been a hotel in the past. I ordered a delicious grilled cheese that contained caramelized onions and aged white cheddar, along with a cup of tomato soup. I'm not even joking, it was the best grilled cheese I've ever had in my life. I was incredibly impressed with this place and recommend to everyone.
(5)
Jenny C.
We came into Picnic House for dinner while in Portland. What can I say the food was fantastic, the service was great, the decor was quite charming & the vibe was very portland! The menu was impressive and I finally settled on the fried chicken & it was by far the best I've ever had! We will definitely be returning to Picnic House for more yummy food!!
(5)
D B.
Before the aforementioned Itzhak Perlman concert came The Picnic House. Unassuming name, unassuming location, classic Portland mixed group of patrons. But my goodness the food wasn't mixed, it was excellent, and the portions were generous. I had an exceedingly tender pork terrine. My date had pistachio covered salmon with cilantro, pomegranate, etc., etc. That bite she gave me was enough to get me back here. Two quibbles keep from a 5 star: the odd table arrangements (strictly a matter of taste, i know) and the fact that the (excellent) roasted feta "small share" could have used a couple slices more of bread. Quibbles! I'll be back for sure. BONUS: It's a very short walk to the Schnitz if that's on your evening lineup card.
(4)
Erik V.
This place was so tasty, the staff was really friendly and helpful, and the place was fairly empty so it was pretty peaceful, it should have had more people there though, the food was amazing! 20/18 value/price
(5)
Ryan P.
Stopped in for dinner before attending a concert at the Schnitz. I enjoyed the salmon with asparagus risotto while my friend enjoyed the pork terrine. The food was delectable and the portions were nicely sized. They also have a creative cocktail and dessert menu. I hope to return to eventually try other items on the menu. The atmosphere inside is fantastic and they also have outdoor seating. Service was great and the entire staff was friendly and welcoming.
(5)
Marlana S.
Hubby and I stopped in here on a night out for drinks and we both ended up getting the mushroom soup, too. I absolutely loved the decor. It reminded me of a Paris spring day, with a little circus thrown in. The lighting is dim and it is a perfect date spot. Our drinks were delicious. And the soup was amazing. It was like mushroom gravy with a very peppery flavor that made it so savory. We will be back for more!
(4)
Chirag P.
Such a cool place, especially when hearing the history of the restaurant and how it's related to the Heathman Hotel across the street. Fantastic food and some great drinks. Definitely check it out if you're in downtown Portland.
(4)
Ella H.
This place is great! I came here for lunch the other day and got the bacon, lettuce, and roasted tomato sandwich with lemon aioli. Delicious! The tomato basil soup surprised me, because I normally don't eat tomato soup. It was my favorite part of the meal. My aunt and grandmother had the soup to and they felt the same way. I also had the mixed green salad with pickled blueberries. Sounds weird, tastes amazing! They were little pops of sour on the salad. The bread here is crisp on the outside, and chewy in the middle. It adds so much to the sandwich. My family and I are members of the clean plate, (and bowl) club.
(5)
Amanda S.
What an amazing little experience. My fellow yelpsters never steer me wrong. Great, whole foods - and while they don't have a kid menu - they do accommodate the youngsters.
(4)
Gillian H.
Truthfully if I could give a place negative stars I would. This was hands downTHE WORST dining experience of my entire life. Let's begin with the fact that when we called to make reservations for my birthday dinner they said they were fully booked for two solid hours.... Which they weren't. When our party of FOUR, yes people just four, arrived they sat us at an enormously large table by the door away from the rest of the restaurant. It was like we were being punished for asking for reservations. The wait staff took their own sweet time and by that I mean 20 minutes to even show up to the table for drink orders and then an additional 20 to bring back 2 beers and 2 cocktails. Once we received our HIGHLY OVERPRICED drinks we ordered and truthfully that was an even worse mistake. The food took over an hour to arrive and having worked in the service industry myself I'm fairly certain it does not take over an hour to prepare a burger, 2 salads and Salmon dish. The food by the way was subpar. The fries at the pub I had later were ten times better than their garbage. We finally said something once we got our food and the waiter did not seem to care that we had been waiting so long nor did he offer to comp the meal but offered those who ordered beer discounts on the beer. Not discounts on the food- something everyone ordered, just the people who ordered beer got less expensive beer. It was the only time I seriously thought about just leaving and not paying. We all agreed going to a taco cart would have been cheaper, better service and more fun. We felt forgotten about at our table and on my birthday nonetheless. All in all: terrible staff, terrible prices and terrible experience. Save yourself the trouble and go to your favorite taco cart or burger joint. NOT WORTH IT!
(1)
Cameron L.
Great spot. Interesting menu, amazing location (especially if you are seeing a show at The Schnitz). I've been for a work lunch and a pre-show dinner/drinks with friends. Food both times was excellent. Service is a tad slower than desired, but it all works out. Definitely request to sit in the dark area towards the bar...once I was seated in the brightly lit, "old-lady seats" towards the front; and they don't capture the character or vibe of the place. I had the salmon the other night, and it was cooked and seasoned perfectly. It earned raves from our table. Outstanding. I also love what they do with veggies.
(4)
Kyle S.
We came here on a Thursday night and it was not busy. The atmosphere is cool, the building is the old Heathman Hotel, and it has a 20's flair. The service was really good, we were seated right away and the waiter took our order quickly. The hipster-dressed bartender made us a legit whiskey sour was was really good. We started field green salad with berries, walnuts, and feta, and it was great. Next we had the strawberry salmon with asparagus which was small portioned but extremely tasty and moist. We also had the stuffed portobello w Brussel sprouts which was excellent. We would definitely come back.
Portland seems to do everything better than LA. The Picnic House drives this home. Not only was the space intimate while surprisingly large (I was there for a vow renewal which became a dance-off), but the food was top notch, with especially good dessert.
(5)
Neal C.
Stopped by on a whim, place looked cool from the outside. I was in for a good surprise! The food was excellent and the drinks even better. Had a great time and the staff was extremely helpful. All in all a great experience, a funky place with a eclectic vibe.
(4)
Shirley M.
Whimsical decor. Friendly Service and Delicious Food created by Chef Casey Gipson. The fried Brussels sprouts. Sweet soy, truffle, onsen egg and pickled radish was an incredibly fun and delicious dish. The Ginger Beer cocktail was unique and refreshing. The Chocolate Truffle Bar with Carmel sauce was a perfect ending to a tasty meal with friends. Next time I want to try their Black Truffle Mushroom Lasgne with sage cream sauce.
(5)
Scott F.
I took three colleagues there last night for dinner. My first time there and it was incredible. I made a reservation which was good, as the restaurant filled up quickly, and this was a Wednesday night. We all ordered the fixed price March special which started off with a small salad and soup, followed by lamb shank, and topped off with a nice desert. The food, service, and venue was exceptional. Our server Molly was friendly, very attentive, and exceeded our expectations. I will most certainly return!
(5)
Sarah S.
I thought what my friends and I experienced was an anomaly, but in reading the other reviews, I see that isn't the case. Like other customers who have posted here, we had a strange experience with the hostess. When we walked in, there were only three other tables seated. The hostess asked if we had a reservation, and when we said no, she acted annoyed and asked for a name. We gave it to her, then she immediately sat us. Confusing. Aside from the weird beginning, our waitress was outstanding. She gave us the nitty gritty on her favorite cocktails, which were all delish, as well as suggestions for our lunch order, also super yummy. Even though the place got busy, our server continued to check in on us and bring us everything we asked for, including drinks only on the dinner menu - what a pro! Aside from the confusing initial experience, I would go back.
(3)
Meana K.
The name of this place doesn't quite capture its essence. Located in a renovated building which in the 1920s was the original Heathman Hotel, this restaurant has exceptional ambiance and food. On the night we came here, they weren't too busy and we were given very personalized service which I can only hope is the quality they aim for every night. Our server, Aaron, was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the preparation of the dishes. I appreciated his candidness in his recommendations, and that he provided us a little bit of history about the building and their plans for expansion. The interior space is striking and offers many details to visually explore. The music selection was classy but vibrant jazz. The cocktails were interesting although not as memorable as the food. I loved the brussel sprouts, the espresso encrusted beef tenderloin, the aged cheddar bread pudding that accompanies the pork dish, the salmon and asparagus, and the grilled cheese sandwich with roasted tomato soup. That may have been the best tomato soup I have ever tasted. The s'more pudding was nice too. I thought it was overall a good value for the quality of food. All of us were very pleased with our dishes and agreed the service was fantastic. I plan to put this place in the rotation and look forward to seeing it expand.
(4)
Anne R.
We had dinner here and the food was fantastic. To start we had the roasted Brussels sprouts and mixed green salad. The mixed green salad had fresh berries, feta and some kind of candied nut. Delish. For dinner we shared the risotto special which was veggie and super tasty and unique. Drinks were strong and ambiance was perfect. Highly recommend!
(4)
Stefanie S.
I would rate this a 4-star for walking off the street or having something small with friends, however I have been trying to communicate with them - in particular - the event staff, Ari, for over 4 weeks now to nail down a dinner for 25 people. You would think they would want the business however they are extremely slow to respond to anything nor do they even respond to your inquiries at all. Ari was out for a week (or something) and I requested the manager call me back to answer my questions so I could get the reservation and menu set and finalized. After two attempts of reaching the manager (!) I received NO contact. I have emailed Ari multiple times requesting a response and have gotten nothing. In my opinion this is unacceptable and, frankly, rude. I believe people say alot with their money...I will NOT be spending mine for this event here. Sad.
(1)
Marina P.
Great french braserrie atmosphere, very tasty arty interior design. The service and music dwell with nostalgy for the bohemian salon. And to add to it all great food by all standards. Arancini risotto and marinated chicken were perfect. Enjoyed it very much
(5)
Mike G.
This is a great find! Wonderful feel inside and the service was even better! Menu selection was very nice too! Yelp helped us find out about this place and it was only because of the reviews that we even tried it! Soooo glad we did....The quality of what came out of the kitchen was top notch! If anything could make it a "5 star" I would say just a bit more on the portion size...Thats it! Very good place and yes, we will be back!
(4)
Aly R.
Not only are the lunch portions perfect, but the wine selection is phenomenal. I've returned so many times with friends and family and it's become a favorite spot! Even though the food does take a bit to come out, the fresh taste of the sandwiches are excellent and so worth the weight. The staff is wonderful and very helpful if you don't know what type of wine/entree you are looking for.
(5)
Elizabeth H.
Great food, good service, well priced, uncomfortable seating.
(4)
Renee L.
Picnic House is perfect: the ambience, the food, the drinks, the service. The boyfriend and I visited Portland for the first time and had dinner here. We got the pork chop and the portobello mushroom and both blew our minds. We also got the cauliflower as appetizer as well as the moulin rouge and the gardenhead cocktails. Everything was absolutely amazing. We will definitely visit again in the future.
(5)
Lisa S.
Picnic House has a great start, it just needs some tweaking. great atmosphere and a very unique layout. service was fine, but not fantastic. our server was more interested in flirting with her friend at the bar then checking in on our table. For the food, my salmon was good. The weird side salad of winter veggies, black rice and quinoa was just plain oddball....the veggies were cut into long thin strips, curled up, translucent, and just not appetizing. The texture was "off". The salmon and veggies were served on some kind of oiled wooden round plate. do you really think they sand that plate down after every meal? I doubt it. so....the cleanliness factor was definitely on my mind. The short ribs were a little tough and a little too salty, the accompaniments with it though were innovative and tasty. For an appetizer, we had the brussels sprouts. Most were perfectly caramelized, some were almost raw. go figure. We did not drink, and those three items totaled $42. A little pricey for those portion sizes. We are looking forward to trying again and being able to raise this to 4 or even 5 stars!
(3)
Allegra P.
Gourmet indoor picnic at it's best! Creative & eclectic decor that really does bring the outdoors in. The wedge salad is SO fresh & delicious not to mention their sandwiches. Whatever you order, you can't go wrong & you'll leave with your tank past full!
(4)
Chris B.
Good sandwiches and nice soup. Lunch spot for sure. Stop by if you are downtown and near the Hilton. Lots of options north of here to choice from however and I would likely choose tasty or the carts before this spot.
(3)
Elaine P.
It's an interesting experience. Beautiful place, but so loud, Needs padding. Paper towels, Expensive. But delicious food, unbelievable, actually. If in Portland, you must go to The Picnic House.
(4)
Alyssa C.
I have now been here 3 times in the last month and a half and if you know me, you know i REALLY have to like a place to be a repeat customer. This place is awesome for so many reasons! 1) Their sandwiches. Oh man. I've had the italian, the fig prosciutto, and the chicken bacon so far. They are all delicious, but if I had to pick a fav, it would be the chicken bacon. 2) The SOUPS! But, specifically, the mushroom thyme soup. I got the cauliflower soup last time I went, which was good, but the mushroom soup is better. 3) The salads. I've even gotten salads here, guys. The brown rice salad is tasty, but I'd go with the one with pickled blueberries if you are gonna go to salad-town. OR -the pasta salad looked amazing. You can pick two from the above list for $12 or pick 3 for $15. I did the pick 2 about 5 hours ago and I am still full. When I did the pick 3, I didn't eat again that day because it hurt. so. good. 4. The ambiance/decor - this place is beautiful and HUGE. You could easily have a big group dinner/lunch here and could be accommodated. 5. I haven't tried them yet but the cocktails look NOM. Seriously, go here...your tastebuds will thank you.
(5)
Evan S.
Beautiful setup, great atmosphere to admire once you walk in. Unfortunately, I feel as though that's where it ended. The service was atrocious, both waiting for drink/food orders and receiving those orders. Also, the menu items were well over priced, as they didn't offer any truly unique foods. The wine menu felt as if they were reaching to appeal to a high ticket market as they didn't offer many wines by the glass, the prices were all quite high, and they didn't have many wines from our fantastic local wine scene. The happy hour was unfortunately not even in the restaurant, but rather the bar (Barlow), so that made for some moving and lack of convenience...unfortunately, the service over there was also atrocious. I would not recommend this place to a friend , family member, or someone passing through Portland.
(2)
Kathy B.
Really great food and cocktails. Grilled cheese was delicious. Risotto was yummy. Dessert was okay. Service was ok, not terrible, not great.
(4)
Lisa B.
I love the decor here! The mix and match options are amazing. Great for those who like to sample everything. The potato salad is a must.
(5)
Juli G.
Our group of five spontaneously decided to swing in here for lunch because one of women has a good friend who loves it and keeps coming back. We arrived at 11:45 without reservations, and they were spot-on lovely and seated us immediately. The decor is romantic and comfortable with high ceilings, beautiful lighting, and tasteful drapes and art throughout. The menu looked so delicious; really, every single item looked like something I'd want to try. They offer a great option to combine two or three of the following: soup, salad, and sandwich. I was hungry so I opted for the three item combo. This is when it got strange and why this review is four stars instead of five. Something I love to do when I encounter a menu on which everything looks good is request that the chef choose for me. I figure they invented and are preparing the food so they'll probably combine better than I could, ignorant of the subtle flavors of each dish. So I asked the server to have the chef choose a three-item combination for me. She then proceeded to rattle off three dishes that she thought I should have, as though I'd asked because I couldn't make a decision instead of honoring my desired gastronomic adventure with the chef. I simply asked again that the chef choose my combination. She was indignant and snapped, "We usually don't get that here." The plate that came out included the butter lettuce salad, buffalo chicken sandwich, and squash soup, all of which were delicious individually. They didn't work together as a combination, though, which made me think the snotty server chose that combination on purpose to teach me a lesson. I'd go back and recommend this place for lunch, but I'll choose my own combination in the future.
(4)
Thomas N.
Loved this place! Took my date here for our first and we were both very pleased. Fairly classy, and the food was well priced.
(5)
Mick R.
The family was pissed at me that I didn't mention the somewhat formal atmosphere but relaxed when I pointed out the kids in shorts two tables away. Everyone was intrigued by the menu, especially my son who chose the Wild Boar stew. I had the pork chop and my wife had the stuffed portobello mushroom. Everyone was very happy with their selections but I didn't like the sample of Wild Boar I had. We shared the grilled pound cake for dessert which was very good but not mind-blowing which is what I expected. The bill came to $80 which was better than I thought it would be. We'll definitely go back here next time we're downtown.
(4)
Steven M.
Appetizers ok - entrees not so great. All dishes lacked seasoning and actually cold to the touch. Not a foodie paradise
(2)
Aimee L.
Very very good food, fantastic interior, service is inconsistent (nice waitstaff but either understaffed or they just forget about you?) and so it's not the place you'd go if you need to get in and out in an hour. Menu seems to have little room for dietary restrictions besides "leave it off" but the salad was delicious. Looking forward to trying their happy hour (have tried to come by several times but they seem to do a lot of private events so we've never been).
(3)
Chris S.
The chairs were a bit uncomfortable, so I docked 1 whole star. Fortunately, I was planning on giving them six stars for food, cocktails, ambience and service. So, that's a net five stars. Not too shabby. We had a 5-10 minute wait for lunch on a rainy Friday. There were a decent amount of people in the place, and we didn't have a reservation. It didn't seem to matter though, as they were moving people through pretty quickly. The food is fantastic, fresh and flavorful. I had the Farfalla Pasta salad and cup of broccolini soup. My SO had the shaved turkey sandwich and a cup wild mushroom soup. It was all very good. The portions were also perfect for the price and what I want out of lunch. We both cleaned our plates & bowls. Service was prompt, helpful and friendly. Attentive but not in your face. About the chairs. I couldn't lean back. The metal bar hit in a really uncomfortable spot. I wonder if that helped them move people through a bit quicker...
(5)
Adam G.
Ok, we arrived to a half empty restaurant around 7pm. We had to wait about 5 minutes before anyone even approached us. The host then asked if we had a reservation we didn't. She said she'd be right back and set something up. Another woman called to us from the bar half a floor above us and asked if we needed help. We said no, thank you, someone was helping us. She then power tripped on us telling us no, she would help us, she's the general manager and that without a reservation it was a minimum 45 minute wait. There are two ways to have this conversation with customers. She chose the snotty, pretentious way. As we started to walk out, she ran down to us and said something about us coming back. Ummmm, no.
(1)
Freesia J.
No Stars... this place is the worst service ever that we couldn't even dine here! First time here for both of us. Met my colleague here at 11:45am on Wed 4/29/2015. I show up and staff asks whether I had reservation. I said no. She said it gets pretty crowded here during lunch time. I knew this place is spacious so didn't think I needed a lunch reservation. Ok so we waited about 10 minutes and they put us in the back bar counter. We wanted to sit face to face so we can talk business. But the wait was going to be longer. Oddly, there were tons of empty tables for two everywhere throughout the restaurant!? so we ended up leaving and having our lunch meeting at Shigezo Japanese restaurant. On 5/13/2015, I emailed another colleague about this place and she told me that same thing! Her email said, "Picnic House can be hard to go...they are notorious for having bad service (e.g. won't seat you immediately even though restaurant is half empty)"! Boo...this place is No Picnic!
(1)
Katlyn H.
It was good but felt like the Cheesecake Factory to me. Personally I don't like it when people dress up as bar tenders to be in a different time period but if you are into steam punk I recommend this place to you. That's just the ambiance, the food is pretty nice, if your a soup nazi like myself avoid it. It's very butter based. And all soups are put in a blender. Which isn't always a bad thing but variety is nice. It could be a chain though. I'm not sure but it felt like it could be one.
(3)
Mona B.
Had a work lunch with the boss and a bunch of coworkers the other day. I had been hopeful (I mean the place was packed by the time our food arrived), but alas... - service: our waitress, while friendly, wasn't attentive, nor efficient. Didn't give me a spoon for my tea. Never asked me if I wanted more hot water for my tea (rather, I had to spend several min's and several attempts trying to catch her attention). She didn't give spoons to people at my table who ordered soup. Most importantly for me, she didn't ask me how I want my burger done - I figured she'd realize it and come back and ask me. Never did ask me and never came back around to tell her my preference until my food came out. That brings me to... - food: for a burger that's $12, I expect it to be better than... oh I don't know, say Five Guys (and I think Five Guys' burger are nothing to write home about). The Picinic House burger is $12 (I'm copying/pasting from their menu): burger, roasted tomato, aged white cheddar, red onion, cuke pickles, lettuce, house sauce, pickled onion ring 12 When I got it, it had no cheddar, 3 teeny pieces of tomato pieces, 1 lettuce leaf and 2 paper-thin sliced cucumber that was neither properly pickled, nor tasty. The meat itself came out medium rare! I kid you not, a coworker (male) sitting next to me took a one look and said "woah..." Waited around but again, our waitress didn't come by and my boss wanted to know if everything was alright, so you know what I had to do? I swallowed(I did not chew; I bit off a bite size and swallowed it) the burger that was still moo-ing at me. I was gagging. - ambiance: what ambiance? it was SO loud that I was yelling just to talk to someone sitting at the same table just across from me. Oh btw, ALL my coworkers who ordered "mushroom and caramelized onion tart" said it was cold, too small (smaller than the size of my palm) and not good at all. So very glad my boss paid for this meal - too many good restaurants around here to waste my hard-earned dime here.
(2)
Jaime F.
Delicious food and an awesome atmosphere. I had the lamb chops and they were cooked perfectly on top of a bed of arugula drizzled with a delicious sauce (I think it was a basalmic reduction). The dish also came with onion and tomato skewers accompanied by pita and Taziki sauce.
(5)
Betty K.
I've been to The Picnic House at least 6 times. The food is always good. There is no question about that. The real problem is the service. The servers themselves are always very nice, there just aren't enough of them. Every time I go, it looks like there are three people serving the entire restaurant. It's just not enough. During my last experience, we waited over 25 minutes to be seated (we were told it would be a 5 minute wait). When we were finally seated, we were placed at a corner table and completely forgotten about. After 20 + minutes of waiting to have our order taken, we finally got frustrated enough to ask the hostess for assistance. Apparently the server was not aware that anyone had been seated at our table. Once that ball got rolling everything was fine, but it really was the final straw to break the camel's back for this cute place. The food is great. The atmosphere is cute. I like the location. They just need more servers, plain and simple.
(2)
Dan H.
This was a pleasant find. Thanks to Yelp we found another gem. I had actually passed this place by within the last month or so when I was wandering around downtown. Knew nothing about it as I had never heard about it before. There are so many new restaurants popping up in town that it is difficult to keep up. Plus I don't hang out in this part of town all that often. Sue and I were looking for one more drink (I was also looking for more food) before the ballet and another quick Yelp search pulled up the Picnic House. Glad to have found it amongst the construction that is going on about this restaurant. According to our server the construction is supposed to be going on until at least October. Too bad for them and the idea of having tables outside during the summer. More info according to our server. The Picnic House has been around since last July. Crazy. Who knew? Somebody did as there are a few reviews here. He also told me that a bulk of their business is due to Yelp. People (like us) doing Yelp searches and finding them that way. Go Yelp!!! We had beers, but we also had food. Sue was just interested in dessert and they had a really nice Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake ($6). She really wanted the Rice Pudding, but sadly they were out. The cake was quite tasty. I ordered the Bavette Skewers ($9) off the small plates section of the menu. Chimchurrie Beef skewers with pickled blueberries, arugula and avocado. Nice sized platter for the price. The beef had a ton of flavor and was cooked a nice medium. I prefer medium rare, but I'm not going to be picky. Due to a screw up by the kitchen we were also presented with a free stuffed Portobello Mushroom with roasted vegetables, caramelized onions and toasted polenta bread. I don't know how it ended up at our table, but they told us if we didn't eat it it was just going to go in the garbage. How does one turn that down. This is an entree and it was quite large. We took a good chunk of it home and had it for lunch the next day. There were sweet potatoes involved and it was very good. It will be cool to dive into the menu a bit more the next time we come back. The space has some good character to it. Cool floors and high ceilings. I have no doubt that we will be back.
(4)
Bubba Y.
What a nice lunch we had here! Stopped in on a Yelp - invoked whim, Picnic House just happened to be on the same block during a shopping trip downtown. Glad we did. A short wait and we were seated, nice perky wait staff (Phillip?), water glasses filled. Cocktails were ordered and delivered promptly, our order taken, and lunch came quickly. I had a nice shaved turkey half sandwich and a wonderful mushroom soup (invoked memories of the Hungarian mushroom soup they served at Old Wives Tales before they shut down) . Both of my lunch friends enjoyed their sandwiches and salads. Talking off a star for noise level and broken hardware in the bathroom. But otherwise, a keeper.
(4)
Jeff M.
Old world charm in a converted hotel. Massive columns and high ceiling. Love the wood benches. Outstanding unique dishes. The curry cauliflower soup is to die for. Not super kid friendly, but they do have a kid's version of their adult grilled cheese.
(5)
Andrew S.
I came here on a Saturday for lunch with a friend. The wait was 10 minutes, which at first glance was really surprising because the entire storefront was empty. But I guess they don't serve diners in the front area. The restaurant was much more spacious than I was expecting and there were so many people sitting in the back area! With the print blocks reused as art pieces, and driftwood with various coat racks drilled into it, the whole restaurant has a repurposed feel to it. I felt like the bear head in the back detracted from the overall decor. When we were seated there was a bottle of water on the table for us. Our waiter was smartly dressed in a vest and tie. He was really nice and explained our food choices pretty clearly. I ordered half a grilled cheese sandwich and half a grilled tomato sandwich with iced tea. My friend ordered a half grilled tomato sandwich and half farfalle pasta salad (it's not a classic pasta salad, but a salad with pasta in it). My tea was delicious and had a large lemon garnish on the rim. My lunch was even better. The service after we started eating was pretty sparse. I was never offered a refill on my tea and we drank all our water. Our waiter came by once to see how we were doing. We were ready to try the grilled pound cake, but we waited almost 20 minutes after finishing our meal to see our waiter and changed our minds. Overall the service wasn't bad - they just appeared to be understaffed. We got our bill in an old book which I thought was a cool touch. I really enjoyed the food and 99% of the decor, and the servers were still very nice even if they weren't staffed properly. I'd try it again but I would also make sure I'm not in any kind of rush.
(4)
Marina P.
Unique, special, inviting, and a great atmosphere! Take time to enjoy this place!
(5)
Amber P.
Comfortable, inviting (once you get past the entry), warm, and a good place for a double date. The food on both my visits was prepared excellently and sometimes imaginatively. It hits that niche of food that I would never make for myself but the prices are reasonable for what you get. Save room for dessert, and ask about the specials.
(5)
S M.
Good food, reasonable prices, very roomy. A bit loud in there but overall a great experience with my family!
(5)
Phyllis B.
I can't believe I'm the first to leave a review! This place has a wonderful menu of sandwiches, soups and salads. I'm enjoying the brown rice, yam, with just the right amount of shredded carrots (roasted) agrugala, pickled red pepper and sliced almond. And the white mushroom soup was wonderful!
(5)
R. E. R.
The tomato soup is literally the best I've ever had. I love the combination options at lunch and usually go for the buffalo chicken sandwich, tomato soup and wedge salad. Their bread is the perfect mixture of crunchy and soft. At dinner the savory pancake with short rib makes my mouth water as soon as I smell it. I also love that they have an amazing selection of local beers and liquors. Then the beautiful atmosphere...really, I can't get enough. Adore this place!
(5)
Georgie K.
The setting is lovely, inviting and has a lot of character. Someone put in a lot of thought presenting this restaurant. This place easily accommodates large groups. That being said they have some quirks to work on. The food was pretty good. The prices were a bit high for what you get and the portion size. I ordered the Brussels sprouts which were delicious, but were Luke warm/cold. That dish was $8.00 for a essentially a side of vegetables. I also got the beef tenderloin small plate. It was Delicious and perfectly cooked, but it was three chunks of meat on kabob stick with some salad greens with pomegranates in it. That was $12.00. I knew it was going to be small, but not that small. The mash potatoes were perfect. Friends at the table did not care for the rock fish and thought the portabella dish was okay. The service was okay. The server was nice, but was inconsistent and inattentive. Drinks were taking a long time and all of our food was coming out at different times. We did not get to eat together even though we ordered everything at the same time and that was the plan.
(3)
Furai X.
I'm not a dinner person (holla' brunch!) but maybe if I had more dining experiences like the one I had at Picnic House, I'd be more inclined to give dinner a shot. The bf and I had an absolutely wonderful time here. Since we made reservations for an earlier time slot, we were seated right away. The servers attentively tended to our drinks and our meals were extremely well prepared. The stuffed portobello with polenta was one of the best entree's I've had. The bf also enjoyed his porkshop and our shared roasted cauliflowers (a wee bit spicier than expected). We both ordered a signature cocktail which enhanced our already great experience.
(5)
Annie b.
Phenomenal!!! Great soup salad sandwich menu. Love the turkey sandwich with apples. Amazing salads with ripe berries and nuts...Warm chocolate chip cookies with a shot of milk was yummmm. Decor and ambience are modern and quirky, with crazy high ceilings, fancy presentation of food, big portions, seemed fancy but still felt casual. A dichotomy of sorts. Wonderful place.
(5)
Taralee L.
Tomato soup and grilled cheese! It's perfection! My only complaint is that we tried to go to dinner there last night after reading reviews and craving the said "tomato soup and grilled cheese" and they were closed for a private party after we walked all the way down there.
(4)
Lena H.
LOVE this place. So glad I found it! Lunch was fantastic....try the sampler of 3 items for $15. The service is wonderful and the interior feels like you stepped inside a storybook. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Hana F.
Good food and a super Portland hipster vibe. The service was pretty slow, but overall a solid experience. It gets a bit busy so it's probably smart to have reservations. Looking for a hip tasty Portland meal? This could be the spot for you. Having said that, it's pretty overpriced for what the food tastes like, and the service isn't good. Oh well.
(3)
Susan K.
This restaurant is a real find! We had a marvelous dinner. The chef is wonderfully creative and the dishes are equal to or better than those in some of the best Bay Area restaurants.
(5)
Ehow C.
A new year, a new restaurant to try! Picnic House is literally a block away from the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, which makes it ideal for a pre-concert dinner. We had made reservations for 6:30, though were slow to be seated due to the busy house that night. Once we were seated, our server was very attentive and friendly. We started off with some addictive garlic bread and wonderfully balanced and delicious drinks (Moulin Rouge, Smashing Pumpkin, McMule). The beef tenderloin small plate was fantastic, but we only wished that it came in an entree size. Alas, life is not fair. Despite coming an hour before the concert, our entrees weren't coming out fast enough before concert start. Luckily, the management catered to our schedule and we had five minutes to finish eat our tasty molasses salmon with quinoa and chorizo/prawn polenta. My only regret is not letting them know sooner, so we could savor the food longer and possibly have gotten dessert as well. Overall, it was a great time and delicious food. Definitely try a drink here, and the food will keep you sticking around.
(5)
Zach G.
Delicious salads and a fantastic atmosphere with a friendly staff. Highly recommend it for a late lunch.
(5)
Laura L.
I am totally 5-starring the interior design. Did you ever see "They Might be Giants" with George C. Scott as a 'mental patient' who thought he was Sherlock holmes and Joann Woodward was Dr. Watson - anyway remember how the 70's saw the Victorian era? Like wicker and birdcages and old books and pennyfarthings- well it's kinda like that but not really, but that's the closest I can come to explaining. Stopped in for dessert and coffee on Saturday afternoon. I got the chocolate pudding with brulee'd marshmellows and graham cracker crumbs - get it? it's a gooey s'more. It was so rich I made it thru about half. Dark, not too sweet, solid chocolate pudding with graham cracker crumbs on top and 3 toasted marshmallows on a skewer (mallows? Mellows? whatevs). My partner in dessert ordered the Pavlova and was expecting one of those tiny ramikin sized dealies - but no this was a dinner plate sized pile of whipped cream with shredded mint on top, on top of a huge meringue, with fresh berries sprinkled all about. Gut-busting sugar and air. It was beautiful. I want to go back for happy hour or lunch or anything really. Cocktails look amazing but are pretty spendy ($8 to $15). Only complaint? my coffee was old. Late saturday afternoon 4 hr old sitting in the airpot lukewarm and thick. But I was so impressed by everything else i barely noticed. Staff was awesome and cheerful. Anyway! Go forth and Picnic!
(5)
Alex D.
The Picnic House did not disappoint! Loved the atmosphere, servers were great, and the food was scrumptious. I'd highly recommend giving one of their signature drinks a try. Those cocktail engineers over at the bar know what they're doing. (I had the Gardenhead and it was BOMB.)
This place is amazing! Came here for lunch, in a large group of 9. They were very accomodating with the last minute reservation, speedy service and friendly, welcoming environment. Their lunch menu hosts a variety of different options for sandwiches, salads and soups with an option of a combination of two or all of the three for a very reasonable price! I had the combo with half a Shaved Turkey sandwich and half of the Farfalla Pasta, both very delicious! Would definitely reccommend either, even both :). We came around 11:30am right before the lunch traffic hit. There were plenty of empty table when we arrived but it started to get really busy a little past noon.
(5)
Deanna T.
Food was ok, a little heavy for my taste. Soups where the best thing I had on the menu. Tried my friends mushroom soup, pretty good one of the best mushroom soups I've ever had. I had the tomato soup which is good, but just as good as Boudin's SF (my fave for tomato soup). My entree was the steak with quinoa polenta which was OK, a little too heavy for my taste. As far as customer service goes... my friends both ordered a cocktail called the Seelbach and thought it was disgusting, I tried it and thought it tasted like gross cough medicine. My friends TRIED to finish the drink after all they did order it, but because I have many years in the restaurant and hospitality industry I told my friends to let the waitress know that the drink was not very good. The waitress told us maybe it just wasn't their palette, which could be true but I told her that maybe the restaurant might appreciate customer feedback. In my background I would have told my manager and maybe seeing if they could do something about it. In the end, my friends ended up ordering a different drink and still tipping the waitress 20%. I think she might have also been the hostess though. Maybe she doesn't have a lot of customer or guest experience. Also gave us a crappy table in front with the air conditioner blowing on us, on a chilly day.
(2)
Trevor H.
The menu is quite small, but don't underestimate what's on it! I highly recommend the salmon with asparagus risotto as well as the grilled cheese with tomato soup! They definitely exceeded expectations! The ambience is on point to say the least, and make sure to stop in at Barlows (which is connected) for a before or after dinner drink!
(5)
Troy S.
Just another stop on our Portland trip. This place was awesome- very cool ambiance, awesome wait staff, and amazing food/dessert. I recommend the salmon and the chicken. And for dessert be sure to try the grilled pound cake!
(5)
Ankur B.
In brief: The Picnic House serves upscale, moderately pricey delicious cocktails and entrees in a Prohibition Era ambiance. I am no stranger to upscale restaurants after having spent time in Boston, London and New York City. I had two house cocktail ($5 per), a mixed green salad with fresh berries and a fig vinaigrette and salmon seasoned with Anaheim peppers and a strawberry sauce. Suffice it to say, if I had the same in NYC, I would have not have paid $45... The salmon was perfectly cooked and melted in the mouth with a slight tartness from the strawberry providing a nice counterbalance. The salad was large but not overly filling (probably enough if you're not too hungry and want to add fried eggs, duck or chicken). After seeing a bunch of reviews, I had the grilled pound cake - why the hell don't we have this on the East Coast? The cake is lightly grilled with a lemon curd, mint and amaretto whipped cream leaving an unparalleled pairing... Get it... Now! Best of all, it wasn't packed and the food was served quickly (Thursday after Happy Hour) for me to squeeze it in before a red eye. A great way to end a jaunt to Stumptown.
(5)
Kelly D.
I was visiting Portland from Seattle and needed a place to grab a quick bite and wait for rush hour traffic to die down. I really lucked out by coming to this place- I am hard pressed to find a restaurant in Seattle that could hold a candle to the ambiance in this place. It's built in the lobby of a former hotel and there is no detail spared- from the vintage letterpress plates lining the stairs to the stuffed monocle-wearing bear head to the moss art that hangs at the entrance. I felt like I stepped into a page out of Alice in Wonderland. Not only that but the beers on tap were all local Oregon beers- a treat for me being from out of town. All the waiters were attentive and were truly passionate about the food- I ordered the grilled cheese, the beef tenderloin and the roasted cauliflower and each dish on its own was fantastic. I will definitely make this a regular stop for future visits to PDX.
(5)
Austin P.
I've been here for lunch a couple times, and their lunch menu is soup, salads, and sandwiches. The food is delicious, and if you like trying different things, they have the Pick 2 and Pick 3 options. However, when considering what you get for the price, there are better options in the area.
(3)
Daniel B.
We flew into Portland Friday evening and walked over to Picnic House after some quick yelp research. Such an awesome restaurant with a good vibe and really nice service. The brussel sprouts are insane! ...along with the beet salad and pork chop.
(5)
Jessica K.
The Picnic House is just lovely. It's one of those places that makes dining out in Portland a unique experience. We didn't even know this place was here until searching for a happy hour the other evening. Upon entering, it was like stumbling into an enchanting period piece film. Very fun. The only thing that didn't come up is that we showed up for happy hour, but no mention was made of it and no menus were presented. Alas, we were already entranced by the entree menu. The food is American Style with its own flair. We started with their scrumptious garlic bread and mushroom soup. From the minute we poured that rich, dark soup from the pitcher into the bowl, it was heaven. Bowl-licking good really. I had the pumpkin gnocchi and it was fantastic. The bf devoured his prawns and chorizo with polenta. Prices are a touch on the high side, but the food and experience balance it out. The libations are quite tantalizing, I opted for a gin concoction with Pfriem Wit, which was interesting. My guy went for the Sazerac. We could have tried several more, but it was a work night. If you are looking for an evening with a touch of whimsy, look no further than The Picnic House.
(4)
Douglas O.
Unbelievable food. Was in Portland and it was close to the hotel -- turned out to be an absolute highlight of the trip. The black truffle lasagne is remarkable, and the chocolate truffle bar is INCREDIBLE. Loved the food, the ambiance, the service -- and the prices are extremely reasonable too. I would almost go back to Portland just to dine there again. Great job Picnic House!
(5)
Carol C.
Awesome place with great service! I was recovering from a weekend of gluttonous out-of-control eating, so I demurely had a soup (wild mushroom) and brussels sprouts. They were both good, but the brussels sprouts (with bacon!) were too bitter for me. The mocktail, however, was amazing! I told the bartender via the waiter that I like either ginger + bourbon/scotch cocktails or St Germaine + grapefruit juice cocktails. He whipped up something that had ginger beer, lemon, honey, and rose water (essence?), among other things. It's usually disappointing when a 'mocktail' tastes like regular juice, but this one actually tasted like a fun cocktail. Win! Other pluses: Since it was a bachelorette party, they gave us free dessert - s'more pudding, yum! One of the girls had the short ribs and they were too salty for her, so she left most of it uneaten. The waiter noticed and insisted on comping it. So nice! We made sure to leave an extra large tip. Our bachelorette mentioned that the grilled cheese was the best she'd ever had. The decor is also fun and classy. A bear head above the bar with a top hat and spectacle. A large wooden slab table (communal?). What looked like stamped patterns (including a T Rex) tiled backwards on certain walls and the stairway so that the bottom part stuck out, giving the walls and stairway a nice texture and look.
(4)
Glenn L.
I had the spring veg soup and the pan fried salmon dish. Both were yummy! and filling. The strawberry,onion,aneheim relish was too sweet though. The ambiance is great with subtle lighting and 20s-30s jazzy music playing. Looking forward to trying other fare on their menu. Friendly staff, and rather fast service.
(4)
Olivia O.
Very cute dinner/lunch spot, a stone's throw from the Schnitz and walking distance from PSU. My husband and I popped in here on a rainy Friday night. First of all, insanely cute, very big, and a bit slow. We stood in the doorway for maybe a few minutes before someone noticed us. This may be a problem because we noticed several couples, even a small group of people, pop into the restaurant, wait at the "to be seated" sign, and then leave because no one bothered to check out the front of the house. The waitress welcomed us and promptly left to go set us up a table next to a loudly shrieking baby. Wait a minute - the restaurant is half empty. My husband and I both agreed, there was no way in hell we were going to sit where she was setting us up. There is loads of space in every direction - why would you sit us next to someone having a parent-child meltdown? When she came back we asked her if we could sit literally anywhere else. She looked confused so we pointed at a table with plush seats near the front of the house. She obliged but said it would take time for them to clean that table. That's fine, but lord this place is slow. She could have just maybe waited two seconds before cleaning the first table when she greeted us? The menu looks amazing. When we started looking at our options we got dizzy with choices. They have a seasonal menu with all sorts of regional goods - we saw salmon, wild boar, pumpkin gnocchi, oven roasted chicken, garlic bread. We went with some garlic bread appetizer and both ended up ordering the wild boar over noodles for our main dinner. And then we made the mistake of ordering tea to start us off with. The restaurant has lovely tea cups. There is a miniature tea pot that sits directly over your tea cup. Brew in your pot, pour into your cup. But when we wanted milk or sugar it took fifteen minutes of waiting before we just got up and asked a random waiter if he could just oblige us. They put the milk in an espresso cup, which I guess this is a minor thing but it created a big mess - they didn't have a little milk jug or something with a lip/spout. It's extremely difficult to measure out how much milk you want from an espresso cup, especially when they've given you one espresso cup for two people's worth of tea. Aside from the mess we made trying to drink our tea, the food was amazing. Not the restaurant's fault, but the shrieking baby in the middle of the restaurant continued to lose its shit for the entire time we were there. The baby was there before we got there, and the family seated with it didn't look like they were leaving by the time we paid up and left. It seems really inconsiderate, not just to other patrons but to the baby who is clearly suffering and doesn't want to be there anymore or might need something that can in no way be provided in a downtown restaurant. Again the restaurant was a bit slow. We thought about dessert and even told a waiter we wanted to see a dessert menu. We waited and waited, watched a few people pop in and leave when no one sat them promptly, and then we realized it was probably best we stop while we're ahead. The wild boar was so perfect we didn't want our evening to sour listening to a stranger's baby shriek for another hour. By the time the waiter came back we told him it took them so long to get back to us we were ready to leave. We paid a fairly reasonable price for our dinners (I think it roughly $15/plate, for some of the best wild boar I've had in ages). We walked home in the rain and filled up on ice cream back at our apartment. We definitely want to come back again, maybe just sit down right away and tell a waiter later when they notice we're there. I recommend showing up and being a bit pushy because the staff might forget you're there. Order right away or go flag down a waiter the second you scan one in vicinity (probably they will be turned away from you, deliberately avoiding any and all eye contact). Tell the waiter what you want and as soon as they serve the food ask for the check. You will eat a superb meal and you can thank me later for the little trick I've just taught you. I'm sure Picnic House will ease its bumps in the road as it finds its place as a restaurant. This is only the beginning. I'm delighted to try what they serve me next.
(4)
Ike W.
If your in Portland you have to visit Picnic House! Every time I visit (dinner or lunch) I am impressed with the quality and preparation of the food. They have a great atmosphere in a incredible historical building in downtown Portland. Their whole menu is fantastic but I would recommend their cast iron chicken breast or maple-brined pork chop and their pavlova dessert is to die for.
(5)
Fred E.
What can I say. Slow wretched service. We had a show at the Schnitzer at 7:30 pm and our reservation was at 6 pm. We immediately ordered appetizers and drinks...those came out in a timely fashion. At 6:30 the server took the order for our mains. We said we had the show and what would be easy on the kitchen. She suggested salads or salmon. In the meantime more drinks were ordered and came out sporadically. At 7:20 the bill arrived, because some other girl heard we were in a hurry, but still no food. And they added gratuity!!! At 7:30 we were racing into the Schnitzer, having to wait until there was a break to enter...and no we never received our mains courses. It was a mess. Had we not been in a group and I would have set some people straight in short order. Yes the appetizers were tasty, but we will not be back. There are too many good restaurants in this area (Higgens, Nel Centro, Raven and Rose, etc) without horrific service. In addition there were charges for food not received (what a surprise).
(1)
Michael S.
I'm as critical as there is out there, I don't give out five stars very often, in fact, I don't think I have given out five stars on yelp but this place rocks!! Get the salmon, whatever you do, get the salmon!! Moist and flavorful all three times I've been there. Steak is awesome, salads are awesome, drinks are awesome. The waitress, wish I could remember her name, knew her sh*&t. The bartender came over and described many of the ingredients in the drinks, as we do not keep up on these things. I know, not very descriptive but the five stars should say it all. I thought this place was trying a bit to hard when I first got there but they made me forget my bias against pretentiousness and I joined in. Great atmosphere, great staff. I'd marry this place if I could. It's that good!
(5)
Emily M.
Yummy food! Good service, nice decor. We were a party of seven so we tried a lot of things. Mushroom Soup was very good and charcuterie plate was really good and well served. A friend ordered the beets side and wasn't bad. Another ordered a salad and it looked fun and colorful but I didn't try it We all ordered either the wild boar or the steak. Wild boar was good, but the steak was fabulous I ordered it Med Rare and it was perfect!! Other people that ordered the steak were also impressed. I will definitely recommend this place and try to visit again in the near future.
(4)
Joel T.
I randomly wandered into this restaurant for lunch on a beautiful Monday afternoon. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect based on the name. I thought maybe picnic tables, baskets, and cold food were in store. It turns out to have an old timey, sort of classy speakeasy feel in a large open space with lots of wooden features, cool wall decor, and 20's music playing. I really enjoyed the ambiance as it made my handlebar moustache feel right at home. The lunch menu was mainly soups, salads, and sandwiches all of which had an intriguing flare. I went for the half sandwich and salad combo picking the chicken and bacon sandwich with the brown rice salad. It was a little pricey for lunch at $12 but turned out to be a lot of food. The half sandwich was easily sizable enough for me to consider it a full sandwich. The side salad wasn't too small either. The flavor of both we're amazing. The sandwich was on a hard toasted bun which gave it a nice crunch. The creamy aioli dressing, salty bacon, and roasted chicken flavors combined deliciously. I found myself going back and forth between bites of sandwich and salad without stopping until the plate was empty. I was very impressed. If you have a large moustache that is still partially filling in be careful not to pull the lower hairs into your mouth when breaking into the bread. It gets messy. My only suggestion would be to decrease the serving size slightly and reduce the price to $8 or so. That would make it much more manageable for frequent lunch visits and be just the right amount of food. Overall a job well done. Check it out!
(5)
Cathleen F.
So Disappointed, Reading all the Reviews, and with the recommendation of our Hotel concierge & Yelp, my companions and I made our way. The Decor is darling, it really looks like picnic settings, eclectic type Decor! It took awhile for our waiter to appear, which would be the case though out the meal. We started off with the meat and cheese board, it was good with a great selection of cheese. The 2 Stars really had to do with the food, we all order different meals. I ordered the Pork Chop, which might have been good, but it was DRY, Overcooked and to top it off Cold! All of our meals were luke to cold! I had to send the pork chop back, the waiter said I'll take it off your bill and scampered away. I'm still hungry! Hello..... Bueller? When he re-appeared I asked if I could order the soup, unfortunately it was luke/cold too! Whats going on here? The Staff was not friendly, and I felt like I was putting out my waiter. Hopefully this was just a one night off......... Sadly I won't be returning, not interested in a second try!
(2)
Marissa O.
Great food, fun vibe, decent price. I went for lunch and got the combo which included the tomato soup, iceberg wedge salad, and grilled cheese. I know that sounds pretty ordinary, but the food tasted really good. The tomato soup had olive oil drizzle and the grilled cheese was made with caramelized onions. You could choose a cup of soup, half sandwich, and half salad for only $15. Your bill comes in an old book. I loved the decor of the place, although over the bar there is a stuffed bear head wearing a top hat and monocle...
(4)
Veneta N.
After all the raving reviews I read I was sceptical but The Picnic House definitely lives up to hype. I visited just after they re-open at 5pm and it was quiet and relaxing. The place itself is very nicely done. The Mushroom soup is heavenly. The staff were great in making my late lunch a very enjoyable experience. Highly recommend it
(5)
Chad H.
Ok, This might really be 3.5 stars but I will give it the benefit because too few people know about this little gem of a place. First of all, imagine an old hotel lobby (thats what is was years ago) converted into a picnic space, espresso house, restaurant and bar. Toss in some fun decorations (including a bear in a monocle and bowler hat and a stairway covered in license plates) and you have a quirky great warm space to dine in. The food? Well, the breads are always fresh in the sandwiches and the portions are just right. I love their poached shrimp sandwich with a cup of soup for lunch. Their happy hour is amazing - great drinks and their cheese plate has inspired many conversations among friends - it was that good! I would recommend meeting friends before a performance at the Schnitz, entertaining out of town guests from the Heathman or the Hilton, sneaking away from the rain at the saturday market or pre-movie. This place will wow your friends who have walked by for years and never set foot inside (which was my case for a couple of years). The service has always been very good here and I have yet to bring someone new who didn't declare it one of their new downtown favorites. Take a step into this eclectic space and enjoy.
(4)
M P.
Loved this restaurant. Everything was excellent -- cocktail, appetizer, entree, dessert, service. Terrific menu and upscale casual atmosphere. I was visiting Portland and stumbled upon this place via Yelp, so thank you for leading me here!
(5)
Justin G.
Lunch was nice, I enjoyed the mushroom soup and Italian meat sandwich. Great space but a little on the chilly side. Service was mediocre as we didn't see our waitress again after she dropped off our food. Also, for an upscale joint you would think that they would have some descent silverware. It felt like I was using a spoon from a diner. All-in-all it was an ok experience as the food outweighed service. We will return at some point.
(3)
Kelsey D.
I'm not sure I could possibly love this restaurant any more! Delicious food, even better cocktails, and the most perfect decor makes for a terrific Portland dining experience!
(5)
Jennifer F.
Really enjoyed the atmosphere, although a bit noisy at times. Very unique setting and decor. I loved it, very Portland. Food was amazing and reasonably priced. Two drinks, one small plate, two grilled cheese (with soup) and a dessert to share was about $65. Service was excellent. I recommend their bar next door Barlow for a more intimate setting, also great service (everything is order at bar).
(5)
Keith B.
Had to make sure I still had both of my shoes...could have sworn they were feeding me one and calling it a steak...
(1)
Chrissy S.
Good food and drinks. Great service, friendly staff. Burger was good and tastey, the Elvis dessert was phenomenal
(4)
Rachel M.
The reason I am giving The Picnic House an 3/5 is the service. The food was pretty great. The hostess asked if we had a reservation, and when we said we didn't, she had us wait for 15 minutes saying the server was too busy for us (he had one table of 8, and one table of 2). There was nowhere to sit to wait for our table, so we asked if we could be seated at the table and wait there. She said that wasn't an option, so 15 minutes later we were seated. We sat for about 10 minutes before anyone even came over to get our drink order. The hostess walked by us multiple times - she definitely could have taken a drink order, no? Or maybe another waiter? Took another 10 min to get our drinks and a while for our food. At any rate, we were only in Portland for 1 day and we wanted to try the food that everyone says is amazing. It definitely was. I've written more about the food and our experience on my blog, with photos - nom-nomla.com
(3)
Andrew B.
This place is great. You will want to place a reservation before coming though. About seven groups of people were turned down (even though there seemed to be tables open) because they were booked for lunch on a Wednesday. I ended up getting a half sandwich and a half salad and the portion sizes were a great deal for what you were paying.
(5)
Maggie C.
Full disclosure: I never actually got the chance to eat here, the hostess was just that terrible. (Yes, I know, I'm writing one of those reviews that are not actually about the food. Usually when I see this type of review I dismiss it on the assumption that the author is a grumpy troll with unreasonable expectations. But I thought this was a pretty significant negative and wanted to share) It's Thursday at 12:45 pm and my mom and I wanted to try out The Picnic House. I'm hosting a private party in a few months and the venue looked perfect. We were so excited to scope out the space and food. There were two groups ahead of us when we got there, which wasn't a problem at all. The hostess wasn't around when we walked in, but we saw her bustling around clearing tables. We kept trying to make eye contact with her but she was preoccupied. Still, not a problem. After about 15 minutes of waiting, a group of 4 walked in and right as the hostess appeared. She greeted them and put their name down. Still, this was not really a problem, perhaps she thought we were part of another group. My mom stepped up and said that we've been waiting for awhile and asked to put her name down for 2. This is where it got surprising...The hostess snarked back "When I ask for names I expect you to come put your names down". My mom, take aback, "Oh, hmm, we've been waiting for 15 minutes and you haven't spoken to the area once." Hostess, aggressively: "It is your responsibility to put your name down. Do you want to put your name down now?" Mom, shocked "No, no thanks." I hope this get's back to the Picnic House leadership---the tall hostess was strangely aggressive and unwelcoming. What a bizarre experience. Definitely will not host my dinner there- it's not worth the risk of subjecting my friends and family to such surliness.
(1)
Sarah S.
Had the curry pumpkin soup and grilled cheese. After a long day of travel it hit the spot. Good comfort.
(5)
Laura P.
Ate there Friday night. We were cheerfully greeted and seated. Our Waitress was really great, cheerful, knew the menu and the drink menu inside and out. We started with their version of a Manhattan. WOW, it was an amazing drink. We shared several small plates, starting with the artisanal cheese plate. It was very good. The bread they served was the best baguette I've ever had, It was warm, very light and airy on the inside and the crust melted in your mouth. None of that tugging where you think that you may pull some teeth getting through the bread. It was unbelievable. Next we had the Grilled Watermelon. It was very imaginative. The Mixed greens and berry salad was very good. The toasted cinnamon honey almond were really good as was the house made ricotta and pickled blueberry vinaigrette. Don't forget to add the Maple Duck Drumstick. It was out of this world! We finished with the Pan Fried rockfish. It was on of the highlights of the meal. Very flaky, delicate and yummy served with green chile and strawberry relish. We finished the meal with the Grilled pound cake with lemon curt, fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Two coffees with cream were the perfect finishing touches to a most satisfying meal. The location was charming and perfect for a romantic meal or a great meal before a show at the Schnitzer. Next week they will have Grab and Go picnics available. You can even rent the picnic basket. It's an amazing little find, don't miss this one!
(5)
Jenny H.
Great place to eat and catch up with some friends. I came for lunch on Saturday and was happy to find that it's not crowded at all. I hate waiting a long time to get seated and then even longer to get your food. For lunch they just have sandwiches, salads, and soups. I was feeling indecisive until I saw their great combo options of 1/2 sandwich, 1/2 salad, and cup of soup for $15. Perfect because I could try a little of everything. Don't get fooled by their "1/2" commend though because I thought the portions were quite big. WILD MUSHROOM SOUP : Soo delicious!! I'm a huge mushroom fan and this soup was perfect for me. Super rich mushroom taste and not too heavy with the cream flavoring. I would come back just for the soup. NUTTY BROWN RICE SALAD : Sounded interesting and was highly recommended on yelp. Definitely a good choice. Arugula with sweet potato, roasted cauliflower, and brown rice all mixed in with a hazelnut vinaigrette sauce. Yummy! CITRUS POACHED SHRIMP SANDWICH : They have the option of a cold sandwich or toasted and I chose toasted of course. Sandwich was very good with large pieces of shrimp and loved the celery and herbs. My complaint would be there was too much aioli but I'm guessing that's only my problem since I don't like mayo/aioli sauces too much and wouldn't have ordered it if I realized it was mixed into the shrimp.
(4)
Jenni D.
There is so much satisfaction in crossing something off from your "Foodie To-Do List" - and The Picnic House was one of those spots for me. I'd been wanting to try this place for several months, so I was excited to take my friend here when she was in town visiting. The ambiance is cool and subtle... with a kind of steam-punk themed decor. The menu is simple and there are tons of drink options for those in search of tasty libations. The Warm Beets are the perfect starter, and will leave you wanting more. The Roasted Butternut Squash Soup felt like a warm fire on a cold night. The experience is positively aromatic and delightful. I'm looking forward to trying the Pumpkin Gnocchi next time :)
(4)
Stacey G.
This was a fabulous find and I am super excited. I came for lunch and the place filled up really quickly after we got there. Had a sandwich and a salad and they were both just delicious. I have added this place into my regular go to list.
(4)
Sharon G.
Have been a few times before, love the decor and fact that it was previously the Heathman. Food had been good but not great but the other night we had a great meal, the mushroom lasagna was exquisite, one of those dishes you will crave again and again. Love the repurposed printing plates throughout, wish I had a few of those beauties!
(4)
Stephanie L.
Pleasant dining experience. Went for my 38th birthday (we took our 4yr old daughter and 7yr old son). Started with the cheese plate and charcuterie plate. Both were great but thought there was much more cheese than meat products. Had butter lettuce salad which was good (bacon excellent) but somewhat hard to eat in the dish it is in. Son had the salmon which had great flavor but was over cooked (which was fine for him, but for a salmon junkie would have been sad). Husband had chicken which he said was over cooked. Hard to eat the veggies/potatoes under the dishes. My grilled cheese and tomato soup were amazing! I loved it! We had grilled pound cake and s'mores pudding for dessert. They were both excellent. So all in all if it were just me rating the restaurant, I would give it a strong 4 but because of the rest if my family's feedback we are in the 3 star area.
(3)
Brad D.
This is a dream destination for foodies. I love the grilled cheese with caramelized onions. I've also had the steak and the mixed greens chicken salad. The grilled pound cake is scrumptious, but the cheesecake is absolutely decadent. The servers and staff are all eager to please and super friendly.
(5)
Mike S.
I had just some apps and a quick drink here with a co-worker mini meeting, But the atmosphere is rustic and smelled of rich Oaks and Timbers. Our server was totally cool and laid back. Next time I forget my basket, I'm going here for a picnic.
(4)
Bethany R.
Just...nice. The pumpkin soup with cranberry cream starter was much better than the stuffed portobello entree. Enjoyable dinner with good company, but truthfully only two dishes from our table of seven really seemed worth ordering a second time.
(3)
Gabe W.
I met a friend here for dinner and had a very nice experience. The restaurant was relatively quiet at dinner time, which leads me to believe that it has more of a lunch time crowd.
(4)
Mira K.
This place is just terrific! Great ambiance with wonderful beer and wine selection, and the service was too notch. We loved everything we had here, beginning with their beef tenderloin with pomegranates - so good and refreshing! We also ordered their potatoes, which were some of the best we have had. They do something magical to them to mash them, then crisp the outside and leave a pillowy inside and serve with some amazing blue cheese sauce. Awesome. For entrees, we shared the grilled cheese with carmelized onions, which sounds a little odd but was just amazing. We also had their mushroom soup, which was very flavorful and earthy. The highlight of an already delightful meal was the pork with bread pudding, and it was off the charts amazing. The pork was perfectly prepared with a perfectly complimentary sauce and perfect bread pudding. Did I mention it was perfect? We were lucky to stumble into this place with amazing food and very reasonable prices! Two drinks, two appetizers and two entrees set us back about $75 including tip. I will definitely be back and would recommend to anyone looking for a great night out!
(5)
Troy W.
Picnic house is an upgrade on any sandwich I've ever had. You can't go wrong with anything on the food or drink menu. My service was friendly and fast enough. The atmosphere is very eclectic and not too busy. I like the area too, touristy but not too bad. I had what I would call BLT with aioli. The Sharab cocktail was a great addition to my lunch.
(5)
Tonya H.
Everyone is awesome! Great food! A must go! Thanks a lot to Phillip today and our guy bartender yesterday for going above and beyond. :) I really loved the tomato soup with basil cream and their bacon in the salads and Bloody Mary.
(5)
Shez P.
PH was probably our best overall meal/experience on our most recent trip to PDX. It was my gf's bday wknd and since most establishment's were closed due to the snow storm, finding PH was a very pleasant surprise. We had lunch, my gf had the cauliflower soup and the brown rice salad which she could not get enough of! Her meal was accompanied by a yummy porter that was on tap. I had the cream of tomato soup and the fig butter and prosciutto sandwich, which reinforced my belief that Swine is Devine! I had the Seelbach cocktail which was fantastic. The bar tender even let me try a little of the Temperance bourbon (local). the service was great and the space was very cool as well. We'd definitely come back the next time we're in PDX!
(5)
Michelle A.
LOVED the atmosphere and all the details of the place. Went for happy hour, the small amount of food we ate was very good. Service was attentive. All in all a great place. Would definitely go back.
(4)
Phillip H.
Wonderful experience all the way around. Wife and I were in PDX for a night, which happened to be Valentine's Day. Spontaneously picked PH for dinner. They featured a prix fixe four course menu, pairing optional. The cheese and charcuterie starter was delightfully savory with a nice pinot blanc. Salads, a lemon caesar and a berries with spring mix, came with soup shots. The mushroom soup was lovely. This course featured a subtle pinot gris, which we liked better than the sweet blanc. My wife had the salmon over quinoa and black rice, which she loved, especially paired with the pinot noir. I enjoyed the maple-brined pork chop entree. The brining made the chop unbelievably tender and moist. Just luscious. Competing for its attention, though, was a savory cheddar apple bread pudding. Baked to perfection, it was fantastically indulgent. A robust malbec was well-paired. Dinner closed with gewurtztraminer and a dessert trio, the standout of which was an espresso shot poured over a small scoop of hazelnut ice cream. As good as our meals were, Picnic House's atmosphere, decor, and pace were equally enjoyable. Live music from womenwithstandards.com just the right mood. The servers have so much personality and good spirit. The print plates and paintings against the dark woods art deco tiles were arty and quirky in just the right ways. Topping all of that off, we had a great conversation with Aaron, the owner, as he was straightening and preparing to close for the evening. His passion for his wife's work (she's the executive chef, interior designer, and painted some of the wall art) was very evident, as was his commitment to providing a great restaurant experience. Overall, we spent a very satisfying 3 hours there, and look forward to doing so again.
(5)
Rosemary S.
Very disappointing. The Valentine's Day weekend menu was limited, overpriced and everyone at our table was disappointed. The side dishes were inedible. My cocktail was $13 and barely had an ounce of liquor in it - reminded me of a dollhouse sized glass. I typically love this place. I will say that the service was excellent all around. Also, the fried brussell sprouts appetizer was delicious.
(1)
Terry O.
We had a series of small plates and we were delighted and full and best of all enjoyed sharing. A very nice place!
(4)
Karen K.
I think the food good the prices are fair. Different atmosphere. I think that is the reason for the three stars. I did not like sitting so close to the other tables and the wait staff was hovering . Not private enough for me.
(3)
Will E.
The Picnic House was an absolutely amazing find on my trip to Portland! My server, Emily, was a complete delight, and kept me feeling at ease the entire time I was in the restaurant. She was probably the nicest waitress I've ever had. Speaking of superlatives, I also had the best cocktail of my life at The Picnic House. It's a seasonal drink called the Vernal Equinox, and it was so refreshing and tasty, I had to force myself not to order another (and then another). I also tried their Moulin Rouge, which is a sweeter cocktail (not usually my thing), but it was absolutely delicious! So if at all possible, get Emily as your server. If not, the wonderful atmosphere and great tasting food is well worth the trip. Can't wait to go back to see what seasonal cocktails there'll be for summer!
(5)
Tom D.
Our office is at 4th & Alder, and we ventured here the other day because we were tired of all of the old stand-bys closer to the office. When you walk in for the first time, it's impossible to ignore the decor. It's obvious someone spent a lot of time putting together an interior that is both visually interesting and cozy. Most importantly, the extremely high ceilings make the place seem open and welcoming. I ordered the green salad with a duck drumette as well as the mushroom soup. Everything was excellent. Portion sizes were small if you're comparing them to Denny's, but were perfect for me, and the food prices were totally reasonable. (Drinks seemed reasonably priced too, but watch out for the surprise $15 cocktail on the drink list!) Lastly, the service was amazing. Our waitress was instantly warm and welcoming, had a great sense of humor, and expertly helped me navigate the menu. If I had one complaint, it would be that it took a little while to get our check, but we were there at an awkward time in the late afternoon, and my party was involved in a vigorous debate at the time, so I think the staff perhaps just didn't want to interrupt. We will definitely be back, and I'll keep this place in mind for lunch meetings due to the ample space available.
(5)
Dylan G.
Exceptional food, great service and really lovely atmosphere. I think my only complaint, and this is because I work in film, is that the upper area lights are daylight balanced fluorescents and everywhere else they use tungsten. Fixing those lights would be a great atmospheric improvement. Just throw some 'CTO' gels over them. The food and service make up for it. I'll return here for sure.
(5)
Ed H.
Nice farm to table place with some interesting dishes in a pleasant decor and with friendly service. We came here with a group on a Saturday night. No problem making the reservation. We shared a nice Pinot Noir. We shared the cheese selection and a salad to start. Both were very good. I had a cup of the mushroom soup, it was very tasty. Several of us had the bass. It was served over asparagus and had an unusual strawberry glaze which ended up being delish. Others had the chicken breast in a skillet and the grilled cheese and tomato soup, both of which were reported as excellent. We split a pound cake and s'mores for dessert. Both were wonderful. Recommended.
(5)
Allison H.
I really love everything about this place. The decor is awesome - very warm and welcoming and I love the larger communal tables for groups. Plus, there is a bear with a monocle over the bar so that's pretty rad. Food is very good - excellent selection of cheeses, fresh baked bread, and the lemon chicken with vegetables and mashed potatoes was excellent. If you are looking for a little sweet bite after - definitely get the milk and cookies; 3 mini chocolate chip cookies and a shot glass of milk. Doesn't get much better than that.
Was surprised by the service (or rather the lack of it) at such a higly rated place on yelp. Agreed the food was definitely good, but taking 45 mins to get me a salmon with vegetable and quinoa rice is way too much time. Also, they took 10 mins to get us seated even though we had a reservation. I would have liked to gone back and tried the other dishes but don't want to spend two hours waiting for my dish to arrive.
(3)
Cleveland B.
My girlfriend and I came to visit Portland from Los Angeles for her birthday and with our 4 day stay this is hands down the best place we ate at. The servers are extremely friendly and all around great people. We stopped in twice because there weren't many places open within walking distance from our hotel (It was, however, snowing... I know, right?) The dishes are fantastic. We had their tomato soup, cauliflower soup, cheese plate, roasted brussel sprouts, buffalo chicken cheese dip. Really simple stuff but it was all food we would probably cook at home and it hit the spot. The decor is cute and it has tons of charm. If I'm ever in Portland this is going to be my place to go downtown.
(5)
chris t.
Had an enjoyable lunch. Service was a bit slow. Had two half sandwiches, grilled cheese and blt with the rice salad.
(4)
Gina R.
The reason for 2 stars ... because "Meh. I truly have experienced better." For starters, I am a hospitality junkie, and customer service goes a long way with me. We were greeted by the hostess who immediately asked of if we had a reservation, in a bit of a snooty way. Just not very welcoming. We had to wait for our table even though several were open. Our server had a sass to him that could have been very fun, but unfortunately came across like he could have really cared less to be honest, and gave the impression that he really just didn't want to be there. He also had a large party at a different table, and that didn't help matters as his attention remained with that table. The ambiance of this place couldn't be cuter, and the name fits so well. It literally looks like a Picnic House! There are strings of lights, "windows" that look like you are standing on the outside of a house, cute quotes, greenery, and you really feel like you are outside. The problem was the food tasted like it literally sat in a picnic basket. I had the stuffed portobello which I would have imagined would have been far more delish had it been warm. My dinner companions had the lemon roasted chicken, the maple brined pork chop, and the short rib over savory pancake. None of the dishes were warm (everything luke warm, and mine was almost cold). The braised beef looked a little dry, but the pork chop was extremely dry to the point where the person that ordered it did let the waiter know. He was kind enough to take the dish off of the check since she didn't really eat it. She then ordered the Roasted Tomato Soup, and it was delicious, but again luke warm. The appetizer we shared was the Artisanal Cheese Plate which was very good! It was only served with one bread loaf which was 5 small pieces for the 4 of us however, and it took 45 minutes to finally get more bread after we asked 3 additional times. The 2nd bread loaf came well after dinner was served. For Dessert, we shared the Grilled Pound Cake and S'more Pudding, and those were the saving grace of my picnicking experience, or this review might have been 1 star.
(2)
Josh T.
Wonderful space and design. Funky, artsy, and very portland. Great reuse of an old building. They host events as well. My nonprofit agency had a fundraiser here for 100 people and they space was perfect and the staff very easy to work with. Sound can be an issue (as in sound system didn't work well) but the food and drinks are top notch. As a restaurant, the lunch specials are great. I love the nutty brown rice salad. Nom Nom Nom.
(4)
Karen C.
Better for lunch than dinner. Great sandwiches. However, the meat dishes tend to outshine anything vegetarian for dinner.
This place is FANTASTIC! I made a reservation on Open Table for a midweek lunch, just based on all the great Yelp reviews. I had the "choose 3" combo of a soup, salad and sandwich, because I honestly could not narrow it down to just one or 2. I cleaned my plate. The atmosphere is nifty- with moss covered stone walls and reclaimed wood tables (yes the chairs aren't very comfortable- but once this food touches your lips, you will forget all about what you are sitting on). Tables of all sizes allow for business lunches, gatherings with friends or just a lunch date. Try the tomato soup- all others pale in comparison to theirs. I also had the grilled cheese with caramelized onions that basically just melted in my mouth. The cocktail menu is also fun and inventive.
(5)
Lisa H.
Oh my....what a treasure! Two meals in two days while we've been visiting Portland. And I could easily eat the rest if my meals here for the duration of my trip. Lunch - soups are awesome! Turkey and apple sandwich amazing. Dinner - Patrick, our waiter was spot on with a wine recommendation. Dinner was perfect and dessert was sublime! Order the toasted lemon pound cake or live to regret it.
(5)
Qiong S.
First meal in Portland! Had to do a takeout because of my needy toddler. The way the salmon tasted blew me away! So good!
(5)
Allie B.
Hostess was surly and flippant. We walked into a 60% empty restaurant (plenty of tables) at 12:40pm and the host refused to seat us because "she has reservations that were coming that needed to be seated" and quoted us with a 20 minute wait. I had to refrain from responding "your reservations are late, we are here and I'm sure your servers would better appreciate you not holding their tables so they can make money." I worked in the service industry for 6 years and I tip 20+ %. If you're a server at TPH, please be aware that your hostess is turning away your business. We walked done the street to SouthPark, the host and server were friendly and courteous and our food was awesome.
(1)
Scot D.
This place is pretty awesome for a lunch spot. I think the deal is you need to make a reservation so to not be disappointed. The menu was great in terms of selection an the ability to do half a sand and salad was perfect. Service great an food perfect. I will return!
We were 4 adults and 3 kids. The place looked empty but they said they wouldn't let is in because we need reservations
(1)
Jennifer S.
Delicious food, quirky and fun presentation, and great space. The cauliflower soup was delicious, the kale chips added a nice crunch. The salmon was perfectly cooked and savory-sweet balanced just right.
(4)
Pechluck L.
The Picnic House has an awesome large airy space between Park and Broadway at 728 SW Salmon Street. It takes its theme of urban picnic and brings it to life in its atmosphere. The decorative elements here combines the classic touches of the natural outdoors (a huge wooden picnic table including chairs of logs and moss simulated on some walls, and the wall behind what appears will soon be a deli area has a scene of tree, river, and forest animals), all while also lining the walls with printing blocks and touches of vintage 1920s Parisian chic with the fabric of the lounge and bar stools and various wall art and fixtures, interplaying all these various textures to add an air of romance and hint of antique treasure. A bear head with a bowler hat and monocle perched and presiding above the bar embodies all of these with a dash of whimsy. It's not often that I find a place that presents such style and character in its atmosphere Everything seems to be of high quality bistro fare you'd find hope to find in the romantic Paris you would drop by in your neighborhood route- homey and smart and elegant all at the same time. Here and there you see a call back to their theme with an actual picnic basket, as well as signage letting you that these straw baskets, fully stocked with plates and silverware and glasses and even a blanket, can be rented by the day + filled with food. The mixed greens with fresh berries, toasted cinnamon honey almonds and house made ricotta with a pickled blueberry vinaigrette had a tart freshness to it balanced by a touch of sweetness from the cinnamon honey. The arugula, roasted corn, spring onion and roasted tomatoes with avocado in a grilled lemon dressing on the other hand offered a piquant peppery contrast with each tomato giving a little burst of ripe sweetness here or there. The dessert was one of the best chocolate cakes we ever had, a chocolate sour cream bundt cake with chocolate ganache that was served slightly warm, with rich milk chocolate in every soft moist bite. And ah, pavlova. Ah, this light airy goodness of egg whites and sugar into meringue with fresh berries and vanilla cream. At first this plate looked intimidating as it is basically the size of a whole pie but then we realized you were being given the best part, the crunchy top half, a thin shell of firmness surrounding an inside that melted in our mouth so quickly that we needed another spoonful carefully balancing crisp bits of meringue with soft vanilla cream and such beautiful sweet strawberry in each bite to extend the rush. I also discovered my favorite two cocktails that the Picnic House offers from their cocktail menu. After trying the lighter cocktail sparklers of the Fleur de Lis and Sauvie on previous visits, this time I welcomed the Moulin Rouge martini with Indio Marionberry infused vodka, Clear Creek Blackberry liqueur, blueberry simple syrup, fresh squeezed lemon and garnished with a pickled blueberry, a combination of sweet with a touch of tart so it was not too sweet. But, my favorite was The Nymph cocktail, both delicate and strong, with Pink Spruce gin, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and a simple syrup muddled with cucumber. Refreshing citrusy but you can feel the magic afterwards!
(5)
Gene M.
The food was so savory. Delicious. But the table was too big. We went there for a large party and you had to yell across the table which was not to my liking. Also they only accepted 3 credit cards per party so we were all struggling with the cash aspect. And gratuity was automatically included on the tab. I think you'll have a great time if you go there with a smaller party 2-4 :)
(3)
Teresa R.
The food was delish and Ty the waiter...divine. Very charming ambiance for a great lunch with a dear friend. Butternut soup with grilled cheese - both above average.
(5)
Niki S.
The ONLY reason I can't give this place the 5th star, is the price- I felt comparatively it was about a dollar-two dollars higher than what I would normally pay. That said, the service, decor, and charming personality of the entire operation makes one forget they are paying an extra buck or two... or at least it did for me. Main dish: I ordered a half salad/half soup combo. Mushroom soup, fresh berry salad. Soup was slightly bland, but very good texture- added a tiny salt and all was well. Creamy and hearty. Salad was good size, the berries and candied nuts together made a great amount of crunch and sweet in the salad. Diet coke with cherry grenadine. HAND MADE, mind you! Talk about OG! Grilled Pound Cake w/whipped cream and some lemon curd, dear lord- this was both dense, yet delicate and just amount of sweet to linger on my tongue and leave me skipping out of the building. I would eat here every day if I had the money and didn't mind the cost- I love 1920-1930's era items, and this place is adorned in them, with some history of the building as well, just ask one of the charming servers for more info. Price aside, I would suggest this place for anyone at least once. So much that I am considering it as my rehearsal dinner venue.
(4)
Barry S.
So we started with some wine and an interesting Vodka cocktail they call a Sharab..... Blood orange vodka with a home made strawberry syrup. Very refreshing on a summer evening... Not sweet... Nice tartness. The mushroom soup was really good... Creamy and a bit spicy. The tomato soup was excellent... Enjoyed the fresh oregano. For main course we split the grilled salmon with asparagus and the stuffed portobello mushroom with polenta. Both dishes were excellent. Presented well and I especially liked the strawberry Anaheim pepper salsa on the top of the salmon. The wait staff and GM made us feel right at home.... Now for Steely Dan!!!
(4)
C T.
Cute place, could use with some soundproofing. Appreciated the enthusiastic waitress and creative menu items. Ate the grilled cheese (it's a MUST!) and wild mushroom soup - delicious but could use a Vitamix blend on high, not necessary for flavor, just consistency. Hub ordered a trio - Cesar salad with a fried egg on top (extra) should have been runny was overdone, grilled cheese, and tomato soup which I stole and was excellent!! On my plate there was a small pile of stale chips to round it out. A stellar pickle would have been a better option for flavor, color, and a nice crunch. I had a glass of champagne b/c it's vacation - why not? And he had an "ok" beer which was an IPA but he can't remember the name as it was spoken to him, not printed. Final thought, spruce up the entrance, it's unwelcoming as you stare at empty tables wondering why they haven't seated you yet even though you have a reservation. Make it more separate from dining area, more cozy. Also, we are from out of town and walked around the block, right past it on the other side of the street. It's a little unassuming from the outside with the dark colors.
(4)
Davis H.
The food here was solid, the atmosphere was interesting and fun, and the staff was friendly. Unfortunately the service is unreasonably slow, to the point of ruining the experience for us. The place was not at all busy and we were a party of three, but we waited 40+ minutes from ordering to being served. One of us ordered a drink halfway through eating and it just never came. This was a bummer because we did really like it, but we've just never gone back because we don't really feel like sitting there. I would recommend it if slow service doesn't bug you and you want some great food, but avoid otherwise.
(3)
Chris M.
Retained much of the coolness of the original lobby of the Heathman Hotel. The layout is very cool complete with stuffed bear head over the bar. The lunch menu is approachable with salads, soups and hot/cold sandwiches. Staff is friendly and attentive but like all new restaurants are still working out some kinks.
(4)
Carrie L.
My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this place while visiting Portland and was truly surprised by how amazing everything was. Pros: 1) The food tasted awesome. We started off with cauliflowers as our appetizer and I loved it. For our main course, I had the stuffed mushroom and my boyfriend had the maple brined pork chop. Both were amazing. The stuffing in the mushroom was better than any stuffing I've ever had. There was a lot of flavor to it - -I think they mixed it with carrots, vegetables, and other ingredients. It ended up being a bit dense at the end, but I would still order it again! As for the pork chop - it was flavored really well and the meat was cook to just tender. The bread pudding side on his dish was (what I thought) pretty innovative. It was called bread pudding, but really more like mac and cheese. 2) Staff was nice. Our waiter did a great job of making sure we had water, checking in to see if we needed anything else, etc. It was the kind of service you would expect from a fancy place, but he did it without being intrusive or overly trying too hard. It was just great. 3) Even with no reservation, we waited only about 15 minutes before we got seated. 4) The price of the meal came out way less than what either one of us expected and the portions are much bigger than what I'm used to. Cons: Can't think of any!
(5)
Tomohiro F.
A very modern yet classy place. Food menu is somewhat limited but they do each item very well. The portions are generous. Servers are nice, attentive and personable. Great atmosphere.
(5)
Kate L.
Some of the best sandwiches, soup and salads in town. The buffalo chicken salad sandwich is so good, as is the mushroom soup. Best bet is to get a combo and enjoy both!
(4)
Melanie Z.
The Picnic House is an experience! The hipster vibe is SUPER strong, which I don't usually love, but everyone was super friendly and the service was wonderful. They just opened Barlow next door, so while you wait for your table you can have a drink there. The cheese tray at Picnic House was absolutely delicious. I had the culotte steak and it was fine - not the best ever, but the quinoa polenta was delicious. Definitely order the grilled pound cake for dessert! It was outstanding.
(4)
Katie G.
Holy Mary Mother of God. This place is amazing. Every single thing I ate -- the steak with a quinoa-polenta combo that made me want to lie in a bed of it and die while eating it, the unreasonably delicious tomato soup (OJ doesn't have any claim on liquid sunshine when this stuff exists), the savory mushroom soup, the salad with summer berries that had no right to be that tasty -- was outstanding. I simply cannot wait to go back. There were so many things on the menu I wanted to try, but a girl's stomach is only so big. Fortunately, this place is VERY well-priced for what you get -- honest portions that are neither snobbily small nor grotesquely large. The atmosphere is nice as well -- a tiny bit disjointed in it's bring-the-outside-in decor -- but largely warm and appropriate. I feel happy to have a seat by the window in the front part, and never went to the back, so I can't say it's not nice back there, but I loved the feeling of the outdoorsy front section. My DH and I don't go out much for dinner -- I am unemployed and this was a special treat before seeing Neil DeGrasse Tyson -- but the excellence of this food, combined with the affordability and the wonderful ambiance mean that this place is getting added onto our regular list for when we go out for a night downtown. If you are wondering whether or not to go -- GO!
(5)
Molly R.
We recently held our son and daughter-in-law's rehearsal dinner at the picnic house. Everything was over the top! The food was excellent and the staff amazing. They were so easy to work with to make this night truly magical! Thank you thank you
(5)
Georgia M.
The boyfriend and I went to the Picnic House on date night before a comedy show, and the food was absolutely delicious. I got the chicken, he got the grilled cheese and soup, and we devoured both. The drinks were great, and the homemade marshmallows in the chocolate pudding were scrumptious! Picnic House is definitely our fancy restaurant for anniversaries and important dinners!
(5)
Lee M.
1) Alleged five minute wait and there were plenty of open tables. 2) The dessert I wanted based in the pictures was not on the menu but the kicker was 3) the "no substitutions" comment. Thanks for the lack of flexibility, perhaps you should put it in writing on the menu like other restaurants that don't have the ability to change a SIDE. I even asked what is the charge to change.
(1)
Austin C.
Amazing restaurant! The service is great, the food is great! We came in asking for take-out sandwiches, and when our schedule cleared we asked if we could change the order so as to sit down and stay, and they were incredibly gracious and accommodating. All the servers were friendly and kind, and the sandwiches were equally spectacular. The ambience is relaxing and beautiful, the lighting calming and fantastically decorated with a unique attention to detail. I'm excited to come back soon!
(5)
Brandon C.
Best picnic I've ever had! I had the roast beef sandwich, it was delicious! Wonderful service and beautiful atmosphere! It was a very enjoyable experience.
Servers tried to take our plate away while we were still working on it. This happened twice, and I needed stop them saying we were not finished. The restaurant was not very busy, but for some reason, it was very difficult to get attention of servers.
(2)
Eryn E.
We are from out of town and are so happy we stumbled upon this place. We sat at the bar and got excellent service from Matthew. He was helpful with drinks as well as food (and we both have weird food allergies). I had the salmon and my boyfriend had the wild boar. Both are amazing. I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Mindy W.
I had dinner with two girlfriends on a Monday night. To start we had some brussel sprouts (good) and the crostini's (just ok). I ordered the Salmon with the strawberry relish. The dish was good and the strawberries were a powerful taste, but I liked it. Our waiter was outstanding, tall thin young guy. He was cheeky but not creepy. I really like the atmosphere at the back of the restaurant by the bar. The front area needs a decor face lift, it has ice cream shop wall paper and the lighting is not right. I would recommend this place to someone.
(4)
Jean F.
Food was simple and fantastic. Lunch- mushroom soup- really good and buffalo chicken salad was sooooo good. The thick chicks of bacon, great Gorgonzola cheese and ripe yummy tomatoes made this salad so much better than it sounds!!!
(5)
C M.
I try to eat at this Hipsterific sandwich restaurant every time I'm in Portland. I've been for both lunch and dinner meals and while they experiences are different, both are the bees-knees. Personally, I like Picnic House for lunch. The grilled sandwiches are creative with interesting and fresh ingredient combinations. The mushroom soup is divine, but almost too good because it means I haven't tried any of the other soups. I love the decor of the restaurant. The natural wood grains and the faux moss wall aesthetics hark to being outside at a picnic table. The taxidermy above the bar is fun. And there is craft beer on tap!
(5)
Matthew T.
I keep going back and forth on 3.5 or 4 stars so I decided that the wonderful soups were worth the fourth star. Went for lunch, but had read the dinner menu posted outside so I was excited with the idea of the cheese plate or charcuterie, but looks like they don't offer those at lunch. so maybe I was a little bumped by that. But settled for the 1/2 and 1/2. Sandwitch and soup, which is odd for me since I'm not that much of a soup guy, but their's sounded so yummy I had to try them. My whole party went this way. I had the mushroom soup and the hot dog, which sounded good from the description but failed to deliver. Which is why I considered bumping them down to 3 (3.5 stars). But the mushroom soup was amazingly good, as was the pea soup. Other sandwiches were better and there were some other interesting choices in regard to the rice salad, which was huge and tasty. Service was excellent, but citrus latte wasn't all that "citrus" but not the end of the world as it tasted fine for other reason.
(4)
Susan B.
4 stars instead of 5 for the uneven service at the door, and it appeared that the service was inconsistent on the floor (in the weeds a bit) but the service at the bar was great. This place is (New) American cuisine in a 110 year old building- finely crafted cocktails, using fresh herbs, they serve only local beers- tap only- brewers unknown to us out of Townes, but delicious. The grilled cheese was incredible, 3 local cheeses, hint of lemon, perfectly caramelized onions on incredible bread, wild mushroom soup that was so perfectly seasoned and velvety, Pavlova for dessert that tasted like angels made it. Someone in the kitchen here knows exactly what they are doing. If you're in downtown Portland, Oregon, stop here. Small menu, reasonable prices, in a lovely setting. The food was delicious!
(4)
Aria R.
Everything was so amazingly crafted and well done. They had a lovely music choice, the vibe was all around cheerful and classy. All of the waiters were sweet and charming. (The bar tender was especially attractive oh my God.) The best dinner I've had in Portland so far.
(5)
Carrie H.
Cool atmosphere... very trendy portlandia fare. Food was good and drinks were yummy. Definitely a cool place to check out and walking distance from the downtown Hilton which is nice.
(4)
Heather F.
The tomato soup and turkey sandwich were awesome! This is an adorable spot, and everyone there was friendly and attentive. I would definitely come back for a special treat, but it's too far out of my price range for a casual meal. (Half sandwich, half soup for $12 without tip)
(4)
Krystal S.
Wow!! What a great surprise/treat to find Picnic House. We were coming into town to attend an exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society and I was madly Yelping while our Garmin was warning us off the T curves. I happened across Picnic House. Perfect!! Made reservation via Open Table and we found it quickly and close to our ultimate destination. Great space!! Very hipster old-timey (copyright trademark all rights reserved!) So we opted for several small plate items, the crostinis with a lovely soft goat cheese, almonds and honey (sorry, going by memory here, but totally something like that), tenderloin and Gorgonzola, beets infused with great loveliness and a delish charcuterie. We were IMPRESSED! Our "rock and roll" waiter was tops! He recommended a great cocktail that I LOVED and repeated. All in all a great place we'd highly recommend! Oh, only thing I'd say is that the entree menu was a bit limited. That would be my only wee critique. Cheers!!
(4)
Rouzhna N.
Oh how I love their interior design! It uses a lot of wood elements, which works perfectly without looking too "grandpa-y" And their lunch special is fantastic. SO much food, SO delicious, and SO cheap (for the amount of food you get). I really enjoyed everything I got, which was a soup, salad, sandwich combo. We all each got a different thing and there wasn't one that disappointed any one, so you cannot go wrong with those options. Also, the waitors are dressed so nice and they are also very pleasent.
(5)
Jeff P.
I'm not really sure how the majority of was because we were there for over ann hour and still didn't have food. Was going to a show across the street so had to leave and had to cancel order. Service was terrible - took over 20 minutes for drink orders and small amount of appetizers we did get were nothing special. Servers seemed incompetent. Haven't really hard good things about this place from others so definitely not going back.
(1)
Linda T.
did this place just open? I am so surprised there werent too many people around. happy hour menu was good. got the half grilled cheese + roasted tomato soup ($5) and cream cheese with toasted almond and honey crostini ($4). grilled cheese was good, but the soup was bomb! pear, blue cheese, sweet potato, cranberry, candied walnut salad with fig butter vinagriette ($9) was delicious. definitely a getter. service was attentive. ambiance and decorations were nice.
(4)
Julie R.
Great tasting food. BLT and Berry salad were devine. The roasted chicken was a little tough and rubbery; other food was excellent. Decor is unique - loved the colors and calm relaxed feel.
(4)
Belle U.
AMAZING!!!! I was in Portland for a business meeting and was caught in the "winter blast" that shut the whole city down! Luckily I was able to get over to The Picnic House for lunch just before the snow really did its damage. I had the "pick three" combo... which btw, THANK YOU for that option!!! Sometimes a girl is hungry & cant decided between half a sandwich, soup OR salad! So thank you for letting me choose all three! After traveling all morning from LA I needed it! Back to my food... I had: 1/2 Chicken & Bacon With: shaved roasted chicken, thick cut bacon, charred tomato, pickled red onion,avocado spinach, gorgonzola aioli. 1/2 Fresh Berries Salad Which has: mixed greens, pickled blueberries, fresh berries, candied almonds, crumbled feta and fig butter vinaigrette. 1/2 Roasted Tomato Soup All for $15!!! EVERYTHING was delicious!!! The service was ok Nothing spectacular, but not rude either. I was by myself in the whole place (again, winter blast) so that may have made it awkward. Picnic House your food was delicious and I cannot wait to visit you again in November (my next Portland trip).
(5)
kelly v.
We came here for dinner while visiting from Austin and had a fantastic experience. We shared 3 entrees and a small plate between 4 people and it was the perfect amount of food. Not that it matters THAT much but the decor was a little off and think they should close off the curtains to the front room at night. Food was great though and I would definitely recommend going here.
(4)
Brittany S.
This place has an awesome vibe and great food that is reasonably priced... Highly recommend!
(5)
Stephanie H.
Love, love, love this place! The atmosphere is so fun. I wish my house looked like this place. Word of the wise, make a reservation or be prepared to wait. But it is well worth it!! The food is always amazing and the drinks are to die for. Definitely one of my favorite places to go for specialty cocktails. You can't go wrong with any of their signature drinks. They are always changing too it seems like with the fruit that is in season. Every time I have had one of their specials I was blown away, plus their regular menu always has tasty options to choose from. Plus, did I mention how great the service is?! Everyone that works there is super nice, friendly and efficient. Even after waiting for a table, you won't feel like the wait drags on once you are seated. Someone always promptly greets you with water and gets drinks going. Even if they are slammed, the servers are great at keeping you in the loop on wait times and making sure the drinks are flowing! Need to pay Picnic House another visit very soon!
(5)
Alicia C.
Awesome cheese board! The mushroom soup I got was just ok. But the cheese board ... Totally 5star ! 4ppl's serve for $14, seasoned and paired perfectly
(4)
Scott W.
Excellent upscale sandwiches, soups, and salads. Lunch menu has a great two or three item choose-your-own combo option for $12-15. Service was very friendly and food came out quickly. Haven't tried the dinner menu, but I'd certainly recommend it for lunch.
(4)
Michael M.
Very good food and great ambiance. The stuffed portobello was very good, very big and very filling. The Gardenhead is a fantastic drink. I will definitely come here again the next time I am in Portland.
(4)
Lauren Q.
I don't really get what's going on here or what all the hype is about. The food was tasty enough but nothing to write home about, certainly not enough to warrant the mad lunch rush. The decor is truly bizarre--I think they're going for some kind of whimsical Victorian thing but it's in this minimalist modern space and there's some weird-ass writing on the wall in like eight different fonts. They're clearly going for something but not quite hitting it, exemplified by the bad taxidermy wearing a top hat above the bar. What this aesthetic has to do with simple American picnic fare, I don't know. The price point was pretty good though. I guess this place is okay for Portland.
(3)
april s.
During a quick trip to Portland was looking for a great dinner spot for me and mom. This was perfect-thanks yelpers. I agree with the comment about staff seeming confused about seating us, though we were walk-ins so we were just grateful they weren't booked or closed. Our waiter Aaron was very nice, even took the time to answer all of my questions about the menu and the building. So cool that it used to be an old hotel and that they used old printing 'plates' for wall decor. Mom ordered the steak and I, the salmon. She proclaimed the Parmesan quinoa polenta the best polenta she's ever had. We of course shared dishes and I concur it was most excellent. My salmon was cooked perfectly with a nice crispy outside and barely done inside. The balsalmic strawberries were different and very tasty.
(4)
Sher R.
I found this place on Yelp so I was really happy that it lived up to it's rating. Yes it is a funky little place, lots of room and few tables. A very cool little place to have a bite and the food was amazing. We almost left because it took so long for the hostess to show up but I'm glad we didn't . I had just landed in Portland and this was the first place we hit. Both my husband and I had the lunch 1/2 sandwich and side. I had a side salad, he had soup. My sandwich and salad were amazing. The service was great, actually beyond great. Our server gave us a run down on where to go and how to get there. I'll definitely be back. The menu is small which I like, seems that better food always comes from a small menu. They could do a bit of sprucing up; looks a bit like it is still just sort of barely open for business. Really great flavor. Nice welcome to Portland restaurant.
(5)
Mary J.
I must have just come on an off-night. I mean 4.5 stars out of 5 with almost 200 reviews?!? How can you go wrong? But I just feel like it was a "meh" experience. Granted we went in an hour prior to closing, but I still don't think this place should have suffered a 3-star review because of it. Why the three stars? 1) Although the server was funny, nice and charismatic, the service was slow. And I mean, I'd rather not be here past closing time just as much as he wouldn't want to be stuck past closing time, and yet that still seemed to have no bearing on waiting almost 45 minutes just for the entrees to come out... I'm pretty sure they were sitting around for awhile too because I needed a chainsaw to cut through the lukewarm chicken breast. 2) You could tell when they wanted you out. The heat went off, the bathrooms were being cleaned by the same server that just dropped off your meal, and waiting for the check seemed an eternity on top of it all. Honestly, I probably would go here again to give it another try, possibly earlier in the day as to avoid that end of the night bullshit. I loved the environment (I heard it used to be a hotel lobby for the Heathman?), the beer, wine and cocktail options were nice, and the food had potential. Honestly, I just want to try their grilled cheese.
(3)
Liu L.
LOVE the brown rice salad and the grilled pound cake! Order the brown rice salad!!!
(5)
Marie E.
This place was definitely a toss up between a 4 and 5 star rating it was so good! I found this place on yelp as I was looking for a good place for a lunch meet up during the holidays. I highly agree with the 4.5 star rating because it was truly amazing. The decor and atmosphere was adorable! It had 4 distinct areas that I could see, with really rustic and eclectic decorations. There was one large community table that was made out of a very large (what I assume was redwood) log slab. They had the details down to a science, including presenting the receipts in old books. The food was by far the best part! It was simple food done right. They had a menu of sandwiches, soups, salads and dessert for lunch. Each was simple in design but there were some elevated flavor combinations and each piece was prepared perfectly. My friend and I each got a half/half combo and shared. We got a shaved turkey sandwich, prosciutto sandwich, grilled cheese sandwich, and the roasted tomato soup. I could probably write a paragraph about each and still go on about how amazing each was, and I'm getting hungry thinking of them now. The staff were all super attractive, friendly and helpful, although a bit slow to being attentive to our needs. We did have quite the wait for ordering, receiving our food, and receipt. This is the sole reason that i'm giving a 4 start instead of a 5.
(4)
Nora M.
My server was beautiful and civil, but disinterested. The other two servers had personality and seemed a lot more fun. The wait staff worked well together - a sign of good management The decor was wonderful! They put your bill in an old book - what fun! The food should have raised this a star. The mushroom soup was delicious - but luke-warm. The polenta was wonderful, but the protein was dried out. In fact the chorizo was so hard the fork couldn't spear it. A little more attention to details would have made all the difference, but I probably could have made something better in the hotel microwave.
(3)
Melissa S.
I really liked the look and feel of the restaurant. I need to go again to give an honest service review. It was ok this time but unlike other yelpers I know you can't blame a restaurant for one experience and one waiter. The food was great. I loved the food and would be happy to go there again! Everything seemed to be very fresh and tasty!
(4)
Laura B.
The food was good- went for lunch and had one of the sandwiches. Let's just say that the atmosphere was very "Portland. " if you're into that thing, great, if not, it won't interfere with enjoying the food. Bears in bowler hats on the walls, random paintings, and super hipster staff.
(3)
Chris M.
Yuuuuuuummmmmmyyyyyy!!! This was such a great choice for lunch.... The shaved turkey sandwich was sooooo tasty. I combo'd it with their delicious tomato soup and I was in lunch time bliss. Full enough to be happy, but still able to move!!
(5)
matthew m.
This place has great food and a great vibe! Our bartender, Matthew, was very personable.
(5)
Jess P.
This place seems derived from a Portland Fairytale. Steampunk embellishments with an quaint/cutesey/antiquey feel (Our check was brought out in an antique novel of French lyrics), this place definitely has atmosphere. I am so happy a place like this exists downtown. Downtown Portland seems to lack middleground. You've got the super casual foodcarts, and the old stuffy/stodgy businessman restaurants. Picnic House fills the void- a cool, yet respectable spot downtown that serves good food at reasonable prices. The lunch menu deal- combine 2 options for $12- was perfect! Grilled cheese with carmelized onions, and butternut squash soup (with cranberry cream, natch)- oh, bliss. The portion was just right for me, although may be a bit small for those moments of roaring appetite. Our individual waiter was so hipster lovely. With round spectacles and a curly mustache, it was as if he walked straight out of the decor. However, I did have a complaint with the OTHER waiter. A young blonde, dare I say good looking (I'd hate to further feed that ego), man who refused to acknowledge me as I waited at the entryway for roughly 5 minutes. It was such an awkward introduction to an otherwise lovely lunch- I stood in the open space, waiting to be seated, as a waiter walked past me time and time again without as much as a simple hello or glance of acknowledgment. Look, I know it isn't your job. You are a waiter, not a hostess. But to the girl standing awkwardly by herself in a big airy space with absolutely nothing to distract from the uncomfortableness of waiting (no books, no chairs, no cornhole- thought I doubt that'd be appropriate- no way for me to otherwise occupy myself), a little gesture of friendliness would have gone a long way. Instead, I had to question whether I was actually standing in the right place: was there a bell to ring? should I have called beforehand? did I just stumble into a secret club? is it because I don't know the passcode? Yet, even the snooty waiter couldn't knock this place down. I am already planning a date night for cocktails and dinner at this wonderful spot.
(4)
Rebecca C.
Went here for the first time yesterday for a business lunch. It was actually a really interesting building, apparently it used to be the lobby for the Heathman before it moved across the street. I loved the decor and the room, and the food was really good too. Which, frankly, if you're reading a review of a restuarant is probably the most important thing you need to know. Both of us did the soup and sandwich lunch combo, and it was just enough food. Usually I'm served huge portions that are lunch and dinner, but this was a perfect enough amount to have me full but not feeling like my gut was going to explode. The food itself was good, fresh and hot which, as it turns out, is harder to get from a restaurant than you would think. The grilled cheese with carmelized onions was really good, had that bite of cheddar that let you know it was there which was delicious. It paired perfectly with the hot tomato soup and frankly on such a cold, rainy day it hit the exact right note. I'm definitely putting this place on the regular lunch rotation.
(4)
Michael C.
Very good dinner! The menu was small but interesting, the food was tasty, the prices were reasonable. the ambiance was fine, and the service was excellent. All four of us were very happy with our meals, and the s'mores dessert was quite unique and delicious. We'll be back!
(5)
Nate D.
Wonderful food, service, and atmosphere. Go in early and you won't have to wait although a reservation is recommended. I had been to lunch here for great sandwiches and salads but the dinner is off the hook. With the help of the excellent recommendations of our server I had the coulotte steak and my friend had the cast-iron chicken. Both were unbelievable. I highly recommend every aspect of this place, right down to the exceptionally clean restrooms.
(5)
Egg M.
The chicken and truffle mashed potatoes in the Iron Skillet is one of the best chicken dishes in town. The mushroom soup was delicious, as were their drinks. Restaurant is a little loud/cavernous, but the food is great and the staff are great too.
(5)
Tiffany B.
Sunday lunch spots are really a hit n miss around Portland! It's too late for brunch, and too early for dinner....luckily Yelp directed us to this new little spot! Reading all the other reviews prompted us to stop in and give them a shot. We were so glad we did, and you should too!! The interior, as many others have said, is amazing! When you enter thru the glass door, you just stop in your shoes and take it all in! The waiter was very nice and gave us a little history lesson on the old place. This was the old Heathman hotel lobby back in the 40's. The original tiled floors are still there and look great! The old mill work is beautiful, in the back, the ceiling lifts to major heights and this pretty patina metal ceiling is exposed with surrounding wood beams. Seriously- we sat and looked up and down thru our whole lunch! Our waiter showed us some pictures of the place when they bought it, the former was a jewelry store with low ceilings that covered all this gorgeous history. He said they had no idea when they tore down the plaster, all this wood was there! What a great find! The place is decorated nice, really gives you the park feeling with outdoor benches and this huge, and I mean HUGE, wood table and benches! They have only been open 6 months, and are planning on brunch service soon. This place would do great serving a weekend brunch, IMO. They lunch menu has soup, sandwiches and salads. You can pick any 2 or 3 to make a meal out of. The spiced pumpkin soup was so good on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Went perfectly with my Spanish Coffee! Yes, they have a full bar! The prosciutto with fig butter and arugala hit the spot too! Portions were prefect, not too heavy and we left feeling just right! A great little gem this place is, I hope they do well and stick around for a long time!
(4)
Maegan S.
I have eaten here twice over the past few months, once with a small party of 4 and once with a large party of more than 20. The menu is delightfully small, with a broad scope for different tastes. The stuffed portobello is cooked to perfection, with a spicy polenta-esue topping (the chaotic application of arugula to the top is confusing though). Tenderloin tip appetizers are at the top of my list for sharing, but order several if you have a group. The roasted cauliflower needs work on presentation. Dark chocolate pudding for dessert with homemade marshmallows is like an adult s'more. To die for. The grilled pound cake is a bit of a miss. I give 4 stars because on my last visit the waitress did not bring my dinner out until everyone else was finished with their meals (~30 minute lag). Not a big deal, but no reparations or apologies were made. A free cocktail while I was waiting would have been nice.
(4)
Devrey H.
After watching a play at the Brunish Theatre we stumbled across The Picnic House. I ordered the pork chop with bread pudding and found it to be excellent. The pork chop was seasoned well and juicy, but the star of the plate was the apple, cheddar, and caramelized onion bread pudding. The combined flavors were delicious and the perfect accompaniment to the pork chop. For dessert I ordered the Chèvre Cheesecake, which was to die for. Brilliant meal in a great atmosphere with stellar service. I will definitely return.
(5)
Tony D.
Good food and service. This place is more of a lunch spot, but we walked over here for dinner since it was near our hotel. The place was pretty quiet, but we gave it a shot anyway. The small menu was pretty good and simple. Just soup and sandwiches, plus small starters. It was cheap, easy and hit the spot. It was definitely nothing fancy, but we liked the old building.
(4)
Haley S.
My boyfriend and I are new to Portland and have been trying out new places. Picnic house was average at best. The service was slow and a bit awkward. We couldn't figure out the decor. My boyfriend is a vegetarian and got the portobello mushroom dish. He couldn't eat it because the flavor was so horrid. We won't be coming back.
(2)
Frisky M.
Whimsical space. Open through the day. A tasty cocktail list. A fun yet knowledgeable waitress named Emily. Good food. What more could of you asked for in the middle of the day. Awesome place!
(5)
Crystal H.
There is a TON of comfort food in Portland -- which is awesome, but left me craving something with a more delicate sensibility. This place nailed it. Very similar to our gastro pub back home, The Ravenous Pig. The menu changes every couple of weeks but we got the pulled pork shoulder sandwich and the roasted lemon chicken. The chicken was great, simple and rustic but the pork shoulder sandwich was like OMG holy wow deliciousness! Highly recommend. I will be dreaming about that sandwich in Florida! Service was good, and the ambience is awesome. It's in an old hotel lobby and the decor on the walls and staircase are old printing press plates giving it a bit of color and funkiness. The rest of the decor is reminiscent of decades past. Didn't try any of the cocktails, but they apparently make the mixing soda recipes from scratch!! Sounds awesome. We had the grilled pound cake for desert and every bite was delicate and delicious. Try it!!!! Any foodie will love it.
(5)
Tonya S.
Went here Friday while down in Portland for a girls weekend. We were seated right away, our waitress was excited and friendly (not in an annoying way). We got one of the specials: compressed watermelon salad with a goat cheese stuffed squash blossom. From the menu, an order of rice balls, the fried chicken, and the mushroom lasagna. We each ordered a drink. Our bill was under $100, not bad!! The food was fun and flavorful. I LOVED the lasagna, I cannot stress how yummy it was!!! If you have a thing for sharp cheese and truffles, you have to have it! The chicken had a delightful crispy crust, the chicken must have soaked in a sweet/sugary marinate. The sweetness was a bit much but interesting. The chicken was in the bone, moist and flavorful. I got the drink with blueberries in it. Sweet and tart but not too much of either. My glass came with a crack, the wait-staff was extremely apologetic and took the drink off the bill. We were too full for dessert but they looked great! Definitely on my 'places to go in PDX' list!
(5)
Jeannie O.
Cute decor, friendly staff, and good food. Good salad, good soup, however, the turkey sandwich was crying out for a condiment - too dry. The saving grace and not to be missed was the awesome chocolate cheesecake. Exploding with favor, a delight for your taste buds.
(4)
Jenny B.
Pros: Service Flavors Creativity Cons: A little pricy with small portions.
(4)
Susan C.
Perfect end to our Portland Walking tour. Lunch for seven at what was the old Heathman Hotel, now at least for three years The Picnic House. Greeted and seated thanks to reservations via Open Table. Easy, peasy. The majority of the group ordered the mushroom soup and a salad combo, even though the temp outside was reaching 95 degrees. I had the tomato salad, a bit skimpy but delicious. Others had the. Chop salad, Asian salad and then sandwiches with soup. Wonderful. Many in the group had attended functions here for private events and some others frequently lunch here. We will be back.
A tad pricey for the quality of food, especially given the competition in Portland. We had a bunch of things, none of which really jumped off the plate. I went for dinner, which may have been why. Might be worth coming in for some sandwiches/burgers at a more reasonable price at lunch. Although one thing they have going for it is a stuffed bear head wearing a bowler hat.
(3)
Angela M.
I walked in and thought "oh no, this place is upscale-ish". Which can be fine, but not when I am not eating dairy or wheat. Or am starving. In fact, forget the wheat. Almost everything had dairy in it. And I suppose I could have requested no dairy, but I don't really see the point is spending $25+ on an entree if I'm going to remove the most delicious part of it. I suspect I also enjoy lower class plating. I would have preferred a bed of mashed potatoes instead of a sprinkling of roasted baby potatoes. I like to feel as though I will not run out of any ingredient on my plate. You know, a puddle of sauce instead of a drizzle. Or a gravy boat is even better. The pork terrine I ordered was decent. Neither notable or outstanding, I finished half of it before I ran out of potatoes, brussels, mustard mousse, and red pepper puree. Perhaps I was supposed to be forking gigantic mouthfuls of pork terrine into my maw and taking teeny little dabs and nibbles of everything else, but I feel like then the whole meal would have just tasted like pork grease. I think we are just not meant to be. I've also not experienced a place where you have to pay for your bread then pay for butter. But maybe that's a Portland thing. Or a fine dining Portland thing. Or a Picnic House thing. I will mention that the grilled cheese looked good, and if it wasn't made of everything I don't eat I would have ordered it.
(2)
Jana C.
I experience an amazing meal here the night after going to Imperial for PDX Dining month. What a complete polar opposite experience.... so good the service, so good the menu offering that I chose the entire beer pairing to go with the meal, afraid whether I would make it out the door vertically or horizontally. Good thing the Hilton is but a block away. Amazing courses with wonderful textures and flavor. Loved my salad soup starter. Perfect with every bite, paired with an amber ale. The lamb shank with the veg components.... excellent composition, well balanced. Too bad there was not more meat off that bone. I wanted to gnaw it like Fred Flinstone. Sauce, kale, and root veg mousse.. yum!!! so was the Deschutes Obsidian Stout. Dessert was perfect as well. Rosehips from Portland brewing was my fave beer of the evening. I ate in the partitioned section near the dark, historic bar area. So cool, so deliciously decorated, so much character, so Portland. Loved the experience!!!
(4)
Namtran V.
I came here for lunch and the decor is beautiful with a really hip vibe. I waited about 30 mins for a table for 6, but I could see a place like this filling up really quick during lunch. Their menu is easy with a few choices for soups, sandwiches, and salads. I opted for a half sandwich, half salad, and a side of chips. It was a perfect lunch serving. This place is kind of like a classy Panera. I'll definitely be coming back when I'm in the area!
(4)
Matt E.
Maybe I'm biased. Picnic House is the first sit-down restaurant my husband and I ate at on our trip to find apartments in Portland, and we were still riding high on a celebratory wave. But I don't think it was simply a rush of endorphins that made me crush on Picnic House, but rather their consistently great service, beautiful interior and of course the delicious food. I'm definitely a fan. Since that initial dinner, I've been to Picnic House a number of times for lunch and all meals have been top notch. Off the (current) dinner menu I've tried the pistachio crusted salmon and the lamb chops. The salmon was prepared perfectly and the pop of the pomegranate made for not only a beautiful dish but also a immensely satisfying one. When it first came out I thought the portion might be a bit small, but it ended up being just right. The lamb? Well, it was good but I didn't closely enough consider the menu when ordering. It's basically DIY gyros, which isn't my cup of tea. The meat was prepared well, but I definitely suffered from envy of my date's meal. As for their sides, the roasted cauliflower and the fried brussels sprouts are both ridiculously good, and I didn't want to share. Some day I'd like to make a meal of just their sides. For lunch the offerings are much more geared towards quick soups, salads and sandwiches, which makes sense as their location is pretty central to downtown worker bees. My favorite sandwich featured charred tomato, caramelized onions, fresh cheeses (goat, feta, cream, ricotta), arugula, basil pesto. Ridiculously good, and if they happen to have a tomato soup on the menu, would pair perfectly. Their mixed greens salad with pickled blueberries is great as well, and I added roasted chicken to make it feel more like a full meal. What can I say? I eat big. My last experience at Picnic House was a bit of a production. I had to put together a dinner for 23 people, with a fairly tight budget. I immediately thought of Picnic House and led by the special events coordinator Ari, their team were fantastic from initial contact to the dinner itself. They assisted in organizing family-style appetizers and deserts, which made service easier and kept costs down. We also selected a small number of entrees to keep ordering simple and not overwhelm the kitchen. Food took a touch longer than I had hoped, but not enough to really worry about. Everybody worked together well, and nobody was left wanting for food or drink. I'd venture to say that everybody fully enjoyed the meal. I don't have the opportunity to return to restaurants all that often, but knowing that it's such a reliable standby, I see myself at Picnic House again soon.
(5)
Ami T.
We checked this place out for Friday lunch and it was definitely busy! It is a cute hip place in SW Portland. The decor is a bit odd. The front part of the place is super cute and looks picnicy. I loved the wooden tree coat rack and the pretty lights in the front. The large communal wooden picnic bench is amazing. As you go further in, the decor looks more antique-y and doesn't match the front. I guess this may be a nod to the fact that the building used to be an old hotel in the 20s. The service was like all service in Portland--slightly slower but polite. The food was exciting and fun. It was a simple menu but everything looked great. I also thought there were a good amount of veggie options. All three soups were vegetarian (no chicken broth). We each got the half-half and soup. I got the grilled cheese which was pretty basic. The brown rice and root veggies salad was delicious and the mushroom soup was the best mushroom soup I have had. The other arugula and tomato sandwich was delicious and the tomato soup is great as well. I wasn't a huge fan of the carrot soup because it tasted more juice-y and thin instead of savory and soupy. The prices were on point for an upscale lunch place. Loved that they bring the check in a book!
(5)
Briana S.
Same beautiful space, but it just isn't the same. I was a Picnic House regular when I was working in Portland in 2013. Flash forward two years and my friends and I decided to come here before RNR Portland. We were seated quickly, and a friendly waiter was helping us. I tried to order the lasagna, which he had recommended, but he came back and told me another table got the last slice. It was only 7:30 and they were already out?! :( I had the famous grilled cheese, which was still delicious, but not really what I wanted. But I knew I needed some starch and not just a salad (even though their entree salads are great from what I remember). My friends each got the meatloaf, but found the two sides were not warm AT ALL. The owner came over and offered to replace the sides (which she did), but it's surprising that they were able to come out of the kitchen and not be at an appropriate temperature. Really hoping this was just an off night... I used to love this place!
(3)
Ivy C.
This is such a cute place with good service and very high quality, locally sourced ingredients. Their burger is so thick and juicy, and all sandwiches arrive hot and toasty with the freshest bread I've ever come across in any sandwich shop. I highly recommend doing a combination of 3 items for $15, which includes any 3 items in the lunch menu. It says half a salad and half a sandwich, but the sandwich is a decent size. Their desserts are very delicious too! The menu rotates so don't be afraid to ask the waiter what the most popular item is at the moment.
(4)
Tristan R.
The environment was nice and friendly enough. Unique and interesting vibe. Great area. The food was good -- they incorporated novel ingredients to traditional dishes, which was interesting, and they used (to the extent possible) local and organic produce. Menu, however, was a bit too limited and the dishes a little too interesting for my crude tastes (they added an edible flower to the meatloaf). I do like how they focus on doing a few things very very well, but those few things didn't happen to overlap with dishes and/or ingredients that I like and prefer (and I like a lot of things too). I would still try this place again - it appears the menu changes so there's no reason to believe there won't be something that will be appealing to me at some point. Give it a shot.
(3)
Josh S.
Best meal I've had in a long time. Amazing brussel sprouts!! Melt in your mouth fried chicken. Great wine. Awesome service. Thank you for making it a wonderful night!
(5)
Chris P.
Great sandwiches - particularly the grilled cheese. The atmosphere was great - set in a old hotel which gave it a particularly refined elegance. The waitstaff was particularly friendly and helpful. Definitely a lunch go-to lunch spot.
(5)
Stefani D.
The food is really impressive but the decore and everything else lacks First impression walking in neat and kinda trendy but the way this is set up feels like 2 different places when you hear picnic you think wood grass checked clothes but then you walk in the back of the restaurant is doesn't make sense. Plus the service is very slow and also the sliver ware is all mismatched especially when you sell $12 salads But the food is very outstanding I mean very outstanding great balance and great selections I would go back but would sit elsewhere
(4)
Jaime C.
this was our last night in Portland and wanted a nice dinner to cap off our vacation. We were not disappointed, the dishes are spectacular as well as the wait staff friendly outgoing and attentive. Try the truffle mushroom lasagna, perfect portion for such a rich dish. The caeser romaine wedge was a big hit as the dressing is truly home made and served with a nice poached egg and cracked pepper.
(5)
Dionne S.
Food was amazing! Drinks well crafted and service top notch. No complaints from this happy girl.
(5)
Nora D.
Wonderful interior design/decor. Really helpful and nice waitress. Wonderfully tasty food. The fried chicken was really good with a combination of sweet and savory. We also had the cheese board. I really like the brie with caramelized sugar on time (like a creme brule crust). I also liked the croquets.
(4)
Jonathan R.
I just flew in to Portland on business and had heard about this place. Absolutely outstanding food and the service was exceptional. I look forward to going again. Wish we had this place in Salt Lake City.
(5)
Katy H.
What an absolutely fantastic experience I had here the other night. I was in Portland participating in a big work trip with nearly 2 dozen people. It's not easy to find a place to eat with a group that size but The Picnic House delivered! Well, no... I mean they made it happen. They didn't literally deliver, they have a huge communal table fit for kings in the front room of the restaurant. Just beyond it there are 4 tops and 2 tops for smaller, more intimate dinners. The service for our group was impeccable. Lots of refilling of water glasses, lots of checking in to see if we needed more of anything, and lots of pouring of wine. Totally outstanding considering they had other tables to take care of at the same time our massive group was there demanding a lot of attention of the wait staff and kitchen. The food was superb and the dessert was gone within minutes. I had the pork terrine and it was delicious. I also sneaked a few bites of the salmon and it was great as well. This is definitely a great spot for dates and catching up with friends over a lovely meal. Prices aren't unapproachable but the quality of the food makes it almost feel that way.
(5)
Jessica K.
Came here for a birthday, the menu didn't have many options and everything was a little too unique for me. I thought I played it safe by going with grilled cheese but even that had some stinky cheese in it and I could barely eat it. Also the coffee tasted really burnt and just not good. Would not try this place again.
(3)
Chelsea M.
Wohoo! As good as it gets! This place, for me, screams Portland. Fresh, local ingredients, awesome atmosphere and eclectic decor. So here's the rundown of my experience there on a Saturday night: 1. Reservations: made them through Yelp, seated on time. Would definitely suggest reservations because I was not seeing many people seated without them. 2. Drinks: What a great menu! I had a raspberry and rosemary concoction that was so unique, well balanced, and delicious. I would definitely recommend their cocktail list. My husband's Long Island was more of a rum and coke, so I would stick to their menu. 3. Cheese board: This is how a cheese board should be done! Generous helping of cheese and a medium-sized baguette. Easily shared between two people and probably could stretch it to four people. Delicious! Five stars! I love cheese! 4. Food: My husband loved his risotto even though it had mushrooms. It was well cooked and appropriately creamy. My lamb chops were phenomenal. The tzatziki and the other sauce with the pine nuts and arugula, yum! This was truly a well thought out plate with layers of deliciousness. The only down score here was that one of my three chops was under cooked, like still seeing a little pink before you cut into it. Unfortunately, it was the last one I cut into so not much to be done but the waitress did apologize and say she would let the chefs know. 5. Price: Pretty spot on for Portland. We walked out of there with a $74 tab - 2 entrees, 2 drinks, and a cheese board (did I mention I loved the cheese?). 6. Time: We were in and out of there, not rushing, in 45 minutes. This was great! I wonder if it comes from being across from the Schnitzer and people rushing to get to their show. So, if you are looking for a meal that will not drag on, this would be a great place! Other notes: Back seating section was darker/more intimate, we were seated in the front next to the windows and it had a more exposed feel, I would ask for a back room table next time. Moderate noise level, not horrible, but not quiet. Portions are appropriately sized her, nothing too big, but enough to make you feel like you are getting your money's worth.
(5)
Nick M.
Well, we came here for dinner before the theatre, and, overall, it was great. The food was really good, the staff friendly, the decor really interesting. I think we must just have been there on a off-night in terms of service though, because while the staff were really friendly and helpful, they didn't really have the basics down. The beer pairings never arrived with the food, and twice we had to remind them to bring them at all, and drinks orders had to be followed up on. It's not a big deal, but at this price point the small stuff should be screwed-down pretty tight. I'll definitely be back, because the food was great, and I'm willing to believe we just picked the wrong night.
(4)
Kendra D.
My husband and I ate dinner here last night. Reservations - no problem and we were seated five mins after arrival. Hostess - polite and got us our drinks quickly. Waiter - took our food order, brought us our bill. Nothing in between. Did not ask us how our food was, did not ask if we wanted a second drink, did not check on us at all! In fact, he seemed like he had a chip on his shoulder! ???? Weird. Food - Salmon was meh. Nothing special and tasted fishy. (Higgins salmon much better.) Salmon was not worth the $$. Lamb chops, however, were good. Nicely presented and well cooked. No problems there and worth the $$. No bread, butter or extras provided as you sip your drink and wait for your food. Not a problem for me, but surprising. Mixed Drink - Sharab was tasty. Very tart, but I liked it. The restaurant would probably be worth another try food and cocktail-wise, because their website pics look amazing. But I'm not sure I'd give them a second chance because of how we were treated by the server. Again - very odd treatment. Luckily, here in Portland there are lots and lots of other fantastic restaurants to choose from with better treatment by servers.
(2)
Case W.
My friends & I were going to a show at the Schnitz and decided to have dinner here before because it was close and convenient. It was the same night as the Rose Festival Starlight Parade however we manage to find parking and away from the parade crowd. When we arrived we wanted to sit in the main dining area but was told it was reserved for a private function and they seated us in front entrance area which remind me of a deli or lunch cafe where you ordered your food first and they will call your name when it's ready. No feel of a hipster restaurant whatsoever It was hard to figure out who our server was as several people approached up and never introduce themselves and said they were going to be our server for the meal. One of them put a huge carafe of water and not bother to pour it in our glasses. After mulling over the menu we started out with the chicken liver mousse and the cauliflower dish. The mousse was good but we had to ask 2 different servers to provide us an extra loaf of bread which they took their own sweet time to get it to us. The cauliflower was okay but nothing to write home about. I ordered the Fried chicken which had no flavor and the crust was like biting into chalk with discouraging. My friends had the salmon over the risotto which was better but again no flavor. When we were finished, I left very disappointed and felt I spent a lot of money for a less than mediocre meal.
(1)
Valerie J.
Had a lovely dinner here, thanks to a recommendation from my out-of-town friend. I also happen to take a different out-of-town friend with me. Both had high praise for how "Portland" they found it to be. Which pretty much sums it up. It was very good, and a great place to take tourists who are looking for an organic, slightly quirky, non-chain dining experience downtown. Watch as they thrall over the pine entryway and 1930's French cabaret soundtrack!
(4)
Gabe P.
Pretty fancy and nice, well thought and well managed. The service here is impeccable, Patrick I believe was our guy, but the others we talked to were perfectly helpful and knowledgeable. The small tables are close together and you get to share your impressions with your neighbors, that adds a social factor to the experience. The food is great, had the Roasted Salmon (that comes topped with pomegranate seeds, yeap!) and Potato gnocchi, both delicious! There are many other appetizing options but you can only eat that much in 3 rounds of dinner in one night!
(5)
Mike D.
Visiting from the east coast and popped in here for a late lunch. Certainly did not disappoint. Very cool ambiance. Wait staff was extremely attentive. And the chicken sandwich and mushroom soup among the best I've had. Very unique flare on what could otherwise be common sandwiches. They even bring the checks over in an actual book which I thought was neat. Definitely check it out for lunch if you're in the area.
(5)
Ken L.
The roast beef sandwich combo: Roast beef sandwich with the perfect proportions of thinly sliced roast beef, caramelized onions, a touch of horseradish mayo aioli, cheddar, and arugula packaged in-between two slices of light crunchy bread*. Accompanying this beauty: the spring vegetable soup, and as a reminder I am not a big fan of soup, had me begging for more with its richness and smooth flavor. After all is said and done, this lunch meal combo gave me just enough to fill my belly but yet at a 100% satisfaction level. Price at $12 is higher than what I would have liked thus the one star deduct. ___________ *My pic shows half a sandwich (the smaller half) I shared. Menu online: media.wix.com/ugd/7034c9…
(4)
Chris O.
Overall things were pretty good here. The menu isn't too big which is good and it's somewhat seasonal so you'll get new choices every time. I had a few things, one was the shaved kale salad added duck legs which was a very tasty salad although I'd recommend to add the chicken breast instead as the duck was expensive and had hardly any meat. I also shared a cheese plate which was good but a little heavy on the strong blue cheese, and I like blue cheese. They had a good selection of wines and beer, although I'd like to see more ciders as somehow I think it would go with the farm to table style food well. The service was good. Service was good and the atmosphere was pleasant. A great place to eat before or after the symphony which is right next door.
(4)
Anne K.
Fantastic food, warm service, great atmosphere, fun people - the Picnic House had it all when we went there last night for our 15th wedding anniversary. My husband had lamb chops and I had the salmon with a scrumptious asparagus risotto. We shared the roasted cauliflower appetizer with caramelized onions, chickpeas, and currants. It was all cooked to perfection, with portion sizes that were generous without being overwhelming. What a treat! We had a special welcome from general manager Amy, who is clearly doing a terrific job in this place that blends history with modern twists, and classic comfort food with contemporary tastes. The place was upscale and hip without being stuffy or pretentious. We loved it all. After dinner we enjoyed a nightcap at their new bar addition, Barlow, and were thoroughly entertained by the bartender who grows his own rosemary and other elixir flavorings - plus, it was a real show to see him use bubbly liquid nitrogen to chill the glasses. Wonderful evening, all the way around. Thanks, Picnic House crew, for making our wedding anniversary so special! We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Naomi L.
This place was pretty delicious! We came about an hour to closing on a Saturday night, luckily found nearby free meter parking, and walked right in. It was late, so there were plenty of open tables. Instead of seating us near the front to make the place look busy, the host/server took us to the back area. I'm so glad he did since we were able to see more of the decorations! Inside was like a nice garden party that made a baby with a hipster who was really into Alice in Wonderland. I guess that's a lot of the esthetic in Oregon, but I absolutely loved it after being so many more rustically decorated placed in NOLA. Food-wise, I enjoyed my sirloin culotte and had enough for the next day. My friend liked her pan fried chicken breast (also huge and enough for a 2nd meal). We agreed it was delicious, but not totally knock your socks off. I would totally bring visitors here to eat again if I went to visit again.
(4)
Janet H.
Picnic House was SO good that even though we weren't hungry at all, we finished EVERYTHING. Yeah, Clean Plate Club! We actually had pretty low expectations for this place, considering we had a pre-dinner at 5pm and became voracious fatties and decided to make reservations here for 8:45 pm. We strolled in, to discover how cutely decorated this restaurant is, how funny and witty our server is, and how amazing the food was! It was the best decision EVER to eat dinner number two here. This honestly was probably my favorite meal in Portland. First off, our server was absolutely hilarious and sarcastic -- I love it! He made dinner so entertaining :) He also gave great suggestions and checked on us constantly. As weird as it sounds, I secretly wished he could be my friend in real life... Now, onto the food... for the appetizers, I recommend the Moroccan cauliflower and the duck fat potatoes! The Cauliflower was so flavorful, with a great assortment of spices sprinkled on it! And, the duck fat potatoes... mmm... who doesn't love potatoes doused in fat? Hey, and don't feel bad. They did a study in France and noticed those who ate more duck fat were less likely to have cancer... And the main dish... get the pork chop. It was so divine! It was a bit on the dry side, but loved the flavors and the mixture of sweetness on it. Finally, the dessert. You must get the pavlova! It's a definitely a picture-worthy moment upon arrival, so get your camera ready. It's this ginormous dessert with whipped cream and berries that can feed 4 people. It's also reasonably priced. The last time I had it was in San Francisco for the same price and a size of my palm. I loved how they added their own twist with Granny Smith Apples to add a sour tang to the treat. Picnic House, I'm so glad we ate here. Be prepared, as I'll come back in a couple years.
(5)
Sarah B.
The Picnic House is the perfect place for a flip-flopper like me. When presented with a menu, it's like my mind instantly goes blank. I want one of everything! As soon as I decide on something, something else catches my eye. What if that thing is better? What if I regret my decision? What if I order incorrectly and everyone hates me? Worse, what if I hate my food, and therefore myself? WHAT IF MY LUNCH ORDER BRINGS ABOUT THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE?! Such heady decisions are obviously hard on little old me. So The Picnic House's approach to lunch decisioning - letting me choose a little from Column A, B, and/or C (a smidge of sammich, a smidge of soup, AND a smidge of salad?! YES PLEASE) is the ultimate in responsibility absolution. When I dine here, I can rest assured in the knowledge that if the zombie apocalypse begins, it won't have been because I made the wrong lunch choice. On my last visit, I chose the wild mushroom soup, an uber-tasty portobello sammy, and a crazy-yummy butter lettuce salad. Naturally, since it was lunchtime (WHAT? Sometimes my workday ends at lunch, OK?) I also ordered a Rose City cocktail, which was diviiine. 'Twas a little like an aviation without the creme de violette, and such a perfect light, summery accompaniment to my fall-themed lunch. The service was GREAT, AND they take reservations, so I'm really pleased with this place. I don't have time to sit around waiting for a table at lunch time (or anytime, really, but especially not lunchtime), so reservations are key. The decor and ambiance is swell to boot - with quirky art, wood beamed high ceilings, and mirrors galore. I'm not downtown very often, but when I am I'll make sure to seek this place out.
(4)
Ronald A.
I have been here for lunch and dinner. It is always good. It has a good menu that is not too big. I had the lamb that was grilled. It is served with Grilled vegetables, including an olive. The salmon was encrusted with pistachios. Each dish was very good. Pork chops, irk terrine and a grilled cheese sandwich. Everything was wonderful. The wine lust has some very good choices with very fair prices. There are some expensive wines. There are some less expensive. Great meal. Come try it.
(4)
Vi B.
I had a pretty okay experience here. Location: Right off Broadway. Parking can be hard to find. Walking in, I saw that the restaurant was mostly empty (possibly because it was a weeknight?). I didn't have anyone greet me, but I eventually found my friends in the back of the restaurant. The service from the waiter was great and the food was tasty, but I'm not sure if the full experience was worth the price.
(3)
Vanessa S.
During my stay in Portland and before going up to Seattle, I think I tried coming here twice. The first time, it was closed. The second time, they were closed for a private event. After taking the bus back down to Portland from Seattle, I saw that the bus stop was pretty much a block away from The Picnic House and they were open. It was in the afternoon when we arrived. We waited a little bit to get a table even though the place wasn't that busy. We finally got seated by the window and ordered from the happy hour menu (my visit here was last year and I don't think they have happy hour here any more). My mom and I ordered the tomato soup and half grilled cheese. It was very good and nice to have after being on a bus. It was a very small portion, but helped to hold us over. A nice little spot. I'll come back here the next time I'm in Portland with an updated review.
(4)
Sirayuki H.
When I pass in front of this restaurant I look in the window but haven't been inside. Today finally I went there and it was great! Inside was huge, bigger than I thought. And very cute! I and my friend got a lunch combination which is we can choose two of Soup, Salad and Sandwich from lunch menu. I ordered a salad with brown rice and a sandwich with shred prosciutto. Yum. I love this salad! I should have remembered this salad's full name! Anyways, that amount was perfect! I enjoy it! I should bring my husband next time! He will love there for sure!
(5)
Ryan F.
Had a couple friends suggest Picnic House for dinner. Decided to give it a try for a lunch meeting and was very pleased. Good lunch selection, especially with the mix and match of soups, sandwiches and salads. Turkey sandwich was delicious, soup was great and so was my salad. Good cocktail selection and my friend said his burger was amazing. Had a peek at the dinner menu and will be back to try next time I'm in town.
We came here for dinner before a show at the Schnitzer. We had a reservation, and our table was ready right away. The menu looked great. It was a Tuesday at 6 p.m. Unfortunately we never got to taste any of the food, since over an hour after we sat down, we had only received drinks (not even the bread we ordered!) and had to cancel our order and leave in order to be able to go somewhere to eat something, anything, before the show. I felt terrible for our waitress; clearly they were understaffed or something since we did not see her until at least 30 minutes after we were seated. The kitchen was incredibly slow. We ordered all our food at once, asked for it all to be brought out in any order, and got our check when we ordered, but they still couldn't manage to get one morsel of food on the table for an entire hour. And they didn't even comp our drinks! On the upside, the staff was very apologetic when refunding us (and the several other parties who came to the bar with the exact same issue at the same time as us), and all the food we saw around us looked like it would have been great. And the Jalapeño McChicken that I stuffed into my starving mouth before running to the Schnitz was delicious.
(1)
Isocephaly B.
Arrived at around 2 pm Friday and just missed the lunch rush; the staff was clearly trying to recover, so everything was a bit slow, but had delightful, leisurely meal of soup and sandwiches, paired with fun cocktails and excellent wine--all for completely reasonable downtown price. Staff and ambiance were entirely charming; from the chalk-board in the entryway to the lamp-post in the dining room, the management brings a sense of fun and whimsy to its meals. The quality of the ingredients was clearly very high, so although the lunch menu basically comprises soup and sandwiches, the meal was entirely satisfying. Would gladly eat there again.
(5)
Pip A.
Delicious - great for a light meal or a heavier one. Very accommodating wait staff. Had the grilled cheese and the tomato soup pairing and it was amazing. My friend had the burger and said it was the best he had ever had. The apricot cider is delicious as well. Highly recommend here. Vibe and decor is adorable too!
(5)
steven s.
Drinks were not so good, but our food was. The chicken was great. Our server screwed up our order tho so we ended up eating one of our appetizers (we just thought he forgot) after our entres. That's fine, it happens to everybody but he should have appologized for making the mistake, instead he kind of insinuated that we had misled him by saying we'd like the risotto. Besides how weird that interaction was we still had a great time an enjoyed our food.
(3)
Jessica H.
I've been here 3 times. The first time was soooo amazing! I had a delicious piece of salmon served on a cedar plank and it was so good I declared picnic house my new favorite restaurant. Unfortunately, my second experience was not so great. The service was slow, our waiter mixed up or omitted our order on two different items, and to top it off, the food didn't have the same "wow factor" it had the first time. I wasn't ready to give up. I tried picnic house for a third time... It was similar to my second experience. The waiter forgot parts of the order, the food was good, but "good" doesn't cut it when you live in a city that has so many wonderful food options. Honestly, the food probably deserves 3-4 stars, but the totality of my experiences have been disappointing. And for that, picnic house only gets 2 stars.
(2)
Ophelia Y.
I feel like the Picnic House is one of Portland's best kept secrets. I've been here twice, and it's been really chill. The place has a rustic feel, with high ceilings, and is vintage and beautiful. The lunch menu features a solid collection of soups, salads, and sandwiches, and you can get and combinations of them that you'd like. It's very affordable for the quality and freshness of the food, and just tastes absolutely divine! I got the roast beef sandwich and a cup of soup. Perfect meal for a rainy Friday in Portland! I've gotten a really good salad from here and a ridiculously awesome berry dessert as well. A very solid Portland spot. Looks Portland. Feels Portland. Tastes Portland.
(5)
Kim P.
Unbelievably good drinks and lunch. The beet and arugula salad was beautiful and delicious. Great atmosphere...will definitely return...
(5)
Doug K.
Had to dine solo after my party cancelled. A quick seat at the bar at the height of the lunch rush and I had a great salad of Kale with roasted chicken with a fried over easy egg on top and all was good in the world. The slices of chicken were moist, the kale clean-other places I get dirt and grit but not here! and the addition of the over easy egg-I always order one when ever possible, was great! Service was fast and attentive and the bill didn't make my jaw drop. Great quality ingredients, excellent service and reasonable prices what more can one ask for??!!
(4)
Gabe J.
AWESOME - AWESOME! I read some of the stellar reviews as well as not so stellar, if you can find one, someone mentioned it was like the cheese cake factory and I was a bit put off but there were too many great review to ignore. I went for lunch while traveling and was seated right away by the friendly host, actually she asked if I wanted to sit at the bar as there wasn't any wait, otherwise it might be 5 minutes, I went over to the bar area and only 1 other person was there so we had plenty of space and room. The server/bar tender with a batman tie, he was awesome and said everything was great but had some favorites, I ordered the mushroom soup and the salad with the brown rice, which probably sounded the least appetizing but thought to try something different. LOVED, LOVED all of it, the mushroom soup was creamy and fresh tasting with just the right amount of seasoning. The salad I absolutely loved and want to make at home for my family, had lots of shredded and diced veggies with the brown rice and not too much dressing....the whole thing was super great, I was full but had wanted to try at least one of their desserts, at least a bit, so I ordered the pound cake with strawberries and my one bit turned into two, ok, maybe three, it was worth it. YUMMERS, can't wait to bring clients here, I'm sure it's already one of their faves. By the way whoever said it's like the cheesecake factory, I want to go to yours because mine is nothing like this place, the ambiance or the food. Don't know whacha talkin' bout Willis...
(5)
Jillian R.
Very cool experience. I loved the steampunk ambiance (I do wish the bathrooms carried the theme over, but I'm just a weirdo who likes themed bathrooms). I loved the way that check was presented (spoiler alert: an old book). The food was also excellent; we had the cheeseplate, the pork chops, the grilled cheese and the chicken breast. For dessert, we had the grilled pound cake and the smores pudding. I loved the cheeseplate! There were four different types (2 hard, 2 soft) served with a loaf of bread. Make sure that they give you an extra loaf or else you will run out of bread. My main course was the chicken breast. I have to say, I am normally a beef eater and don't love chicken. This dish blew me away. So flavorful...the lemon and thyme were superb. For dessert I had the pound cake. Only criticism was that it had way too much whipped cream on it, but otherwise the dish was delicious. I loved the subtle (not too sweet!) flavors and the spring of mint on top was a perfect way to end the meal. Great experience, great food! Highly recommend.
(4)
Irene S.
Came here for my birthday. The food was really good and the mood was very classy! Me and a group of friends ordered 4/dishes and shared it. For me personally I think it was on the pricier side with a smaller portion, but it wasn't too bad. Service was a little slow but the servers were all very friendly.
(3)
Chris T.
This place was great, epic food, great ambiance-but please hire more servers. The service is slow, I could give you 5 stars if you fixed your service. So for starters I don't think the service is bad-just slow. They clearly don't have enough people on the floor. They do know their menu. All of it beer/wine and food. Honestly though there are only a handful of people running the whole wait staff and it shows. The food was wonderful. We started with the beet salad which was great, very fresh and the feta cheese added a nice richness to the salad. The standout was the cauliflower, epic flavor with a little kick! The steak was delicious but poorly cooked. It definitely shows the meat quality when the medium well cooked steak was still tender...even when it was ordered rare. All in all my wife and I love the meal. Just please hire more staff. Then I can rate you what you deserve.
(4)
Robert G.
I can't emphasize how good our first meal in Portland was. We had no idea what to do when we first got here, and the 2-year old was behaving kind of crazy after a long car ride. So I decided to start with the wild mushroom soup. This was lovely, and wasn't blended to complete smoothness, which I liked. I also very much liked the chunks of mushrooms sparingly added, though I couldn't tell you what kind they were. After that the wife and I settled on a trio of small plates: Crostini - the best starter plate of a great bunch. Crispy, thin crostini topped with goat cheese (among others) and tasting of sweet lavender honey. Crunchy, toasted almonds were spread over the plate and dotted with the honey. I don't have much experience rating "farm-to-table" experiences but I this is *exactly* what I hoped it would be. Beef tenderloin - a very good plate that keeps the a skewer of beef tender and medium-rare on the inside, while charring the outside. The skewer alternates beef with goat cheese, which lends good creaminess to the plate. Duck fat potatoes - The potatoes are fried in the duck fat, and fortunately they're not greasy (although unfortunately, I couldn't quite taste the duck either. Ah well.) This is served with horseradish and chives, and reminds you more of sour cream than horseradish. Another great plate. Thanks, Portland, for a great introduction to your food scene. I'm ready to take on the rest!
(5)
Bethany K.
TIME&PLACE: Wednesday night take out Had seen Picnic House on Yelp for a while, and finally took the plunge to eat there... or order take out, which counts, right? But, it was kind of a weird and underwhelming experience the entire way. 1) Called in to order takeout, but the gal on the phone asked me for how many people were in our party... that's strange, right? She also put me on hold at least three different times -- first to make sure the kitchen had capacity (which they did -- and when I went to pick up, there was literally a DOZEN empty tables. so I don't get it). She also put me on hold to confirm my order and how long it would take, and then a third time because she had to call me back about there not being any more cauliflower (which I had wanted) 2) Okay, so when she told me the cauliflower was out, I asked for other vegetarian side recommendations, and she suggested the brussel sprouts. I totally should have known but THEY WERE NOT VEGETARIAN. I had a bite and got a big whiff of something meaty -- it was pork. WHAT? Ugh. Didn't finish it, but was more just annoyed because I had specifically asked for something vegetarian. 3) Ordered a mushroom soup (which was good/fine!) and asked if it came with bread or anything (as soups often do) but she said no, it didn't. But she then offered to include a side of bread (or do something about it) but lo and behold - charged for it on the receipt. Sigh. 4) I will say that I really liked the hipstery decor and feel of the restaurant, though it was weird because it was so empty. Just a lot of weird experiences that left a kind of bleh taste in my mouth... not to mention the food itself was just okay. Not coming back!
(2)
Jorie T.
I ate here with a party of 9, at lunchtime on a Friday. We had a reservation for 12:10pm, so there was no wait for our table. The service was great, up until the very end when it took our waitress 45 minutes from the time we were all done eating to get us our bill, pick up the card, and get us out the door. That, in combination with the time it took between the first and last plate to be served at our table is the reason for my 4 stars instead of 5. The atmosphere is very... Portland. There is moss on some of the walls, antique woodblock printing blocks embedded in moss walls and creating mosaics on other walls. There is a bear head with a bowler hat, some cutesy poems and sayings painted on the walls, and they bring your bill to you in an antique book. All of these "weird" things mesh together pretty well but there is a definite vibe that Picnic House is trying to "keep Portland weird". For lunch, you can choose to have a combo of half salad, half sandwich, and cup of soup, or just two of those three options. I chose to do a combo of 3, to sample as many of their menu items as possible, since everything sounded really tasty. The wild mushroom soup with white wine and thyme was probably my favorite. It was so good in fact, that I almost question if this item was vegetarian. The soup was full bodied and hearty, which made me wonder if there was a chicken stock base. I forgot to ask before and after ordering, but it wasn't indicated anywhere on the menu that there was meat in it, so I'm hoping there wasn't. I'm also told this place is pretty vegan friendly, so I'm guessing it was just ridiculously good soup. For my half sandwich, I chose the grilled cheese with caramelized onions, aged cheddar, and fresh cheeses. This was really closer to a cheese panini than a grilled cheese, as I don't think there was any oil or butter on the exterior of the sandwich to brown it, and it had grill press lines on the outside. The cheeses and onions inside were good, but the winner in this sandwich was really the bread. Very crispy/crunchy and fresh tasting. The salad I tried was the mixed greens with pickled blueberries, seasonal berries, candied almonds, feta cheese, and a fig butter vinaigrette. This was also really wonderful. Of the three, this definitely had the most complex flavor profile, and every element worked together. The fig butter vinaigrette was the one part I wasn't sure I'd care for, but it really complimented the pickled blueberries and greens very well. All in all, the food was superb and I'd have no problems going back a second or third time to sample everything (vegetarian) on the menu.
(4)
DeathandFood H.
Holy Hipster Portland! The Picnic House is all things hipster yet some how it all works and the sum is better than the whole. TL:DR review-trendy decor, picnic inspired food that is surprisely good. Food- luckily they don't go over board on the picnic theme and with entrees under 20 and soups and shared plate from 6 to 16. We shared a lot of the smaller ones. Highlights were the wild mushroom, white wine, fresh thyme soup, the potato gnocchi, sauteed wild mushroom ragout. All the food was tasty if not always memorable. The decor is very Portland with a more modern area up front and then an other more charming space further in.
(4)
Clay H.
When the tip costs more than you would pay for an entire meal at a fast food joint, you may get dinged a star for slip ups. That being said, it was a nice meal. The ambiance was great and the service was about as good as it gets. We went the on Valentines day and selected to have the prix fixie meal. Course 1) My date had the oysters (her first time ever) and loved them. She raved about them for a good long time afterwards. I had the beet salad and found it delightful. Course 2) I had the duck, while my date wisely chose the trout. This was my first time having duck, but it seemed a bit chewy and just a bit flavorless. That would be fine given my lack of experience, but the potato croquettes that accompanied it were pretty tasteless. I give that portion 2 stars. Her course was delightful, however. We loved the barley risotto and the carrots along with the fish. It was the star of the night. Course 3) The dessert was lovely. Heavenly creme brulee along with tasty macaroons ended the night well. Drinks - My date had a moulin rouge that made her happy. Highly recommended. Overall, go there if you want a great date night experience, but skip the duck.
(4)
Amy A.
This place is cool. The menu is interesting, delicious, and cooked to perfection. The cocktails are hand-crafted and tasty. The service is great! And the venue is awesome! I would love to rent this place out for a private event...There is a gorgeous staircase near the rear of the restaurant that looks like it goes up into a ballroom or dining area, but I asked our server about it and she said it was just a couple storage areas upstairs. Thats too bad, if The Picnic House management created a neat rentable venue upstairs, I could see it doing VERY well! All in all, I love this place, and fully intend to go back--over and over again!
(5)
Amanda C.
I came here on a weekday for an early dinner just past 5pm. The place was empty at first but became busy quickly. The front of the restaurant does look outdoorsy as though you were really at a picnic. However, towards the back of the restaurant, the lights become dimmed and the ambiance seems more romantic. Either way, great place for a date. Food was stellar, especially given that entrees were under $20. I ordered the coulotte steak and requested mashed potatoes instead of the quinoa which they were happy to accommodate. Boyfriend had the maple-brined pork chop with onion bread pudding - also good. The only thing that I did not think was worth it was the espresso crusted beef tenderloin. It was under the small shares menu but at $14, I was expecting a larger portion, especially considering price of entrees. Still yummy though. PS - I was under the impression The Picnic House does happy hour based on the previous yelp reviews/pictures but they are not any longer. They instead directed us to their sister bar next door.
(5)
Lana N.
We actually had reservations for 830pm, but since we were in the area an hour earlier, we decided to stop by and see of anything was available. Once we came in we were greeted by the hostess which told us that she actually had a table. We came with the two little ones so I was a bit nervous that it would be an adult only place, but the staff were all so friendly and welcoming. Once we sat down our server was busy buy she acknowledged us and said that she would be right back. Once she came back, we just decided to order everything at once. It was Valentine's Day, so we were sure it would be busy. We then ordered the following : - McMule - their version of the Moscow mule. Tasted the same and it came in a very cool copper mug. - Roasted Duck - this was so tender and delicious. The duck was cooked perfectly and a side of potatoes and salad. The sauce on the plate was tangy and sweet, paired perfectly with the duck. - Pappardelle - thick pasta, served with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and a creme fraiche like sauce. The pasta was fresh and so were the vegetables Overall it was a great experience for our first night in Portland. The decor is rustic and I absolutely loved the cafe lighting in the front. They had some chairs and tables made out of wood and tree stumps, which were very cool. Staff was exceptional and food was fabulous, I'm definitely visiting again!
(5)
Jennifer C.
Had a really great meal here. I would give a 4.5 if I could. Delicious squash soup, beet salad with omg chèvre panacotta!?!? and beef tenderloin. I focused on the small plates and loved it all. Service was fine, not overly friendly but totally fine. They were extremely accommodating of gluten free needs!
(4)
Shirley K.
Wow I haven't been this impressed in so long! We had a 6 o'clock reservation but came an hour early to have some drinks. We were presently surprised when we were told we could be seated right away. So we decided to just have an earlier dinner. We loved how the menu was small. We started off with the beef tenderloin and
(5)
Russ C.
I really loved this place. The food was great. Drinks excellent. We sat outside, but inside the place also has so much character. Definitely a don't miss spot. Good for vegetarians too!
(5)
Shirley K.
The food is Soooooooooooooo yummy here!! Came here for lunch and did the half sandwich and half salad combo for $12. It is $15 if you choose a half sandwich, half salad and cup of soup. The portion is big enough to share but you may need to also order a dessert - which is what we did! We had the pavlova with whipped cream and fresh berries for dessert. It was so much fun to eat that towering and patriotic dessert on the 4th of July (see pic)! The service was super friendly and helpful. Love this place!!
(5)
Tamara H.
Phenomenal food. I had the Pork Terrine. It was cooked perfectly and served with the most beautiful mustard sauce, mustard greens and potato gratin. My boyfriend had the Cold Smoked Duck. Amazing! The service was impeccable. The ambiance is cozy but airy. We have found a new gem in Portland and cannot wait to return to work our way down the menu!
(5)
Forrest P.
Very good service, great food, interesting atmosphere. I was accidentally given the wrong entree (ordered daily special salmon, was given the menu version), once the error was noticed the staff quickly brought out the correct food, so I ended up with both-- definitely the right way to resolve the issue. Food was very good, and the staff even complimented my bow tie.
(5)
Eric R.
Service: 4 stars Ambiance: 4 stars Food: 2 stars I really like what they're trying to do. Unfortunately they don't actually get there The service was very good - not "cheesy hi-my-name-is-Howz-that-tasting", which is a plus. Human scale, honest, not at all pretentious (a miracle for this city!). The wine list is fine, and has a very serviceable Nebbiolo. But the food... Oh, the food... It's... Dull. Like, anyone with a Williams-Sonoma cookbook does this dull. Maybe things just Portland? What do I know? I'll just have some more wine and be fine with it.
(3)
Beth M.
I had high hopes for The Picnic House, because Yelpers always send me to the yummiest destinations. This time I left feeling a little empty inside. I found the staff to be friendly, and the decor was whimsical, but the space itself was cavernous and loud, and the food was okay....nothing to write home about. I had the mushroom soup, which was fine, but not in any way exemplary. I also had the mushroom onion tart, which was equally okay, and a wedge salad that had more core than leaf. Hubs and guest each had the burger, and there were high hopes, but they both commented that they'd had much better, and our guest even questioned if they'd slipped him a veggie burger, because the texture seemed off. On the plus side, Hubs thought the tempura style onion rings were tasty. It was kind of them to seat us away from others, because it is a loud loud place, and impossible to have a conversation when the dining room is full. Back in the day, it would've been amazing to have this spot next to the symphony for a quick and inexpensive alternative to The Heathman. But, I am 100% sure that I would rather eat a Heathman Pub burger than The Picnic House version. I will come back for dinner sometime. Perhaps I caught them on an off day.
(3)
Ryan M.
Great place! Met an old friend for lunch and was very impressed by the atmosphere and the staff. Our server was super friendly and attentive. Ever have a chicken salad sandwich? Me too. But have you ever had a buffalo chicken sandwich? Me neither....until yesterday! I'm glad I chose it. Super rich and creamy with a hint of spice. So good.
(5)
Zach G.
Amazing waiters/service and even better food. Try the cauliflower and ask about the history of wrestling and Scientology in the building
(5)
Shane W.
This place is lovely. The menu is very limited but pretty good. A friend and I shared 2 plates: I ordered the grilled cheese and tomato soup and it was perfect and fantastic. She had the cheese burger. It was soso.... Nothing special. The prices were great. The service was fine. I would go back
(4)
Derek N.
Date night for my wife and I. Chris Issak was in concert next door within an hour 1/2. We found this location and set reservations. It was an experience to remember. I had the following: coulotte steak with gremolata butter, quinoa polenta, mignonette, shaved parmesan $19 My wife had: stuffed portobello mushroom, polenta bread, caramelized onion, roasted sweet potatoes, corn, brussels, green onion $15. Both were great choices and we shared our meal. I cannot get over how they handled the sauce that goes with this steak. I have tried researching how to recreate but have come up short. This is a work of art. My wife's meal was good, but I love how they did my steak dinner. Great location, atmosphere and service. I would give them 4.5 stars if this was an option.
(4)
Kayla N.
OMG I think this was my favorite stop in Portland. The mushroom soup lived up to it's Yelp reviews! I could have had 5 bowls of it. But my dinner was delicious anyways so I left very happy. What I really love was the ambiance, the dim lighting and intimate feeling even though it's packed and loud. It's definitely a chill hipster type of place and dress matches that. I would love to go back and try the lunch menu. The drinks were also very tasty, different concoctions that mixed well. Great vibe! They are doing things right here!
(5)
Brianna S.
YUM!! Stopped in for a light dinner while traveling solo in Portland. It was the perfect combo of relaxed, casual and trendy. I sat at the window bar area. Not the most comfortable of seating arrangements, but I was there for the food :) I started with their tomato soup which was tasty, loved the bread crouton that went with it. Per my knee jerk reaction and the waitresses recommendation, I got the salmon with strawberry and jalapeno salsa. Unsure how that flavor profile would work, I'm so glad I went with it. It was delicious - the portion was huge and the salsa + asparagus side were pure bliss. Would definitely return with a group to make my way through the menu. Next time, dessert!
(4)
K B.
We come here every time we travel to Portland because the service is great and the food is incredibly tasty and always so fresh. Their salads are all wonderful- next time, I might make an entire meal out of all of the salads.
(5)
Cristy S.
We enjoyed our dinner at Picnic House - the bar is quaint and the cocktails were tasty. For dinner, being vegetarian, I enjoyed the mushroom lasagne. My husband had the Pork Terrine and seemed to enjoy it - I tried the mustard whip that accompanied his meal and found it light and tasty! The scalloped potatoes were a bit oily but we enjoyed dessert. I recommend Picnic House as a solid spot for dining while in Portland.
(4)
Chelsea S.
we went for portland dining month, which might have been the problem. We got there right when they opened and i got the impression they were annoyed. food was just okay, couldn't imagine paying more than i did for the deal.
(2)
Joni W.
Huh. I don't think I understood the concept here. Huge place, sparsely filled, decor was a little all over the map. The dinner menu didn't feature fun, picnic-y style food as I was expecting but rather just plain ol Portlandy basic lunch fare, and not even very good lunch fare at that. I'll likely be back to give it another try. Given the fun theme, I was expecting a lot more creativity with the selections.
(2)
Sean S.
Picnic house feels like a cross a between a trendy boutique and rustic log cabin with simple but amazing food at amazing prices. Their shrimp salad sandwich is light yet flavorful on fresh baguettes from a local bakery. The tomato soup with oregano and fresh basil is a must try and their butter salad is beautifully crafted and well garnished. The service is fantastic, esp Emily who was very helpful suggesting local haunts to out of towners like myself. Would definitely come back next time in Portland.
(5)
April C.
I have been not so patiently waiting to try this place and finally, the perfect time to try was happy hour! They have a small but unique menu of dishes including desserts and drinks. We ordered the chicken cesar skewers, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, and the crostini with goat cheese, honey, and nuts. The first two were small portions but the flavor was there and the crostini were quite plentiful and crazy good (I plan to recreate at home)! We also accidentally ordered the full-sized pavlova off the regular menu and wow, this was the greatest way to end an already stellar meal. Just try it. The ambiance is great with a vintage vibe and low lighting. I was here with a friend but this would be an amazing place for a date night, especially if you are going to show at the Schnitz. Like mentioned in the previous reviews, the hostess is a little frazzled? confused? not sure. She told me that she would have a table available in just a few minutes but there was only about three other twosomes there at that point, around 4:30pm. I was confused but we were seated and the waitress and bartender were lovely. Also, they are planning to open up a bar area that will serve over 20 beers/ciders on tap in the next few months. Renovations are happening right now!
(5)
Vera L.
I ordered the Mushroom soup and the grilled cheese sandwich and I was pleasantly surprised. The portions are just right and the food is delicious! Our waitress was super attentive and helpful. Overall a very good experience.
(5)
Gev M.
Walked in around 9:30 pm on a Saturday night, without a reservation, and were seated within 5 minutes. We were immediately taken with the decor (landmark meets quirk) and ambience (lively without being overwhelming). Cocktails were amazing! We deferred to our waiter in that regard, and his recommendations did not disappoint. Our server (whose name I unfortunately cannot recall) was super awesome. Equally amazing was the food: (1) the mixed green salad not only surprised me, it sneaked up on me and slapped me in the back of my head. Flavors are remarkably complex and well-balanced - an astounding feat for a starter salad. And pickled blueberries? It's a win-win folks; (2) stuffed portobello mushroom is a veggie party in your mouth. Again, really good and complex flavors, simple ingredients. I think they may be on to something here.... Overall, great food, great service, and great atmosphere. Oh, and very reasonably priced. Another huge plus: although we came in a little before their closing time, we did not feel rushed at any point in the evening. I can't wait to come back!
(5)
Jim W.
When you take a bite of food and the response is "OMG - this is amazing" ... you know you've hit something special. I had a bowl of their tomato soup - and I was in tomato soup heaven... swimming in the perfectly seasoned appropriately thick steamy bowl of yumminess! Paired with their thick cut bacon and tomato sandwich... I was a happy lunch camper. Can't wait to go back and try something else!
(4)
Celeste S.
The picnic house had excellent food, ambiance and service. It felt like I was being transported back in time with its vintage feel. We went during lunch and the pick three option was amazing. The tomato soup, Berry salad and Blt sandwich was very good. I'm definitely going back!
(5)
Sophie L.
Simple lunch but looks gourmet. It's a wonderful place to treat yourself. The price is not bad. And the decor is interesting. If you like to have a nice lunch with a friend or two. I highly recommend this semi cozy atmosphere.
(4)
Ryan L.
My beau and I went here for lunch. For $15 I got a cup of soup, salad and 1/2 a sandwich. It was quite a bit of food for the price and it was delicious. The potato salad was delicious. The potatoes were cooked perfectly and it had a lot of flavor but not too much dressing. The sandwich was a roast chicken sandwich. It was great. I loved the bread. The cauliflower soup with brown butter and crispy kale was phenomenal. It was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The service was excellent. The cocktails were great also.
(5)
Mike T.
Solid overall experience. Nice atmosphere and the food met expectations. The service, as others have suggested, was not rushed (slow). I do not recommend PH if you are looking for a quick bite. My kale salad was tasty, but overly dressed and salty. The Italian meat sandwich was good, but not excellent. Portion size was fair. The acoustics in the restaurant, like others said, makes it loud when the restaurant is full. I would not recommend taking people who are sensitive to loud restaurants here, but I felt that it was fine for my informal business/networking meeting. Enjoy!
(4)
Mike C.
Went in for lunch with my girlfriend today without reservations, had no problem getting a table. We had the half sandwich and soup, wild mushroom soup and buffalo chicken sandwich. My girlfriend had the turkey sandwich. Food arrived quickly and was delicious!! Our server Rachelle seemed rushed and was quite impersonal. Said was too busy to clear our table, which sounded odd. Anyway, I will go back as the food was quite delicious.
(4)
Mark M.
This was a fantastic fare, and my favorite meal in Portland. Very reasonably priced as well. I had a great pork belly here, and some really well-braised ribs. Those ribs were served with some of the best Yorkshire pudding I ever had - even better than when I had them in England. They also had a grilled chicken, and I do not know what was in it, but it was like crack with the pureed celery. Really a fantastic fare here. What I liked about the food here was also it was full of fresh produce and flavors of the harvest. If you are out in a place like Portland, what is a better representation of all things green and good in nature? The wines here are also well picked, and went perfectly with the food. There was nothing that I could criticize here, as it was hands down a beautiful experience.
(5)
Liz T.
This is a fun place downtown Portland. I came here with my mother and we really enjoyed this quirky / innovative place. Our food was really nice and I appreciated the small menu. As Steve Jobs says, "Choices cause confusion." I actually didn't mind only having a couple of delicious looking entrees. The prices were fair and we enjoyed our meal. My only complaint is that it is extremely loud when you sit in their ballroom and by the mirrors. We talked loud enough to have a good conversation, but after we left we realized we were screaming. We ordered local cider that was well described by the waiter. I was kind of craving a beer and didn't find anything on the menu I was craving... but it ended up OK since I liked the cider. We enjoyed our time and were impressed with the service. I would recommend this place, but possibly not for a first date or if you want to have a deep conversation.
(4)
Mike G.
Like everyone else, we ordered the brown rice salad with nuts and quinoa. We literally ordered three of them. Like everyone else, we thought it tasted nutty. 4 stars, not 5 (one of us probably gave it a 3, so please keep your expectations reasonable). The mushroom soup was actually the standout dish that was surprisingly flavorful. I normally can't stand cream in soup, but this was worth it and had very little cream I think. The ambiance was fun although it took the hostess nearly 10 minutes to acknowledge our presence and seat us at one of the many open tables. Maybe move to self-service seating when your staff is busy?
(4)
Nique F.
You know that feeling when a restaurant just "gets you"? When the menu doesn't include a single thing you don't love? When the ambiance makes you smile the minute you walk in, like you've found your happy place? That, for me, was the Picnic House. It doesn't hurt that they have an amazing local wine & beer list, too! The holy lunch trinity -- soup, salad, sammies -- is the focus here. And, you can have all three at once! Their half sandwich, half salad & soup combo (for $15) is a dream, and they put no limits on your choices. I had the half Buffalo Chicken Salad sandwich with pickled banana peppers blue cheese & arugula, perfectly zesty, lightly sauced, on a fresh baguette. My half soup was the roasted tomato with basil cream, and my half salad: Mixed Greens with lardons, sugar snap peas, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and toasted almonds. All three items arrive on a long rectangular plate. One of the most exciting sampler platters I've ever seen! With that, we had some Willamette Valley rose and an Oregon IRA. 1 hour into our vacation, and we were officially in love with Portland. The space is huge, with a small cafe in the front and a more grandiose dining room & little bar in in the back. The decor is jazzy 1920s salon style, with a few Northwestern touches like hefty rough-cut wood tables. Service was so friendly and low-key, we almost felt like locals. I will definitely be eating lunch here every time I'm in Portland!
(5)
Angel S.
Fun decor. Tasty Happy Hour and Well Made Drinks. Lots of rave reviews about the brown rice salad and I found it pretty meh. Missing punch for the price.
(3)
Leigh P.
I LOOOOVVVVE this place. It is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. This place is so amazing and vintage. It is a must see and the food is AMAZING! I had the tomato bisque soup and a wonderfully tasty salad. My lunch mate had the roast beef sandwich which got rave reviews and came with homemade potato chips that were awesome. Don't question your decision....GO HERE!
(5)
Naomi S.
Rustic and stylish restaurant. I love their sandwich bread. The dressing for shrimp sandwich amazing!! I would definitely come back again when I visit Portland next time:)
(5)
Sarah W.
Awesome restaurant due to great design & feel as well as wholesome and filling dishes! *** THE AMBIENCE *** I don't know what the history of the building is, but it definitely has old charm. The main dining area is quite large and grand, in fact, but the uniquely-crafted wooden tables and artwork make it very cozy. There were many others dining at this popular lunch spot, but fortunately we didn't feel like we had to scream to hear each other. And even with nearly a full house, the service was quick and we were out to our next meeting with time to spare. *** THE FOOD *** The food is delicious and extremely reasonably priced. I took the Half Soup/Half Salad/Half Sandwich Combination option, but felt like I was getting full portions of each! I selected Curry Pumpkin soup which was like the taste of autumn, Mixed Greens & Berries salad which was fresh with a pop of sweet crunch from candied nuts, and the Shaved Prosciutto sandwich which was a blend of sweet, salty, and savory.
(4)
Olive K.
Wow. First of all, the decor is very interesting and the building is unique. It must have been a hotel in the past. I ordered a delicious grilled cheese that contained caramelized onions and aged white cheddar, along with a cup of tomato soup. I'm not even joking, it was the best grilled cheese I've ever had in my life. I was incredibly impressed with this place and recommend to everyone.
(5)
Jenny C.
We came into Picnic House for dinner while in Portland. What can I say the food was fantastic, the service was great, the decor was quite charming & the vibe was very portland! The menu was impressive and I finally settled on the fried chicken & it was by far the best I've ever had! We will definitely be returning to Picnic House for more yummy food!!
(5)
D B.
Before the aforementioned Itzhak Perlman concert came The Picnic House. Unassuming name, unassuming location, classic Portland mixed group of patrons. But my goodness the food wasn't mixed, it was excellent, and the portions were generous. I had an exceedingly tender pork terrine. My date had pistachio covered salmon with cilantro, pomegranate, etc., etc. That bite she gave me was enough to get me back here. Two quibbles keep from a 5 star: the odd table arrangements (strictly a matter of taste, i know) and the fact that the (excellent) roasted feta "small share" could have used a couple slices more of bread. Quibbles! I'll be back for sure. BONUS: It's a very short walk to the Schnitz if that's on your evening lineup card.
(4)
Erik V.
This place was so tasty, the staff was really friendly and helpful, and the place was fairly empty so it was pretty peaceful, it should have had more people there though, the food was amazing! 20/18 value/price
(5)
Ryan P.
Stopped in for dinner before attending a concert at the Schnitz. I enjoyed the salmon with asparagus risotto while my friend enjoyed the pork terrine. The food was delectable and the portions were nicely sized. They also have a creative cocktail and dessert menu. I hope to return to eventually try other items on the menu. The atmosphere inside is fantastic and they also have outdoor seating. Service was great and the entire staff was friendly and welcoming.
(5)
Marlana S.
Hubby and I stopped in here on a night out for drinks and we both ended up getting the mushroom soup, too. I absolutely loved the decor. It reminded me of a Paris spring day, with a little circus thrown in. The lighting is dim and it is a perfect date spot. Our drinks were delicious. And the soup was amazing. It was like mushroom gravy with a very peppery flavor that made it so savory. We will be back for more!
(4)
Chirag P.
Such a cool place, especially when hearing the history of the restaurant and how it's related to the Heathman Hotel across the street. Fantastic food and some great drinks. Definitely check it out if you're in downtown Portland.
(4)
Ella H.
This place is great! I came here for lunch the other day and got the bacon, lettuce, and roasted tomato sandwich with lemon aioli. Delicious! The tomato basil soup surprised me, because I normally don't eat tomato soup. It was my favorite part of the meal. My aunt and grandmother had the soup to and they felt the same way. I also had the mixed green salad with pickled blueberries. Sounds weird, tastes amazing! They were little pops of sour on the salad. The bread here is crisp on the outside, and chewy in the middle. It adds so much to the sandwich. My family and I are members of the clean plate, (and bowl) club.
(5)
Amanda S.
What an amazing little experience. My fellow yelpsters never steer me wrong. Great, whole foods - and while they don't have a kid menu - they do accommodate the youngsters.
(4)
Gillian H.
Truthfully if I could give a place negative stars I would. This was hands downTHE WORST dining experience of my entire life. Let's begin with the fact that when we called to make reservations for my birthday dinner they said they were fully booked for two solid hours.... Which they weren't. When our party of FOUR, yes people just four, arrived they sat us at an enormously large table by the door away from the rest of the restaurant. It was like we were being punished for asking for reservations. The wait staff took their own sweet time and by that I mean 20 minutes to even show up to the table for drink orders and then an additional 20 to bring back 2 beers and 2 cocktails. Once we received our HIGHLY OVERPRICED drinks we ordered and truthfully that was an even worse mistake. The food took over an hour to arrive and having worked in the service industry myself I'm fairly certain it does not take over an hour to prepare a burger, 2 salads and Salmon dish. The food by the way was subpar. The fries at the pub I had later were ten times better than their garbage. We finally said something once we got our food and the waiter did not seem to care that we had been waiting so long nor did he offer to comp the meal but offered those who ordered beer discounts on the beer. Not discounts on the food- something everyone ordered, just the people who ordered beer got less expensive beer. It was the only time I seriously thought about just leaving and not paying. We all agreed going to a taco cart would have been cheaper, better service and more fun. We felt forgotten about at our table and on my birthday nonetheless. All in all: terrible staff, terrible prices and terrible experience. Save yourself the trouble and go to your favorite taco cart or burger joint. NOT WORTH IT!
(1)
Cameron L.
Great spot. Interesting menu, amazing location (especially if you are seeing a show at The Schnitz). I've been for a work lunch and a pre-show dinner/drinks with friends. Food both times was excellent. Service is a tad slower than desired, but it all works out. Definitely request to sit in the dark area towards the bar...once I was seated in the brightly lit, "old-lady seats" towards the front; and they don't capture the character or vibe of the place. I had the salmon the other night, and it was cooked and seasoned perfectly. It earned raves from our table. Outstanding. I also love what they do with veggies.
(4)
Kyle S.
We came here on a Thursday night and it was not busy. The atmosphere is cool, the building is the old Heathman Hotel, and it has a 20's flair. The service was really good, we were seated right away and the waiter took our order quickly. The hipster-dressed bartender made us a legit whiskey sour was was really good. We started field green salad with berries, walnuts, and feta, and it was great. Next we had the strawberry salmon with asparagus which was small portioned but extremely tasty and moist. We also had the stuffed portobello w Brussel sprouts which was excellent. We would definitely come back.
Portland seems to do everything better than LA. The Picnic House drives this home. Not only was the space intimate while surprisingly large (I was there for a vow renewal which became a dance-off), but the food was top notch, with especially good dessert.
(5)
Neal C.
Stopped by on a whim, place looked cool from the outside. I was in for a good surprise! The food was excellent and the drinks even better. Had a great time and the staff was extremely helpful. All in all a great experience, a funky place with a eclectic vibe.
(4)
Shirley M.
Whimsical decor. Friendly Service and Delicious Food created by Chef Casey Gipson. The fried Brussels sprouts. Sweet soy, truffle, onsen egg and pickled radish was an incredibly fun and delicious dish. The Ginger Beer cocktail was unique and refreshing. The Chocolate Truffle Bar with Carmel sauce was a perfect ending to a tasty meal with friends. Next time I want to try their Black Truffle Mushroom Lasgne with sage cream sauce.
(5)
Scott F.
I took three colleagues there last night for dinner. My first time there and it was incredible. I made a reservation which was good, as the restaurant filled up quickly, and this was a Wednesday night. We all ordered the fixed price March special which started off with a small salad and soup, followed by lamb shank, and topped off with a nice desert. The food, service, and venue was exceptional. Our server Molly was friendly, very attentive, and exceeded our expectations. I will most certainly return!
(5)
Sarah S.
I thought what my friends and I experienced was an anomaly, but in reading the other reviews, I see that isn't the case. Like other customers who have posted here, we had a strange experience with the hostess. When we walked in, there were only three other tables seated. The hostess asked if we had a reservation, and when we said no, she acted annoyed and asked for a name. We gave it to her, then she immediately sat us. Confusing. Aside from the weird beginning, our waitress was outstanding. She gave us the nitty gritty on her favorite cocktails, which were all delish, as well as suggestions for our lunch order, also super yummy. Even though the place got busy, our server continued to check in on us and bring us everything we asked for, including drinks only on the dinner menu - what a pro! Aside from the confusing initial experience, I would go back.
(3)
Meana K.
The name of this place doesn't quite capture its essence. Located in a renovated building which in the 1920s was the original Heathman Hotel, this restaurant has exceptional ambiance and food. On the night we came here, they weren't too busy and we were given very personalized service which I can only hope is the quality they aim for every night. Our server, Aaron, was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the preparation of the dishes. I appreciated his candidness in his recommendations, and that he provided us a little bit of history about the building and their plans for expansion. The interior space is striking and offers many details to visually explore. The music selection was classy but vibrant jazz. The cocktails were interesting although not as memorable as the food. I loved the brussel sprouts, the espresso encrusted beef tenderloin, the aged cheddar bread pudding that accompanies the pork dish, the salmon and asparagus, and the grilled cheese sandwich with roasted tomato soup. That may have been the best tomato soup I have ever tasted. The s'more pudding was nice too. I thought it was overall a good value for the quality of food. All of us were very pleased with our dishes and agreed the service was fantastic. I plan to put this place in the rotation and look forward to seeing it expand.
(4)
Anne R.
We had dinner here and the food was fantastic. To start we had the roasted Brussels sprouts and mixed green salad. The mixed green salad had fresh berries, feta and some kind of candied nut. Delish. For dinner we shared the risotto special which was veggie and super tasty and unique. Drinks were strong and ambiance was perfect. Highly recommend!
(4)
Stefanie S.
I would rate this a 4-star for walking off the street or having something small with friends, however I have been trying to communicate with them - in particular - the event staff, Ari, for over 4 weeks now to nail down a dinner for 25 people. You would think they would want the business however they are extremely slow to respond to anything nor do they even respond to your inquiries at all. Ari was out for a week (or something) and I requested the manager call me back to answer my questions so I could get the reservation and menu set and finalized. After two attempts of reaching the manager (!) I received NO contact. I have emailed Ari multiple times requesting a response and have gotten nothing. In my opinion this is unacceptable and, frankly, rude. I believe people say alot with their money...I will NOT be spending mine for this event here. Sad.
(1)
Marina P.
Great french braserrie atmosphere, very tasty arty interior design. The service and music dwell with nostalgy for the bohemian salon. And to add to it all great food by all standards. Arancini risotto and marinated chicken were perfect. Enjoyed it very much
(5)
Mike G.
This is a great find! Wonderful feel inside and the service was even better! Menu selection was very nice too! Yelp helped us find out about this place and it was only because of the reviews that we even tried it! Soooo glad we did....The quality of what came out of the kitchen was top notch! If anything could make it a "5 star" I would say just a bit more on the portion size...Thats it! Very good place and yes, we will be back!
(4)
Aly R.
Not only are the lunch portions perfect, but the wine selection is phenomenal. I've returned so many times with friends and family and it's become a favorite spot! Even though the food does take a bit to come out, the fresh taste of the sandwiches are excellent and so worth the weight. The staff is wonderful and very helpful if you don't know what type of wine/entree you are looking for.
(5)
Elizabeth H.
Great food, good service, well priced, uncomfortable seating.
(4)
Renee L.
Picnic House is perfect: the ambience, the food, the drinks, the service. The boyfriend and I visited Portland for the first time and had dinner here. We got the pork chop and the portobello mushroom and both blew our minds. We also got the cauliflower as appetizer as well as the moulin rouge and the gardenhead cocktails. Everything was absolutely amazing. We will definitely visit again in the future.
(5)
Lisa S.
Picnic House has a great start, it just needs some tweaking. great atmosphere and a very unique layout. service was fine, but not fantastic. our server was more interested in flirting with her friend at the bar then checking in on our table. For the food, my salmon was good. The weird side salad of winter veggies, black rice and quinoa was just plain oddball....the veggies were cut into long thin strips, curled up, translucent, and just not appetizing. The texture was "off". The salmon and veggies were served on some kind of oiled wooden round plate. do you really think they sand that plate down after every meal? I doubt it. so....the cleanliness factor was definitely on my mind. The short ribs were a little tough and a little too salty, the accompaniments with it though were innovative and tasty. For an appetizer, we had the brussels sprouts. Most were perfectly caramelized, some were almost raw. go figure. We did not drink, and those three items totaled $42. A little pricey for those portion sizes. We are looking forward to trying again and being able to raise this to 4 or even 5 stars!
(3)
Allegra P.
Gourmet indoor picnic at it's best! Creative & eclectic decor that really does bring the outdoors in. The wedge salad is SO fresh & delicious not to mention their sandwiches. Whatever you order, you can't go wrong & you'll leave with your tank past full!
(4)
Chris B.
Good sandwiches and nice soup. Lunch spot for sure. Stop by if you are downtown and near the Hilton. Lots of options north of here to choice from however and I would likely choose tasty or the carts before this spot.
(3)
Elaine P.
It's an interesting experience. Beautiful place, but so loud, Needs padding. Paper towels, Expensive. But delicious food, unbelievable, actually. If in Portland, you must go to The Picnic House.
(4)
Alyssa C.
I have now been here 3 times in the last month and a half and if you know me, you know i REALLY have to like a place to be a repeat customer. This place is awesome for so many reasons! 1) Their sandwiches. Oh man. I've had the italian, the fig prosciutto, and the chicken bacon so far. They are all delicious, but if I had to pick a fav, it would be the chicken bacon. 2) The SOUPS! But, specifically, the mushroom thyme soup. I got the cauliflower soup last time I went, which was good, but the mushroom soup is better. 3) The salads. I've even gotten salads here, guys. The brown rice salad is tasty, but I'd go with the one with pickled blueberries if you are gonna go to salad-town. OR -the pasta salad looked amazing. You can pick two from the above list for $12 or pick 3 for $15. I did the pick 2 about 5 hours ago and I am still full. When I did the pick 3, I didn't eat again that day because it hurt. so. good. 4. The ambiance/decor - this place is beautiful and HUGE. You could easily have a big group dinner/lunch here and could be accommodated. 5. I haven't tried them yet but the cocktails look NOM. Seriously, go here...your tastebuds will thank you.
(5)
Evan S.
Beautiful setup, great atmosphere to admire once you walk in. Unfortunately, I feel as though that's where it ended. The service was atrocious, both waiting for drink/food orders and receiving those orders. Also, the menu items were well over priced, as they didn't offer any truly unique foods. The wine menu felt as if they were reaching to appeal to a high ticket market as they didn't offer many wines by the glass, the prices were all quite high, and they didn't have many wines from our fantastic local wine scene. The happy hour was unfortunately not even in the restaurant, but rather the bar (Barlow), so that made for some moving and lack of convenience...unfortunately, the service over there was also atrocious. I would not recommend this place to a friend , family member, or someone passing through Portland.
(2)
Kathy B.
Really great food and cocktails. Grilled cheese was delicious. Risotto was yummy. Dessert was okay. Service was ok, not terrible, not great.
(4)
Lisa B.
I love the decor here! The mix and match options are amazing. Great for those who like to sample everything. The potato salad is a must.
(5)
Juli G.
Our group of five spontaneously decided to swing in here for lunch because one of women has a good friend who loves it and keeps coming back. We arrived at 11:45 without reservations, and they were spot-on lovely and seated us immediately. The decor is romantic and comfortable with high ceilings, beautiful lighting, and tasteful drapes and art throughout. The menu looked so delicious; really, every single item looked like something I'd want to try. They offer a great option to combine two or three of the following: soup, salad, and sandwich. I was hungry so I opted for the three item combo. This is when it got strange and why this review is four stars instead of five. Something I love to do when I encounter a menu on which everything looks good is request that the chef choose for me. I figure they invented and are preparing the food so they'll probably combine better than I could, ignorant of the subtle flavors of each dish. So I asked the server to have the chef choose a three-item combination for me. She then proceeded to rattle off three dishes that she thought I should have, as though I'd asked because I couldn't make a decision instead of honoring my desired gastronomic adventure with the chef. I simply asked again that the chef choose my combination. She was indignant and snapped, "We usually don't get that here." The plate that came out included the butter lettuce salad, buffalo chicken sandwich, and squash soup, all of which were delicious individually. They didn't work together as a combination, though, which made me think the snotty server chose that combination on purpose to teach me a lesson. I'd go back and recommend this place for lunch, but I'll choose my own combination in the future.
(4)
Thomas N.
Loved this place! Took my date here for our first and we were both very pleased. Fairly classy, and the food was well priced.
(5)
Mick R.
The family was pissed at me that I didn't mention the somewhat formal atmosphere but relaxed when I pointed out the kids in shorts two tables away. Everyone was intrigued by the menu, especially my son who chose the Wild Boar stew. I had the pork chop and my wife had the stuffed portobello mushroom. Everyone was very happy with their selections but I didn't like the sample of Wild Boar I had. We shared the grilled pound cake for dessert which was very good but not mind-blowing which is what I expected. The bill came to $80 which was better than I thought it would be. We'll definitely go back here next time we're downtown.
(4)
Steven M.
Appetizers ok - entrees not so great. All dishes lacked seasoning and actually cold to the touch. Not a foodie paradise
(2)
Aimee L.
Very very good food, fantastic interior, service is inconsistent (nice waitstaff but either understaffed or they just forget about you?) and so it's not the place you'd go if you need to get in and out in an hour. Menu seems to have little room for dietary restrictions besides "leave it off" but the salad was delicious. Looking forward to trying their happy hour (have tried to come by several times but they seem to do a lot of private events so we've never been).
(3)
Chris S.
The chairs were a bit uncomfortable, so I docked 1 whole star. Fortunately, I was planning on giving them six stars for food, cocktails, ambience and service. So, that's a net five stars. Not too shabby. We had a 5-10 minute wait for lunch on a rainy Friday. There were a decent amount of people in the place, and we didn't have a reservation. It didn't seem to matter though, as they were moving people through pretty quickly. The food is fantastic, fresh and flavorful. I had the Farfalla Pasta salad and cup of broccolini soup. My SO had the shaved turkey sandwich and a cup wild mushroom soup. It was all very good. The portions were also perfect for the price and what I want out of lunch. We both cleaned our plates & bowls. Service was prompt, helpful and friendly. Attentive but not in your face. About the chairs. I couldn't lean back. The metal bar hit in a really uncomfortable spot. I wonder if that helped them move people through a bit quicker...
(5)
Adam G.
Ok, we arrived to a half empty restaurant around 7pm. We had to wait about 5 minutes before anyone even approached us. The host then asked if we had a reservation we didn't. She said she'd be right back and set something up. Another woman called to us from the bar half a floor above us and asked if we needed help. We said no, thank you, someone was helping us. She then power tripped on us telling us no, she would help us, she's the general manager and that without a reservation it was a minimum 45 minute wait. There are two ways to have this conversation with customers. She chose the snotty, pretentious way. As we started to walk out, she ran down to us and said something about us coming back. Ummmm, no.
(1)
Mona B.
Had a work lunch with the boss and a bunch of coworkers the other day. I had been hopeful (I mean the place was packed by the time our food arrived), but alas... - service: our waitress, while friendly, wasn't attentive, nor efficient. Didn't give me a spoon for my tea. Never asked me if I wanted more hot water for my tea (rather, I had to spend several min's and several attempts trying to catch her attention). She didn't give spoons to people at my table who ordered soup. Most importantly for me, she didn't ask me how I want my burger done - I figured she'd realize it and come back and ask me. Never did ask me and never came back around to tell her my preference until my food came out. That brings me to... - food: for a burger that's $12, I expect it to be better than... oh I don't know, say Five Guys (and I think Five Guys' burger are nothing to write home about). The Picinic House burger is $12 (I'm copying/pasting from their menu): burger, roasted tomato, aged white cheddar, red onion, cuke pickles, lettuce, house sauce, pickled onion ring 12 When I got it, it had no cheddar, 3 teeny pieces of tomato pieces, 1 lettuce leaf and 2 paper-thin sliced cucumber that was neither properly pickled, nor tasty. The meat itself came out medium rare! I kid you not, a coworker (male) sitting next to me took a one look and said "woah..." Waited around but again, our waitress didn't come by and my boss wanted to know if everything was alright, so you know what I had to do? I swallowed(I did not chew; I bit off a bite size and swallowed it) the burger that was still moo-ing at me. I was gagging. - ambiance: what ambiance? it was SO loud that I was yelling just to talk to someone sitting at the same table just across from me. Oh btw, ALL my coworkers who ordered "mushroom and caramelized onion tart" said it was cold, too small (smaller than the size of my palm) and not good at all. So very glad my boss paid for this meal - too many good restaurants around here to waste my hard-earned dime here.
(2)
Dan H.
This was a pleasant find. Thanks to Yelp we found another gem. I had actually passed this place by within the last month or so when I was wandering around downtown. Knew nothing about it as I had never heard about it before. There are so many new restaurants popping up in town that it is difficult to keep up. Plus I don't hang out in this part of town all that often. Sue and I were looking for one more drink (I was also looking for more food) before the ballet and another quick Yelp search pulled up the Picnic House. Glad to have found it amongst the construction that is going on about this restaurant. According to our server the construction is supposed to be going on until at least October. Too bad for them and the idea of having tables outside during the summer. More info according to our server. The Picnic House has been around since last July. Crazy. Who knew? Somebody did as there are a few reviews here. He also told me that a bulk of their business is due to Yelp. People (like us) doing Yelp searches and finding them that way. Go Yelp!!! We had beers, but we also had food. Sue was just interested in dessert and they had a really nice Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake ($6). She really wanted the Rice Pudding, but sadly they were out. The cake was quite tasty. I ordered the Bavette Skewers ($9) off the small plates section of the menu. Chimchurrie Beef skewers with pickled blueberries, arugula and avocado. Nice sized platter for the price. The beef had a ton of flavor and was cooked a nice medium. I prefer medium rare, but I'm not going to be picky. Due to a screw up by the kitchen we were also presented with a free stuffed Portobello Mushroom with roasted vegetables, caramelized onions and toasted polenta bread. I don't know how it ended up at our table, but they told us if we didn't eat it it was just going to go in the garbage. How does one turn that down. This is an entree and it was quite large. We took a good chunk of it home and had it for lunch the next day. There were sweet potatoes involved and it was very good. It will be cool to dive into the menu a bit more the next time we come back. The space has some good character to it. Cool floors and high ceilings. I have no doubt that we will be back.
(4)
Bubba Y.
What a nice lunch we had here! Stopped in on a Yelp - invoked whim, Picnic House just happened to be on the same block during a shopping trip downtown. Glad we did. A short wait and we were seated, nice perky wait staff (Phillip?), water glasses filled. Cocktails were ordered and delivered promptly, our order taken, and lunch came quickly. I had a nice shaved turkey half sandwich and a wonderful mushroom soup (invoked memories of the Hungarian mushroom soup they served at Old Wives Tales before they shut down) . Both of my lunch friends enjoyed their sandwiches and salads. Talking off a star for noise level and broken hardware in the bathroom. But otherwise, a keeper.
(4)
Jeff M.
Old world charm in a converted hotel. Massive columns and high ceiling. Love the wood benches. Outstanding unique dishes. The curry cauliflower soup is to die for. Not super kid friendly, but they do have a kid's version of their adult grilled cheese.
(5)
Freesia J.
No Stars... this place is the worst service ever that we couldn't even dine here! First time here for both of us. Met my colleague here at 11:45am on Wed 4/29/2015. I show up and staff asks whether I had reservation. I said no. She said it gets pretty crowded here during lunch time. I knew this place is spacious so didn't think I needed a lunch reservation. Ok so we waited about 10 minutes and they put us in the back bar counter. We wanted to sit face to face so we can talk business. But the wait was going to be longer. Oddly, there were tons of empty tables for two everywhere throughout the restaurant!? so we ended up leaving and having our lunch meeting at Shigezo Japanese restaurant. On 5/13/2015, I emailed another colleague about this place and she told me that same thing! Her email said, "Picnic House can be hard to go...they are notorious for having bad service (e.g. won't seat you immediately even though restaurant is half empty)"! Boo...this place is No Picnic!
(1)
Katlyn H.
It was good but felt like the Cheesecake Factory to me. Personally I don't like it when people dress up as bar tenders to be in a different time period but if you are into steam punk I recommend this place to you. That's just the ambiance, the food is pretty nice, if your a soup nazi like myself avoid it. It's very butter based. And all soups are put in a blender. Which isn't always a bad thing but variety is nice. It could be a chain though. I'm not sure but it felt like it could be one.
(3)
Andrew S.
I came here on a Saturday for lunch with a friend. The wait was 10 minutes, which at first glance was really surprising because the entire storefront was empty. But I guess they don't serve diners in the front area. The restaurant was much more spacious than I was expecting and there were so many people sitting in the back area! With the print blocks reused as art pieces, and driftwood with various coat racks drilled into it, the whole restaurant has a repurposed feel to it. I felt like the bear head in the back detracted from the overall decor. When we were seated there was a bottle of water on the table for us. Our waiter was smartly dressed in a vest and tie. He was really nice and explained our food choices pretty clearly. I ordered half a grilled cheese sandwich and half a grilled tomato sandwich with iced tea. My friend ordered a half grilled tomato sandwich and half farfalle pasta salad (it's not a classic pasta salad, but a salad with pasta in it). My tea was delicious and had a large lemon garnish on the rim. My lunch was even better. The service after we started eating was pretty sparse. I was never offered a refill on my tea and we drank all our water. Our waiter came by once to see how we were doing. We were ready to try the grilled pound cake, but we waited almost 20 minutes after finishing our meal to see our waiter and changed our minds. Overall the service wasn't bad - they just appeared to be understaffed. We got our bill in an old book which I thought was a cool touch. I really enjoyed the food and 99% of the decor, and the servers were still very nice even if they weren't staffed properly. I'd try it again but I would also make sure I'm not in any kind of rush.
(4)
Marina P.
Unique, special, inviting, and a great atmosphere! Take time to enjoy this place!
(5)
Amber P.
Comfortable, inviting (once you get past the entry), warm, and a good place for a double date. The food on both my visits was prepared excellently and sometimes imaginatively. It hits that niche of food that I would never make for myself but the prices are reasonable for what you get. Save room for dessert, and ask about the specials.
(5)
S M.
Good food, reasonable prices, very roomy. A bit loud in there but overall a great experience with my family!
(5)
Phyllis B.
I can't believe I'm the first to leave a review! This place has a wonderful menu of sandwiches, soups and salads. I'm enjoying the brown rice, yam, with just the right amount of shredded carrots (roasted) agrugala, pickled red pepper and sliced almond. And the white mushroom soup was wonderful!
(5)
Georgie K.
The setting is lovely, inviting and has a lot of character. Someone put in a lot of thought presenting this restaurant. This place easily accommodates large groups. That being said they have some quirks to work on. The food was pretty good. The prices were a bit high for what you get and the portion size. I ordered the Brussels sprouts which were delicious, but were Luke warm/cold. That dish was $8.00 for a essentially a side of vegetables. I also got the beef tenderloin small plate. It was Delicious and perfectly cooked, but it was three chunks of meat on kabob stick with some salad greens with pomegranates in it. That was $12.00. I knew it was going to be small, but not that small. The mash potatoes were perfect. Friends at the table did not care for the rock fish and thought the portabella dish was okay. The service was okay. The server was nice, but was inconsistent and inattentive. Drinks were taking a long time and all of our food was coming out at different times. We did not get to eat together even though we ordered everything at the same time and that was the plan.
(3)
Furai X.
I'm not a dinner person (holla' brunch!) but maybe if I had more dining experiences like the one I had at Picnic House, I'd be more inclined to give dinner a shot. The bf and I had an absolutely wonderful time here. Since we made reservations for an earlier time slot, we were seated right away. The servers attentively tended to our drinks and our meals were extremely well prepared. The stuffed portobello with polenta was one of the best entree's I've had. The bf also enjoyed his porkshop and our shared roasted cauliflowers (a wee bit spicier than expected). We both ordered a signature cocktail which enhanced our already great experience.
(5)
Annie b.
Phenomenal!!! Great soup salad sandwich menu. Love the turkey sandwich with apples. Amazing salads with ripe berries and nuts...Warm chocolate chip cookies with a shot of milk was yummmm. Decor and ambience are modern and quirky, with crazy high ceilings, fancy presentation of food, big portions, seemed fancy but still felt casual. A dichotomy of sorts. Wonderful place.
(5)
Taralee L.
Tomato soup and grilled cheese! It's perfection! My only complaint is that we tried to go to dinner there last night after reading reviews and craving the said "tomato soup and grilled cheese" and they were closed for a private party after we walked all the way down there.
(4)
Lena H.
LOVE this place. So glad I found it! Lunch was fantastic....try the sampler of 3 items for $15. The service is wonderful and the interior feels like you stepped inside a storybook. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Hana F.
Good food and a super Portland hipster vibe. The service was pretty slow, but overall a solid experience. It gets a bit busy so it's probably smart to have reservations. Looking for a hip tasty Portland meal? This could be the spot for you. Having said that, it's pretty overpriced for what the food tastes like, and the service isn't good. Oh well.
(3)
Susan K.
This restaurant is a real find! We had a marvelous dinner. The chef is wonderfully creative and the dishes are equal to or better than those in some of the best Bay Area restaurants.
(5)
R. E. R.
The tomato soup is literally the best I've ever had. I love the combination options at lunch and usually go for the buffalo chicken sandwich, tomato soup and wedge salad. Their bread is the perfect mixture of crunchy and soft. At dinner the savory pancake with short rib makes my mouth water as soon as I smell it. I also love that they have an amazing selection of local beers and liquors. Then the beautiful atmosphere...really, I can't get enough. Adore this place!
(5)
Ehow C.
A new year, a new restaurant to try! Picnic House is literally a block away from the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, which makes it ideal for a pre-concert dinner. We had made reservations for 6:30, though were slow to be seated due to the busy house that night. Once we were seated, our server was very attentive and friendly. We started off with some addictive garlic bread and wonderfully balanced and delicious drinks (Moulin Rouge, Smashing Pumpkin, McMule). The beef tenderloin small plate was fantastic, but we only wished that it came in an entree size. Alas, life is not fair. Despite coming an hour before the concert, our entrees weren't coming out fast enough before concert start. Luckily, the management catered to our schedule and we had five minutes to finish eat our tasty molasses salmon with quinoa and chorizo/prawn polenta. My only regret is not letting them know sooner, so we could savor the food longer and possibly have gotten dessert as well. Overall, it was a great time and delicious food. Definitely try a drink here, and the food will keep you sticking around.
(5)
Zach G.
Delicious salads and a fantastic atmosphere with a friendly staff. Highly recommend it for a late lunch.
(5)
Laura L.
I am totally 5-starring the interior design. Did you ever see "They Might be Giants" with George C. Scott as a 'mental patient' who thought he was Sherlock holmes and Joann Woodward was Dr. Watson - anyway remember how the 70's saw the Victorian era? Like wicker and birdcages and old books and pennyfarthings- well it's kinda like that but not really, but that's the closest I can come to explaining. Stopped in for dessert and coffee on Saturday afternoon. I got the chocolate pudding with brulee'd marshmellows and graham cracker crumbs - get it? it's a gooey s'more. It was so rich I made it thru about half. Dark, not too sweet, solid chocolate pudding with graham cracker crumbs on top and 3 toasted marshmallows on a skewer (mallows? Mellows? whatevs). My partner in dessert ordered the Pavlova and was expecting one of those tiny ramikin sized dealies - but no this was a dinner plate sized pile of whipped cream with shredded mint on top, on top of a huge meringue, with fresh berries sprinkled all about. Gut-busting sugar and air. It was beautiful. I want to go back for happy hour or lunch or anything really. Cocktails look amazing but are pretty spendy ($8 to $15). Only complaint? my coffee was old. Late saturday afternoon 4 hr old sitting in the airpot lukewarm and thick. But I was so impressed by everything else i barely noticed. Staff was awesome and cheerful. Anyway! Go forth and Picnic!
(5)
Alex D.
The Picnic House did not disappoint! Loved the atmosphere, servers were great, and the food was scrumptious. I'd highly recommend giving one of their signature drinks a try. Those cocktail engineers over at the bar know what they're doing. (I had the Gardenhead and it was BOMB.)
This place is amazing! Came here for lunch, in a large group of 9. They were very accomodating with the last minute reservation, speedy service and friendly, welcoming environment. Their lunch menu hosts a variety of different options for sandwiches, salads and soups with an option of a combination of two or all of the three for a very reasonable price! I had the combo with half a Shaved Turkey sandwich and half of the Farfalla Pasta, both very delicious! Would definitely reccommend either, even both :). We came around 11:30am right before the lunch traffic hit. There were plenty of empty table when we arrived but it started to get really busy a little past noon.
(5)
Deanna T.
Food was ok, a little heavy for my taste. Soups where the best thing I had on the menu. Tried my friends mushroom soup, pretty good one of the best mushroom soups I've ever had. I had the tomato soup which is good, but just as good as Boudin's SF (my fave for tomato soup). My entree was the steak with quinoa polenta which was OK, a little too heavy for my taste. As far as customer service goes... my friends both ordered a cocktail called the Seelbach and thought it was disgusting, I tried it and thought it tasted like gross cough medicine. My friends TRIED to finish the drink after all they did order it, but because I have many years in the restaurant and hospitality industry I told my friends to let the waitress know that the drink was not very good. The waitress told us maybe it just wasn't their palette, which could be true but I told her that maybe the restaurant might appreciate customer feedback. In my background I would have told my manager and maybe seeing if they could do something about it. In the end, my friends ended up ordering a different drink and still tipping the waitress 20%. I think she might have also been the hostess though. Maybe she doesn't have a lot of customer or guest experience. Also gave us a crappy table in front with the air conditioner blowing on us, on a chilly day.
(2)
Jaime F.
Delicious food and an awesome atmosphere. I had the lamb chops and they were cooked perfectly on top of a bed of arugula drizzled with a delicious sauce (I think it was a basalmic reduction). The dish also came with onion and tomato skewers accompanied by pita and Taziki sauce.
(5)
Betty K.
I've been to The Picnic House at least 6 times. The food is always good. There is no question about that. The real problem is the service. The servers themselves are always very nice, there just aren't enough of them. Every time I go, it looks like there are three people serving the entire restaurant. It's just not enough. During my last experience, we waited over 25 minutes to be seated (we were told it would be a 5 minute wait). When we were finally seated, we were placed at a corner table and completely forgotten about. After 20 + minutes of waiting to have our order taken, we finally got frustrated enough to ask the hostess for assistance. Apparently the server was not aware that anyone had been seated at our table. Once that ball got rolling everything was fine, but it really was the final straw to break the camel's back for this cute place. The food is great. The atmosphere is cute. I like the location. They just need more servers, plain and simple.
(2)
Trevor H.
The menu is quite small, but don't underestimate what's on it! I highly recommend the salmon with asparagus risotto as well as the grilled cheese with tomato soup! They definitely exceeded expectations! The ambience is on point to say the least, and make sure to stop in at Barlows (which is connected) for a before or after dinner drink!
(5)
Troy S.
Just another stop on our Portland trip. This place was awesome- very cool ambiance, awesome wait staff, and amazing food/dessert. I recommend the salmon and the chicken. And for dessert be sure to try the grilled pound cake!
(5)
Ankur B.
In brief: The Picnic House serves upscale, moderately pricey delicious cocktails and entrees in a Prohibition Era ambiance. I am no stranger to upscale restaurants after having spent time in Boston, London and New York City. I had two house cocktail ($5 per), a mixed green salad with fresh berries and a fig vinaigrette and salmon seasoned with Anaheim peppers and a strawberry sauce. Suffice it to say, if I had the same in NYC, I would have not have paid $45... The salmon was perfectly cooked and melted in the mouth with a slight tartness from the strawberry providing a nice counterbalance. The salad was large but not overly filling (probably enough if you're not too hungry and want to add fried eggs, duck or chicken). After seeing a bunch of reviews, I had the grilled pound cake - why the hell don't we have this on the East Coast? The cake is lightly grilled with a lemon curd, mint and amaretto whipped cream leaving an unparalleled pairing... Get it... Now! Best of all, it wasn't packed and the food was served quickly (Thursday after Happy Hour) for me to squeeze it in before a red eye. A great way to end a jaunt to Stumptown.
(5)
Kelly D.
I was visiting Portland from Seattle and needed a place to grab a quick bite and wait for rush hour traffic to die down. I really lucked out by coming to this place- I am hard pressed to find a restaurant in Seattle that could hold a candle to the ambiance in this place. It's built in the lobby of a former hotel and there is no detail spared- from the vintage letterpress plates lining the stairs to the stuffed monocle-wearing bear head to the moss art that hangs at the entrance. I felt like I stepped into a page out of Alice in Wonderland. Not only that but the beers on tap were all local Oregon beers- a treat for me being from out of town. All the waiters were attentive and were truly passionate about the food- I ordered the grilled cheese, the beef tenderloin and the roasted cauliflower and each dish on its own was fantastic. I will definitely make this a regular stop for future visits to PDX.
(5)
Jessica K.
The Picnic House is just lovely. It's one of those places that makes dining out in Portland a unique experience. We didn't even know this place was here until searching for a happy hour the other evening. Upon entering, it was like stumbling into an enchanting period piece film. Very fun. The only thing that didn't come up is that we showed up for happy hour, but no mention was made of it and no menus were presented. Alas, we were already entranced by the entree menu. The food is American Style with its own flair. We started with their scrumptious garlic bread and mushroom soup. From the minute we poured that rich, dark soup from the pitcher into the bowl, it was heaven. Bowl-licking good really. I had the pumpkin gnocchi and it was fantastic. The bf devoured his prawns and chorizo with polenta. Prices are a touch on the high side, but the food and experience balance it out. The libations are quite tantalizing, I opted for a gin concoction with Pfriem Wit, which was interesting. My guy went for the Sazerac. We could have tried several more, but it was a work night. If you are looking for an evening with a touch of whimsy, look no further than The Picnic House.
(4)
Douglas O.
Unbelievable food. Was in Portland and it was close to the hotel -- turned out to be an absolute highlight of the trip. The black truffle lasagne is remarkable, and the chocolate truffle bar is INCREDIBLE. Loved the food, the ambiance, the service -- and the prices are extremely reasonable too. I would almost go back to Portland just to dine there again. Great job Picnic House!
(5)
Carol C.
Awesome place with great service! I was recovering from a weekend of gluttonous out-of-control eating, so I demurely had a soup (wild mushroom) and brussels sprouts. They were both good, but the brussels sprouts (with bacon!) were too bitter for me. The mocktail, however, was amazing! I told the bartender via the waiter that I like either ginger + bourbon/scotch cocktails or St Germaine + grapefruit juice cocktails. He whipped up something that had ginger beer, lemon, honey, and rose water (essence?), among other things. It's usually disappointing when a 'mocktail' tastes like regular juice, but this one actually tasted like a fun cocktail. Win! Other pluses: Since it was a bachelorette party, they gave us free dessert - s'more pudding, yum! One of the girls had the short ribs and they were too salty for her, so she left most of it uneaten. The waiter noticed and insisted on comping it. So nice! We made sure to leave an extra large tip. Our bachelorette mentioned that the grilled cheese was the best she'd ever had. The decor is also fun and classy. A bear head above the bar with a top hat and spectacle. A large wooden slab table (communal?). What looked like stamped patterns (including a T Rex) tiled backwards on certain walls and the stairway so that the bottom part stuck out, giving the walls and stairway a nice texture and look.
(4)
Glenn L.
I had the spring veg soup and the pan fried salmon dish. Both were yummy! and filling. The strawberry,onion,aneheim relish was too sweet though. The ambiance is great with subtle lighting and 20s-30s jazzy music playing. Looking forward to trying other fare on their menu. Friendly staff, and rather fast service.
(4)
Olivia O.
Very cute dinner/lunch spot, a stone's throw from the Schnitz and walking distance from PSU. My husband and I popped in here on a rainy Friday night. First of all, insanely cute, very big, and a bit slow. We stood in the doorway for maybe a few minutes before someone noticed us. This may be a problem because we noticed several couples, even a small group of people, pop into the restaurant, wait at the "to be seated" sign, and then leave because no one bothered to check out the front of the house. The waitress welcomed us and promptly left to go set us up a table next to a loudly shrieking baby. Wait a minute - the restaurant is half empty. My husband and I both agreed, there was no way in hell we were going to sit where she was setting us up. There is loads of space in every direction - why would you sit us next to someone having a parent-child meltdown? When she came back we asked her if we could sit literally anywhere else. She looked confused so we pointed at a table with plush seats near the front of the house. She obliged but said it would take time for them to clean that table. That's fine, but lord this place is slow. She could have just maybe waited two seconds before cleaning the first table when she greeted us? The menu looks amazing. When we started looking at our options we got dizzy with choices. They have a seasonal menu with all sorts of regional goods - we saw salmon, wild boar, pumpkin gnocchi, oven roasted chicken, garlic bread. We went with some garlic bread appetizer and both ended up ordering the wild boar over noodles for our main dinner. And then we made the mistake of ordering tea to start us off with. The restaurant has lovely tea cups. There is a miniature tea pot that sits directly over your tea cup. Brew in your pot, pour into your cup. But when we wanted milk or sugar it took fifteen minutes of waiting before we just got up and asked a random waiter if he could just oblige us. They put the milk in an espresso cup, which I guess this is a minor thing but it created a big mess - they didn't have a little milk jug or something with a lip/spout. It's extremely difficult to measure out how much milk you want from an espresso cup, especially when they've given you one espresso cup for two people's worth of tea. Aside from the mess we made trying to drink our tea, the food was amazing. Not the restaurant's fault, but the shrieking baby in the middle of the restaurant continued to lose its shit for the entire time we were there. The baby was there before we got there, and the family seated with it didn't look like they were leaving by the time we paid up and left. It seems really inconsiderate, not just to other patrons but to the baby who is clearly suffering and doesn't want to be there anymore or might need something that can in no way be provided in a downtown restaurant. Again the restaurant was a bit slow. We thought about dessert and even told a waiter we wanted to see a dessert menu. We waited and waited, watched a few people pop in and leave when no one sat them promptly, and then we realized it was probably best we stop while we're ahead. The wild boar was so perfect we didn't want our evening to sour listening to a stranger's baby shriek for another hour. By the time the waiter came back we told him it took them so long to get back to us we were ready to leave. We paid a fairly reasonable price for our dinners (I think it roughly $15/plate, for some of the best wild boar I've had in ages). We walked home in the rain and filled up on ice cream back at our apartment. We definitely want to come back again, maybe just sit down right away and tell a waiter later when they notice we're there. I recommend showing up and being a bit pushy because the staff might forget you're there. Order right away or go flag down a waiter the second you scan one in vicinity (probably they will be turned away from you, deliberately avoiding any and all eye contact). Tell the waiter what you want and as soon as they serve the food ask for the check. You will eat a superb meal and you can thank me later for the little trick I've just taught you. I'm sure Picnic House will ease its bumps in the road as it finds its place as a restaurant. This is only the beginning. I'm delighted to try what they serve me next.
(4)
Austin P.
I've been here for lunch a couple times, and their lunch menu is soup, salads, and sandwiches. The food is delicious, and if you like trying different things, they have the Pick 2 and Pick 3 options. However, when considering what you get for the price, there are better options in the area.
(3)
Daniel B.
We flew into Portland Friday evening and walked over to Picnic House after some quick yelp research. Such an awesome restaurant with a good vibe and really nice service. The brussel sprouts are insane! ...along with the beet salad and pork chop.
(5)
Ike W.
If your in Portland you have to visit Picnic House! Every time I visit (dinner or lunch) I am impressed with the quality and preparation of the food. They have a great atmosphere in a incredible historical building in downtown Portland. Their whole menu is fantastic but I would recommend their cast iron chicken breast or maple-brined pork chop and their pavlova dessert is to die for.
(5)
Fred E.
What can I say. Slow wretched service. We had a show at the Schnitzer at 7:30 pm and our reservation was at 6 pm. We immediately ordered appetizers and drinks...those came out in a timely fashion. At 6:30 the server took the order for our mains. We said we had the show and what would be easy on the kitchen. She suggested salads or salmon. In the meantime more drinks were ordered and came out sporadically. At 7:20 the bill arrived, because some other girl heard we were in a hurry, but still no food. And they added gratuity!!! At 7:30 we were racing into the Schnitzer, having to wait until there was a break to enter...and no we never received our mains courses. It was a mess. Had we not been in a group and I would have set some people straight in short order. Yes the appetizers were tasty, but we will not be back. There are too many good restaurants in this area (Higgens, Nel Centro, Raven and Rose, etc) without horrific service. In addition there were charges for food not received (what a surprise).
(1)
Michael S.
I'm as critical as there is out there, I don't give out five stars very often, in fact, I don't think I have given out five stars on yelp but this place rocks!! Get the salmon, whatever you do, get the salmon!! Moist and flavorful all three times I've been there. Steak is awesome, salads are awesome, drinks are awesome. The waitress, wish I could remember her name, knew her sh*&t. The bartender came over and described many of the ingredients in the drinks, as we do not keep up on these things. I know, not very descriptive but the five stars should say it all. I thought this place was trying a bit to hard when I first got there but they made me forget my bias against pretentiousness and I joined in. Great atmosphere, great staff. I'd marry this place if I could. It's that good!
(5)
Joel T.
I randomly wandered into this restaurant for lunch on a beautiful Monday afternoon. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect based on the name. I thought maybe picnic tables, baskets, and cold food were in store. It turns out to have an old timey, sort of classy speakeasy feel in a large open space with lots of wooden features, cool wall decor, and 20's music playing. I really enjoyed the ambiance as it made my handlebar moustache feel right at home. The lunch menu was mainly soups, salads, and sandwiches all of which had an intriguing flare. I went for the half sandwich and salad combo picking the chicken and bacon sandwich with the brown rice salad. It was a little pricey for lunch at $12 but turned out to be a lot of food. The half sandwich was easily sizable enough for me to consider it a full sandwich. The side salad wasn't too small either. The flavor of both we're amazing. The sandwich was on a hard toasted bun which gave it a nice crunch. The creamy aioli dressing, salty bacon, and roasted chicken flavors combined deliciously. I found myself going back and forth between bites of sandwich and salad without stopping until the plate was empty. I was very impressed. If you have a large moustache that is still partially filling in be careful not to pull the lower hairs into your mouth when breaking into the bread. It gets messy. My only suggestion would be to decrease the serving size slightly and reduce the price to $8 or so. That would make it much more manageable for frequent lunch visits and be just the right amount of food. Overall a job well done. Check it out!
(5)
Cathleen F.
So Disappointed, Reading all the Reviews, and with the recommendation of our Hotel concierge & Yelp, my companions and I made our way. The Decor is darling, it really looks like picnic settings, eclectic type Decor! It took awhile for our waiter to appear, which would be the case though out the meal. We started off with the meat and cheese board, it was good with a great selection of cheese. The 2 Stars really had to do with the food, we all order different meals. I ordered the Pork Chop, which might have been good, but it was DRY, Overcooked and to top it off Cold! All of our meals were luke to cold! I had to send the pork chop back, the waiter said I'll take it off your bill and scampered away. I'm still hungry! Hello..... Bueller? When he re-appeared I asked if I could order the soup, unfortunately it was luke/cold too! Whats going on here? The Staff was not friendly, and I felt like I was putting out my waiter. Hopefully this was just a one night off......... Sadly I won't be returning, not interested in a second try!
(2)
Marissa O.
Great food, fun vibe, decent price. I went for lunch and got the combo which included the tomato soup, iceberg wedge salad, and grilled cheese. I know that sounds pretty ordinary, but the food tasted really good. The tomato soup had olive oil drizzle and the grilled cheese was made with caramelized onions. You could choose a cup of soup, half sandwich, and half salad for only $15. Your bill comes in an old book. I loved the decor of the place, although over the bar there is a stuffed bear head wearing a top hat and monocle...
(4)
Veneta N.
After all the raving reviews I read I was sceptical but The Picnic House definitely lives up to hype. I visited just after they re-open at 5pm and it was quiet and relaxing. The place itself is very nicely done. The Mushroom soup is heavenly. The staff were great in making my late lunch a very enjoyable experience. Highly recommend it
(5)
Chad H.
Ok, This might really be 3.5 stars but I will give it the benefit because too few people know about this little gem of a place. First of all, imagine an old hotel lobby (thats what is was years ago) converted into a picnic space, espresso house, restaurant and bar. Toss in some fun decorations (including a bear in a monocle and bowler hat and a stairway covered in license plates) and you have a quirky great warm space to dine in. The food? Well, the breads are always fresh in the sandwiches and the portions are just right. I love their poached shrimp sandwich with a cup of soup for lunch. Their happy hour is amazing - great drinks and their cheese plate has inspired many conversations among friends - it was that good! I would recommend meeting friends before a performance at the Schnitz, entertaining out of town guests from the Heathman or the Hilton, sneaking away from the rain at the saturday market or pre-movie. This place will wow your friends who have walked by for years and never set foot inside (which was my case for a couple of years). The service has always been very good here and I have yet to bring someone new who didn't declare it one of their new downtown favorites. Take a step into this eclectic space and enjoy.
(4)
M P.
Loved this restaurant. Everything was excellent -- cocktail, appetizer, entree, dessert, service. Terrific menu and upscale casual atmosphere. I was visiting Portland and stumbled upon this place via Yelp, so thank you for leading me here!
(5)
Justin G.
Lunch was nice, I enjoyed the mushroom soup and Italian meat sandwich. Great space but a little on the chilly side. Service was mediocre as we didn't see our waitress again after she dropped off our food. Also, for an upscale joint you would think that they would have some descent silverware. It felt like I was using a spoon from a diner. All-in-all it was an ok experience as the food outweighed service. We will return at some point.
(3)
Kelsey D.
I'm not sure I could possibly love this restaurant any more! Delicious food, even better cocktails, and the most perfect decor makes for a terrific Portland dining experience!
(5)
Jennifer F.
Really enjoyed the atmosphere, although a bit noisy at times. Very unique setting and decor. I loved it, very Portland. Food was amazing and reasonably priced. Two drinks, one small plate, two grilled cheese (with soup) and a dessert to share was about $65. Service was excellent. I recommend their bar next door Barlow for a more intimate setting, also great service (everything is order at bar).
(5)
Keith B.
Had to make sure I still had both of my shoes...could have sworn they were feeding me one and calling it a steak...
(1)
Chrissy S.
Good food and drinks. Great service, friendly staff. Burger was good and tastey, the Elvis dessert was phenomenal
(4)
Rachel M.
The reason I am giving The Picnic House an 3/5 is the service. The food was pretty great. The hostess asked if we had a reservation, and when we said we didn't, she had us wait for 15 minutes saying the server was too busy for us (he had one table of 8, and one table of 2). There was nowhere to sit to wait for our table, so we asked if we could be seated at the table and wait there. She said that wasn't an option, so 15 minutes later we were seated. We sat for about 10 minutes before anyone even came over to get our drink order. The hostess walked by us multiple times - she definitely could have taken a drink order, no? Or maybe another waiter? Took another 10 min to get our drinks and a while for our food. At any rate, we were only in Portland for 1 day and we wanted to try the food that everyone says is amazing. It definitely was. I've written more about the food and our experience on my blog, with photos - nom-nomla.com
(3)
Andrew B.
This place is great. You will want to place a reservation before coming though. About seven groups of people were turned down (even though there seemed to be tables open) because they were booked for lunch on a Wednesday. I ended up getting a half sandwich and a half salad and the portion sizes were a great deal for what you were paying.
(5)
Maggie C.
Full disclosure: I never actually got the chance to eat here, the hostess was just that terrible. (Yes, I know, I'm writing one of those reviews that are not actually about the food. Usually when I see this type of review I dismiss it on the assumption that the author is a grumpy troll with unreasonable expectations. But I thought this was a pretty significant negative and wanted to share) It's Thursday at 12:45 pm and my mom and I wanted to try out The Picnic House. I'm hosting a private party in a few months and the venue looked perfect. We were so excited to scope out the space and food. There were two groups ahead of us when we got there, which wasn't a problem at all. The hostess wasn't around when we walked in, but we saw her bustling around clearing tables. We kept trying to make eye contact with her but she was preoccupied. Still, not a problem. After about 15 minutes of waiting, a group of 4 walked in and right as the hostess appeared. She greeted them and put their name down. Still, this was not really a problem, perhaps she thought we were part of another group. My mom stepped up and said that we've been waiting for awhile and asked to put her name down for 2. This is where it got surprising...The hostess snarked back "When I ask for names I expect you to come put your names down". My mom, take aback, "Oh, hmm, we've been waiting for 15 minutes and you haven't spoken to the area once." Hostess, aggressively: "It is your responsibility to put your name down. Do you want to put your name down now?" Mom, shocked "No, no thanks." I hope this get's back to the Picnic House leadership---the tall hostess was strangely aggressive and unwelcoming. What a bizarre experience. Definitely will not host my dinner there- it's not worth the risk of subjecting my friends and family to such surliness.
(1)
Sarah S.
Had the curry pumpkin soup and grilled cheese. After a long day of travel it hit the spot. Good comfort.
(5)
Emily M.
Yummy food! Good service, nice decor. We were a party of seven so we tried a lot of things. Mushroom Soup was very good and charcuterie plate was really good and well served. A friend ordered the beets side and wasn't bad. Another ordered a salad and it looked fun and colorful but I didn't try it We all ordered either the wild boar or the steak. Wild boar was good, but the steak was fabulous I ordered it Med Rare and it was perfect!! Other people that ordered the steak were also impressed. I will definitely recommend this place and try to visit again in the near future.
(4)
Laura P.
Ate there Friday night. We were cheerfully greeted and seated. Our Waitress was really great, cheerful, knew the menu and the drink menu inside and out. We started with their version of a Manhattan. WOW, it was an amazing drink. We shared several small plates, starting with the artisanal cheese plate. It was very good. The bread they served was the best baguette I've ever had, It was warm, very light and airy on the inside and the crust melted in your mouth. None of that tugging where you think that you may pull some teeth getting through the bread. It was unbelievable. Next we had the Grilled Watermelon. It was very imaginative. The Mixed greens and berry salad was very good. The toasted cinnamon honey almond were really good as was the house made ricotta and pickled blueberry vinaigrette. Don't forget to add the Maple Duck Drumstick. It was out of this world! We finished with the Pan Fried rockfish. It was on of the highlights of the meal. Very flaky, delicate and yummy served with green chile and strawberry relish. We finished the meal with the Grilled pound cake with lemon curt, fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Two coffees with cream were the perfect finishing touches to a most satisfying meal. The location was charming and perfect for a romantic meal or a great meal before a show at the Schnitzer. Next week they will have Grab and Go picnics available. You can even rent the picnic basket. It's an amazing little find, don't miss this one!
(5)
Jenny H.
Great place to eat and catch up with some friends. I came for lunch on Saturday and was happy to find that it's not crowded at all. I hate waiting a long time to get seated and then even longer to get your food. For lunch they just have sandwiches, salads, and soups. I was feeling indecisive until I saw their great combo options of 1/2 sandwich, 1/2 salad, and cup of soup for $15. Perfect because I could try a little of everything. Don't get fooled by their "1/2" commend though because I thought the portions were quite big. WILD MUSHROOM SOUP : Soo delicious!! I'm a huge mushroom fan and this soup was perfect for me. Super rich mushroom taste and not too heavy with the cream flavoring. I would come back just for the soup. NUTTY BROWN RICE SALAD : Sounded interesting and was highly recommended on yelp. Definitely a good choice. Arugula with sweet potato, roasted cauliflower, and brown rice all mixed in with a hazelnut vinaigrette sauce. Yummy! CITRUS POACHED SHRIMP SANDWICH : They have the option of a cold sandwich or toasted and I chose toasted of course. Sandwich was very good with large pieces of shrimp and loved the celery and herbs. My complaint would be there was too much aioli but I'm guessing that's only my problem since I don't like mayo/aioli sauces too much and wouldn't have ordered it if I realized it was mixed into the shrimp.
(4)
Jenni D.
There is so much satisfaction in crossing something off from your "Foodie To-Do List" - and The Picnic House was one of those spots for me. I'd been wanting to try this place for several months, so I was excited to take my friend here when she was in town visiting. The ambiance is cool and subtle... with a kind of steam-punk themed decor. The menu is simple and there are tons of drink options for those in search of tasty libations. The Warm Beets are the perfect starter, and will leave you wanting more. The Roasted Butternut Squash Soup felt like a warm fire on a cold night. The experience is positively aromatic and delightful. I'm looking forward to trying the Pumpkin Gnocchi next time :)
(4)
Stacey G.
This was a fabulous find and I am super excited. I came for lunch and the place filled up really quickly after we got there. Had a sandwich and a salad and they were both just delicious. I have added this place into my regular go to list.
(4)
Sharon G.
Have been a few times before, love the decor and fact that it was previously the Heathman. Food had been good but not great but the other night we had a great meal, the mushroom lasagna was exquisite, one of those dishes you will crave again and again. Love the repurposed printing plates throughout, wish I had a few of those beauties!
(4)
Stephanie L.
Pleasant dining experience. Went for my 38th birthday (we took our 4yr old daughter and 7yr old son). Started with the cheese plate and charcuterie plate. Both were great but thought there was much more cheese than meat products. Had butter lettuce salad which was good (bacon excellent) but somewhat hard to eat in the dish it is in. Son had the salmon which had great flavor but was over cooked (which was fine for him, but for a salmon junkie would have been sad). Husband had chicken which he said was over cooked. Hard to eat the veggies/potatoes under the dishes. My grilled cheese and tomato soup were amazing! I loved it! We had grilled pound cake and s'mores pudding for dessert. They were both excellent. So all in all if it were just me rating the restaurant, I would give it a strong 4 but because of the rest if my family's feedback we are in the 3 star area.
(3)
Brad D.
This is a dream destination for foodies. I love the grilled cheese with caramelized onions. I've also had the steak and the mixed greens chicken salad. The grilled pound cake is scrumptious, but the cheesecake is absolutely decadent. The servers and staff are all eager to please and super friendly.
(5)
Mike S.
I had just some apps and a quick drink here with a co-worker mini meeting, But the atmosphere is rustic and smelled of rich Oaks and Timbers. Our server was totally cool and laid back. Next time I forget my basket, I'm going here for a picnic.
(4)
Bethany R.
Just...nice. The pumpkin soup with cranberry cream starter was much better than the stuffed portobello entree. Enjoyable dinner with good company, but truthfully only two dishes from our table of seven really seemed worth ordering a second time.
(3)
Gabe W.
I met a friend here for dinner and had a very nice experience. The restaurant was relatively quiet at dinner time, which leads me to believe that it has more of a lunch time crowd.
(4)
Mira K.
This place is just terrific! Great ambiance with wonderful beer and wine selection, and the service was too notch. We loved everything we had here, beginning with their beef tenderloin with pomegranates - so good and refreshing! We also ordered their potatoes, which were some of the best we have had. They do something magical to them to mash them, then crisp the outside and leave a pillowy inside and serve with some amazing blue cheese sauce. Awesome. For entrees, we shared the grilled cheese with carmelized onions, which sounds a little odd but was just amazing. We also had their mushroom soup, which was very flavorful and earthy. The highlight of an already delightful meal was the pork with bread pudding, and it was off the charts amazing. The pork was perfectly prepared with a perfectly complimentary sauce and perfect bread pudding. Did I mention it was perfect? We were lucky to stumble into this place with amazing food and very reasonable prices! Two drinks, two appetizers and two entrees set us back about $75 including tip. I will definitely be back and would recommend to anyone looking for a great night out!
(5)
Troy W.
Picnic house is an upgrade on any sandwich I've ever had. You can't go wrong with anything on the food or drink menu. My service was friendly and fast enough. The atmosphere is very eclectic and not too busy. I like the area too, touristy but not too bad. I had what I would call BLT with aioli. The Sharab cocktail was a great addition to my lunch.
(5)
Tonya H.
Everyone is awesome! Great food! A must go! Thanks a lot to Phillip today and our guy bartender yesterday for going above and beyond. :) I really loved the tomato soup with basil cream and their bacon in the salads and Bloody Mary.
(5)
Shez P.
PH was probably our best overall meal/experience on our most recent trip to PDX. It was my gf's bday wknd and since most establishment's were closed due to the snow storm, finding PH was a very pleasant surprise. We had lunch, my gf had the cauliflower soup and the brown rice salad which she could not get enough of! Her meal was accompanied by a yummy porter that was on tap. I had the cream of tomato soup and the fig butter and prosciutto sandwich, which reinforced my belief that Swine is Devine! I had the Seelbach cocktail which was fantastic. The bar tender even let me try a little of the Temperance bourbon (local). the service was great and the space was very cool as well. We'd definitely come back the next time we're in PDX!
(5)
Michelle A.
LOVED the atmosphere and all the details of the place. Went for happy hour, the small amount of food we ate was very good. Service was attentive. All in all a great place. Would definitely go back.
(4)
Phillip H.
Wonderful experience all the way around. Wife and I were in PDX for a night, which happened to be Valentine's Day. Spontaneously picked PH for dinner. They featured a prix fixe four course menu, pairing optional. The cheese and charcuterie starter was delightfully savory with a nice pinot blanc. Salads, a lemon caesar and a berries with spring mix, came with soup shots. The mushroom soup was lovely. This course featured a subtle pinot gris, which we liked better than the sweet blanc. My wife had the salmon over quinoa and black rice, which she loved, especially paired with the pinot noir. I enjoyed the maple-brined pork chop entree. The brining made the chop unbelievably tender and moist. Just luscious. Competing for its attention, though, was a savory cheddar apple bread pudding. Baked to perfection, it was fantastically indulgent. A robust malbec was well-paired. Dinner closed with gewurtztraminer and a dessert trio, the standout of which was an espresso shot poured over a small scoop of hazelnut ice cream. As good as our meals were, Picnic House's atmosphere, decor, and pace were equally enjoyable. Live music from womenwithstandards.com just the right mood. The servers have so much personality and good spirit. The print plates and paintings against the dark woods art deco tiles were arty and quirky in just the right ways. Topping all of that off, we had a great conversation with Aaron, the owner, as he was straightening and preparing to close for the evening. His passion for his wife's work (she's the executive chef, interior designer, and painted some of the wall art) was very evident, as was his commitment to providing a great restaurant experience. Overall, we spent a very satisfying 3 hours there, and look forward to doing so again.
(5)
Rosemary S.
Very disappointing. The Valentine's Day weekend menu was limited, overpriced and everyone at our table was disappointed. The side dishes were inedible. My cocktail was $13 and barely had an ounce of liquor in it - reminded me of a dollhouse sized glass. I typically love this place. I will say that the service was excellent all around. Also, the fried brussell sprouts appetizer was delicious.
(1)
Terry O.
We had a series of small plates and we were delighted and full and best of all enjoyed sharing. A very nice place!
(4)
Karen K.
I think the food good the prices are fair. Different atmosphere. I think that is the reason for the three stars. I did not like sitting so close to the other tables and the wait staff was hovering . Not private enough for me.
(3)
Will E.
The Picnic House was an absolutely amazing find on my trip to Portland! My server, Emily, was a complete delight, and kept me feeling at ease the entire time I was in the restaurant. She was probably the nicest waitress I've ever had. Speaking of superlatives, I also had the best cocktail of my life at The Picnic House. It's a seasonal drink called the Vernal Equinox, and it was so refreshing and tasty, I had to force myself not to order another (and then another). I also tried their Moulin Rouge, which is a sweeter cocktail (not usually my thing), but it was absolutely delicious! So if at all possible, get Emily as your server. If not, the wonderful atmosphere and great tasting food is well worth the trip. Can't wait to go back to see what seasonal cocktails there'll be for summer!
(5)
Tom D.
Our office is at 4th & Alder, and we ventured here the other day because we were tired of all of the old stand-bys closer to the office. When you walk in for the first time, it's impossible to ignore the decor. It's obvious someone spent a lot of time putting together an interior that is both visually interesting and cozy. Most importantly, the extremely high ceilings make the place seem open and welcoming. I ordered the green salad with a duck drumette as well as the mushroom soup. Everything was excellent. Portion sizes were small if you're comparing them to Denny's, but were perfect for me, and the food prices were totally reasonable. (Drinks seemed reasonably priced too, but watch out for the surprise $15 cocktail on the drink list!) Lastly, the service was amazing. Our waitress was instantly warm and welcoming, had a great sense of humor, and expertly helped me navigate the menu. If I had one complaint, it would be that it took a little while to get our check, but we were there at an awkward time in the late afternoon, and my party was involved in a vigorous debate at the time, so I think the staff perhaps just didn't want to interrupt. We will definitely be back, and I'll keep this place in mind for lunch meetings due to the ample space available.
(5)
Dylan G.
Exceptional food, great service and really lovely atmosphere. I think my only complaint, and this is because I work in film, is that the upper area lights are daylight balanced fluorescents and everywhere else they use tungsten. Fixing those lights would be a great atmospheric improvement. Just throw some 'CTO' gels over them. The food and service make up for it. I'll return here for sure.
Was surprised by the service (or rather the lack of it) at such a higly rated place on yelp. Agreed the food was definitely good, but taking 45 mins to get me a salmon with vegetable and quinoa rice is way too much time. Also, they took 10 mins to get us seated even though we had a reservation. I would have liked to gone back and tried the other dishes but don't want to spend two hours waiting for my dish to arrive.
(3)
Cleveland B.
My girlfriend and I came to visit Portland from Los Angeles for her birthday and with our 4 day stay this is hands down the best place we ate at. The servers are extremely friendly and all around great people. We stopped in twice because there weren't many places open within walking distance from our hotel (It was, however, snowing... I know, right?) The dishes are fantastic. We had their tomato soup, cauliflower soup, cheese plate, roasted brussel sprouts, buffalo chicken cheese dip. Really simple stuff but it was all food we would probably cook at home and it hit the spot. The decor is cute and it has tons of charm. If I'm ever in Portland this is going to be my place to go downtown.
(5)
chris t.
Had an enjoyable lunch. Service was a bit slow. Had two half sandwiches, grilled cheese and blt with the rice salad.
(4)
Ed H.
Nice farm to table place with some interesting dishes in a pleasant decor and with friendly service. We came here with a group on a Saturday night. No problem making the reservation. We shared a nice Pinot Noir. We shared the cheese selection and a salad to start. Both were very good. I had a cup of the mushroom soup, it was very tasty. Several of us had the bass. It was served over asparagus and had an unusual strawberry glaze which ended up being delish. Others had the chicken breast in a skillet and the grilled cheese and tomato soup, both of which were reported as excellent. We split a pound cake and s'mores for dessert. Both were wonderful. Recommended.
(5)
Gina R.
The reason for 2 stars ... because "Meh. I truly have experienced better." For starters, I am a hospitality junkie, and customer service goes a long way with me. We were greeted by the hostess who immediately asked of if we had a reservation, in a bit of a snooty way. Just not very welcoming. We had to wait for our table even though several were open. Our server had a sass to him that could have been very fun, but unfortunately came across like he could have really cared less to be honest, and gave the impression that he really just didn't want to be there. He also had a large party at a different table, and that didn't help matters as his attention remained with that table. The ambiance of this place couldn't be cuter, and the name fits so well. It literally looks like a Picnic House! There are strings of lights, "windows" that look like you are standing on the outside of a house, cute quotes, greenery, and you really feel like you are outside. The problem was the food tasted like it literally sat in a picnic basket. I had the stuffed portobello which I would have imagined would have been far more delish had it been warm. My dinner companions had the lemon roasted chicken, the maple brined pork chop, and the short rib over savory pancake. None of the dishes were warm (everything luke warm, and mine was almost cold). The braised beef looked a little dry, but the pork chop was extremely dry to the point where the person that ordered it did let the waiter know. He was kind enough to take the dish off of the check since she didn't really eat it. She then ordered the Roasted Tomato Soup, and it was delicious, but again luke warm. The appetizer we shared was the Artisanal Cheese Plate which was very good! It was only served with one bread loaf which was 5 small pieces for the 4 of us however, and it took 45 minutes to finally get more bread after we asked 3 additional times. The 2nd bread loaf came well after dinner was served. For Dessert, we shared the Grilled Pound Cake and S'more Pudding, and those were the saving grace of my picnicking experience, or this review might have been 1 star.
(2)
Josh T.
Wonderful space and design. Funky, artsy, and very portland. Great reuse of an old building. They host events as well. My nonprofit agency had a fundraiser here for 100 people and they space was perfect and the staff very easy to work with. Sound can be an issue (as in sound system didn't work well) but the food and drinks are top notch. As a restaurant, the lunch specials are great. I love the nutty brown rice salad. Nom Nom Nom.
(4)
Karen C.
Better for lunch than dinner. Great sandwiches. However, the meat dishes tend to outshine anything vegetarian for dinner.
I really love everything about this place. The decor is awesome - very warm and welcoming and I love the larger communal tables for groups. Plus, there is a bear with a monocle over the bar so that's pretty rad. Food is very good - excellent selection of cheeses, fresh baked bread, and the lemon chicken with vegetables and mashed potatoes was excellent. If you are looking for a little sweet bite after - definitely get the milk and cookies; 3 mini chocolate chip cookies and a shot glass of milk. Doesn't get much better than that.
(5)
Kim W.
This place is FANTASTIC! I made a reservation on Open Table for a midweek lunch, just based on all the great Yelp reviews. I had the "choose 3" combo of a soup, salad and sandwich, because I honestly could not narrow it down to just one or 2. I cleaned my plate. The atmosphere is nifty- with moss covered stone walls and reclaimed wood tables (yes the chairs aren't very comfortable- but once this food touches your lips, you will forget all about what you are sitting on). Tables of all sizes allow for business lunches, gatherings with friends or just a lunch date. Try the tomato soup- all others pale in comparison to theirs. I also had the grilled cheese with caramelized onions that basically just melted in my mouth. The cocktail menu is also fun and inventive.
(5)
Lisa H.
Oh my....what a treasure! Two meals in two days while we've been visiting Portland. And I could easily eat the rest if my meals here for the duration of my trip. Lunch - soups are awesome! Turkey and apple sandwich amazing. Dinner - Patrick, our waiter was spot on with a wine recommendation. Dinner was perfect and dessert was sublime! Order the toasted lemon pound cake or live to regret it.
(5)
Qiong S.
First meal in Portland! Had to do a takeout because of my needy toddler. The way the salmon tasted blew me away! So good!
(5)
Allie B.
Hostess was surly and flippant. We walked into a 60% empty restaurant (plenty of tables) at 12:40pm and the host refused to seat us because "she has reservations that were coming that needed to be seated" and quoted us with a 20 minute wait. I had to refrain from responding "your reservations are late, we are here and I'm sure your servers would better appreciate you not holding their tables so they can make money." I worked in the service industry for 6 years and I tip 20+ %. If you're a server at TPH, please be aware that your hostess is turning away your business. We walked done the street to SouthPark, the host and server were friendly and courteous and our food was awesome.
(1)
Scot D.
This place is pretty awesome for a lunch spot. I think the deal is you need to make a reservation so to not be disappointed. The menu was great in terms of selection an the ability to do half a sand and salad was perfect. Service great an food perfect. I will return!
(5)
Pechluck L.
The Picnic House has an awesome large airy space between Park and Broadway at 728 SW Salmon Street. It takes its theme of urban picnic and brings it to life in its atmosphere. The decorative elements here combines the classic touches of the natural outdoors (a huge wooden picnic table including chairs of logs and moss simulated on some walls, and the wall behind what appears will soon be a deli area has a scene of tree, river, and forest animals), all while also lining the walls with printing blocks and touches of vintage 1920s Parisian chic with the fabric of the lounge and bar stools and various wall art and fixtures, interplaying all these various textures to add an air of romance and hint of antique treasure. A bear head with a bowler hat and monocle perched and presiding above the bar embodies all of these with a dash of whimsy. It's not often that I find a place that presents such style and character in its atmosphere Everything seems to be of high quality bistro fare you'd find hope to find in the romantic Paris you would drop by in your neighborhood route- homey and smart and elegant all at the same time. Here and there you see a call back to their theme with an actual picnic basket, as well as signage letting you that these straw baskets, fully stocked with plates and silverware and glasses and even a blanket, can be rented by the day + filled with food. The mixed greens with fresh berries, toasted cinnamon honey almonds and house made ricotta with a pickled blueberry vinaigrette had a tart freshness to it balanced by a touch of sweetness from the cinnamon honey. The arugula, roasted corn, spring onion and roasted tomatoes with avocado in a grilled lemon dressing on the other hand offered a piquant peppery contrast with each tomato giving a little burst of ripe sweetness here or there. The dessert was one of the best chocolate cakes we ever had, a chocolate sour cream bundt cake with chocolate ganache that was served slightly warm, with rich milk chocolate in every soft moist bite. And ah, pavlova. Ah, this light airy goodness of egg whites and sugar into meringue with fresh berries and vanilla cream. At first this plate looked intimidating as it is basically the size of a whole pie but then we realized you were being given the best part, the crunchy top half, a thin shell of firmness surrounding an inside that melted in our mouth so quickly that we needed another spoonful carefully balancing crisp bits of meringue with soft vanilla cream and such beautiful sweet strawberry in each bite to extend the rush. I also discovered my favorite two cocktails that the Picnic House offers from their cocktail menu. After trying the lighter cocktail sparklers of the Fleur de Lis and Sauvie on previous visits, this time I welcomed the Moulin Rouge martini with Indio Marionberry infused vodka, Clear Creek Blackberry liqueur, blueberry simple syrup, fresh squeezed lemon and garnished with a pickled blueberry, a combination of sweet with a touch of tart so it was not too sweet. But, my favorite was The Nymph cocktail, both delicate and strong, with Pink Spruce gin, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and a simple syrup muddled with cucumber. Refreshing citrusy but you can feel the magic afterwards!
(5)
Gene M.
The food was so savory. Delicious. But the table was too big. We went there for a large party and you had to yell across the table which was not to my liking. Also they only accepted 3 credit cards per party so we were all struggling with the cash aspect. And gratuity was automatically included on the tab. I think you'll have a great time if you go there with a smaller party 2-4 :)
We were 4 adults and 3 kids. The place looked empty but they said they wouldn't let is in because we need reservations
(1)
Jennifer S.
Delicious food, quirky and fun presentation, and great space. The cauliflower soup was delicious, the kale chips added a nice crunch. The salmon was perfectly cooked and savory-sweet balanced just right.
(4)
Teresa R.
The food was delish and Ty the waiter...divine. Very charming ambiance for a great lunch with a dear friend. Butternut soup with grilled cheese - both above average.
(5)
Niki S.
The ONLY reason I can't give this place the 5th star, is the price- I felt comparatively it was about a dollar-two dollars higher than what I would normally pay. That said, the service, decor, and charming personality of the entire operation makes one forget they are paying an extra buck or two... or at least it did for me. Main dish: I ordered a half salad/half soup combo. Mushroom soup, fresh berry salad. Soup was slightly bland, but very good texture- added a tiny salt and all was well. Creamy and hearty. Salad was good size, the berries and candied nuts together made a great amount of crunch and sweet in the salad. Diet coke with cherry grenadine. HAND MADE, mind you! Talk about OG! Grilled Pound Cake w/whipped cream and some lemon curd, dear lord- this was both dense, yet delicate and just amount of sweet to linger on my tongue and leave me skipping out of the building. I would eat here every day if I had the money and didn't mind the cost- I love 1920-1930's era items, and this place is adorned in them, with some history of the building as well, just ask one of the charming servers for more info. Price aside, I would suggest this place for anyone at least once. So much that I am considering it as my rehearsal dinner venue.
(4)
Barry S.
So we started with some wine and an interesting Vodka cocktail they call a Sharab..... Blood orange vodka with a home made strawberry syrup. Very refreshing on a summer evening... Not sweet... Nice tartness. The mushroom soup was really good... Creamy and a bit spicy. The tomato soup was excellent... Enjoyed the fresh oregano. For main course we split the grilled salmon with asparagus and the stuffed portobello mushroom with polenta. Both dishes were excellent. Presented well and I especially liked the strawberry Anaheim pepper salsa on the top of the salmon. The wait staff and GM made us feel right at home.... Now for Steely Dan!!!
(4)
C T.
Cute place, could use with some soundproofing. Appreciated the enthusiastic waitress and creative menu items. Ate the grilled cheese (it's a MUST!) and wild mushroom soup - delicious but could use a Vitamix blend on high, not necessary for flavor, just consistency. Hub ordered a trio - Cesar salad with a fried egg on top (extra) should have been runny was overdone, grilled cheese, and tomato soup which I stole and was excellent!! On my plate there was a small pile of stale chips to round it out. A stellar pickle would have been a better option for flavor, color, and a nice crunch. I had a glass of champagne b/c it's vacation - why not? And he had an "ok" beer which was an IPA but he can't remember the name as it was spoken to him, not printed. Final thought, spruce up the entrance, it's unwelcoming as you stare at empty tables wondering why they haven't seated you yet even though you have a reservation. Make it more separate from dining area, more cozy. Also, we are from out of town and walked around the block, right past it on the other side of the street. It's a little unassuming from the outside with the dark colors.
(4)
Davis H.
The food here was solid, the atmosphere was interesting and fun, and the staff was friendly. Unfortunately the service is unreasonably slow, to the point of ruining the experience for us. The place was not at all busy and we were a party of three, but we waited 40+ minutes from ordering to being served. One of us ordered a drink halfway through eating and it just never came. This was a bummer because we did really like it, but we've just never gone back because we don't really feel like sitting there. I would recommend it if slow service doesn't bug you and you want some great food, but avoid otherwise.
(3)
Chris M.
Retained much of the coolness of the original lobby of the Heathman Hotel. The layout is very cool complete with stuffed bear head over the bar. The lunch menu is approachable with salads, soups and hot/cold sandwiches. Staff is friendly and attentive but like all new restaurants are still working out some kinks.
(4)
Carrie L.
My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this place while visiting Portland and was truly surprised by how amazing everything was. Pros: 1) The food tasted awesome. We started off with cauliflowers as our appetizer and I loved it. For our main course, I had the stuffed mushroom and my boyfriend had the maple brined pork chop. Both were amazing. The stuffing in the mushroom was better than any stuffing I've ever had. There was a lot of flavor to it - -I think they mixed it with carrots, vegetables, and other ingredients. It ended up being a bit dense at the end, but I would still order it again! As for the pork chop - it was flavored really well and the meat was cook to just tender. The bread pudding side on his dish was (what I thought) pretty innovative. It was called bread pudding, but really more like mac and cheese. 2) Staff was nice. Our waiter did a great job of making sure we had water, checking in to see if we needed anything else, etc. It was the kind of service you would expect from a fancy place, but he did it without being intrusive or overly trying too hard. It was just great. 3) Even with no reservation, we waited only about 15 minutes before we got seated. 4) The price of the meal came out way less than what either one of us expected and the portions are much bigger than what I'm used to. Cons: Can't think of any!
(5)
Tomohiro F.
A very modern yet classy place. Food menu is somewhat limited but they do each item very well. The portions are generous. Servers are nice, attentive and personable. Great atmosphere.
(5)
Kate L.
Some of the best sandwiches, soup and salads in town. The buffalo chicken salad sandwich is so good, as is the mushroom soup. Best bet is to get a combo and enjoy both!
(4)
Melanie Z.
The Picnic House is an experience! The hipster vibe is SUPER strong, which I don't usually love, but everyone was super friendly and the service was wonderful. They just opened Barlow next door, so while you wait for your table you can have a drink there. The cheese tray at Picnic House was absolutely delicious. I had the culotte steak and it was fine - not the best ever, but the quinoa polenta was delicious. Definitely order the grilled pound cake for dessert! It was outstanding.
(4)
Katie G.
Holy Mary Mother of God. This place is amazing. Every single thing I ate -- the steak with a quinoa-polenta combo that made me want to lie in a bed of it and die while eating it, the unreasonably delicious tomato soup (OJ doesn't have any claim on liquid sunshine when this stuff exists), the savory mushroom soup, the salad with summer berries that had no right to be that tasty -- was outstanding. I simply cannot wait to go back. There were so many things on the menu I wanted to try, but a girl's stomach is only so big. Fortunately, this place is VERY well-priced for what you get -- honest portions that are neither snobbily small nor grotesquely large. The atmosphere is nice as well -- a tiny bit disjointed in it's bring-the-outside-in decor -- but largely warm and appropriate. I feel happy to have a seat by the window in the front part, and never went to the back, so I can't say it's not nice back there, but I loved the feeling of the outdoorsy front section. My DH and I don't go out much for dinner -- I am unemployed and this was a special treat before seeing Neil DeGrasse Tyson -- but the excellence of this food, combined with the affordability and the wonderful ambiance mean that this place is getting added onto our regular list for when we go out for a night downtown. If you are wondering whether or not to go -- GO!
(5)
Molly R.
We recently held our son and daughter-in-law's rehearsal dinner at the picnic house. Everything was over the top! The food was excellent and the staff amazing. They were so easy to work with to make this night truly magical! Thank you thank you
(5)
Georgia M.
The boyfriend and I went to the Picnic House on date night before a comedy show, and the food was absolutely delicious. I got the chicken, he got the grilled cheese and soup, and we devoured both. The drinks were great, and the homemade marshmallows in the chocolate pudding were scrumptious! Picnic House is definitely our fancy restaurant for anniversaries and important dinners!
(5)
Lee M.
1) Alleged five minute wait and there were plenty of open tables. 2) The dessert I wanted based in the pictures was not on the menu but the kicker was 3) the "no substitutions" comment. Thanks for the lack of flexibility, perhaps you should put it in writing on the menu like other restaurants that don't have the ability to change a SIDE. I even asked what is the charge to change.
Servers tried to take our plate away while we were still working on it. This happened twice, and I needed stop them saying we were not finished. The restaurant was not very busy, but for some reason, it was very difficult to get attention of servers.
(2)
Eryn E.
We are from out of town and are so happy we stumbled upon this place. We sat at the bar and got excellent service from Matthew. He was helpful with drinks as well as food (and we both have weird food allergies). I had the salmon and my boyfriend had the wild boar. Both are amazing. I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Mindy W.
I had dinner with two girlfriends on a Monday night. To start we had some brussel sprouts (good) and the crostini's (just ok). I ordered the Salmon with the strawberry relish. The dish was good and the strawberries were a powerful taste, but I liked it. Our waiter was outstanding, tall thin young guy. He was cheeky but not creepy. I really like the atmosphere at the back of the restaurant by the bar. The front area needs a decor face lift, it has ice cream shop wall paper and the lighting is not right. I would recommend this place to someone.
(4)
Jean F.
Food was simple and fantastic. Lunch- mushroom soup- really good and buffalo chicken salad was sooooo good. The thick chicks of bacon, great Gorgonzola cheese and ripe yummy tomatoes made this salad so much better than it sounds!!!
(5)
Austin C.
Amazing restaurant! The service is great, the food is great! We came in asking for take-out sandwiches, and when our schedule cleared we asked if we could change the order so as to sit down and stay, and they were incredibly gracious and accommodating. All the servers were friendly and kind, and the sandwiches were equally spectacular. The ambience is relaxing and beautiful, the lighting calming and fantastically decorated with a unique attention to detail. I'm excited to come back soon!
(5)
Brandon C.
Best picnic I've ever had! I had the roast beef sandwich, it was delicious! Wonderful service and beautiful atmosphere! It was a very enjoyable experience.
(5)
Patrick D.
Food was really tasty. We had brussel sprouts, bruschetta with cheese, butter lettuce salad and salmon. Almost absolutely impeccable. While all dishes were prepared with care and perfect rechnical execution, the salmon was unfortunately overwhelmed by the sweetness of the overabundant strawberry and pepper relish. Again salmon and asparagus prepared to perfection; salmon seared on outside and moist and slightly mefium in center; asparagus al dente. Just the coception of dish unbalanced. Still a wonderful meal and would gladly return.
(4)
maegan c.
I can't believe I've waited so long to come here! The cocktails are amazing, the food is amazing and the service was even more amazing! I had the trip of soup, the espresso crusted tenderloin and roasted cauliflower with currants! All of their items are local, organic and happy!! I appreciated the atmosphere and the overall experience that was created!
(5)
Amanda P.
I had a wonderful experience here at the Picnic House, Portland Oregon. I am from the north east and stumbled across this little jem while visiting a friend. Needless to say I was alone while she was at work, wondering around the city on foot, came in and sat at the bar. The decor was wonderful and kept in the style of the cuisine. The staff was so friendly, the service was great and the food was fantastic! I've been recommending this place to all the people that I knew and that I met while out there, AND I keep talking about it since I've been home. If I ever make it back out to Portland I will be coming back to the Picnic House!
(4)
Kimberly K.
Major meh for lunch at Picnic House. Had the half salad and half sandwich combo with the grilled chicken sandwich and roasted veggie farro salad. The sandwich was flavorless. Definitely needed seasoning. The salad was over cooked and the flavors were indistinguishable. On a positive note, all the ingredients were very fresh and clearly sourced from local farms.
(3)
Abby S.
The food was fantastic--I ordered the cast iron chicken breast and it was so good, reminiscent of fried chicken and mashed potatoes in flavor, but more elegant and less guilt-inducing. Drinks were also great, and I loved the decor--super whimsical and fun with a very vintage feel and great music. Service was also wonderful! An all-around great experience!
(5)
Mr T.
Nice room (very high ceiling), very good service, tasty but small cocktails, decent beer taps. Food was fine, fresh, healthy tasting.
(3)
shannon w.
I am biased. I have loved Jessica's cooking since she cater my sister's wedding in my mom's kitchen 15 years ago. I adored the rice pudding yumminess. But Picnic House BLEW ME AWAY. Subtle and stunning all at once. I want to have a party here. Or sneak away for lunch with my bestie. Best grilled cheese and tomato soup ever. Rock on girl! Lucky Portland to have you.
(5)
Whitney G.
My husband and I went here for an early dinner before a show. The service was excellent. The staff were very aware of our time constraints and recommended dishes that would make our meal quick and not feel rushed to eat. She also told us the time before asking if we wanted additional cocktails. It was very appreciated which lead to a great experience. The food was good, but there are many good places to eat in Portland, so it didn't stick out for us.
(4)
Ozzie L.
The service here was what gave the stars, food was ok. Potentially could have been what we ordered but definitely not 4 or 5 stars. Ambience was cool and different but so is Portland in general. Not sure if I would come back but possibly in a drunken stupor.
(3)
Yin D.
This place was one of our favorite restaurants during our Portland visit. Very good short rib. Everything was fresh and tasty.
(5)
Tiffany Q.
My reason for only three stars is because our dinner entrees weren't memorable. My dish came out room temperature and I didn't even finish it because it just wasn't doing it for me. It's REALLY rare I don't finish my meal or at least take it home but this polenta dish was blan, dry and not hot. Meh. Not pleased by it. My boyfriend ordered a chicken dish and he gobbled that baby up so at least he was happy with his food. However, this review isn't about the entrees. This review is about the dessert and our waiter. So, we were on vacation and in Portland for one night and we decided to try Picnic House based on Yelp reviews and our growing hunger and we sat around our hotel room. The food was a disappointment (for me at least) but we decided to order a S'more Pudding for dessert because we are chocolate fiends. Placed the order and within a few minutes our waiter came back and had to tell us they were all out but he managed to nab the last happy hour version of the S'more pudding and because they weren't able to give us the full size dessert, the mini version was on the house. BOOO but sweet! Oh man, that pudding was amazing. We devoured all four bites within seconds. It was tiny to begin with but we would go back to Portland just for that pudding. We're still talking about it a month after eating it. Conclusion: IF YOU LOVE CHOCOLATE, SMORES AND PUDDING THEN YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS DESSERT. You won't regret it and the hipsters around you will be jealous they gave up sugar, gluten, flavor, whatever.
(3)
Jimi P.
Perfect place. We tried it out based on the yelp community, and they didnt dissapoint us. A cosy atmosphere and really attentive service.
(5)
Katrina B.
Really great food and ambiance. Service very slow, they should hire more staff.
(4)
Jillian R.
We had a wonderful happy hour on Thursday. Aaron our server was great and helped us discover Anthem Cherry Cider *yum*. The menu was perfect for sharing.
(4)
Ava S.
The Picnic House accomplishes every goal that a downtown restaurant strives to achieve! 1* It offers a lively, unique "Portland" atmosphere and environment - from the log slab table to the quirky chalkboards and animal busts. Very charming! 2* Great menu variety and healthy options - I especially love the nutty brown rice salad, the Italian meats sandwich, and every soup that I've ever ordered. For lunch they allow you to do a "pick 1, 2 or 3" of their sandwiches, salads and soups fulfilling every appetite. 3* Can be as convenient and quick or long and arduous as you desire. I've entertained clients there in under 30 minutes and also lounged with friends chatting for more than 1 hour. 4* Service has always been friendly and efficient. Services have offered great insight on the menu options and recommendatiosn proved correct. 5* Added bonus points for historical significance. The space was once the Lobby of an original Portland hotel from the 1920's and still has remnants of the original space. Hip hip hooray for the Picnic House
(5)
David W.
Came here for my friends birthday dinner and overall thought it was ok. Typical American fare. Nothing special that stood out on the menu. I think the menu changes every so often. I had the grilled salmon with asparagus. Prices weren't bad at all. $12 for a salmon dish is really reasonable. Salmon dishes in CA go for about $20 or more at a nice restaurant. Don't forget about tax. That's why I love Oregon!
(3)
Steve B.
Ok where do I begin? Maybe the restroom sign that's stuck to the wall with blue duct tape in each corner. Other than that, the ambiance is nice, oops no...there were more employees scooting around than at a Trader Joes. We were out numbered probably 6 to 1. So, my wife orders a glass of a French wine from the Loire valley. For some odd reason, she thought it was good. I tasted it and noticed right off that it was nearly vinegar. So she agrees and calls the waitress over, and it's agreed that it needs to be replaced. She's requested to order a different wine, she picks one. I see the "bartender" pour the new glass from an already open bottle, not quite a full pour. No problem! She opens another bottle and adds it to the glass!!! When our meal arrives, I take a bite of my sandwich and there's something really crunchy inside...it's a green avocado...crunchier than a crips apple! I told that waitress and returns later saying she has notified the manager. No other contact was made. The bill comes and is unchanged...full price paid for ignorance. Never again folks. Never again.
(1)
Sharon A.
Yummy grilled cheese! Pretty decent Caesar salad too. Funky atmosphere but I really liked this place.
(4)
Albert G.
Excellent food and good venue. Cheese plate is a must order. Very good selection and the presentation was the best my wife has seen. Should have split the salad with my wife, we both order one based on the price and it was almost entree size. Salmon was good, but my wife's chicken was better. My son had the artesian grilled cheese and soup. He liked the mushroom soup the best of the two items. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Bertha F.
Such an unusual and fun place to eat. The location appears to be an old fashioned store or office location of some sort (oddly, it reminds me of my high school prom; I was lucky enough to attend a lovely old high school with a handsome gymnasium). Their approach to food is both fresh and refreshing. I had the lime-marinated shrimp salad which was absolutely delicious! And the shrimp were real diced large shrimp, not those tiny bay shrimp. My dining partner chose the chicken salad sandwich with a cup of red tomato soup and declares this to be the best tomato soup ever! There are so many other things to order. I can't wait to go back next time I'm back west at the OTHER Portland! LOL
(5)
Maling S.
Came here for a quick lunch before heading back home - 6 hour drive. Omg! This lunch was scrumptious! Roast beef sandwich, roasted cauliflower soup with nutty brown rice salad. My favourite was the nutty brown rice salad. Perfect marriage with the roasted hazelnut vinaigrette! Finished it off with Pavlova cake. Can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu.
(5)
Andrew W.
Woohoo! As good as it gets is right! What a gem of a restaurant. My girlfriend and I had a reservation for 7:30 on a Friday night. We arrived closer to 7:00 and they accommodated our request to be seated earlier if possible. Immediately you can tell the ambiance is great because of the old hotel lobby it is situated in. The tables are well placed so you don't feel like you are being crammed into a cattle car. Our server was very prompt and helpful. We started off with an order of the Cheese Crostini and the Duck Fat Potatoes. I also ordered a Seelbach from the drink menu. Each small plate was the perfect size for two and had amazing flavor. My girlfriend even commented that the Crostini might be a perfect plate. The potatoes were full of that duck flavor and along with the Gorgonzola Sauce made for another well balanced dish. Of the two, I liked the potatoes a tad bit more. For our main course, I had the pork chop and she had the short rib. On the pork chop, the bread pudding was amazing...a hint of sweet and a hint of the chedday helped to balance out the savory of the pork and asparagus on the plate. A truly great dish that I would order again. For the short rib, the carrots were cooked perfectly and the pancake that served as the bed for the dish was a light, fluffy, and flavorful sponge for the sauce. Also another dish I would order again. The meal was rounded out with another drink from the bar menu, a Moulin Rouge. Again, another great cocktail that framed the meal perfectly. Also, the pickled blueberries at the bottom were a great end to the entire meal. What a gem of a restaurant that is sure to become one of Portland's favorite and busiest new eateries. Go before it becomes famous and hard to get into!
(5)
Lexie G.
Business must be good for the Picnic House to turn away a party of 6 because their family-style table (ability to seat 14 at least) was occupied by "important" guests planning a wedding. Hope you make money off the wedding because you just lost $200 and our corporate business forever. Oh, and the host didn't even care that we left. Obviously, he is not the owner, and I hope his boss reads this review. PS Rating should be 0 but I couldn't post that.
(1)
Angie A.
This place is really special. We had a table of nine people and we were all attended to very well. The food is fresh and interesting. We could not resist dessert. The cheesecake was my favorite. Cannot wait to go back.
(5)
Sarah H.
Got here for an early reservation on Saturday. Pretty quiet when we arrived but soon filled up. Table for two was tiny, food decent though and not too pricy. I had the wild boar bourguignon and hubby the grilled cheese.Server not altogether with it but nothing major. Stopped for a drink next door at Barlow. Great drinks with a cool cat vibe. I'd go to both again.
(4)
Scott K.
Great atmosphere and great food. The portobello mushroom stuffed with polenta was our highlight.
(5)
Bob R.
Came here first time based on Yelp reviews. Sorry but this place did not make the average for me. Sat down and the sandwiches looked huge so we ordered two combos of a soup and half a sandwich. the half sandwiches are not nearly as big as a half of a whole sandwich. And the portions on my chicken salad sandwich were very skimpy, a thin layer of chicken salad and a few little green leaves. The soups were lukewarm and we sent them back for hot bowls. Next time I would just order a sandwich. Seemed a little pricey and left hungry. Service was adequate, the waitress seemed annoyed after I complained about the soup being cold. She said nobody else had said anything; must just be me, I thought. I thought I should just keep quiet about the sandwich and they can read my Yelp review.
(3)
Kim C.
1st visit won't be our last. Great space, friendly staff, terrific food. Best cheese plate in Portland.
(5)
Ashley C.
Service was scarce when I arrive. Both myself and another group waited for 2 minutes before the waitress came and asked us to wait a few more minutes, since she needs to prepare the tables. They looked prepared. She was very friendly. But one sever for five table seems too much for her to handle. Will see. Everything changed when we got our food. Amazing! Recommend getting the 2 items meal, which will turn it into four items. We had the corn soup, basic greens, and the prosciutto and bacon sandwiches. Delicious! I'm hooked.
(5)
Theresa T.
I was in Portland recently for business trip and found this gem in downtown for lunch. Love the vintage 50s/60s decor here with a touch of hipster charm. Coming from New York City where restaurants are always seem overwhelmingly busy and trying too hard to impress, I enjoyed the great food and service here with the west coast warm, friendly and laid back vibe. I would definitely return next time I'm in town. They also seem to have a great cocktail selection.
(4)
Adam H.
This place definitely feels like Portland. The ambiance is pretty cool. Never thought about putting strawberries on my Salmon, but it was amazing! Also had the brussel sprouts, which I highly recommend. Service was not that great. Waitress seemed kind of cold. My wife and I felt like an inconvenience to her. Wasn't a terrible experience, but not spectacular either. Didn't feel worth $50 after tip, especially since we didn't order drinks... I little spendy for what you get in my opinion.
(3)
J. K.
Amazing! We has the cheese platter, with pretty large portions of heavenly cheese and a grilled cheese with tomato soup. Everything was divine!
(5)
Tim A.
Fantastic. It's a $12 lunch but it's very good, fresh, creative, and excellent! Beautiful decor and music that is 1920's style. Awesome wait staff that is helpful and friendly. Highly recommended! And happy hour from 3-6 pm daily.
(5)
Jeanie S.
Fun eclectic "Portland" atmosphere with a wonderful selection of fresh salads, soups & sandwiches. My companion needed a gluten free selection and she had a large variety of options. I had the tomato garlic soup & my friend had the fresh mushroom which included many slices of mushroom. We agreed that these were both very tasty although we had to ask for hers to be reheated. My sandwich had prosciutto & fig butter-a great unusual combination. Her salad was filled with large berries & lightly dressed. I will definitely return to select different entrees when downtown Portland for lunch.
(4)
Pam L.
I had a simple tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich and it was delicious ! The sandwich had grilled sweet onion and the soup was flavored with yummy spices.. eat there you won't be disappointed. Had a glass of very very nice Chardonnay also terrific!
(4)
Jen E.
so..... I can not believe that I forgot to give this place a review. In fact I feel so bad about it I grounded myself.....however I was never good at following rules.....so really I stayed grounded for like 5 minutes. Okay I discovered this place on line while looking for a place for a bunch of us to meet up for a day of fun, due to unusual things that happened most of my friends were not able to meet up with us.....their loss for a couple of us did make it down there and well..... OH HOLY CRAP! THE FOOD IS EXCELLENT. I ordered the biscuits with strawberry jam and truffle oil. Honestly I was a little afraid to try this combo but was very happy I did. I shared it with my friends who did show up and they turned into piranhas.....in a feeding frenzy. I then got their mushroom soup and all I have to say is wow....just wow. Possibly the best soup I have had in many, many years! I have happy thoughts when I know I am about to eat there. The air seems a bit crisper, the light a wee bit brighter, birds.....birds sing a little more. The inside is the original lobby for the original Heathman hotel. so it is a little weird but weird in a good way. The bear with the monocle and top hat cracks me up and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable about their food. oh and they make a mean cup of coffee...... you can have an intimate table for two or a large table for groups or a huge table running down the middle of the bottom level.... if you have a huge amount of people or dont mind sharing.
(5)
Laura B.
Absolutely delicious! Had the chicken entree which melted in your mouth. Tried the pork chop as well- yummy too. Choc pound cake with salted caramel ice cream for dessert was heavenly. $5 draft local beers. Great staff- wait staff and kitchen too (James came out and explained how he made the chicken dish- yes- it was that good). Would love to have a place like this in my hometown. Portland- you are lucky to have The Picnic House!
(5)
Tom D.
This big open spaced restaurant is a great spot for its food and decor. It is located in the lobby of the old Heathman Hotel, and they have preserved the space really well with a nice three story atrium. The tables are well spaced so you get a feel of being in your own private space. The food here is excellent. There were three of us so we all got different things and shared. Roasted cauliflower, roasted pear salad, and mushroom soup were all delicious. I have no problem recommending this place as a great value for a night out!
(5)
J B.
Amazing service at the end of a Monday night by Matthew the bartender. The salmon in the strawberry/green chili sauce was spectacular. Great and affordable wines by the glass. I wish I lived in Portland!
(5)
Michael H.
Walking into the Picnic House you feel a bit like walking into a STEAMPUNK world. The drinks are delicious, I would def recommend the Moulin Rouge. Very good to the last drop. The service was amazing and very on top of the group and yet not overhwhelming us. For food I had the Prawns and Chorizo. Now in another life I would have maybe said yuck but this was so delicious. Also check out the delicious truffle potatos. Yummy Goodness.
(5)
Cherie G.
This delightful eatery is housed in what was a hotel foyer, built in 1924. Velvet curtains divide the sunny window front of the restaurant from the darker, high beamed room with the bar set in the back, 1920's music filling the cavernous space. It seemed like there should be fashionable flapper women dancing the jitterbug on the original floor. We were seated immediately at one if the small, claw-footed bistro tables that fill the space. A water decanter sits on each table, and was refilled as we needed. The waiters were chicly dressed young men who harkened back to the 20's. We chose the three course meal, starting with a bitter green salad that was perfect. We each chose a different entree--the grilled salmon with salsa tasted as if it were freshly caught that very morning (and likely was), and the lemon chicken was presented in a cast iron skillet on a bed of the lightest mashed potatoes I've ever eaten. The roasted chicken had a crunchy lemony outer skin with tender juicy meat inside. My daughter thought that the chocolate pudding desert was so delicious that nothing else in her future life would ever be as good. The final delight was when the check arrived in an old book, prob from the 1920's. All was served and attended to promptly. We loved the ambiance, the architecture, the servers, the food and the check book. We did make reservations through Open Table, and the place filled up quickly starting around six, so we recommend you consider reservations.
(4)
Charly S.
There are some phenomenal restaurants in Portland serving foods of all kinds.... and so far this is my fave. 1. It is a huge space which seems a tad overwhelming at first, but somehow they make it comfortable with well placed tables and nicely decorated open areas. The high ceilings and architecture are fantastic. 2. They play lovely dinner music, very 50's rat pack sort of stuff, some jazzy - in this classic building it just fits to create a delightful ambiance. 3. The service was fantastic. One guy working alone so it was not lightning fast, but he was efficient and friendly. He really took the time to explain some of the dishes, answer our questions and have a quick chat. I always appreciate service that is not frazzled. 4. The menu is familiar and comfortable with some great twists. The food was fantastic. You know when you go to a restaurant and your food comes and you think "wow, that looks good" and then it tastes average at best? You will not have that here. The food tasted as good as it looked, and it looked awesome! We commented throughout our meal how good it was.... delicious. 5. The prices are excellent. Our favourite foods; the grilled cheese with roasted tomato soup, even comes with a nice salad and the brussels sprouts roasted with lardons (like bacon but thicker). Thanks Picnic House for a great dining experience. Looking forward to our next trip to Portland already!
(5)
Kyan H.
Nothing spectacular. Food was decent: Citrus Spice Latte - really unique and delicious latte with grapefruit pulp Wild Mushroom Soup - delicious Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwich - 3 out of 5 on a star rating Space: Interesting - formerly the lobby of the Heathman (which confused me, as the Heathman is now across the street)... nice, open space... but could have better utilized the space. It felt a little off. The communal dining room table feels very in the spotlight. I do enjoy the large staircase and decor with the old printing press stamps on the wall.
(3)
Emy F.
Shut up with this place! It's too adorable for words, but it's not SO adorable that you feel uncomfortable. The decor is done with a light enough hand that you're able to appreciate its funkiness without being overwhelmed by a place trying too hard. I appreciate that. The food. the portions were surprisingly big. A colleague ordered a roasted pear salad as a starter and it was entirely entree sized at a starter price. Based on that, I decided to order two starters -- the roasted corn soup and brussels sprouts. The sprouts, oddly, got a little "heavy" because they are cooked in bacon... I could have done with a little less of the oiliness, but for the first 1/2 of my pile of sprouts they were awesome. Would be great to share. The roasted corn soup was complete and total heaven. I could eat that stuff every night. My other colleagues all also reported that their food was excellent. We were committed to dessert but not sure what to try, so based on the server's recommendations we got a grilled pound cake and the creme brulee. Do not pass up dessert. Just plain do not pass up dessert. Delightful. Tom Waits coming from the speakers was the perfect dining companion. Really a great place. I wish I could've packed it into my suitcase and taken it home with me at the end of my business trip.
(4)
Belle P.
We had a group of 8 that went to dinner here on a recent Saturday night. We had early reservations - 5 p.m.; and the place wasn't busy at all (though we made reservations just to be safe). This is a very "Portland" type place - really cute/funky decor - great menu with lots of fresh food options - great service. We ordered appetizers, beer flights, the cheese plate, the charcuterie plate, salmon, pasta - quite a variety of foods from the menu. Everything was excellent. I had the house Pinot Noir, which wasn't exceptional - but for a house wine it was very good. The waitress was happy to split the check between 3 parties, which really helped us a lot. Our service was excellent from start to finish. We were seeing a show nearby and this was just a perfect place to meet for an early dinner beforehand with friends. I would definitely eat here again.
(5)
emily t.
Stopped by here on a whim thanks to Yelp - just wanted to grab a quick lunch before catching our flight back to LA. Incidentally it ended up being our favorite meal of the whole trip! My boyfriend and I each got the half salad/half sandwich/cup of soup lunch combination. The portions were HUGE - we could've easily split one. But at least we had delicious leftovers to have as dinner on the plane. The nutty brown rice salad was so unique and worth coming back for in itself. The wait staff is super friendly and the vibe is classy yet casual. Our waiter informed us that they're now serving brunch, so we'll definitely be back to check that out next time we're in town. Missing Portland's amazing food already!
(5)
Melana Y.
This place is very spacious! Dropped in for happy hour ... a flight of beer and warm buffalo chicken cheese dip, all for just $9?? Yes please!! Service was very friendly and punctual. Beers were tasty, cheese dip even tastier. No complaints, all compliments.
(4)
Stephany F.
Amazing food. Tasty sandwiches (!!!) and salads, great service, cute decor. Can taste the high quality of ingredients.
(5)
Lynn E.
We loved the atmosphere here at the Picnic House. The prices are also reasonable. Some of the staff were super friendly, while one was not. We didn't make reservations beforehand, so we had to sit in the front room and it was really cold! My husband and I enjoyed ourselves and the meal was wonderful.
(4)
Katie U.
My husband and I went for happy hour on 7/11/14. We were really excited to try this place out because of all the great reviews. We arrived shortly after happy hour started, there were a few people sitting in the bar area and we were seated quickly. I think they're trying a little to hard on the whole Portlandia vibe. Also, it was warm inside and it was already a hot day outside so a cooler environment would have been nice. The biggest problem with the ambience was the flashing ambulance lights from outside that were reflecting all around the room. I realize that isn't their fault but the hostess said it happens often from an assisted living facility next door so they might want to find a solution- it is seriously seizure inducing light reflection. I found the service to be a little stuffy and that isn't really what I'm looking for in a happy hour. The general manager was giving an interview in the little lounge area next to the bar and it was amusing/awkward to listen to. When we left she was having a conversation with the hostess about why she kept her late and neither of them acknowledged us as we left. We ordered the Chicken Caesar Salad Skewers and the Buffalo Wing Dip. The caesar dressing only tasted like anchovies, I normally like anchovy flavor in my caesar dressing but it was overkill. The buffalo wing dip had very little buffalo flavor and mostly tasted like blue cheese. Overall the food was just okay, nothing special and there is MUCH better food in Portland. There was only 1 happy hour drink special and it was a raspberry mojito, not something we were interested in. Kind of a bummer to go to a place with a really interesting cocktail menu but none of those cocktails were on the happy hour menu. Limited and pretty boring beer selection too. Portland is an awesome city for happy hour and The Picnic House just doesn't measure up. Our happy hour experience has crossed The Picnic House off our list for future dining experiences.
(2)
Emma R.
Love this place. It's got a unique vibe and FANTASTIC food. I'm always a big fan of small plates and having the opportunity to taste lots of things and there's no end of great things to try here. Definitely worth putting on your go-to list. It's not overblown, overpriced or kitschy ... it's perfect for a refined palette looking for something tasty to enjoy alone or with friends. As an a foodie that has spent a lot of time eating in great restaurants in NYC, Picnic House brings the quality and creativity I'm looking for anytime I go out to eat.
(4)
Michelle H.
Welcome to the rabbit hole. That's how I describe the awesome interior. It's very 'Alice in Wonderland.' The decor would have led me in on its own, but I was also on good authority that the grub wasn't too shabby either. We tried calling from the office a few times and reached their voicemail that wasn't setup. Odd. There is also online ordering, but not being able to reach someone on the phone made me a little wary. What if they weren't open even though their hours said they were? Seemed like a potential disaster waiting to happen. Even at nearly 1pm, there was a pretty busy dining room. The servers seemed a little understaffed so there was a bit of chaos as those who were there were spreading themselves thin amongst the crowd. We were led back to the bar to take a look at menus and make our order. The lunch menu has combinations of soup, salads, and sandwiches. The price point is slightly higher than I'd normally jump at for a regular lunch ($10-$12 before drink/tip), but you're paying for a little more adventure in the ingredients and the rent they're probably paying for this huge space. My turkey sandwich + brown rice salad combo was equal parts awesome, inventive, and a lot of food. The "small" sandwich would have been sufficient on its own. It still came with chips, too. They classed it up with things like "blueberry glaze, aged white cheddar, tart apple, & fig butter." It wasn't overwhelming with the soft roll and tender turkey. The brown rice salad was nutty from the hazelnut vinaigrette, and bursting with a bunch of roasted vegetables. I definitely was not bummed. Other things eaten included the pear salad with thick slices of chicken breast and the roast beef sandwich with enough delicious horseradish to leave you tasting it for a long time after. From order to food in hand, it was maybe 10 minutes at best. Definitely no complaints. I would have loved to have been able to call it in, though, but my guess is they turned the phone off because there wasn't anyone available to actually answer it. I would have asked, but our interactions with the staff was brief and efficient. I'll be back, for sure, just not regularly. Welcome to the office rotation.
Found this gem on Yelp and brought the family here for dinner after wine tasting on a Friday night. We were seated right away with no reservation for a party of 6 which was very appreciated! We ordered the grilled cheese, Reuben sandwich and sides of soup (some had tomato while others had the wild mushroom). The grilled cheese was PERFECT! Crunchy yet soft bread, ricotta, goat cheese and cheddar grilled to perfection (meaning crispy but won't hurt your mouth when you eat it). The tomato soup was also lovely and accompanied by a generous salad. We also ordered Brussels but they forgot to bring them and they didn't end up on the bill so it was fine and the unexpected salad was a perfect substitute. If I lived in Portland this would be a regular spot for me. Fast service with a smile. Oh and nice drinks too - I had the nymph.
(4)
James L.
I'm tempted to give this place 5 stars, but I'm reserving that for places that I've been to several times and am consistently amazed. We dropped by for happy hour and were really happy with the quality of the food and service. The menu speaks directly to me -- if I were to write my own menu it would probably be something like this. Cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, Reuben, dip and chips....sweetness - comfort food with a bit of a twist - it reminds me a bit of the Tasty N' Sons menu. The service was top notch - our waitress was on point for everything, loading us up with wine and cheese at a pace that was just right. She was very friendly as well. Bonus points for the fellow working at the coffee bar who came over with a friendly reminder that our meter was running out (he parked right next to us), saving us a ticket. That kind of thoughtfulness is something you just don't get everyday - I wish we had noted his name to mention him to management. We'll be back next time we are in the area for sure.
(4)
Jacob M.
Faaannnnnnnntastic!! Great flavor, great presentation, staff was wonderful; this is a must try!
(5)
Lacy C.
The food was DELICIOUS! Very unique and fun menu. Service was not fantastic, waited quite a while for order to be taken, then wasn't checked on. As important as I think customer service is, the food made it worth the crappy waitress!
(4)
Jeanne Z.
Loved this place! I was amazed and relieved that it was everything I expected and more. We came here for lunch with my parents and my in-laws and everyone has different taste preferences and dietary restrictions, but everyone was more than pleased. THey had a little bit of everything on the menu, and it was put together very well. I think almost all of us ordered the half sandwich (or half salad) and cup of soup special, some people did get all 3. But, there was no food left on the table when we left, it was amazing! I highly recommend the soups, I had the tomato one and it was very good, but I heard a lot of compliments at my table over the butternut squash soup. Our waiter was amazing, as well as all the staff I contacted today. Like most places in Portland, there seems to be less tables than there are people that want to sit there, but still I was very impressed that they took reservations and honored them. It was nice not to have to worry about finding a seat, especially when you are with people that are 50+, 70+ etc., it is very reassuring to know that you have a table and so you don't have to worry about it. THe ambiance was great here, I loved all the decorations, we will definitely be back. My take away message: make sure to call and make reservations first! (It's counter-intuitive for Portland, I know, but just do it.)
(5)
Shannon H.
My favorite spot in Portland. Everything I had was AMAZING. Started off with some warm caramelized onion dip - I mean, that just sounds great. It was. I had the fish. It came with this fruity relish that was so good I literally ate it by the forkful. The #1 stunner in this place though was the dessert. My friend and I split the grilled poundcake. Best. Decision. Ever. So good in fact, that we stopped by the next night after eating dinner at another place just to get the grilled poundcake to go. Yes. We did. Also, the decor is THE CUTEST decor ever. I mean, it's magical. Seriously. Do yourself a favor and go for the poundcake if nothing else.
(5)
Eric B.
An excellent place for dinner. Delicious food with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, a quintessentially portland atmosphere (The lobby of the Heathman hotel's 1920's location with a steampunk monocle on a bear's head on the wall), and a serving staff that are incredibly proficient and very friendly.
(5)
Jenn S.
Yummy! The space is amazing and the food came out fast and was deeeelicious! The only reason I didn't give them that last star is because of the hot dog. It was good, but not worth $12. It was still REALLY good. I had the lunch combo of a salad and the buffalo salad sandwich and it was awesome. The value was great and I don't know where they get their bread, but it's goooooood. I don't eat bread often, but when I do it will be here!
(4)
Carolyn R.
Charming 1924 building with many original features, like dining indoors under a vintage street lamp. The food is superb and the service excellent. You have to check this place out when you are downtown. Oh, and order the corn appetizer. Amazing! Save room for dessert, too.
(5)
Cait S.
For lunch, this is right near the top of my list next to the VQ. I think it actually has more variety, of at least things I like. If it wasn't competing with Little Bird, I'd give it 5 stars. And for happy hour, I'd give it 5 stars. Sometimes the service is a little slow, but I like having the relaxed feeling that I get inside this place. The bread is always fresh and the ricotta cheese is to die for. I'd have them put it on everything if I could, and I usually try. They're open to it though! I've had better luck with lunch than dinner but maybe I need to try more of the dinner options before I come to a quick judgment. For lunch, I can't resist a soup and sandwich combo. There are too many good ones to pick from! I'm an especially big fan of the cheese crostini with toasted honey almonds for HH. Even though it says almonds in the name, I didn't get past cheese so I thought they were pecans or walnuts but after the waitress asked if I didn't like almonds, I ate every single one! I personally like the grilled cheese at lunch, my friend who isn't a fan of all the cheeses didn't like it as much but she loved the bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich.
(4)
John E.
Very nice ambiance and tasty, tasty food. Plenty of gluten-free options, which is always nice. Full bar with fancy cocktails. The menu listed something about 7up and Coke from scratch; I pictured a 90 yo soda shoppe veteran hiding out in back cranking this out, but I am sure it's just a dude with impressive facial hair like everywhere else. Closing at 9pm? I don't get that because this is the sort of place to head to after a show.
(5)
Tam V.
After gorging on delicious food cart meals all day, we decided we needed some roughage. Yelp came through recommending this place which was a stone's throw from our hotel and not very full on a Monday night. We really enjoyed the berry salad, crostini with ricotta cheese, the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup, as well as some brussel sprouts and cauliflower sides. Too full to have dessert at the restaurant, we took a delicious sour cream chocolate bundt cake to go. Everything was generously sized, the cozy period atmosphere was fun, and the service was fantastic.
(4)
Ben J.
Really cool newer little spot just in the SW area of downtown. Both their food and their appearance is interesting and a bit quirky. I thought it was delicious and fun. The idea is to have gourmet style picnic food and it's an idea they succeed at quite well. I highly suggest this as just a fun little outing for lunch or dinner or even as a date.
(5)
Pat C.
Great lunch. Locally sourced food with a very affordable combination sand/salad/soup option. A little noisy right at the noon hour but quiets down after 1.
Nice ambiance. I wasn't there for long: just enough time to snag an IPA, grilled cheese and soup from the bar. Service was great, though, and so was the food.
(4)
Leo C.
It was a late night and didn't want anything heavy, so I settled on two sides: brussel sprouts & cauliflower soup. The brussel sprouts were roasted perfectly with just the right amount of char and bits of lardon (bacon) for that added smokey flavor. Along with my nice heaping plate of sprouts, I received a nice cup (bigger than a cup, but not quite a bowl) of roasted cauliflower soup. The soup was silky with hints of brown butter and sage. It came with a crunchy piece of toast. Simple food done correctly. The perfect late night dinner. This is a classy place without being overly pretentious or trendy. Service and prices are great as well.
(4)
Becky S.
this place has GREAT food! I could eat the fresh berry salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
(5)
Stephanie W.
Had dinner here for a friend's birthday. Nothing outstanding here folks, except the building itself. Service was slow (Saturday night, many empty tables) and lackluster. More than one server brought our food out and each one had to ask who ordered what. Cocktails were on the boring side. Their names were much more interesting. Food. Um. It was food. Nothing outstanding. Now, the building itself. Amazing space. They aren't doing nearly enough with it!! I say go ahead and skip this place.
(3)
Erik W.
I never give 5 stars for places I've only been once, but the people here were so nice, the space is so fantastic, the drinks were so well crafted and delicious, and the desert I had was so scrumptious that I'm breaking my own rule. I had 4 hours to kill after coming back from a conference on the Oregon coast before my red eye left PDX. After cramming down some delicious vegetarian food at Prasad ( yelp.com/biz/prasad-port… ), I was in search of drinks and desert somewhere near a Red Line MAX station to get to the airport. I came across Picnic House on Yelp because of its stellar review average. Boy was I shocked to find out from the friendly bartendress that they'd only been open for a month. That says a lot. She whipped me up a Fleur de Lis first (blood orange vodka, house-made lemon-lime soda and thyme), while I pondered the desert menu. I settled for the grilled pound cake with lemon curd, strawberries and whipped cream. Oh man. I'm a sucker for lemon curd. And the pound cake was so nice and moist, with nice crispy edges from the grill. One of the best things about Picnic House is the gorgeous space: the restaurant sits inside the original Grand Lobby of the Heathman Hotel, built in the 1920s. The hotel relocated around the corner and the rest of the building was demolished some time later. The lobby remained unused until it was renovated by the Picnic House owners. Truly a glorious place!
(5)
Afton B.
I hate to be negative about a place where the food is so good, but this is a time when actions speak louder than taste. We would have had a perfect evening had it not been for such subpar service. Made a reservation, no note was made as the waitress felt the need to point out several times, leaving us feeling like we were majorly inconveniencing her on her very busy night, might I point out the restaurant was half full at most and it was 7:00. In the middle of our dinner our waitresses switched, without any warning to us, this second waitress even more uninterested than the first, to the point where we waited 20 minutes to ask for the check, finally going to the bar, where she so quickly swiped my card that I almost didn't realize I had been over charged on drinks! 20 minutes after finishing my meal and I don't even remember what I ate because I'm now too concerned about the money that is tied up from her voiding out my first bill.
(2)
Rick K.
We came here about 6mos ago and really liked it, they had the soup/salad/sandwhich for $10 which was an incredible good deal. We were running errands in Portland last week and decided this would be a good place to get some lunch. Much to my surprise they had raised there prices from $10 to $15...that's a 50% rise! And it is now $10 is you only want 2 of the 3 items! The food was still really good w/ the exception of my ceasar salad lettuce being red/old, however i find this kind of price hike to be a little unreasonable! If they had went from $10 to $12 i would have been cool but a 50% hike...there are enough other good places to eat in Portland that i probably wont be back anytime soon.
(3)
Lauren G.
Came here for a quick bite to eat before an author talk at PCPA. The only open seats were at the bar, but that was fine. The guy working was really friendly and pointed us to some menu items that would get us out the door quicker. We got the bruschetta (so so SO delicious), cauliflower (with golden raisins in there - brilliant), mushroom soup (pretty good), and steak salad (also pretty good). We will be back another time when we can try entrees.
(4)
Sally S.
Don't come hungry. No, it's not their fault, it will be your fault for not looking at the menu. You'll be too busy drinking in the fantastic atmosphere. It is absolutely gorgeous in here. Every direction you look has a perfectly placed decoration. I think goldilocks did the design. It's *just* right. Pull your eyes off the wall or floor or ceiling or where ever they may have fallen and take a moment to order one of their delicious cocktails. The fleur de lis was really yummy. I also had the gin cocktail, but can't remember it's name. Possibly because I'm still drunk. Momma had a salad that was massive and perfectly dressed. Instead of croutons it had little sweet potato cubes. How cute! I ate the happy hour grilled cheese and spiced potato soup. I wish I had ordered the full size soup, it was so warming and full tasting with out being heavy. Every time I get a grilled type sandwich at a restaurant the inside of my mouth gets ripped up. That did not happen here! The bread was toasted to the perfect level of crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. Now, I shall sing the praises of caramelized onions on a grilled cheese sandwich. laaaaaaa. Mom, why did you not do this for me as a child?! We got dessert. You should too. Pumpkin rice pudding! Warm chocolate cake! Oh, and the service! It was lovely. Friendly and attentive without being annoying. Picnic House, I love you!
(5)
M K J.
Don't fear the pickled blueberrires! They don't taste like pickles, it just gives them a little tartness to balance the sweet. Having now eaten here two days in a row for lunch, I can say that this place is excellent. We have had between us the caprese style sandwich, proscuitto sandwich, grilled cheese, mushroom and spring veg soups and the grilled pound cake. All are excellent. The toasted bread on the sandwiches is a nice touch. Service was a liitle confused the first day but as long as you're not in a super hurry it's okay. We would love to try dinner!
(5)
Jon T.
Very nice- lots of options in downtown- especially if you want variety and I will probably be back, it is hard though because there are so many amazing places to eat- decor is fun and a bit funky- food was great, service was a tiny bit slow but overall very nicely done
(4)
Byron H.
Very nice. Original, tasty and classy. Reasonably priced. Nice ambiance but a little loud. I would come back.
(4)
Carmel U.
My husband and I love this place. - beautiful decor (complete with painted ceilings and deer doorhangers drilled into tree stumps!) - delicious food (pork loins that weren't dry and cheese plates that weren't boring!!!) - Yummy (and strong) cocktails This is the type of place that I would eat at often (if there was such a place in Boulder). The waitstaff is very friendly. It did have more of a cafe-feel to it than a restaurant. I did notice that you can rent a picnic basket full of picnic implements for $20/day, which I thought was brilliant. Lovely place for early dinner and brunch!
(5)
Jamie F.
We arrived at 8:30pm on a friday night and there was not a server in sight, but the front half of the restaurant was empty. We ended up waiting close to 10 minutes before anyone took the time to notice us standing there and ask if we had been help yet. We were not off to a good start. Once we finally were seated, I had mushroom soup to start and it was amazing. My friend had some tomato jam goat cheese dip that she also said was fantastic. I had the lemon roast chicken as a main, which was also awesome. My friend ordered some kind of pasta dish that she ended up sending back because it was too salty. (I tasted it and it was insanely salty!) We each ordered creme brulee for dessert and it was.. weird. I've rarely had BAD creme brulee so this one definitely takes the cake as the worst. (Or takes the custard, har har.) It tasted super eggy and tasted like it might have had clove in it? Either that or the vanilla beans were really off. I only ended up eating a few bites. I would definitely give this place another try because my first to dishes were so great, but be prepared to not be greeted at the door, and stay away from the creme brulee!
(3)
Cory P.
Good place, good service.
(3)
Splandie J.
The best thing about this place is the exit. The second best would be a server named Joshua, who tried in good faith to fix all the heinous errors that had gone on before, but at that point there was just too much that had been wrong. We arrived at 6 on a Friday evening. We had a party of six. We stood in the empty entry for almost 10 minutes before the hostess came to say we would have to wait.... the place was about a third full. So we got seated, and waited almost 20 minutes for a server to bring water. Didn't ask if we wanted anything else. We asked a server Bethany about getting some drinks, and she said in the vernacular of shitty servers everywhere 'I am not your server. I will let him know.' Ok, eventually got some drinks. Our server took our order, then at the end of all of us ordering, he said "I think I will use my phone to write down your orders. Just so that I get them right." So we had to repeat the whole ordering thing. It took one hour and twenty minutes to get food. On a Friday night in a mostly empty place. Half of us got our food. The others sat for another ten minutes! What, the cook's joint went out and he had to run home and get another?!? And the food, dear god the food. If it was edible at all, it was bland and tasteless. Did I mention bland? My friend ordered the tenderloin. It was burnt on the outside to a crisp. But damp. Like they knew they had cooked the living shit out of it and then spritzed it to make it look like it was remotely edible. Amazing. Another friend ordered plain salad with some chicken. Basic food, right? It came as a plate of lettuce. No chicken or the salt and pepper that she had asked for. The list goes on, I won't bore you with the rest of the debacle other than to say Joshua was really great, tried to fix all the crappy food and previous shitty service, but at that point it had become a tragic comedy and we just wanted the hell out of there.
(1)
Haroun K.
The happy hour brought me in. And I almost melted when I saw "grilled watermelon with feta." I've heard amazing things about the combination of watermelon and feta from my usual co-eater, so I ordered one up right away. The watermelon was nicely grilled (strange, but meaty in a good, watermelony way), but the feta was completely lacking. I'm curious as to what kind of feta it was, because it was super crumbly, and almost devoid of the strong flavor you need in a feta (be it American, French, Greek, or the best Bulgarian). The grilled cheese and tomato soup is a fine option, except the grilled cheese is super minuscule, and it is just a half a (petite) sandwich. The potato chips and cheese dip with onions was tasty, and the portion is pretty huge. The draft beer list is brief, but well thought out. And service was pretty nice. The bathroom, however, was a bit of a trainwreck. I came at an off hour, sure, but it was a mess in there. The manager was sitting at the bar the whole while on his laptop working, but the bathroom should be a primary priority.
(3)
Imelda K.
I met someone on a plane who recommended The Picnic House! I'm so glad I checked this place out. Love the decor and all the little personal touches (like bringing your bill to you in a book). The food is also very good. I've tried the soups, the nutty brown rice salad and the grilled cheese sandwich, and all were delicious. This may just be one of my new favorite eating places in Portland.
(4)
Catriona B.
I've been to Picnic House for dinner twice, and had a great experience both times. For the first dinner, I had a delicious salad (can't remember which one). The rest of the group ordered a variety of dishes, and they were all lovely. The bundt cake for dessert was exactly what I like -- warm and delicious without being too sweet. Most recently, I came back with my parents on a Saturday evening, and we all had great meals as well. I had the mushroom soup, which was lovely with their tasty bread. I like less salt, so was perfect for me. The beets were great with light flavors and not overcooked, and the brussel sprouts were even better with some bacon (or fancy equivalent). Had to have a the bundt cake again. Again amazing. There was live jazz music on Saturday, but was a) nice to listen too and b) didn't overpower conversation. I always feel like a bit of a jerk talking through someone performing, but the sound level made it pretty enjoyable. The service is great, and we had a lovely conversation with the owners. The physical space itself is super cool -- can get a bit loud when everyone is having fun, so set expectations accordingly. Be sure to inspect the bear over the bar. Is he a steampunk bear? I think so. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jason D.
Randomly looked this place up trying to find a place to have a late lunch on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Wasn't a far walk from my hotel so I thought why not? After I walked in, like many reviewers before me, I couldn't peel my eyes off the decor of this place. I must have spent a full 10 mins snapping photos of the interior design before sitting down to order food. I'm surprised I wasn't escorted out. This place is beautifully designed and restored to (I'd say) a 1920-1940's style saloon. The staff even dress the part! The space itself is massive and I could definitely see it being rented out for private events. I'm told it's a restored hotel lobby with the original floors. It's got very high ceilings and great exposed wooden beams along the ceiling. It was a slow afternoon so me and my party of 4 had the place to ourselves. We sat at a huge, beautiful wooden picnic table. I could see this being a great communal eating table (a tactic that needs to used more often in restaurants IMO) when the place is buzzing. The food was fantastic and so reasonably priced. I had the roasted turkey sandwich with blueberry glaze, aged white cheddar, tart apple, & fig butter. It was served on an incredibly fresh baguette and the sweetness of the glaze brought out the flavor in the turkey was also a nice contrast with the tart granny apple slices. The bartender was super professional and explained all the ingredients of the drinks that he served to us. Overall, a great place to grab a bite before or after a show or if you're a worker bee in downtown Portland. Before taking your first sip/bite and take a couple minutes to soak in the decor. You shant be disappointed.
(4)
Banks E.
Good food but not enough to justify 5 stars. I went here with my wife and she loved it and thought it would be an ideal place to eat with a group of friends for a girls-night-out. It is not a place I would ever recommend to take a group of guys.
(4)
Lori U.
This place has the most amazing VIBE! You feel it the moment you walk in! I was super impressed with the decor....that massive tree community table WOW! The specialty drinks are ingenious! I recommend The Sharab...No details missed...it comes with a spring of rosemary and cool square ice cubes. Its a feast for the eyes, taste buds and then scent of rosemary with each sip.....I put away three of these yummy cocktails! The food is top notch and sooooo flavorful. The presentation is fabulous, art on a plate! Kuddos to the Kitchen Staff...Amazing freaking food! The wait staff is super attentive, fun and professional. They want you to enjoy your experience, its important to them. Love that!! You don't want to miss out on this experience! I hightly recommend it! You won't be disappointed! Its close to the Arlene Schnitzer! This is our GO TO place when we are downtown seeing a concert!! I give it 10 stars!!!
(5)
Jason G.
Great service, and a really cool atmosphere. There is all sorts of variety in the place, different levels, things to look at, cool seating arrangements, delicious drinks, and an equally tasty menu. This would be a pretty great place to start off an evening pretty much anywhere. It's casual, but it wouldn't be out of place to be dressed nicely going to the symphony and show up here at all. I would absolutely recommend the place as an appetizer to the rest of your evening.
(5)
Marie P.
Awesome !! This place is off the hook !!
(5)
Mike G.
Decent beer selection, excited to drink a Workhorse IPA somewhere other than Laurelwood. The bar, high ceilings, window table and huge knotty picnic table are great. The remainder of the seating does not fit the decor and is quite awkward.
(3)
Library D.
Charming atmosphere, gracious servers. Had dinner here, indulged in some of the happy hour appetizers. Happy hour snacks were small, but good. Chicken dinner was adequate but not exceptional.
(3)
Maddy A.
This was such a great and unexpected find! We just happened to parked in front of The Picnic House and were hoping to grab some food and drinks before our concert at the Schnitzer. It looked charming from the outside so we went in, and everything just continued to fall into place after that. We were enthusiastically greeted by the servers and that quality of service continued throughout our dinner. We ordered some drinks, sandwiches and soups, and we couldn't help but nod in delightful approval with each first sip and bite of what we ordered. I'm not a big fan of sandwiches so I'm always pleasantly surprised when I find myself enjoying a sandwich. I had the grilled Italian cured meats sandwich and that was pretty fantastic. Really fantastic. The olive tapenade and chili aioli is what sealed the deal; the two sauces really brought together melt-in-your-mouth flavors of the sandwich. I got a couple bites of the grilled roast beef sandwich and that was almost as good. You can also get a shared plate where you can mix and match your choice of salads, soups and sandwiches, and you'll get half portions of each. Our server did inform us that they change up their menus every once in a while, which makes me want to go back to The Picnic House soon just in case they remove the Italian cured meats sandwich from their menu. Their menu isn't lying when they say they have "tasty sandwiches" and "savory soups." Overall, the food is great. There's also so much charm and history to their location. The Picnic House is located in the lobby of the original Heathman location, and they set up the restaurant just so it almost feels like you're having a picnic. You can even rent a picnic basket and get food to go!
(4)
Lisa W.
On a recent lunch visit we had reservations for a group of eight and they accommodated perfectly. Our (gorgeous, solid wood, rustic and beautiful) table was set up when we arrived and we were seated immediately. The pace of the meal was perfect for a relaxed lunch, and all of our orders came out exactly as we had placed them. Everyone said their food was great. I had half a Thick Bacon with avocado and Gorgonzola sandwich with a cup of the sweet pea soup and they were both simply delicious. The portion was plenty big but because it was so good I could have easily eaten twice as much. I didn't have a salad, but my colleagues did and raved about them. They looked fabulous. I've also visited for happy hour. The menu is somewhat limited, but what I ordered, fresh cheese on crostini and a cocktail, were great. The atmosphere is cool - lots of fun stuff to look at on the walls and stuff - and the service is really good, like the people who work there actually enjoy their jobs. Also, the tables have a lot of space around them, so diners aren't crammed together and shouting to be heard over all the other conversations. It seems like a lot of thought was put into this place and I would highly recommend it all the way around.
(5)
Lauren K.
*Ambrosial* - that really says it all. This place is classy, delightful, and romantic. The menu on their website boasts some small plates and entrees but they've since converted over to all small plates. Thank the food gods that they kept the pork loin; it was succulent, well seasoned and simply perfect. We also had the bavette skewers, fish (can't remember what it was) and roasted cauliflower. I though the bavette skewers were amazing (until I tried the pork loin). The roasted cauliflower was perfectly done and garnished with raisins (interesting choice). The fish was a bit bland but the mango salsa topping helped. We also got the two mixed greens salads. Very pleased with both. Finally, because everyone on yelp said to do it, we ordered dessert. This truly made the experience; we ordered the grilled pound cake and vanilla rice pudding. Both were PERFECT. My favorite meal thus far in my quest to conquer Portland's good eats.
(5)
Susan P.
Excellent food - I really enjoyed the stuffed portabella and I'm not vegetarian! Awesome location especially on nights when you have tickets at the Schnitz. Wait staff was very attentive. So nice to be able to make a reservation.
(5)
Mark L.
Ordered the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup for my wife and I to split. The food came and the soup bowl was half full and the sandwich was really small with just a few bits of cheese. I thought our waiter got us the 1/2 and 1/2. Bill came nope. Think I will pass. Oh, I also got a glass of the house wine, small pour as well.
(2)
Jessica P.
Cute atmosphere and a creative menu. The chairs could be more comfortable, especially for the price. Service wasn't great. No one ever asked how our dinner was. (It was good, but most servers come by and make sure it's good and that you don't want or need anything else)
In a former historic hotel. Fun atmosphere. They do baskets for picnics to go. Came here on a walking tour of PDX. It was our first stop. Really lovely picnic table and benches.
(4)
Marybeth S.
Loved this place! Went with another couple for a night out in Portland. Loved the interior and return to the original design of the 40s. Super cool space. Food was awesome, great sized portions for the price. I had the chicken which was fantastic (I rarely order chicken out but saw on another table and it looked great) and the grilled poundcake - don't miss it!
(4)
rich j.
The service wasn't flawless--our server was training, but more generally it still feels like they don't have the flow down. I'm putting that aside. If people experience this in 2013 there's a problem. Charming, quaint, adorable, etc. They have an interesting menu, some thoughtfully prepared dishes, an adorable atmosphere (let's call it French provincial/shabby chic/bohemian). I am optimistic but not sure they earned 4-stars yet. But I will go back and I will recommend to others. 3 stars isn't horrible. Beef skewers were done to varying degrees of, um, done-ness, but the grilled watermelon was delicious. Favorite item: the pavlova. My group enjoyed the infused artisan IMAX free-range cruelty-free shade-gown rustic liquors (in other words, they were fancy), but that's probably because they were liquor. We are cheap drunks. Still, yum! Try it. You've had worse.
(3)
Happy T.
Great eclectic setting for a classy Friday date night or a fun dinner with friends. Perfect ambience for all moods, but a tad expensive.
(4)
Nick N.
We had a really nice dinner here with another couple. Great service and very neat original features in the restaurant. Everything we ordered was just top notch. Very reasonably priced. We'll be back when we're in town again. We ordered: Mixed green salad with roasted chicken Sweet pea soup Grilled pound cake for dessert
(5)
Valerie L.
Okay, I read about this place in a lot of magazines and saw it on Yelp, all glowing reviews. I went here with high expectations and let me just say, they met them all! I had a party of six ladies and we are really into food and drinks, maybe the drinks a little too much, but when in Rome... The owner is so nice, he was very helpful on the phone with making the reservation, he actually answers the phone, getting us a nice table, working with us when we wanted to come in a half an hour early because we were getting too buzzed at Portland City Grill's Happy Hour, he seated us and made sure everything started off without a hitch. We all ordered different things off the menu, shared all of our meals with one another and had the signature cocktails. Okay, for 6 people, all having 2 courses, multiple drinks and wine the bill came to $160, $200 with tip. Where can you go for that? Seriously? Fun atmosphere, great food and drinks, nice owner, reasonably priced. Best food on the menu: Pear salad, mushroom soup, chorizo/prawn/polenta entree Best drink on the menu: The Spaniard (for dessert) My only complaint is the wine menu and wine by the glass selection, leaves a little to be desired.
(5)
Sara J.
Food here was sooo good. The menu is fairly short, but that's fine because what they do, they do well. Soups were perfectly seasoned and I liked the selection they offered, and all the entrees sounded great. Their grilled cheese had a couple of different "gourmet" cheese on it and was one of the better grilled cheese I've had, period. It was grilled just the right amount and absolutely perfect for dipping into a delicious soup. I also tried their stuffed portobello mushroom, which was amazing. It was stuffed with so many different veggies and piled so high (a welcome change from other places that put a little filling in the cap and call it "stuffed") that it was almost hard to eat. The grilled vegetables inside were amazing, especially the little bites of Brussels sprouts. YUM. But the highlight of what I tried there was, without a doubt, their curried roasted cauliflower with golden raisins. Sounds awful, I know.... but it was amazing. The curry was not overwhelming in the slightest, and the raisins gave the dish just a hint of sweetness that complemented it perfectly. I've been thinking about the cauliflower for weeks now and am excited to go back and try it again because wow. THAT is how cauliflower is supposed to be done! The atmosphere of the restaurant is pretty cool too. I liked the decorations and how old-school everything looked. The bar, at the very back of the place, was exceptionally small, with only maybe 6 seats (...why?), but the tables themselves were spaced out okay. The only thing that is keeping me from giving this place five stars is the service. Once you're seated, it's fine, but the service up front was VERY odd. I definitely recommend a reservation so you'll be seated quickly (advice I am going to take myself next time I want to go there!). My date and I showed up without a reservation but assumed it's be fine because probably half the tables in there were empty. When we told the hostess we didn't have a reservation, she told us there were no free tables to seat us. We asked about seating at the bar, and she said that might work but we needed to wait so she could take care of other arriving guests. Ten minutes later (when we were about to just leave), she returned and told us a table had just opened up for us. When we were brought to the table, we discovered even more empty tables. Some never even filled up the entire time we were there, making me wonder why we couldn't have been seated immediately. It was all very odd. The food, and table service, eventually made up for the strangeness with the hostess. But it was an odd way to start the evening. I definitely plan on going back, but I will do so with a reservation!
(4)
Jill S.
Best lunch I've had in a while. Delicious. Very friendly and helpful staff. Def a favorite lunch spot.
(5)
Jessica D.
This was a great lunch spot during my work day. My husband and I had the opportunity to meet and we decided to give Picnic House a try. We both had a delicious meal, in a delightful atmosphere and had great service. The soups that we had were phenomenal. I am looking forward to taking colleagues and friends there for another excuse to go.
(5)
Laura S.
Great food selection with unique menu items. A rich welcoming atmosphere although the building exterior was going through a facelift. Waitstaff was knowledgable and friendly. Greatly enjoyed and can't wait for our next visit.
(5)
Katie B.
This place is amazing. Delicious food. Great atmosphere. Impeccable customer service. The waiter made a mistake and put my order in wrong and they gave us a free appetizer, gave me my meal free AND gave us two free desserts! Seriously, amazing restaurant. I would highly, highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
(5)
Jen M.
Really neat place in the former location of a hotel. Very big space for the amount of seating so I can imagine the wait times get astronomical. And the noise level must get deafening with the high ceilings. Service was a little absent-minded. Our server forgot to bring an iced tea and it took a long time to receive extra salad dressing. And it was dead the night we went. I ordered the mixed greens with chicken and substituted for the fig butter vinaigrette. The lardons (fancy word for bacon pieces in butter) were delicious. My friend got the roasted chicken and said it was excellent. We shared the crostini appetizer which I thought was disappointing. Nothing really great about it and the cheese spread was actually too cold. Had it been served at room temperature the flavor would have been much better,
(4)
Lisa G.
Picnics in Portland have about a three month potential. Let's face it, summer has shrunk and even on sunny days, grass often glistens with the days moisture, making a tarp the only sensible blanket option. So is Picnic House a real substitute for an outdoor picnic? No, but it's a clever premise, a picnic box purveyor for lunch meetings or ready-made sustenance for a wine tasting adventure in the valley. I've never actually had their picnic boxes and while $12 seems a bit pricey for a box lunch, the quality of their food makes the price seem like a steal. More on price: My perfect lunch price is $5 because it's a meal that one does not typically devote much time to beyond sitting at ones desk or a quick jaunt to a nearby food cart. However, for a longer, lingering lunch either on a weekday or weekend, the offerings at Picnic House are well priced and well positioned, as there are several combos (sandwich, soup, salad) that give any clock puncher a sense of choice in an otherwise mind numbing day. The portions are also incredibly generous, providing additional rationale for a spendier lunch. Onto the offerings: From the bavette (beef) skewers to the pickled shrimp, PH knows meat. And unlike the 'bacon with a side of bacon' craze dominating Portland, the vegetarian options are bountiful and delicious. My current veggie faves are the mushroom soup and nutty brown rice salad. The soup is not cream with a side of shrooms, rather it is the exact opposite, allowing the mushroom flavor to shine through. And the salad could be the requisite homage to the city's many vegans and frankly a pile of tasteless veggies on a bag of steamed brown rice. Instead, fresh veggies abound, making this one of the most unique salads I've ever tasted. As a carnivore, I'm hard pressed to fill up on a veggie meal, but whether it's the grilled cheese sandwich or a soup/salad duo, I always walk away full. You know, after a helping of Picnic House's signature rice pudding. The owners of PH also own Puddin' on the Rice, a well, rice pudding restaurant, which has only until this point, existed in my darkest food fantasies. Kudos to one of the owner's grandmothers because as I understand it, her recipe inspired the rice pudding that is the foundation of every creative flavor of this age-old dessert served at both Puddin' on the Rice, as well as Picnic House. My girlfriend claims to hate rice pudding and after agreeing to try a bite (of both coconut and pistachio), has now taken it upon herself to perfect her own home grown recipe of the stuff. And how 'bout that space: One can't help but wonder if Picnic House would stand on its menu alone (and I believe it could) because it's difficult to separate the food from the space. Living in a cavernous setting, the space recalls that of a bank at the early 20th century. One expects Mr. Drysdale and Ms. Hathaway to saunter down the stairs that extend into a mysterious second floor, right off the main dining space. It turns out the space is the old lobby of the original Heathman Hotel and I think about what a treasure it must have been to discover the walls and floor and other remnants of a simpler time and more intricate architecture. This is a perfect space for getting lost in hours of conversation, as you sit in a low lit room, with generous space between tables. The seats are not incredibly comfortable and noise does travel, but if you can't beat 'em, join 'em--I've started bringing larger parties and it's a perfect place for happy hour and meal sharing. Picnic House has quickly become our post-Fox Tower movie dinner go-to spot and really the place we find an excuse to go to whenever we find ourselves downtown. After a show at the Keller, we were delighted to bring friends there because upon entering the space and cracking open the menu it's obvious that this isn't just another Portland dining establishment--it's a labor of love, with creative cuisine, inviting ambiance and if I can't have a picnic, at least I can have Picnic House.
(5)
Tron B.
Reasonable prices, good food, very unique/hip decor in an awesome old hotel lobby. Beets, Pork, and Rockfish were solid. Great service.
(4)
Amanda W.
Delicious seasonal menu, attentive service, powerful air-conditioning (it was in the mid 90's when I last visited). Go, eat, be happy. And the happy hour deals are amazing.
(4)
Chase L.
Well... I had really high expectations for this place based on the reviews but I was pretty disappointed. The ambience was great, the hipster wait staff was pretty funny and not terrible, but after waiting 45 minutes for our food and finding the short rib to be about the serving size of a tapas plate, the whole experience really fell short. Every entree we got was overcooked and and while the prices are fair, a 4.5 star rating is definitely not deserved in a place with as good of cuisine as Portland. Too bad.
(2)
Lori H.
really enjoyed this place. excellent salmon, pork chop delicious, great brussel sprouts, salads, nice wine list. awesome desserts. really friendly service.
(4)
Sandra M.
Ate here with 5 colleagues. It was fantastic! Interesting wine and cocktail menu. I had 2 glasses of the Willamette pinot (think it was about $9 each). One of my colleagues orderd the apple and cherry cider. Said it was very good. The others ordered white wine or beers on tap. Shared an order of roasted cauliflower (it had a great indian spices coating on it) and roasted brussel sprouts. Some restaurants make them too greasy. This was just perfect. I had the salmon for the entry. It was a very large portion, but was farmed and not wild caught. This is disappointing because it IS the season for wild salmon. The waiter did tell me it was farmed but that it had an interesting strawberry sauce. The sauce was good and an excellent pairing with the mild fish. I did not finish the fish because it was big and I am just not a fan of farmed (not enough flavor). We split 2 desserts - the fried pound cake (we had wanted something else - cannot remember what - but they were out of it). We also shared the Pavlova and it was big and with great whipped cream. I would come here again - definitely NOT order the salmon. There are so many interesting things on the menu. They take reservations on OpenTable. The bill was very reasonable (my colleague picked it up and he exclaimed twice that it was "so cheap!").
(4)
Karna G.
Loved this place! Accommodated my party of 10 on super short notice.... The decor is amazing....vintage printer's blocks everywhere and a huge, huge picnic 'bench' made from a tree 100s of years old (that had already fallen when it was utilized to build it). Beautiful. The food is even better than the decor! So fresh and delicious. Can't wait to visit Portland again soon just so I an eat here.
(5)
Kerri L.
Update: I brought several friends with me this time for a festive lunch. We were really thrilled to get the big picnic table in the front of the restaurant, and it was really great because it was one of our last sunny days, so it did feel like a real picnic. We had a gentleman with us who has some gait problems, so it was difficult for him to get seated at this particular table, so I think in the future when we come back that we will reserve a regular table with stand-alone chairs (no matter, it will still be great fun). Once this gentleman got seated, he thought it was a great place to sit. I loved that the food was just as wonderful as I described to my friends and that they enjoyed their meals as much as I have on both of my visits. Service is still top notch. My friends loved the decor. All in all, our visit and meal made our day, and it was hard to focus on work the rest of the day after having so much fun and wonderful meals.
(5)
Ben C.
One word, amazing! From appetizers to dessert, each course was stellar. The ambience and sheer beauty of the restaurant just adds to the whole experience. Highly recommend the lemon chicken.
(5)
Cheri H.
A charming little restaurant with a romantic atmosphere and delicious food. The service was friendly but incredibly slow and that is why they are receiving 4 stars and not 5.
(4)
Mare R.
Delicious! Loved the Moulin Rouge cocktail... Packed quite a punch! Brussel sprouts were so yummy, as was the cast iron half-chicken; very moist and flavorful. Warm olives were pitted, which is a nice touch. Service was friendly and courteous.
(5)
David C.
I am leaving my original review below because I think it's important for people to see it, but I want to say that I've brought this rating up significantly because of the incredibly personal and warm email from Aaron Grimmer, owner of The Picnic House. He discussed my individual points and personally invited me back to the restaurant. He also took the concerns seriously. In my book, a positive response to said original mediocre customer service is better than exceptional service to begin with. So kudos to the Picnic House, and perhaps instead of doing anything negative to the server (he evidently is very new), this can be used as a learning experience. Cheers! PS. And next time I'm in Portland, I WILL be back! **Original Review*** What a very odd experience. I really, really wanted to like this place. After two very small snafus upon arriving (sign said to seat myself so when I did I got scolded and told that the host would seat me, and then there was a good deal of lipstick on my water glass once seated), I was still excited. I ordered half of a salad and half a turkey sandwich. Food was fine; not extraordinary, but not bad. Food is the reason for not giving this place one star (along with a funky ambiance). Everything went downhill from here: -Was excited to order one of their 'fun, exciting' colas and upon asking I was told they add flavored syrup to my Diet Coke. Ok, so not fun and exciting but sure I'll take one. Received my DC with no syrup (sorry, we're out), yet still got charged for that 'fun, exciting' cola. -Server was aloof and odd. It seemed as though everything I asked or said was entirely foreign to him. When my meal was finished, the server immediately brought my check. I said "Oh, sorry, I was thinking of ordering dessert and a coffee." He looked at me quizzically and said, "Oh, um, well, ok." I said "I'll have a warm cookie and a decaf coffee with milk and sugar." He disappeared. Upon return, he brought me a black coffee so again I asked for milk and sugar. Puzzled, he walked away. He returned with a hard, cold cookie in a bag (no plate?) and I said, "Oh you don't warm this?" Again, puzzled, "No, I am not sure what you're talking about." (On my way out I reread the menu to make sure I wasn't going nuts. Sure enough, warm chocolate chip cookie appears on the menu.) Again, (a third time), I reminded him of milk and sugar. Coffee now cold, he returns with milk and sugar. I should add that the restaurant was not crowded. -Cookie from above appeared in a brown paper bag. I know I mentioned that above, but I really feel it needs mentioning again. Coffee in a nice mug at an in-service, sti-down restaurant and dessert in a bag. -Lots of folks were coming in as I sat there looking at the seat yourself sign and (gasp) began seating themselves. One lady even pointed out the sign to the host who explained to her that he would seat her. That's fine, but take the sign down! -Another reviewer said that this place was experiencing the pains of being new. I hope that's all this was, but I am afraid it wasn't. All in all, I won't be back when I return to Portland next.
(4)
Valkyrie F.
Oh my, what a quaint lovely place! Great decor -ask about the printer plates, delicious food with adequate prices, enjoyable music ranging from roaring 20s era to Frank Sinatra, and excellent service - thank you Phillip, you were absolutely divine. Had the ratatouille sandwich - to die for. And if you like tequila, the Quixote is a must - tequila, raspberry liqueur, lime juice & ginger beer - yes! Husband had the tomatoe soup drizzled with basil cream - yummy. Desserts and happy hour menu look very inticing as well. Will definitely be back!
(5)
D K.
This was my favorite restaurant in Portland! The food was excellent, as were the beers. The service was great and both ladies were very helpful. The restaurant is really cute and has a great atmosphere. We ordered the charcuterie board, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, salmon entree, beef bourguignon entree, and a couple beers. Everything was AMAZING and I even ordered a Brussels sprouts to go because I loved them so much. This would be my top recommendation for a healthy, substantial, fun, and fairly priced meal in Portland.
(5)
Beau T.
I went here last night and it was amazing. The service was fantastic. Our waiter's name was Aaron W. If you get his service be very excited, my date and I were given great recommendations for food and really the only time we waited was for our food to cook. The portions were very well sized and everything was delicious. Not only did my date go incredibly well but I am definitely going to go back and soon.
(5)
J P.
I'm giving this place a 5th star for the service. Aaron was terrific! Friendly, quick, he knew the menu well and wasn't afraid to make suggestions - all of which were delicious. Another thing, we were here at around 630 on a Fri night. This place should be packed, but the were only a few other patrons. I assume the construction is part of the problem,but don't be deterred. It's good! The building is really interesting, too. Unlike any restaurant. Apparently it is the location of the original Heathman Hotel. Now the food. Wow. I don't eat meat, so I ordered a roasted veggie stuffed portobello. It was so filling and tasty. In fact, my meat-loving husband even asked for a few bites, which never happens! He had the pork (another shocker, the man was full of surprises). Usually, I want bread pudding for dessert, but the savory bread pudding was so yummy! Let me warn you, their food philosophy is to let the ingredients shine, so not tons of sauces and butter and over seasoning. I love this, but some may not. Sadly. We didn't save room for dessert, but we will be back.
(5)
Jessica D.
I crave their food. I highly recommend trying a 1/2 salad, 1/2 sandwich and cup of soup combo. That way you can try a little of everything!
(4)
Laura S.
We had a great dinner here. The mushroom soup and the tomato soup were two of the best soups I've ever had! The chocolate bundt cake dessert was also amazing. Great decor, great service, great restaurant.
(5)
David P.
Had the buffalo chicken sandwich and tomato soup. Would definitely go back.
(5)
Luke B.
My girlfriend and I braved going to this new spot on a Monday around 1pm. It was a tough place to find with a whole host of construction scaffolds that were camouflaging the entrance but once inside we fell in love with the charm of the place. Upon walking inside we notice there were only a few tables filled with people (3 or 4) and after 5 minutes of waiting (with no one in front of us) we were finally sat at a small table in the back. The menu was quite different from anything else I've ever seen but the food spoke for itself. The bread on the sandwich was toasted perfectly to where only the most outer layer of bread was baked to a flaky crunchy crust that harbors a fluffy moist interior. The mushroom soup was notably good. My only other gripe was it took 25 minutes for a sand/salad & sand/soup combo bringing our total visit to an hour. I would give this place 2 more stars had the service been quicker and the phone that was ringing off the hook in the background been answered.
(3)
Brian O.
The happy hour was great! Definitely recommend the homemade ricotta on crostini, and the service was excellent. Great place for a happy hour.
(4)
Benjamin H.
Very cool environment and excellent food with great service. Sampled from the appetizers, mains, and desserts...all five stars!
(5)
Kahai D.
Went there after we couldn't get into one of the citys brew houses on a Sat. night....nice find...wife had the stuffed portabello, son had the lemon roasted chicken and I got the spicy shrimp with chorizo and polenta and a couple of beers...also shared the grilled pound cake...all this for less than $60 and very tasty and filling.
(4)
Sarah L.
One of my favorite restaurants in Portland. It was so good, we went here twice within a 6-day trip to Portland. The decorations are so cute and unique, and the food is amazing. Loved the Ricotta cheese with rosemary honey starter plate, the creamy tomato soup, the nutty brown rice salad, and the berry salad. The grilled poundcake was also delicious. A must-try restaurant!
(5)
Lauren S.
Our first meal in Portland hit all the right spots. The combo selection was very satisfying, allowing us to take advantage of squash and mushroom soups, pesto farfalle, and chicken sandwich. The bread on the sandwich was fresh, but a little large. Service was kind, but extremely slow. It was over 10 minutes before we were greeted by our server and in the meantime other servers and the hostess pointedly ignored us.
(4)
John L.
Nice little quaint place. Not a place I'd go back to with so many small establishments to choose from. Had the toasted cheese sandwich with wild mushroom soup. Sandwich was good but small. Soup was just ok and just a bit above room temp when served. Nice atmosphere here but that's where it stops.
(2)
Marty J.
Excellent lunch option. Turkey sandwich (always have them grill it, the bread is lightly toasted and they don't use oils), green leaf salad with chicken, and all the soups (currently tomato, mushroom, and pumpkin) are excellent. I've gone several times now mostly for lunch and once for dinner. It has quickly become one of my favorites.
(5)
Julie R.
I loved this place for lunch. Cozy and fun, the food was very flavorful and healthy in its' selection. It is a tight menu with seasonal items, so don' expect a huge selection...the pumpkin soup was to die for on a very cold day. I would totally go back!
(4)
Marty O.
Outstanding! The brown rice salad was super bomb and the roasted chicken breast was cooked perfectly. Very flavurful and the presentation was beautiful. The decor was also very cool. Service was spot on as well. I really didn't find one thing wrong with the entire experience. I was super full, so I didn't get desert, but they have a very original assortment. I will be back for more and save room for desert this time.
(5)
Len L.
Love this spot- the ambiance is unlike anything else in Portland! Its beautifully decorated with fresh and enticing menu options. The artisan grilled cheese panini and tomato soup was incredible. Our sever, Aaron, was very attentive and made some excellent drink recommendations (If you like gin, try the French gimlet).
(5)
Mike M.
Terrible terrible service food and drinks. Do not go here!!! I had two different cocktails that tasted as if the bartender poured corn syrup into them. When I complained the server was incredibly rude and refused to change my order. Really over priced and awful decorating in the interior. Plenty of other great places in the area so hopefully this one will be gone soon
(1)
Mary M.
Last minute reservations.....cheerfully accepted....late to the restaurant by 15 +minutes....this faux pas on our part cheerfully dismissed by our hostess. Our table was ready...the decor was very Portland ...eclectic and almost pop-up ish. Gave my husband pause, but as he says the food makes the restaurant. Our lovely waitress breezed over and apologized for not getting to us quicker. I explained we had tickets to a show. She artfully steered us to items that would be out quickly. My husband took her suggestion of the Boar Bourguignon, though he was leery as boar can be gamey. I went for a small plate, Beef Tenderloins and we shared the roasted brussels sprouts. Hubby drank a whit beer me the Mcmule. Everything was amazing...every bite ecstasy. Not a molecule was left on our plates. The portions were just right for us, we ate to satisfaction. No room for dessert, but that will be for next time. Our check arrived without prompting ..oh and she checked in on us three times during the meal to make sure everything was going well and that we had everything we desired! This will be our new go to place for downtown dining. So happy we found you!
(5)
Sarah Grace M.
Accidentally stumbled across this place yesterday while in search of a late lunch. Absolutely fantastic - cocktails, food, ambiance, service. A hidden gem!
(5)
Jodi J.
I have to say that The Picnic House exceeded my expectations, the food was absolutely incredible!
(5)
Don B.
Very nice place to grab a beer or cocktail. Don't be afraid of the scaffolding on the outside; it's nice and safe on the inside.
With friends for happy hour - sometimes it is hard to find a place where 6 or 8 people can meet and still hear each other in downtown. Nice big tables, fun decor, good small plates for sharing or for dinner, inventive cocktail list.
(5)
foodfoodfood f.
Maple duck leg, OMG. The salads here (although not cheap) are unreal - you can top them with a farm-fresh poached egg, a citrus chicken breast, or a maple duck leg. Owned by the same people that own Pudding on the Rice. The soups are great, too.
(5)
Brian F.
I stumbled across this lovely place with a friend a few days after it opened. My experience began with intrigue, transitioned into awe and then--after chatting it up with the owners, (an adorable young couple), I experienced THE BEST DRINK of my life. Beautiful and just a block away from the Schnitz, this place cannot be missed!
(5)
Justin B.
Went here for a low key end to a batchelor party week long trip. The service was great and the food was fantastic. Crunchy bread great bacon and an amazing atmosphere. If I lived in Portland I would eat here every day. Oh yeah and the mushroom soup was incredible.
(5)
Melissa G.
I took a big group of co-workers over to try their Happy Hour on a recent Friday night. The food was scrumptious, and the servers friendly, timely, and patient with our varied group personalities. We all came away with the conviction that we'd be coming back soon.
(4)
Bell K.
Such a cute place to meet up for conversation, drink and food. Both dinner and lunch time have great choices and I've never seen it overcrowded. A new regular place for me.
(5)
Johnny V.
I dont give out too many 5s but this place deserves it. We just came in to the city for a visit and this was our first stop. We were promptly greeted and the great service continued throughout. We got to meet the owner and were given some background to how they came up with their unique design. The food was amazing, the service was great and the happy hour prices brought it all together. 5s!
(5)
Erin W.
Was downtown looking for somewhere to eat since the food carts were closed for dinner and we came across Picnic House on Yelp. Since it was nearby and had good reviews we decided to try it. I was immediately excited by the unique atmosphere, and we were promptly greeted and taken to our seats. The food was good (soup + sandwiches) although slightly overpriced (not surprising given the type of place it was) and a bit small. I would have given this place 4 stars due to its uniqueness and good tasting food (albeit a bit small and pricey as I mentioned) except that the second half of our visit the service went from good to TERRIBLE. We had to ask numerous times for water refills, it took forever to get our check, and there was a line of people at the door waiting to be seated with NO ONE there to greet them for nearly 10 minutes! One couple left, the others stuck it out, but didn't look happy. Not a good thing for a new place downtown... So needless to say, the tip we left wasn't great due to the service. I'd probably eat there again although it wouldn't be my first choice. I would likely go back to get a grab n' go lunch or rent a picnic basket though. The food was good enough that if I didn't have to deal with the service issues and could just take it to go I'd be more likely to do it. :)
(3)
Keith K.
Great place with exceptional service and high quality food. The bratwurst was probably the best I've ever had and I spent four years living in Wisconsin! The grilled pound cake was also amazing and certainly a first for me.
(5)
Alison M.
I went for lunch and it was awesome! All the entrees sounded so good and it was hard to pick. My friend and I both chose the half and half which was perfect for the price and serving size. The service was excellent and chefs actually know how to season the food perfectly. The rosemary-infused iced tea was a pleasant surprise. I will definitely go back to try their other tasty items. The decor is also amazing. I want that long wood-slab table in the front!
(5)
Alexander F.
I walked into the door a bit skeptical because of the lack of patrons, but I was reassured of the quality of the place because of the warm welcome and fantastic service. That surprisingly isn't the best part! The entire building was gorgeous with a taste of class that often eludes many other restaurants. Although the menu is small the wide array of flavors and textural combinations makes up for it.
(5)
Katie H.
I picked this place via yelp, and I'm so glad I went. I gotta say I almost shied away from the chicken because almost every time I go out, I get dry chicken. but our waiter (who was amazing, attentive, and really fun) suggested the chicken, so I got it. I gotta say, it amazed me. oh and the asparagus? to die for! I swear nowhere ever cooks it right. even fine dining at times fails. all around amazing experience. oh and the music was nice, jazz and such. lost one star because of a sloppy look in spots tho. wallpaper was torn and smudges all over te walls. but if I could give 4.5 I would. definitely check it out.
(4)
Lindsay D.
This place is seriously awesome. In fact, I hesitate to write a review because as soon as people get the word that this place rules, it will be hard to get a table. The atmosphere can't be beat. It really feels like you're on a vintage picnic; open airy space rustic tables, picnic baskets as centerpieces, and greenery as decor. I had the chance to try many different dishes with a group of friends. Service was fast, friendly, and she had lots of good recommendations. We tried lots of small plates and a couple desserts and everything was super tasty. Keep in mind it's fancy picnic style, so no big dinner foods but more lots of smaller gourmet bites to try. I could see how it might seem a little pricey for some since the plates are small, but we had happy hour that was pretty reasonable. You can also people watch out the giant windows that face the Schitzner. I heard you can also order picnic baskets to-go and eat in the park. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
A A.
We are from out of town and wanted a unique place to eat dinner. The hotel recommended here and we were not disappointed. The menu is great. I had the grilled cheese and mushroom soup. Delighted when it arrived with a delicious salad. Portions in general are not huge but my entree was filling and very satisfying for me. One funny part of the meal - we asked the waiter to recommend a good local red wine. He said the house wine was great so we ordered 2 bottles (party of 6). The wine was wonderful but we didn't notice until half way thru the bottle it was made in Argentina and not Oregon. Oh well, still a great meal.
(5)
Ann S.
Only read this if you have young kids and are considering bringing them along. Otherwise the previous reviews are probably spot on! I hate to break the streak of excellent reviews because this really is an awesome place! I have NEVER written a review for anything before and I am only compelled to write this one hoping the owners will consider making some small changes so that I will feel comfortable coming back. My family and I, including 2 young kids, had lunch here during the lunch hour. Our greeter and server was super friendly. The dining area easily accommodated our group and big stroller. A high chair was provided. Upon arrival it seemed perfect! However, his is NOT a kid friendly place to eat unless you are grabbing take out. Maybe that is intentional but in my opinion any place that supplies a high chair should also supply something that a child of high chair age might eat... I admit I should have taken a closer look at the menu before we were seated. My first clue should have been the fact that both my 2 year old AND 1 year old were served water in delicate-looking glass glasses. I had to ask for plastic then only got one and without a lid. The best bet for them seemed like the grilled cheese hold the onions and grilled watermelon. No go. They wouldn't have anything to do with the grilled cheese. When the server asked I was honest and told him neither of them would eat it. He didn't offer another suggestion ... crackers, a slice of UNgrilled watermelon, bread. My salad, the mixed greens with berries was super good but I had to give all the berries to my kids because they were starving and then had to scarf it down because they were getting unruly by this point with nothing but berries to eat. Maybe I am being unreasonable but the name Picnic House gives a family friendly feeling. I think kids, kites, fresh watermelon, corn on the cob, simple sandwiches, cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, yogurt. But this is really more of a romantic picnic for 2 kind of a place. Another thing, totally gross (I am embarrassed to admit this) but I had to change the 1 year olds diaper on the floor in the bathroom because there wasn't a changing table provided in either of their 2 otherwise very nice and clean bathrooms. Thank goodness it was clean! Maybe this is my fault for staying but in my experience a high chair available = at the very least a kid friendly beverage and container, a kid friendly menu item and a safe place for diaper changing. We have been to plenty of places that don't offer high chairs and that is totally their right but it alerts us to the fact that it is not a good place for us and we go somewhere else. My hope is that this review will prompt the owners to consider making some additions and not the opposite by encouraging them to get rid of the high chairs.
(3)
Randy W.
I highly recommend this restaurant! The staff was friendly, the food was amazing, and the price was right! My soup was so good.
(5)
Katherine R.
Bestest yummiest food ever!!! Great service and fun atmosphere! Love the bear! We will be back,
(5)
Arun R.
Liked their small plates. Tried the roasted cauliflower. The cauliflower soup was good too. However was disappointed with the stuffed mushroom entree.
(3)
CC G.
This place is simply amazing. Due to the construction going on outside, it is easy to walk right past, but I highly recommend going in and getting one of their sandwiches. One thing that I absolutely love is that you can do a combo plate of any variation of soups, sandwiches, and salads, even two sandwiches if you want. I couldn't decide what I wanted the other day so that fit the bill perfectly! The server was great too - very attentive and full of good recommendations. I highly recommend this place - do yourself a favor and eat here!
(5)
Mike J.
Talk about the perfect pre-theater spot! We were on our way to a concert at the Schnitz, and got there a couple of hours early. OK, we thought, time to find some food. Walked about a block, and there was this promising looking place with a beautiful wooden table inside -- well "picnic table" doesn't do it justice. The desert listings looked good, so we thought we'd give it a try. The athmosphere looked like a scene from Paris in the '20s. They had Edith Piaf music in the background. And the food was great -- we did small plates. The cheese plate was exquisite. The aioli on the roasted vegetable place was wonderous. The salad included the perfect balance of balsamic and berries. And the bundt cake was filled with a complex array of chocolates. We'll be back!
(5)
Laura G.
The atmosphere is amazing with all the old time printing blocks on the wall and the magnificent wood picnic table in the front. The whole picnic idea is pretty cool and the food is amazing -- local and fresh. I have to echo Elle C.'s review for sure. Can't wait to get back to PDX and sit around that table with my family again.
(5)
Carole S.
What an unexpected delight!! Now I admit, when my husband suggested this place for dinner, the name had me envisioning barbecue and cole slaw of sorts--not really my thing. But WOW, I was really impressed with the fantastic food featuring seasonal ingredients. Started with the beets, oh MY they were good! My maple salmon was PERFECT, kale and quinoa salad delicious, my husband's chops and potatoes homemade-good; great bar menu (local porter and pumpkin cocktail fabulous!), and truly first class service. Our server Ashley was just wonderful--thoughtful, smart, really knew her menu, and just plain kind--a great experience. Cool setting in the original (not current) Heathman hotel, with a spacious mix of seating, good music, a few huge artisnal wood tables, outdoor street lamps indoors, giving it a perfectly Portland funky indoor-outdoor feel. Really terrific for us locals and for bringing guests. This place is a keeper!
(5)
Christy R.
This place is amazing!! Food is scrumptious, atmosphere is amazing and you can really tell that the owners put love and care into every detail of this place. I wished I lived closer so I could come more often.
(5)
Elaine M.
Really great food at a pretty reasonable price. Gorgeous old building and very Portland from the super skinny hipster in a bow tie seating us to the quirky details, like the check comes to the table in an old book.
(5)
Barbara p.
We came with a birthday group for dinner and what a pleasant experience. The interior has very cute decor with tall ceilings. The service was excellent and the food was good too. Try the Stuffed Portebello Mushroom, soooo good!
(4)
C H.
Updated from 1 to 2 stars based on the owners responsiveness and sincerity in trying to make it better. Hopefuly can give a full 5 next time we go!
(2)
Jennifer C.
Fabulous food -- inventive, thoughtful flavor combinations that constantly surprise the palate. Interior is a former hotel lobby that makes for an entertaining ambiance. Convenient location across from symphony hall.
(5)
Susan H.
What a sweet little find in downtown. Easy atmosphere. Attentive service. Nice veggie-friendly menu. Yummy cocktails. All that and a jazzy duo playing for us all. Who knew?!
(4)
Alexandra S.
The atmosphere is unique as it was part of the original Heathman Hotel (that's what the waiter told us). I had the nutty brown rice salad with sweet potatoes, turnips and hazelnut vinaigrette. Think almost fried rice except much healthier. It was really tasty, but I wouldn't call it a salad as it is mostly brown rice with a little bit of veggies. My husband had the pork shoulder sandwich. Both were fantastic! I also like that I can order online for pick up! I'd say the Picnic House is definitely worth trying if you haven't already..... we'll for sure be going back!
(4)
Laura Q.
I loved this place! Never heard of it before today so there were no preconceived notions of what to expect. What pleasant surprise. I ordered 1/2 roasted pear salad and 1/2 roast beef sandwich and found the lunch to be delicious and filling. I will definitively be going back again. Yumm!
(5)
Jj I.
Awesome food and service. The roasted turkey sandwich was great!
(5)
Sam A.
Today I had lunch at the Picnic House. The design of the restaurant is warm, creative and fun. The food is tasty and the staff pleasant. This was my third visit to the restaurant. It is easy to see the Picnic House becoming a downtown lunch standard that everyone will enjoy.
(4)
Kristen C.
Oh my goodness this was an AMAZING lunch. I had looked over the menu beforehand, and was glad I did because it all sounded so good! I ended up getting a 1/2 sandwich and salad plate. I had the Blueberry Glazed Roasted Turkey sandwich, which was incredible. The bread...oh the bread!! It was so flavorful in itself without having any particularly strong flavor to it. I chose the green salad with berries, cinnamon almonds, house made ricotta, and a pickled blueberry vinaigrette. It was the best salad I've ever had. For dessert, I split a piece of the Sour Cream Chocolate Bundt cake with my friend. SO good.Oh, I also had the best ginger ale I've ever experienced. They even MADE the coke my friend had. You KNOW you want to try it all!!!
(5)
Kristin K.
We enjoyed a great lunch at The Picnic House - good food, fresh ingredients, thoughtfully prepared. I very much like the brown rice salad with roasted veggie, dressed with hazelnut vinaigrette - delish! The prices are what I would consider reasonable (this said by a frugal gal raised in the great mid-west:-)
(4)
Renae P.
Amazing ambiance and fresh, delicious, lovely food! We will definitely be back often.
(5)
Jaimie K.
Great food! I can't wait to go back and try something different. And you MUST get dessert!
(5)
Elle C.
This may be my new favorite restaurant. The atmosphere just makes you feel good. I mean the place is REALLY lovely. I had the fresh berry salad with gorgonzola and added roast chicken breast. The berries looked perfect and tasted farm fresh. Made me savor every bite. The chicken was moist and flavorful. First time I've had a salad that made me think I was eatting dessert! They were very busy at lunch today, but Aaron, one of the owners, was running around making sure everyone was kept happy.
(5)
Gillian T.
I stumbled on this place on my way to a show a the Schnitz one night and was very pleasantly surprised. The menu offerings all sounded delicious and everything my group ordered was flavorful and expertly prepared. The service was really great as well. We had a very friendly server who didn't hover too much, but paid enough attention to know when/if we needed something. I can't remember which drinks we all ordered, but I remember everyone in the group enjoying them. I had no idea how big of a place it was until I walked in and saw that the space kept going and going. When we were there, there wasn't a host or any sign indicating whether we should seat ourselves or wait, so I think that could be a spot to improve upon because I felt a little lost at first. But the experience was a very positive one and I am definitely planning on trying it again for lunch or their happy hour because both look like they have good prices and I'm going to assume large portions based on my experience ordering dinner. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious food in a no fuss atmosphere.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Patrick D.
Food was really tasty. We had brussel sprouts, bruschetta with cheese, butter lettuce salad and salmon. Almost absolutely impeccable. While all dishes were prepared with care and perfect rechnical execution, the salmon was unfortunately overwhelmed by the sweetness of the overabundant strawberry and pepper relish. Again salmon and asparagus prepared to perfection; salmon seared on outside and moist and slightly mefium in center; asparagus al dente. Just the coception of dish unbalanced. Still a wonderful meal and would gladly return.
(4)maegan c.
I can't believe I've waited so long to come here! The cocktails are amazing, the food is amazing and the service was even more amazing! I had the trip of soup, the espresso crusted tenderloin and roasted cauliflower with currants! All of their items are local, organic and happy!! I appreciated the atmosphere and the overall experience that was created!
(5)Amanda P.
I had a wonderful experience here at the Picnic House, Portland Oregon. I am from the north east and stumbled across this little jem while visiting a friend. Needless to say I was alone while she was at work, wondering around the city on foot, came in and sat at the bar. The decor was wonderful and kept in the style of the cuisine. The staff was so friendly, the service was great and the food was fantastic! I've been recommending this place to all the people that I knew and that I met while out there, AND I keep talking about it since I've been home. If I ever make it back out to Portland I will be coming back to the Picnic House!
(4)Kimberly K.
Major meh for lunch at Picnic House. Had the half salad and half sandwich combo with the grilled chicken sandwich and roasted veggie farro salad. The sandwich was flavorless. Definitely needed seasoning. The salad was over cooked and the flavors were indistinguishable. On a positive note, all the ingredients were very fresh and clearly sourced from local farms.
(3)Abby S.
The food was fantastic--I ordered the cast iron chicken breast and it was so good, reminiscent of fried chicken and mashed potatoes in flavor, but more elegant and less guilt-inducing. Drinks were also great, and I loved the decor--super whimsical and fun with a very vintage feel and great music. Service was also wonderful! An all-around great experience!
(5)Mr T.
Nice room (very high ceiling), very good service, tasty but small cocktails, decent beer taps. Food was fine, fresh, healthy tasting.
(3)shannon w.
I am biased. I have loved Jessica's cooking since she cater my sister's wedding in my mom's kitchen 15 years ago. I adored the rice pudding yumminess. But Picnic House BLEW ME AWAY. Subtle and stunning all at once. I want to have a party here. Or sneak away for lunch with my bestie. Best grilled cheese and tomato soup ever. Rock on girl! Lucky Portland to have you.
(5)Whitney G.
My husband and I went here for an early dinner before a show. The service was excellent. The staff were very aware of our time constraints and recommended dishes that would make our meal quick and not feel rushed to eat. She also told us the time before asking if we wanted additional cocktails. It was very appreciated which lead to a great experience. The food was good, but there are many good places to eat in Portland, so it didn't stick out for us.
(4)Ozzie L.
The service here was what gave the stars, food was ok. Potentially could have been what we ordered but definitely not 4 or 5 stars. Ambience was cool and different but so is Portland in general. Not sure if I would come back but possibly in a drunken stupor.
(3)Yin D.
This place was one of our favorite restaurants during our Portland visit. Very good short rib. Everything was fresh and tasty.
(5)Tiffany Q.
My reason for only three stars is because our dinner entrees weren't memorable. My dish came out room temperature and I didn't even finish it because it just wasn't doing it for me. It's REALLY rare I don't finish my meal or at least take it home but this polenta dish was blan, dry and not hot. Meh. Not pleased by it. My boyfriend ordered a chicken dish and he gobbled that baby up so at least he was happy with his food. However, this review isn't about the entrees. This review is about the dessert and our waiter. So, we were on vacation and in Portland for one night and we decided to try Picnic House based on Yelp reviews and our growing hunger and we sat around our hotel room. The food was a disappointment (for me at least) but we decided to order a S'more Pudding for dessert because we are chocolate fiends. Placed the order and within a few minutes our waiter came back and had to tell us they were all out but he managed to nab the last happy hour version of the S'more pudding and because they weren't able to give us the full size dessert, the mini version was on the house. BOOO but sweet! Oh man, that pudding was amazing. We devoured all four bites within seconds. It was tiny to begin with but we would go back to Portland just for that pudding. We're still talking about it a month after eating it. Conclusion: IF YOU LOVE CHOCOLATE, SMORES AND PUDDING THEN YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS DESSERT. You won't regret it and the hipsters around you will be jealous they gave up sugar, gluten, flavor, whatever.
(3)Jimi P.
Perfect place. We tried it out based on the yelp community, and they didnt dissapoint us. A cosy atmosphere and really attentive service.
(5)Katrina B.
Really great food and ambiance. Service very slow, they should hire more staff.
(4)Jillian R.
We had a wonderful happy hour on Thursday. Aaron our server was great and helped us discover Anthem Cherry Cider *yum*. The menu was perfect for sharing.
(4)Ava S.
The Picnic House accomplishes every goal that a downtown restaurant strives to achieve! 1* It offers a lively, unique "Portland" atmosphere and environment - from the log slab table to the quirky chalkboards and animal busts. Very charming! 2* Great menu variety and healthy options - I especially love the nutty brown rice salad, the Italian meats sandwich, and every soup that I've ever ordered. For lunch they allow you to do a "pick 1, 2 or 3" of their sandwiches, salads and soups fulfilling every appetite. 3* Can be as convenient and quick or long and arduous as you desire. I've entertained clients there in under 30 minutes and also lounged with friends chatting for more than 1 hour. 4* Service has always been friendly and efficient. Services have offered great insight on the menu options and recommendatiosn proved correct. 5* Added bonus points for historical significance. The space was once the Lobby of an original Portland hotel from the 1920's and still has remnants of the original space. Hip hip hooray for the Picnic House
(5)David W.
Came here for my friends birthday dinner and overall thought it was ok. Typical American fare. Nothing special that stood out on the menu. I think the menu changes every so often. I had the grilled salmon with asparagus. Prices weren't bad at all. $12 for a salmon dish is really reasonable. Salmon dishes in CA go for about $20 or more at a nice restaurant. Don't forget about tax. That's why I love Oregon!
(3)Steve B.
Ok where do I begin? Maybe the restroom sign that's stuck to the wall with blue duct tape in each corner. Other than that, the ambiance is nice, oops no...there were more employees scooting around than at a Trader Joes. We were out numbered probably 6 to 1. So, my wife orders a glass of a French wine from the Loire valley. For some odd reason, she thought it was good. I tasted it and noticed right off that it was nearly vinegar. So she agrees and calls the waitress over, and it's agreed that it needs to be replaced. She's requested to order a different wine, she picks one. I see the "bartender" pour the new glass from an already open bottle, not quite a full pour. No problem! She opens another bottle and adds it to the glass!!! When our meal arrives, I take a bite of my sandwich and there's something really crunchy inside...it's a green avocado...crunchier than a crips apple! I told that waitress and returns later saying she has notified the manager. No other contact was made. The bill comes and is unchanged...full price paid for ignorance. Never again folks. Never again.
(1)Sharon A.
Yummy grilled cheese! Pretty decent Caesar salad too. Funky atmosphere but I really liked this place.
(4)Albert G.
Excellent food and good venue. Cheese plate is a must order. Very good selection and the presentation was the best my wife has seen. Should have split the salad with my wife, we both order one based on the price and it was almost entree size. Salmon was good, but my wife's chicken was better. My son had the artesian grilled cheese and soup. He liked the mushroom soup the best of the two items. Definitely recommend.
(4)Bertha F.
Such an unusual and fun place to eat. The location appears to be an old fashioned store or office location of some sort (oddly, it reminds me of my high school prom; I was lucky enough to attend a lovely old high school with a handsome gymnasium). Their approach to food is both fresh and refreshing. I had the lime-marinated shrimp salad which was absolutely delicious! And the shrimp were real diced large shrimp, not those tiny bay shrimp. My dining partner chose the chicken salad sandwich with a cup of red tomato soup and declares this to be the best tomato soup ever! There are so many other things to order. I can't wait to go back next time I'm back west at the OTHER Portland! LOL
(5)Maling S.
Came here for a quick lunch before heading back home - 6 hour drive. Omg! This lunch was scrumptious! Roast beef sandwich, roasted cauliflower soup with nutty brown rice salad. My favourite was the nutty brown rice salad. Perfect marriage with the roasted hazelnut vinaigrette! Finished it off with Pavlova cake. Can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu.
(5)Andrew W.
Woohoo! As good as it gets is right! What a gem of a restaurant. My girlfriend and I had a reservation for 7:30 on a Friday night. We arrived closer to 7:00 and they accommodated our request to be seated earlier if possible. Immediately you can tell the ambiance is great because of the old hotel lobby it is situated in. The tables are well placed so you don't feel like you are being crammed into a cattle car. Our server was very prompt and helpful. We started off with an order of the Cheese Crostini and the Duck Fat Potatoes. I also ordered a Seelbach from the drink menu. Each small plate was the perfect size for two and had amazing flavor. My girlfriend even commented that the Crostini might be a perfect plate. The potatoes were full of that duck flavor and along with the Gorgonzola Sauce made for another well balanced dish. Of the two, I liked the potatoes a tad bit more. For our main course, I had the pork chop and she had the short rib. On the pork chop, the bread pudding was amazing...a hint of sweet and a hint of the chedday helped to balance out the savory of the pork and asparagus on the plate. A truly great dish that I would order again. For the short rib, the carrots were cooked perfectly and the pancake that served as the bed for the dish was a light, fluffy, and flavorful sponge for the sauce. Also another dish I would order again. The meal was rounded out with another drink from the bar menu, a Moulin Rouge. Again, another great cocktail that framed the meal perfectly. Also, the pickled blueberries at the bottom were a great end to the entire meal. What a gem of a restaurant that is sure to become one of Portland's favorite and busiest new eateries. Go before it becomes famous and hard to get into!
(5)Lexie G.
Business must be good for the Picnic House to turn away a party of 6 because their family-style table (ability to seat 14 at least) was occupied by "important" guests planning a wedding. Hope you make money off the wedding because you just lost $200 and our corporate business forever. Oh, and the host didn't even care that we left. Obviously, he is not the owner, and I hope his boss reads this review. PS Rating should be 0 but I couldn't post that.
(1)Angie A.
This place is really special. We had a table of nine people and we were all attended to very well. The food is fresh and interesting. We could not resist dessert. The cheesecake was my favorite. Cannot wait to go back.
(5)Sarah H.
Got here for an early reservation on Saturday. Pretty quiet when we arrived but soon filled up. Table for two was tiny, food decent though and not too pricy. I had the wild boar bourguignon and hubby the grilled cheese.Server not altogether with it but nothing major. Stopped for a drink next door at Barlow. Great drinks with a cool cat vibe. I'd go to both again.
(4)Scott K.
Great atmosphere and great food. The portobello mushroom stuffed with polenta was our highlight.
(5)Bob R.
Came here first time based on Yelp reviews. Sorry but this place did not make the average for me. Sat down and the sandwiches looked huge so we ordered two combos of a soup and half a sandwich. the half sandwiches are not nearly as big as a half of a whole sandwich. And the portions on my chicken salad sandwich were very skimpy, a thin layer of chicken salad and a few little green leaves. The soups were lukewarm and we sent them back for hot bowls. Next time I would just order a sandwich. Seemed a little pricey and left hungry. Service was adequate, the waitress seemed annoyed after I complained about the soup being cold. She said nobody else had said anything; must just be me, I thought. I thought I should just keep quiet about the sandwich and they can read my Yelp review.
(3)Kim C.
1st visit won't be our last. Great space, friendly staff, terrific food. Best cheese plate in Portland.
(5)Ashley C.
Service was scarce when I arrive. Both myself and another group waited for 2 minutes before the waitress came and asked us to wait a few more minutes, since she needs to prepare the tables. They looked prepared. She was very friendly. But one sever for five table seems too much for her to handle. Will see. Everything changed when we got our food. Amazing! Recommend getting the 2 items meal, which will turn it into four items. We had the corn soup, basic greens, and the prosciutto and bacon sandwiches. Delicious! I'm hooked.
(5)Theresa T.
I was in Portland recently for business trip and found this gem in downtown for lunch. Love the vintage 50s/60s decor here with a touch of hipster charm. Coming from New York City where restaurants are always seem overwhelmingly busy and trying too hard to impress, I enjoyed the great food and service here with the west coast warm, friendly and laid back vibe. I would definitely return next time I'm in town. They also seem to have a great cocktail selection.
(4)Adam H.
This place definitely feels like Portland. The ambiance is pretty cool. Never thought about putting strawberries on my Salmon, but it was amazing! Also had the brussel sprouts, which I highly recommend. Service was not that great. Waitress seemed kind of cold. My wife and I felt like an inconvenience to her. Wasn't a terrible experience, but not spectacular either. Didn't feel worth $50 after tip, especially since we didn't order drinks... I little spendy for what you get in my opinion.
(3)J. K.
Amazing! We has the cheese platter, with pretty large portions of heavenly cheese and a grilled cheese with tomato soup. Everything was divine!
(5)Tim A.
Fantastic. It's a $12 lunch but it's very good, fresh, creative, and excellent! Beautiful decor and music that is 1920's style. Awesome wait staff that is helpful and friendly. Highly recommended! And happy hour from 3-6 pm daily.
(5)Jeanie S.
Fun eclectic "Portland" atmosphere with a wonderful selection of fresh salads, soups & sandwiches. My companion needed a gluten free selection and she had a large variety of options. I had the tomato garlic soup & my friend had the fresh mushroom which included many slices of mushroom. We agreed that these were both very tasty although we had to ask for hers to be reheated. My sandwich had prosciutto & fig butter-a great unusual combination. Her salad was filled with large berries & lightly dressed. I will definitely return to select different entrees when downtown Portland for lunch.
(4)Pam L.
I had a simple tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich and it was delicious ! The sandwich had grilled sweet onion and the soup was flavored with yummy spices.. eat there you won't be disappointed. Had a glass of very very nice Chardonnay also terrific!
(4)Jen E.
so..... I can not believe that I forgot to give this place a review. In fact I feel so bad about it I grounded myself.....however I was never good at following rules.....so really I stayed grounded for like 5 minutes. Okay I discovered this place on line while looking for a place for a bunch of us to meet up for a day of fun, due to unusual things that happened most of my friends were not able to meet up with us.....their loss for a couple of us did make it down there and well..... OH HOLY CRAP! THE FOOD IS EXCELLENT. I ordered the biscuits with strawberry jam and truffle oil. Honestly I was a little afraid to try this combo but was very happy I did. I shared it with my friends who did show up and they turned into piranhas.....in a feeding frenzy. I then got their mushroom soup and all I have to say is wow....just wow. Possibly the best soup I have had in many, many years! I have happy thoughts when I know I am about to eat there. The air seems a bit crisper, the light a wee bit brighter, birds.....birds sing a little more. The inside is the original lobby for the original Heathman hotel. so it is a little weird but weird in a good way. The bear with the monocle and top hat cracks me up and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable about their food. oh and they make a mean cup of coffee...... you can have an intimate table for two or a large table for groups or a huge table running down the middle of the bottom level.... if you have a huge amount of people or dont mind sharing.
(5)Laura B.
Absolutely delicious! Had the chicken entree which melted in your mouth. Tried the pork chop as well- yummy too. Choc pound cake with salted caramel ice cream for dessert was heavenly. $5 draft local beers. Great staff- wait staff and kitchen too (James came out and explained how he made the chicken dish- yes- it was that good). Would love to have a place like this in my hometown. Portland- you are lucky to have The Picnic House!
(5)Tom D.
This big open spaced restaurant is a great spot for its food and decor. It is located in the lobby of the old Heathman Hotel, and they have preserved the space really well with a nice three story atrium. The tables are well spaced so you get a feel of being in your own private space. The food here is excellent. There were three of us so we all got different things and shared. Roasted cauliflower, roasted pear salad, and mushroom soup were all delicious. I have no problem recommending this place as a great value for a night out!
(5)J B.
Amazing service at the end of a Monday night by Matthew the bartender. The salmon in the strawberry/green chili sauce was spectacular. Great and affordable wines by the glass. I wish I lived in Portland!
(5)Michael H.
Walking into the Picnic House you feel a bit like walking into a STEAMPUNK world. The drinks are delicious, I would def recommend the Moulin Rouge. Very good to the last drop. The service was amazing and very on top of the group and yet not overhwhelming us. For food I had the Prawns and Chorizo. Now in another life I would have maybe said yuck but this was so delicious. Also check out the delicious truffle potatos. Yummy Goodness.
(5)Cherie G.
This delightful eatery is housed in what was a hotel foyer, built in 1924. Velvet curtains divide the sunny window front of the restaurant from the darker, high beamed room with the bar set in the back, 1920's music filling the cavernous space. It seemed like there should be fashionable flapper women dancing the jitterbug on the original floor. We were seated immediately at one if the small, claw-footed bistro tables that fill the space. A water decanter sits on each table, and was refilled as we needed. The waiters were chicly dressed young men who harkened back to the 20's. We chose the three course meal, starting with a bitter green salad that was perfect. We each chose a different entree--the grilled salmon with salsa tasted as if it were freshly caught that very morning (and likely was), and the lemon chicken was presented in a cast iron skillet on a bed of the lightest mashed potatoes I've ever eaten. The roasted chicken had a crunchy lemony outer skin with tender juicy meat inside. My daughter thought that the chocolate pudding desert was so delicious that nothing else in her future life would ever be as good. The final delight was when the check arrived in an old book, prob from the 1920's. All was served and attended to promptly. We loved the ambiance, the architecture, the servers, the food and the check book. We did make reservations through Open Table, and the place filled up quickly starting around six, so we recommend you consider reservations.
(4)Leo C.
It was a late night and didn't want anything heavy, so I settled on two sides: brussel sprouts & cauliflower soup. The brussel sprouts were roasted perfectly with just the right amount of char and bits of lardon (bacon) for that added smokey flavor. Along with my nice heaping plate of sprouts, I received a nice cup (bigger than a cup, but not quite a bowl) of roasted cauliflower soup. The soup was silky with hints of brown butter and sage. It came with a crunchy piece of toast. Simple food done correctly. The perfect late night dinner. This is a classy place without being overly pretentious or trendy. Service and prices are great as well.
(4)Charly S.
There are some phenomenal restaurants in Portland serving foods of all kinds.... and so far this is my fave. 1. It is a huge space which seems a tad overwhelming at first, but somehow they make it comfortable with well placed tables and nicely decorated open areas. The high ceilings and architecture are fantastic. 2. They play lovely dinner music, very 50's rat pack sort of stuff, some jazzy - in this classic building it just fits to create a delightful ambiance. 3. The service was fantastic. One guy working alone so it was not lightning fast, but he was efficient and friendly. He really took the time to explain some of the dishes, answer our questions and have a quick chat. I always appreciate service that is not frazzled. 4. The menu is familiar and comfortable with some great twists. The food was fantastic. You know when you go to a restaurant and your food comes and you think "wow, that looks good" and then it tastes average at best? You will not have that here. The food tasted as good as it looked, and it looked awesome! We commented throughout our meal how good it was.... delicious. 5. The prices are excellent. Our favourite foods; the grilled cheese with roasted tomato soup, even comes with a nice salad and the brussels sprouts roasted with lardons (like bacon but thicker). Thanks Picnic House for a great dining experience. Looking forward to our next trip to Portland already!
(5)Kyan H.
Nothing spectacular. Food was decent: Citrus Spice Latte - really unique and delicious latte with grapefruit pulp Wild Mushroom Soup - delicious Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwich - 3 out of 5 on a star rating Space: Interesting - formerly the lobby of the Heathman (which confused me, as the Heathman is now across the street)... nice, open space... but could have better utilized the space. It felt a little off. The communal dining room table feels very in the spotlight. I do enjoy the large staircase and decor with the old printing press stamps on the wall.
(3)Emy F.
Shut up with this place! It's too adorable for words, but it's not SO adorable that you feel uncomfortable. The decor is done with a light enough hand that you're able to appreciate its funkiness without being overwhelmed by a place trying too hard. I appreciate that. The food. the portions were surprisingly big. A colleague ordered a roasted pear salad as a starter and it was entirely entree sized at a starter price. Based on that, I decided to order two starters -- the roasted corn soup and brussels sprouts. The sprouts, oddly, got a little "heavy" because they are cooked in bacon... I could have done with a little less of the oiliness, but for the first 1/2 of my pile of sprouts they were awesome. Would be great to share. The roasted corn soup was complete and total heaven. I could eat that stuff every night. My other colleagues all also reported that their food was excellent. We were committed to dessert but not sure what to try, so based on the server's recommendations we got a grilled pound cake and the creme brulee. Do not pass up dessert. Just plain do not pass up dessert. Delightful. Tom Waits coming from the speakers was the perfect dining companion. Really a great place. I wish I could've packed it into my suitcase and taken it home with me at the end of my business trip.
(4)Belle P.
We had a group of 8 that went to dinner here on a recent Saturday night. We had early reservations - 5 p.m.; and the place wasn't busy at all (though we made reservations just to be safe). This is a very "Portland" type place - really cute/funky decor - great menu with lots of fresh food options - great service. We ordered appetizers, beer flights, the cheese plate, the charcuterie plate, salmon, pasta - quite a variety of foods from the menu. Everything was excellent. I had the house Pinot Noir, which wasn't exceptional - but for a house wine it was very good. The waitress was happy to split the check between 3 parties, which really helped us a lot. Our service was excellent from start to finish. We were seeing a show nearby and this was just a perfect place to meet for an early dinner beforehand with friends. I would definitely eat here again.
(5)emily t.
Stopped by here on a whim thanks to Yelp - just wanted to grab a quick lunch before catching our flight back to LA. Incidentally it ended up being our favorite meal of the whole trip! My boyfriend and I each got the half salad/half sandwich/cup of soup lunch combination. The portions were HUGE - we could've easily split one. But at least we had delicious leftovers to have as dinner on the plane. The nutty brown rice salad was so unique and worth coming back for in itself. The wait staff is super friendly and the vibe is classy yet casual. Our waiter informed us that they're now serving brunch, so we'll definitely be back to check that out next time we're in town. Missing Portland's amazing food already!
(5)Melana Y.
This place is very spacious! Dropped in for happy hour ... a flight of beer and warm buffalo chicken cheese dip, all for just $9?? Yes please!! Service was very friendly and punctual. Beers were tasty, cheese dip even tastier. No complaints, all compliments.
(4)Stephany F.
Amazing food. Tasty sandwiches (!!!) and salads, great service, cute decor. Can taste the high quality of ingredients.
(5)Lynn E.
We loved the atmosphere here at the Picnic House. The prices are also reasonable. Some of the staff were super friendly, while one was not. We didn't make reservations beforehand, so we had to sit in the front room and it was really cold! My husband and I enjoyed ourselves and the meal was wonderful.
(4)Becky S.
this place has GREAT food! I could eat the fresh berry salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
(5)Stephanie W.
Had dinner here for a friend's birthday. Nothing outstanding here folks, except the building itself. Service was slow (Saturday night, many empty tables) and lackluster. More than one server brought our food out and each one had to ask who ordered what. Cocktails were on the boring side. Their names were much more interesting. Food. Um. It was food. Nothing outstanding. Now, the building itself. Amazing space. They aren't doing nearly enough with it!! I say go ahead and skip this place.
(3)Katie U.
My husband and I went for happy hour on 7/11/14. We were really excited to try this place out because of all the great reviews. We arrived shortly after happy hour started, there were a few people sitting in the bar area and we were seated quickly. I think they're trying a little to hard on the whole Portlandia vibe. Also, it was warm inside and it was already a hot day outside so a cooler environment would have been nice. The biggest problem with the ambience was the flashing ambulance lights from outside that were reflecting all around the room. I realize that isn't their fault but the hostess said it happens often from an assisted living facility next door so they might want to find a solution- it is seriously seizure inducing light reflection. I found the service to be a little stuffy and that isn't really what I'm looking for in a happy hour. The general manager was giving an interview in the little lounge area next to the bar and it was amusing/awkward to listen to. When we left she was having a conversation with the hostess about why she kept her late and neither of them acknowledged us as we left. We ordered the Chicken Caesar Salad Skewers and the Buffalo Wing Dip. The caesar dressing only tasted like anchovies, I normally like anchovy flavor in my caesar dressing but it was overkill. The buffalo wing dip had very little buffalo flavor and mostly tasted like blue cheese. Overall the food was just okay, nothing special and there is MUCH better food in Portland. There was only 1 happy hour drink special and it was a raspberry mojito, not something we were interested in. Kind of a bummer to go to a place with a really interesting cocktail menu but none of those cocktails were on the happy hour menu. Limited and pretty boring beer selection too. Portland is an awesome city for happy hour and The Picnic House just doesn't measure up. Our happy hour experience has crossed The Picnic House off our list for future dining experiences.
(2)Emma R.
Love this place. It's got a unique vibe and FANTASTIC food. I'm always a big fan of small plates and having the opportunity to taste lots of things and there's no end of great things to try here. Definitely worth putting on your go-to list. It's not overblown, overpriced or kitschy ... it's perfect for a refined palette looking for something tasty to enjoy alone or with friends. As an a foodie that has spent a lot of time eating in great restaurants in NYC, Picnic House brings the quality and creativity I'm looking for anytime I go out to eat.
(4)Sarah L.
One of my favorite restaurants in Portland. It was so good, we went here twice within a 6-day trip to Portland. The decorations are so cute and unique, and the food is amazing. Loved the Ricotta cheese with rosemary honey starter plate, the creamy tomato soup, the nutty brown rice salad, and the berry salad. The grilled poundcake was also delicious. A must-try restaurant!
(5)Lauren S.
Our first meal in Portland hit all the right spots. The combo selection was very satisfying, allowing us to take advantage of squash and mushroom soups, pesto farfalle, and chicken sandwich. The bread on the sandwich was fresh, but a little large. Service was kind, but extremely slow. It was over 10 minutes before we were greeted by our server and in the meantime other servers and the hostess pointedly ignored us.
(4)Michelle H.
Welcome to the rabbit hole. That's how I describe the awesome interior. It's very 'Alice in Wonderland.' The decor would have led me in on its own, but I was also on good authority that the grub wasn't too shabby either. We tried calling from the office a few times and reached their voicemail that wasn't setup. Odd. There is also online ordering, but not being able to reach someone on the phone made me a little wary. What if they weren't open even though their hours said they were? Seemed like a potential disaster waiting to happen. Even at nearly 1pm, there was a pretty busy dining room. The servers seemed a little understaffed so there was a bit of chaos as those who were there were spreading themselves thin amongst the crowd. We were led back to the bar to take a look at menus and make our order. The lunch menu has combinations of soup, salads, and sandwiches. The price point is slightly higher than I'd normally jump at for a regular lunch ($10-$12 before drink/tip), but you're paying for a little more adventure in the ingredients and the rent they're probably paying for this huge space. My turkey sandwich + brown rice salad combo was equal parts awesome, inventive, and a lot of food. The "small" sandwich would have been sufficient on its own. It still came with chips, too. They classed it up with things like "blueberry glaze, aged white cheddar, tart apple, & fig butter." It wasn't overwhelming with the soft roll and tender turkey. The brown rice salad was nutty from the hazelnut vinaigrette, and bursting with a bunch of roasted vegetables. I definitely was not bummed. Other things eaten included the pear salad with thick slices of chicken breast and the roast beef sandwich with enough delicious horseradish to leave you tasting it for a long time after. From order to food in hand, it was maybe 10 minutes at best. Definitely no complaints. I would have loved to have been able to call it in, though, but my guess is they turned the phone off because there wasn't anyone available to actually answer it. I would have asked, but our interactions with the staff was brief and efficient. I'll be back, for sure, just not regularly. Welcome to the office rotation.
(4)MommyWarbucks and TheLeftoverKid o.
Deee-luscious! Everything was perfect. The restaurant concept and atmosphere are amazing and makes it so much fun to sit and eat here. (We ate dinner on a park bench under a street lamp). Even better was that the owner, Aaron, was our waiter for the evening... and his wife is the interior decorator and created all of the dishes. (I can't wait to meet her on my next visit!) Charcuterie plate- delicious and the liver pâté was my favorite Cheese plate- OMG......yum! The waiter told us you can't go wrong with the soups, so we had a sampling...and he was right, all the soups are wonderful! We also had the Brussels sprouts and bacon lardons which were fresh, crisp and perfectly cooked. If you like mashed potatoes you MUST have the mashed potatoes with truffle oil, they are super creamy and flavorful. The pork loin skewers were juicy and came with this amazing cherry confetti. Kudos to the chef- our meal was excellent! I love supporting places where the owners not only are passionate about their business, they are actually there and available, and make a point that ensuring each and every customer leaves satisfied. I love this place- you'll see us here every time we are in town.
(5)Jodi L.
Found this gem on Yelp and brought the family here for dinner after wine tasting on a Friday night. We were seated right away with no reservation for a party of 6 which was very appreciated! We ordered the grilled cheese, Reuben sandwich and sides of soup (some had tomato while others had the wild mushroom). The grilled cheese was PERFECT! Crunchy yet soft bread, ricotta, goat cheese and cheddar grilled to perfection (meaning crispy but won't hurt your mouth when you eat it). The tomato soup was also lovely and accompanied by a generous salad. We also ordered Brussels but they forgot to bring them and they didn't end up on the bill so it was fine and the unexpected salad was a perfect substitute. If I lived in Portland this would be a regular spot for me. Fast service with a smile. Oh and nice drinks too - I had the nymph.
(4)James L.
I'm tempted to give this place 5 stars, but I'm reserving that for places that I've been to several times and am consistently amazed. We dropped by for happy hour and were really happy with the quality of the food and service. The menu speaks directly to me -- if I were to write my own menu it would probably be something like this. Cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, Reuben, dip and chips....sweetness - comfort food with a bit of a twist - it reminds me a bit of the Tasty N' Sons menu. The service was top notch - our waitress was on point for everything, loading us up with wine and cheese at a pace that was just right. She was very friendly as well. Bonus points for the fellow working at the coffee bar who came over with a friendly reminder that our meter was running out (he parked right next to us), saving us a ticket. That kind of thoughtfulness is something you just don't get everyday - I wish we had noted his name to mention him to management. We'll be back next time we are in the area for sure.
(4)Jacob M.
Faaannnnnnnntastic!! Great flavor, great presentation, staff was wonderful; this is a must try!
(5)Lacy C.
The food was DELICIOUS! Very unique and fun menu. Service was not fantastic, waited quite a while for order to be taken, then wasn't checked on. As important as I think customer service is, the food made it worth the crappy waitress!
(4)John L.
Nice little quaint place. Not a place I'd go back to with so many small establishments to choose from. Had the toasted cheese sandwich with wild mushroom soup. Sandwich was good but small. Soup was just ok and just a bit above room temp when served. Nice atmosphere here but that's where it stops.
(2)Marty J.
Excellent lunch option. Turkey sandwich (always have them grill it, the bread is lightly toasted and they don't use oils), green leaf salad with chicken, and all the soups (currently tomato, mushroom, and pumpkin) are excellent. I've gone several times now mostly for lunch and once for dinner. It has quickly become one of my favorites.
(5)Julie R.
I loved this place for lunch. Cozy and fun, the food was very flavorful and healthy in its' selection. It is a tight menu with seasonal items, so don' expect a huge selection...the pumpkin soup was to die for on a very cold day. I would totally go back!
(4)Jeanne Z.
Loved this place! I was amazed and relieved that it was everything I expected and more. We came here for lunch with my parents and my in-laws and everyone has different taste preferences and dietary restrictions, but everyone was more than pleased. THey had a little bit of everything on the menu, and it was put together very well. I think almost all of us ordered the half sandwich (or half salad) and cup of soup special, some people did get all 3. But, there was no food left on the table when we left, it was amazing! I highly recommend the soups, I had the tomato one and it was very good, but I heard a lot of compliments at my table over the butternut squash soup. Our waiter was amazing, as well as all the staff I contacted today. Like most places in Portland, there seems to be less tables than there are people that want to sit there, but still I was very impressed that they took reservations and honored them. It was nice not to have to worry about finding a seat, especially when you are with people that are 50+, 70+ etc., it is very reassuring to know that you have a table and so you don't have to worry about it. THe ambiance was great here, I loved all the decorations, we will definitely be back. My take away message: make sure to call and make reservations first! (It's counter-intuitive for Portland, I know, but just do it.)
(5)Shannon H.
My favorite spot in Portland. Everything I had was AMAZING. Started off with some warm caramelized onion dip - I mean, that just sounds great. It was. I had the fish. It came with this fruity relish that was so good I literally ate it by the forkful. The #1 stunner in this place though was the dessert. My friend and I split the grilled poundcake. Best. Decision. Ever. So good in fact, that we stopped by the next night after eating dinner at another place just to get the grilled poundcake to go. Yes. We did. Also, the decor is THE CUTEST decor ever. I mean, it's magical. Seriously. Do yourself a favor and go for the poundcake if nothing else.
(5)Eric B.
An excellent place for dinner. Delicious food with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, a quintessentially portland atmosphere (The lobby of the Heathman hotel's 1920's location with a steampunk monocle on a bear's head on the wall), and a serving staff that are incredibly proficient and very friendly.
(5)Jenn S.
Yummy! The space is amazing and the food came out fast and was deeeelicious! The only reason I didn't give them that last star is because of the hot dog. It was good, but not worth $12. It was still REALLY good. I had the lunch combo of a salad and the buffalo salad sandwich and it was awesome. The value was great and I don't know where they get their bread, but it's goooooood. I don't eat bread often, but when I do it will be here!
(4)Carolyn R.
Charming 1924 building with many original features, like dining indoors under a vintage street lamp. The food is superb and the service excellent. You have to check this place out when you are downtown. Oh, and order the corn appetizer. Amazing! Save room for dessert, too.
(5)Cait S.
For lunch, this is right near the top of my list next to the VQ. I think it actually has more variety, of at least things I like. If it wasn't competing with Little Bird, I'd give it 5 stars. And for happy hour, I'd give it 5 stars. Sometimes the service is a little slow, but I like having the relaxed feeling that I get inside this place. The bread is always fresh and the ricotta cheese is to die for. I'd have them put it on everything if I could, and I usually try. They're open to it though! I've had better luck with lunch than dinner but maybe I need to try more of the dinner options before I come to a quick judgment. For lunch, I can't resist a soup and sandwich combo. There are too many good ones to pick from! I'm an especially big fan of the cheese crostini with toasted honey almonds for HH. Even though it says almonds in the name, I didn't get past cheese so I thought they were pecans or walnuts but after the waitress asked if I didn't like almonds, I ate every single one! I personally like the grilled cheese at lunch, my friend who isn't a fan of all the cheeses didn't like it as much but she loved the bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich.
(4)John E.
Very nice ambiance and tasty, tasty food. Plenty of gluten-free options, which is always nice. Full bar with fancy cocktails. The menu listed something about 7up and Coke from scratch; I pictured a 90 yo soda shoppe veteran hiding out in back cranking this out, but I am sure it's just a dude with impressive facial hair like everywhere else. Closing at 9pm? I don't get that because this is the sort of place to head to after a show.
(5)Tam V.
After gorging on delicious food cart meals all day, we decided we needed some roughage. Yelp came through recommending this place which was a stone's throw from our hotel and not very full on a Monday night. We really enjoyed the berry salad, crostini with ricotta cheese, the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup, as well as some brussel sprouts and cauliflower sides. Too full to have dessert at the restaurant, we took a delicious sour cream chocolate bundt cake to go. Everything was generously sized, the cozy period atmosphere was fun, and the service was fantastic.
(4)Ben J.
Really cool newer little spot just in the SW area of downtown. Both their food and their appearance is interesting and a bit quirky. I thought it was delicious and fun. The idea is to have gourmet style picnic food and it's an idea they succeed at quite well. I highly suggest this as just a fun little outing for lunch or dinner or even as a date.
(5)Pat C.
Great lunch. Locally sourced food with a very affordable combination sand/salad/soup option. A little noisy right at the noon hour but quiets down after 1.
(5)Pierce K.
Solid all around. Great service, great food, great drinks. And the entrée prices are fantastic considering the quality and location.
(5)Eston M.
Nice ambiance. I wasn't there for long: just enough time to snag an IPA, grilled cheese and soup from the bar. Service was great, though, and so was the food.
(4)Erik W.
I never give 5 stars for places I've only been once, but the people here were so nice, the space is so fantastic, the drinks were so well crafted and delicious, and the desert I had was so scrumptious that I'm breaking my own rule. I had 4 hours to kill after coming back from a conference on the Oregon coast before my red eye left PDX. After cramming down some delicious vegetarian food at Prasad ( yelp.com/biz/prasad-port… ), I was in search of drinks and desert somewhere near a Red Line MAX station to get to the airport. I came across Picnic House on Yelp because of its stellar review average. Boy was I shocked to find out from the friendly bartendress that they'd only been open for a month. That says a lot. She whipped me up a Fleur de Lis first (blood orange vodka, house-made lemon-lime soda and thyme), while I pondered the desert menu. I settled for the grilled pound cake with lemon curd, strawberries and whipped cream. Oh man. I'm a sucker for lemon curd. And the pound cake was so nice and moist, with nice crispy edges from the grill. One of the best things about Picnic House is the gorgeous space: the restaurant sits inside the original Grand Lobby of the Heathman Hotel, built in the 1920s. The hotel relocated around the corner and the rest of the building was demolished some time later. The lobby remained unused until it was renovated by the Picnic House owners. Truly a glorious place!
(5)Afton B.
I hate to be negative about a place where the food is so good, but this is a time when actions speak louder than taste. We would have had a perfect evening had it not been for such subpar service. Made a reservation, no note was made as the waitress felt the need to point out several times, leaving us feeling like we were majorly inconveniencing her on her very busy night, might I point out the restaurant was half full at most and it was 7:00. In the middle of our dinner our waitresses switched, without any warning to us, this second waitress even more uninterested than the first, to the point where we waited 20 minutes to ask for the check, finally going to the bar, where she so quickly swiped my card that I almost didn't realize I had been over charged on drinks! 20 minutes after finishing my meal and I don't even remember what I ate because I'm now too concerned about the money that is tied up from her voiding out my first bill.
(2)Rick K.
We came here about 6mos ago and really liked it, they had the soup/salad/sandwhich for $10 which was an incredible good deal. We were running errands in Portland last week and decided this would be a good place to get some lunch. Much to my surprise they had raised there prices from $10 to $15...that's a 50% rise! And it is now $10 is you only want 2 of the 3 items! The food was still really good w/ the exception of my ceasar salad lettuce being red/old, however i find this kind of price hike to be a little unreasonable! If they had went from $10 to $12 i would have been cool but a 50% hike...there are enough other good places to eat in Portland that i probably wont be back anytime soon.
(3)Lauren G.
Came here for a quick bite to eat before an author talk at PCPA. The only open seats were at the bar, but that was fine. The guy working was really friendly and pointed us to some menu items that would get us out the door quicker. We got the bruschetta (so so SO delicious), cauliflower (with golden raisins in there - brilliant), mushroom soup (pretty good), and steak salad (also pretty good). We will be back another time when we can try entrees.
(4)Sally S.
Don't come hungry. No, it's not their fault, it will be your fault for not looking at the menu. You'll be too busy drinking in the fantastic atmosphere. It is absolutely gorgeous in here. Every direction you look has a perfectly placed decoration. I think goldilocks did the design. It's *just* right. Pull your eyes off the wall or floor or ceiling or where ever they may have fallen and take a moment to order one of their delicious cocktails. The fleur de lis was really yummy. I also had the gin cocktail, but can't remember it's name. Possibly because I'm still drunk. Momma had a salad that was massive and perfectly dressed. Instead of croutons it had little sweet potato cubes. How cute! I ate the happy hour grilled cheese and spiced potato soup. I wish I had ordered the full size soup, it was so warming and full tasting with out being heavy. Every time I get a grilled type sandwich at a restaurant the inside of my mouth gets ripped up. That did not happen here! The bread was toasted to the perfect level of crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. Now, I shall sing the praises of caramelized onions on a grilled cheese sandwich. laaaaaaa. Mom, why did you not do this for me as a child?! We got dessert. You should too. Pumpkin rice pudding! Warm chocolate cake! Oh, and the service! It was lovely. Friendly and attentive without being annoying. Picnic House, I love you!
(5)M K J.
Don't fear the pickled blueberrires! They don't taste like pickles, it just gives them a little tartness to balance the sweet. Having now eaten here two days in a row for lunch, I can say that this place is excellent. We have had between us the caprese style sandwich, proscuitto sandwich, grilled cheese, mushroom and spring veg soups and the grilled pound cake. All are excellent. The toasted bread on the sandwiches is a nice touch. Service was a liitle confused the first day but as long as you're not in a super hurry it's okay. We would love to try dinner!
(5)Jon T.
Very nice- lots of options in downtown- especially if you want variety and I will probably be back, it is hard though because there are so many amazing places to eat- decor is fun and a bit funky- food was great, service was a tiny bit slow but overall very nicely done
(4)Byron H.
Very nice. Original, tasty and classy. Reasonably priced. Nice ambiance but a little loud. I would come back.
(4)Carmel U.
My husband and I love this place. - beautiful decor (complete with painted ceilings and deer doorhangers drilled into tree stumps!) - delicious food (pork loins that weren't dry and cheese plates that weren't boring!!!) - Yummy (and strong) cocktails This is the type of place that I would eat at often (if there was such a place in Boulder). The waitstaff is very friendly. It did have more of a cafe-feel to it than a restaurant. I did notice that you can rent a picnic basket full of picnic implements for $20/day, which I thought was brilliant. Lovely place for early dinner and brunch!
(5)Jamie F.
We arrived at 8:30pm on a friday night and there was not a server in sight, but the front half of the restaurant was empty. We ended up waiting close to 10 minutes before anyone took the time to notice us standing there and ask if we had been help yet. We were not off to a good start. Once we finally were seated, I had mushroom soup to start and it was amazing. My friend had some tomato jam goat cheese dip that she also said was fantastic. I had the lemon roast chicken as a main, which was also awesome. My friend ordered some kind of pasta dish that she ended up sending back because it was too salty. (I tasted it and it was insanely salty!) We each ordered creme brulee for dessert and it was.. weird. I've rarely had BAD creme brulee so this one definitely takes the cake as the worst. (Or takes the custard, har har.) It tasted super eggy and tasted like it might have had clove in it? Either that or the vanilla beans were really off. I only ended up eating a few bites. I would definitely give this place another try because my first to dishes were so great, but be prepared to not be greeted at the door, and stay away from the creme brulee!
(3)Cory P.
Good place, good service.
(3)Splandie J.
The best thing about this place is the exit. The second best would be a server named Joshua, who tried in good faith to fix all the heinous errors that had gone on before, but at that point there was just too much that had been wrong. We arrived at 6 on a Friday evening. We had a party of six. We stood in the empty entry for almost 10 minutes before the hostess came to say we would have to wait.... the place was about a third full. So we got seated, and waited almost 20 minutes for a server to bring water. Didn't ask if we wanted anything else. We asked a server Bethany about getting some drinks, and she said in the vernacular of shitty servers everywhere 'I am not your server. I will let him know.' Ok, eventually got some drinks. Our server took our order, then at the end of all of us ordering, he said "I think I will use my phone to write down your orders. Just so that I get them right." So we had to repeat the whole ordering thing. It took one hour and twenty minutes to get food. On a Friday night in a mostly empty place. Half of us got our food. The others sat for another ten minutes! What, the cook's joint went out and he had to run home and get another?!? And the food, dear god the food. If it was edible at all, it was bland and tasteless. Did I mention bland? My friend ordered the tenderloin. It was burnt on the outside to a crisp. But damp. Like they knew they had cooked the living shit out of it and then spritzed it to make it look like it was remotely edible. Amazing. Another friend ordered plain salad with some chicken. Basic food, right? It came as a plate of lettuce. No chicken or the salt and pepper that she had asked for. The list goes on, I won't bore you with the rest of the debacle other than to say Joshua was really great, tried to fix all the crappy food and previous shitty service, but at that point it had become a tragic comedy and we just wanted the hell out of there.
(1)Haroun K.
The happy hour brought me in. And I almost melted when I saw "grilled watermelon with feta." I've heard amazing things about the combination of watermelon and feta from my usual co-eater, so I ordered one up right away. The watermelon was nicely grilled (strange, but meaty in a good, watermelony way), but the feta was completely lacking. I'm curious as to what kind of feta it was, because it was super crumbly, and almost devoid of the strong flavor you need in a feta (be it American, French, Greek, or the best Bulgarian). The grilled cheese and tomato soup is a fine option, except the grilled cheese is super minuscule, and it is just a half a (petite) sandwich. The potato chips and cheese dip with onions was tasty, and the portion is pretty huge. The draft beer list is brief, but well thought out. And service was pretty nice. The bathroom, however, was a bit of a trainwreck. I came at an off hour, sure, but it was a mess in there. The manager was sitting at the bar the whole while on his laptop working, but the bathroom should be a primary priority.
(3)Imelda K.
I met someone on a plane who recommended The Picnic House! I'm so glad I checked this place out. Love the decor and all the little personal touches (like bringing your bill to you in a book). The food is also very good. I've tried the soups, the nutty brown rice salad and the grilled cheese sandwich, and all were delicious. This may just be one of my new favorite eating places in Portland.
(4)Catriona B.
I've been to Picnic House for dinner twice, and had a great experience both times. For the first dinner, I had a delicious salad (can't remember which one). The rest of the group ordered a variety of dishes, and they were all lovely. The bundt cake for dessert was exactly what I like -- warm and delicious without being too sweet. Most recently, I came back with my parents on a Saturday evening, and we all had great meals as well. I had the mushroom soup, which was lovely with their tasty bread. I like less salt, so was perfect for me. The beets were great with light flavors and not overcooked, and the brussel sprouts were even better with some bacon (or fancy equivalent). Had to have a the bundt cake again. Again amazing. There was live jazz music on Saturday, but was a) nice to listen too and b) didn't overpower conversation. I always feel like a bit of a jerk talking through someone performing, but the sound level made it pretty enjoyable. The service is great, and we had a lovely conversation with the owners. The physical space itself is super cool -- can get a bit loud when everyone is having fun, so set expectations accordingly. Be sure to inspect the bear over the bar. Is he a steampunk bear? I think so. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Mike G.
Decent beer selection, excited to drink a Workhorse IPA somewhere other than Laurelwood. The bar, high ceilings, window table and huge knotty picnic table are great. The remainder of the seating does not fit the decor and is quite awkward.
(3)Library D.
Charming atmosphere, gracious servers. Had dinner here, indulged in some of the happy hour appetizers. Happy hour snacks were small, but good. Chicken dinner was adequate but not exceptional.
(3)Jason D.
Randomly looked this place up trying to find a place to have a late lunch on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Wasn't a far walk from my hotel so I thought why not? After I walked in, like many reviewers before me, I couldn't peel my eyes off the decor of this place. I must have spent a full 10 mins snapping photos of the interior design before sitting down to order food. I'm surprised I wasn't escorted out. This place is beautifully designed and restored to (I'd say) a 1920-1940's style saloon. The staff even dress the part! The space itself is massive and I could definitely see it being rented out for private events. I'm told it's a restored hotel lobby with the original floors. It's got very high ceilings and great exposed wooden beams along the ceiling. It was a slow afternoon so me and my party of 4 had the place to ourselves. We sat at a huge, beautiful wooden picnic table. I could see this being a great communal eating table (a tactic that needs to used more often in restaurants IMO) when the place is buzzing. The food was fantastic and so reasonably priced. I had the roasted turkey sandwich with blueberry glaze, aged white cheddar, tart apple, & fig butter. It was served on an incredibly fresh baguette and the sweetness of the glaze brought out the flavor in the turkey was also a nice contrast with the tart granny apple slices. The bartender was super professional and explained all the ingredients of the drinks that he served to us. Overall, a great place to grab a bite before or after a show or if you're a worker bee in downtown Portland. Before taking your first sip/bite and take a couple minutes to soak in the decor. You shant be disappointed.
(4)Banks E.
Good food but not enough to justify 5 stars. I went here with my wife and she loved it and thought it would be an ideal place to eat with a group of friends for a girls-night-out. It is not a place I would ever recommend to take a group of guys.
(4)Lori U.
This place has the most amazing VIBE! You feel it the moment you walk in! I was super impressed with the decor....that massive tree community table WOW! The specialty drinks are ingenious! I recommend The Sharab...No details missed...it comes with a spring of rosemary and cool square ice cubes. Its a feast for the eyes, taste buds and then scent of rosemary with each sip.....I put away three of these yummy cocktails! The food is top notch and sooooo flavorful. The presentation is fabulous, art on a plate! Kuddos to the Kitchen Staff...Amazing freaking food! The wait staff is super attentive, fun and professional. They want you to enjoy your experience, its important to them. Love that!! You don't want to miss out on this experience! I hightly recommend it! You won't be disappointed! Its close to the Arlene Schnitzer! This is our GO TO place when we are downtown seeing a concert!! I give it 10 stars!!!
(5)Jason G.
Great service, and a really cool atmosphere. There is all sorts of variety in the place, different levels, things to look at, cool seating arrangements, delicious drinks, and an equally tasty menu. This would be a pretty great place to start off an evening pretty much anywhere. It's casual, but it wouldn't be out of place to be dressed nicely going to the symphony and show up here at all. I would absolutely recommend the place as an appetizer to the rest of your evening.
(5)Marie P.
Awesome !! This place is off the hook !!
(5)Maddy A.
This was such a great and unexpected find! We just happened to parked in front of The Picnic House and were hoping to grab some food and drinks before our concert at the Schnitzer. It looked charming from the outside so we went in, and everything just continued to fall into place after that. We were enthusiastically greeted by the servers and that quality of service continued throughout our dinner. We ordered some drinks, sandwiches and soups, and we couldn't help but nod in delightful approval with each first sip and bite of what we ordered. I'm not a big fan of sandwiches so I'm always pleasantly surprised when I find myself enjoying a sandwich. I had the grilled Italian cured meats sandwich and that was pretty fantastic. Really fantastic. The olive tapenade and chili aioli is what sealed the deal; the two sauces really brought together melt-in-your-mouth flavors of the sandwich. I got a couple bites of the grilled roast beef sandwich and that was almost as good. You can also get a shared plate where you can mix and match your choice of salads, soups and sandwiches, and you'll get half portions of each. Our server did inform us that they change up their menus every once in a while, which makes me want to go back to The Picnic House soon just in case they remove the Italian cured meats sandwich from their menu. Their menu isn't lying when they say they have "tasty sandwiches" and "savory soups." Overall, the food is great. There's also so much charm and history to their location. The Picnic House is located in the lobby of the original Heathman location, and they set up the restaurant just so it almost feels like you're having a picnic. You can even rent a picnic basket and get food to go!
(4)Lisa W.
On a recent lunch visit we had reservations for a group of eight and they accommodated perfectly. Our (gorgeous, solid wood, rustic and beautiful) table was set up when we arrived and we were seated immediately. The pace of the meal was perfect for a relaxed lunch, and all of our orders came out exactly as we had placed them. Everyone said their food was great. I had half a Thick Bacon with avocado and Gorgonzola sandwich with a cup of the sweet pea soup and they were both simply delicious. The portion was plenty big but because it was so good I could have easily eaten twice as much. I didn't have a salad, but my colleagues did and raved about them. They looked fabulous. I've also visited for happy hour. The menu is somewhat limited, but what I ordered, fresh cheese on crostini and a cocktail, were great. The atmosphere is cool - lots of fun stuff to look at on the walls and stuff - and the service is really good, like the people who work there actually enjoy their jobs. Also, the tables have a lot of space around them, so diners aren't crammed together and shouting to be heard over all the other conversations. It seems like a lot of thought was put into this place and I would highly recommend it all the way around.
(5)Marty O.
Outstanding! The brown rice salad was super bomb and the roasted chicken breast was cooked perfectly. Very flavurful and the presentation was beautiful. The decor was also very cool. Service was spot on as well. I really didn't find one thing wrong with the entire experience. I was super full, so I didn't get desert, but they have a very original assortment. I will be back for more and save room for desert this time.
(5)Lauren K.
*Ambrosial* - that really says it all. This place is classy, delightful, and romantic. The menu on their website boasts some small plates and entrees but they've since converted over to all small plates. Thank the food gods that they kept the pork loin; it was succulent, well seasoned and simply perfect. We also had the bavette skewers, fish (can't remember what it was) and roasted cauliflower. I though the bavette skewers were amazing (until I tried the pork loin). The roasted cauliflower was perfectly done and garnished with raisins (interesting choice). The fish was a bit bland but the mango salsa topping helped. We also got the two mixed greens salads. Very pleased with both. Finally, because everyone on yelp said to do it, we ordered dessert. This truly made the experience; we ordered the grilled pound cake and vanilla rice pudding. Both were PERFECT. My favorite meal thus far in my quest to conquer Portland's good eats.
(5)Susan P.
Excellent food - I really enjoyed the stuffed portabella and I'm not vegetarian! Awesome location especially on nights when you have tickets at the Schnitz. Wait staff was very attentive. So nice to be able to make a reservation.
(5)Mark L.
Ordered the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup for my wife and I to split. The food came and the soup bowl was half full and the sandwich was really small with just a few bits of cheese. I thought our waiter got us the 1/2 and 1/2. Bill came nope. Think I will pass. Oh, I also got a glass of the house wine, small pour as well.
(2)Jessica P.
Cute atmosphere and a creative menu. The chairs could be more comfortable, especially for the price. Service wasn't great. No one ever asked how our dinner was. (It was good, but most servers come by and make sure it's good and that you don't want or need anything else)
(4)Holly C.
Went here for lunch with people from the office on Friday. The atmosphere is really nice and aptly suited for the name. Moss hanging on the walls and a bear with a bowler hat are just two things to look for when dining here. I ordered half a prosciutto sandwich with the tomato soup. For dessert I ordered the rice pudding. My sandwich was made with great crunchy but not too crunchy bread. It could have used more meat, but was good over all. The sandwich had fig butter, cheese, and prosciutto. The soup had a basil based cream added to it. Dessert was very tasty, It was a cinnamon and golden raisin rice pudding. Other people at my table were equally pleased with their lunch. I heard great reviews about the grilled cheese, the blueberry turkey sandwich, and the berry salad. Also the chocolate cake, looked very decadent. They also mix their own soda. What I didn't like: Granted there were six of us, but the food took a while to come. Not terribly long, but it was good that I didn't have somewhere I needed to be. Also the table we were seated at was very uncomfortable. It was in the front window and it had benches. I like my space and I had to sit very close to my co- worker. Also the bench didn't have a back (obviously) and my back had been hurting earlier. Overall, I do plan on returning. Possibly for dinner with my fiancé.
(4)Sara M.
The husband and I decided to have a date night tonight (Saturday) and thought we'd try a new place. I searched Yelp and found The Picnic House, and it looked decent. Of course it's Saturday night and we were headed downtown, so my husband dropped me off while he looked for parking. When I walked in, there was no discernible place to wait to be seated, so I waited by a counter that seems like it might be a to-go counter during lunch time. I was seated pretty quickly as they weren't super busy and the staff was very polite. The first person to serve us was a waitress. Again, very polite and pleasant; I was able to order a drink that was pretty tasty. When my poor, soaking wet husband finally found a parking spot and came in he ordered a soda. I asked what kind of cheese was in one of the appetizers; the waitress said, "I don't know" in a really pleasant but not thinking to say she'd find out way, so we ordered beef skewers for an appetizer. A minute later we were told that the waitress was gone and a waiter was taking over (no big deal). When our appetizer came out, he didn't bring us plates or steak knives, so using butter knives we hunched over the table to eat the appetizer. The food was decent but nothing to write home about. It was supposed to have blueberries in it somehow, but the only blueberries we could find were 3 little shriveled ones on the plate. So we had finished our drinks and appetizer and were waiting to order our entrées. We waited...and waited...finally the waiter came back over and asked how our appetizer was. We said it was fine, and he asked if we'd like to order dessert or just have the check. It was only about 7:30 at this point, so I didn't think they were closing (and they weren't). I asked if we could order entrees, and the waiter looked surprised and said, "sure!". I ordered some soup and asked where the bathroom was; my husband, reading my cue, told the waiter to skip the soup and just bring us a check. Then we went to Sizzle Pie and had some slices. Short of the long: nice décor, pleasant staff, but the place could use some servers who know how to be servers, especially on a Saturday night.
(1)Coral H.
In a former historic hotel. Fun atmosphere. They do baskets for picnics to go. Came here on a walking tour of PDX. It was our first stop. Really lovely picnic table and benches.
(4)Marybeth S.
Loved this place! Went with another couple for a night out in Portland. Loved the interior and return to the original design of the 40s. Super cool space. Food was awesome, great sized portions for the price. I had the chicken which was fantastic (I rarely order chicken out but saw on another table and it looked great) and the grilled poundcake - don't miss it!
(4)Karna G.
Loved this place! Accommodated my party of 10 on super short notice.... The decor is amazing....vintage printer's blocks everywhere and a huge, huge picnic 'bench' made from a tree 100s of years old (that had already fallen when it was utilized to build it). Beautiful. The food is even better than the decor! So fresh and delicious. Can't wait to visit Portland again soon just so I an eat here.
(5)rich j.
The service wasn't flawless--our server was training, but more generally it still feels like they don't have the flow down. I'm putting that aside. If people experience this in 2013 there's a problem. Charming, quaint, adorable, etc. They have an interesting menu, some thoughtfully prepared dishes, an adorable atmosphere (let's call it French provincial/shabby chic/bohemian). I am optimistic but not sure they earned 4-stars yet. But I will go back and I will recommend to others. 3 stars isn't horrible. Beef skewers were done to varying degrees of, um, done-ness, but the grilled watermelon was delicious. Favorite item: the pavlova. My group enjoyed the infused artisan IMAX free-range cruelty-free shade-gown rustic liquors (in other words, they were fancy), but that's probably because they were liquor. We are cheap drunks. Still, yum! Try it. You've had worse.
(3)Happy T.
Great eclectic setting for a classy Friday date night or a fun dinner with friends. Perfect ambience for all moods, but a tad expensive.
(4)Nick N.
We had a really nice dinner here with another couple. Great service and very neat original features in the restaurant. Everything we ordered was just top notch. Very reasonably priced. We'll be back when we're in town again. We ordered: Mixed green salad with roasted chicken Sweet pea soup Grilled pound cake for dessert
(5)Valerie L.
Okay, I read about this place in a lot of magazines and saw it on Yelp, all glowing reviews. I went here with high expectations and let me just say, they met them all! I had a party of six ladies and we are really into food and drinks, maybe the drinks a little too much, but when in Rome... The owner is so nice, he was very helpful on the phone with making the reservation, he actually answers the phone, getting us a nice table, working with us when we wanted to come in a half an hour early because we were getting too buzzed at Portland City Grill's Happy Hour, he seated us and made sure everything started off without a hitch. We all ordered different things off the menu, shared all of our meals with one another and had the signature cocktails. Okay, for 6 people, all having 2 courses, multiple drinks and wine the bill came to $160, $200 with tip. Where can you go for that? Seriously? Fun atmosphere, great food and drinks, nice owner, reasonably priced. Best food on the menu: Pear salad, mushroom soup, chorizo/prawn/polenta entree Best drink on the menu: The Spaniard (for dessert) My only complaint is the wine menu and wine by the glass selection, leaves a little to be desired.
(5)Katie B.
This place is amazing. Delicious food. Great atmosphere. Impeccable customer service. The waiter made a mistake and put my order in wrong and they gave us a free appetizer, gave me my meal free AND gave us two free desserts! Seriously, amazing restaurant. I would highly, highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
(5)Sara J.
Food here was sooo good. The menu is fairly short, but that's fine because what they do, they do well. Soups were perfectly seasoned and I liked the selection they offered, and all the entrees sounded great. Their grilled cheese had a couple of different "gourmet" cheese on it and was one of the better grilled cheese I've had, period. It was grilled just the right amount and absolutely perfect for dipping into a delicious soup. I also tried their stuffed portobello mushroom, which was amazing. It was stuffed with so many different veggies and piled so high (a welcome change from other places that put a little filling in the cap and call it "stuffed") that it was almost hard to eat. The grilled vegetables inside were amazing, especially the little bites of Brussels sprouts. YUM. But the highlight of what I tried there was, without a doubt, their curried roasted cauliflower with golden raisins. Sounds awful, I know.... but it was amazing. The curry was not overwhelming in the slightest, and the raisins gave the dish just a hint of sweetness that complemented it perfectly. I've been thinking about the cauliflower for weeks now and am excited to go back and try it again because wow. THAT is how cauliflower is supposed to be done! The atmosphere of the restaurant is pretty cool too. I liked the decorations and how old-school everything looked. The bar, at the very back of the place, was exceptionally small, with only maybe 6 seats (...why?), but the tables themselves were spaced out okay. The only thing that is keeping me from giving this place five stars is the service. Once you're seated, it's fine, but the service up front was VERY odd. I definitely recommend a reservation so you'll be seated quickly (advice I am going to take myself next time I want to go there!). My date and I showed up without a reservation but assumed it's be fine because probably half the tables in there were empty. When we told the hostess we didn't have a reservation, she told us there were no free tables to seat us. We asked about seating at the bar, and she said that might work but we needed to wait so she could take care of other arriving guests. Ten minutes later (when we were about to just leave), she returned and told us a table had just opened up for us. When we were brought to the table, we discovered even more empty tables. Some never even filled up the entire time we were there, making me wonder why we couldn't have been seated immediately. It was all very odd. The food, and table service, eventually made up for the strangeness with the hostess. But it was an odd way to start the evening. I definitely plan on going back, but I will do so with a reservation!
(4)Jill S.
Best lunch I've had in a while. Delicious. Very friendly and helpful staff. Def a favorite lunch spot.
(5)Jessica D.
This was a great lunch spot during my work day. My husband and I had the opportunity to meet and we decided to give Picnic House a try. We both had a delicious meal, in a delightful atmosphere and had great service. The soups that we had were phenomenal. I am looking forward to taking colleagues and friends there for another excuse to go.
(5)Laura S.
Great food selection with unique menu items. A rich welcoming atmosphere although the building exterior was going through a facelift. Waitstaff was knowledgable and friendly. Greatly enjoyed and can't wait for our next visit.
(5)Jen M.
Really neat place in the former location of a hotel. Very big space for the amount of seating so I can imagine the wait times get astronomical. And the noise level must get deafening with the high ceilings. Service was a little absent-minded. Our server forgot to bring an iced tea and it took a long time to receive extra salad dressing. And it was dead the night we went. I ordered the mixed greens with chicken and substituted for the fig butter vinaigrette. The lardons (fancy word for bacon pieces in butter) were delicious. My friend got the roasted chicken and said it was excellent. We shared the crostini appetizer which I thought was disappointing. Nothing really great about it and the cheese spread was actually too cold. Had it been served at room temperature the flavor would have been much better,
(4)Lisa G.
Picnics in Portland have about a three month potential. Let's face it, summer has shrunk and even on sunny days, grass often glistens with the days moisture, making a tarp the only sensible blanket option. So is Picnic House a real substitute for an outdoor picnic? No, but it's a clever premise, a picnic box purveyor for lunch meetings or ready-made sustenance for a wine tasting adventure in the valley. I've never actually had their picnic boxes and while $12 seems a bit pricey for a box lunch, the quality of their food makes the price seem like a steal. More on price: My perfect lunch price is $5 because it's a meal that one does not typically devote much time to beyond sitting at ones desk or a quick jaunt to a nearby food cart. However, for a longer, lingering lunch either on a weekday or weekend, the offerings at Picnic House are well priced and well positioned, as there are several combos (sandwich, soup, salad) that give any clock puncher a sense of choice in an otherwise mind numbing day. The portions are also incredibly generous, providing additional rationale for a spendier lunch. Onto the offerings: From the bavette (beef) skewers to the pickled shrimp, PH knows meat. And unlike the 'bacon with a side of bacon' craze dominating Portland, the vegetarian options are bountiful and delicious. My current veggie faves are the mushroom soup and nutty brown rice salad. The soup is not cream with a side of shrooms, rather it is the exact opposite, allowing the mushroom flavor to shine through. And the salad could be the requisite homage to the city's many vegans and frankly a pile of tasteless veggies on a bag of steamed brown rice. Instead, fresh veggies abound, making this one of the most unique salads I've ever tasted. As a carnivore, I'm hard pressed to fill up on a veggie meal, but whether it's the grilled cheese sandwich or a soup/salad duo, I always walk away full. You know, after a helping of Picnic House's signature rice pudding. The owners of PH also own Puddin' on the Rice, a well, rice pudding restaurant, which has only until this point, existed in my darkest food fantasies. Kudos to one of the owner's grandmothers because as I understand it, her recipe inspired the rice pudding that is the foundation of every creative flavor of this age-old dessert served at both Puddin' on the Rice, as well as Picnic House. My girlfriend claims to hate rice pudding and after agreeing to try a bite (of both coconut and pistachio), has now taken it upon herself to perfect her own home grown recipe of the stuff. And how 'bout that space: One can't help but wonder if Picnic House would stand on its menu alone (and I believe it could) because it's difficult to separate the food from the space. Living in a cavernous setting, the space recalls that of a bank at the early 20th century. One expects Mr. Drysdale and Ms. Hathaway to saunter down the stairs that extend into a mysterious second floor, right off the main dining space. It turns out the space is the old lobby of the original Heathman Hotel and I think about what a treasure it must have been to discover the walls and floor and other remnants of a simpler time and more intricate architecture. This is a perfect space for getting lost in hours of conversation, as you sit in a low lit room, with generous space between tables. The seats are not incredibly comfortable and noise does travel, but if you can't beat 'em, join 'em--I've started bringing larger parties and it's a perfect place for happy hour and meal sharing. Picnic House has quickly become our post-Fox Tower movie dinner go-to spot and really the place we find an excuse to go to whenever we find ourselves downtown. After a show at the Keller, we were delighted to bring friends there because upon entering the space and cracking open the menu it's obvious that this isn't just another Portland dining establishment--it's a labor of love, with creative cuisine, inviting ambiance and if I can't have a picnic, at least I can have Picnic House.
(5)Tron B.
Reasonable prices, good food, very unique/hip decor in an awesome old hotel lobby. Beets, Pork, and Rockfish were solid. Great service.
(4)Amanda W.
Delicious seasonal menu, attentive service, powerful air-conditioning (it was in the mid 90's when I last visited). Go, eat, be happy. And the happy hour deals are amazing.
(4)Chase L.
Well... I had really high expectations for this place based on the reviews but I was pretty disappointed. The ambience was great, the hipster wait staff was pretty funny and not terrible, but after waiting 45 minutes for our food and finding the short rib to be about the serving size of a tapas plate, the whole experience really fell short. Every entree we got was overcooked and and while the prices are fair, a 4.5 star rating is definitely not deserved in a place with as good of cuisine as Portland. Too bad.
(2)Lori H.
really enjoyed this place. excellent salmon, pork chop delicious, great brussel sprouts, salads, nice wine list. awesome desserts. really friendly service.
(4)Sandra M.
Ate here with 5 colleagues. It was fantastic! Interesting wine and cocktail menu. I had 2 glasses of the Willamette pinot (think it was about $9 each). One of my colleagues orderd the apple and cherry cider. Said it was very good. The others ordered white wine or beers on tap. Shared an order of roasted cauliflower (it had a great indian spices coating on it) and roasted brussel sprouts. Some restaurants make them too greasy. This was just perfect. I had the salmon for the entry. It was a very large portion, but was farmed and not wild caught. This is disappointing because it IS the season for wild salmon. The waiter did tell me it was farmed but that it had an interesting strawberry sauce. The sauce was good and an excellent pairing with the mild fish. I did not finish the fish because it was big and I am just not a fan of farmed (not enough flavor). We split 2 desserts - the fried pound cake (we had wanted something else - cannot remember what - but they were out of it). We also shared the Pavlova and it was big and with great whipped cream. I would come here again - definitely NOT order the salmon. There are so many interesting things on the menu. They take reservations on OpenTable. The bill was very reasonable (my colleague picked it up and he exclaimed twice that it was "so cheap!").
(4)Kerri L.
Update: I brought several friends with me this time for a festive lunch. We were really thrilled to get the big picnic table in the front of the restaurant, and it was really great because it was one of our last sunny days, so it did feel like a real picnic. We had a gentleman with us who has some gait problems, so it was difficult for him to get seated at this particular table, so I think in the future when we come back that we will reserve a regular table with stand-alone chairs (no matter, it will still be great fun). Once this gentleman got seated, he thought it was a great place to sit. I loved that the food was just as wonderful as I described to my friends and that they enjoyed their meals as much as I have on both of my visits. Service is still top notch. My friends loved the decor. All in all, our visit and meal made our day, and it was hard to focus on work the rest of the day after having so much fun and wonderful meals.
(5)Ben C.
One word, amazing! From appetizers to dessert, each course was stellar. The ambience and sheer beauty of the restaurant just adds to the whole experience. Highly recommend the lemon chicken.
(5)Cheri H.
A charming little restaurant with a romantic atmosphere and delicious food. The service was friendly but incredibly slow and that is why they are receiving 4 stars and not 5.
(4)Mare R.
Delicious! Loved the Moulin Rouge cocktail... Packed quite a punch! Brussel sprouts were so yummy, as was the cast iron half-chicken; very moist and flavorful. Warm olives were pitted, which is a nice touch. Service was friendly and courteous.
(5)D K.
This was my favorite restaurant in Portland! The food was excellent, as were the beers. The service was great and both ladies were very helpful. The restaurant is really cute and has a great atmosphere. We ordered the charcuterie board, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, salmon entree, beef bourguignon entree, and a couple beers. Everything was AMAZING and I even ordered a Brussels sprouts to go because I loved them so much. This would be my top recommendation for a healthy, substantial, fun, and fairly priced meal in Portland.
(5)Beau T.
I went here last night and it was amazing. The service was fantastic. Our waiter's name was Aaron W. If you get his service be very excited, my date and I were given great recommendations for food and really the only time we waited was for our food to cook. The portions were very well sized and everything was delicious. Not only did my date go incredibly well but I am definitely going to go back and soon.
(5)Kahai D.
Went there after we couldn't get into one of the citys brew houses on a Sat. night....nice find...wife had the stuffed portabello, son had the lemon roasted chicken and I got the spicy shrimp with chorizo and polenta and a couple of beers...also shared the grilled pound cake...all this for less than $60 and very tasty and filling.
(4)David C.
I am leaving my original review below because I think it's important for people to see it, but I want to say that I've brought this rating up significantly because of the incredibly personal and warm email from Aaron Grimmer, owner of The Picnic House. He discussed my individual points and personally invited me back to the restaurant. He also took the concerns seriously. In my book, a positive response to said original mediocre customer service is better than exceptional service to begin with. So kudos to the Picnic House, and perhaps instead of doing anything negative to the server (he evidently is very new), this can be used as a learning experience. Cheers! PS. And next time I'm in Portland, I WILL be back! **Original Review*** What a very odd experience. I really, really wanted to like this place. After two very small snafus upon arriving (sign said to seat myself so when I did I got scolded and told that the host would seat me, and then there was a good deal of lipstick on my water glass once seated), I was still excited. I ordered half of a salad and half a turkey sandwich. Food was fine; not extraordinary, but not bad. Food is the reason for not giving this place one star (along with a funky ambiance). Everything went downhill from here: -Was excited to order one of their 'fun, exciting' colas and upon asking I was told they add flavored syrup to my Diet Coke. Ok, so not fun and exciting but sure I'll take one. Received my DC with no syrup (sorry, we're out), yet still got charged for that 'fun, exciting' cola. -Server was aloof and odd. It seemed as though everything I asked or said was entirely foreign to him. When my meal was finished, the server immediately brought my check. I said "Oh, sorry, I was thinking of ordering dessert and a coffee." He looked at me quizzically and said, "Oh, um, well, ok." I said "I'll have a warm cookie and a decaf coffee with milk and sugar." He disappeared. Upon return, he brought me a black coffee so again I asked for milk and sugar. Puzzled, he walked away. He returned with a hard, cold cookie in a bag (no plate?) and I said, "Oh you don't warm this?" Again, puzzled, "No, I am not sure what you're talking about." (On my way out I reread the menu to make sure I wasn't going nuts. Sure enough, warm chocolate chip cookie appears on the menu.) Again, (a third time), I reminded him of milk and sugar. Coffee now cold, he returns with milk and sugar. I should add that the restaurant was not crowded. -Cookie from above appeared in a brown paper bag. I know I mentioned that above, but I really feel it needs mentioning again. Coffee in a nice mug at an in-service, sti-down restaurant and dessert in a bag. -Lots of folks were coming in as I sat there looking at the seat yourself sign and (gasp) began seating themselves. One lady even pointed out the sign to the host who explained to her that he would seat her. That's fine, but take the sign down! -Another reviewer said that this place was experiencing the pains of being new. I hope that's all this was, but I am afraid it wasn't. All in all, I won't be back when I return to Portland next.
(4)Valkyrie F.
Oh my, what a quaint lovely place! Great decor -ask about the printer plates, delicious food with adequate prices, enjoyable music ranging from roaring 20s era to Frank Sinatra, and excellent service - thank you Phillip, you were absolutely divine. Had the ratatouille sandwich - to die for. And if you like tequila, the Quixote is a must - tequila, raspberry liqueur, lime juice & ginger beer - yes! Husband had the tomatoe soup drizzled with basil cream - yummy. Desserts and happy hour menu look very inticing as well. Will definitely be back!
(5)J P.
I'm giving this place a 5th star for the service. Aaron was terrific! Friendly, quick, he knew the menu well and wasn't afraid to make suggestions - all of which were delicious. Another thing, we were here at around 630 on a Fri night. This place should be packed, but the were only a few other patrons. I assume the construction is part of the problem,but don't be deterred. It's good! The building is really interesting, too. Unlike any restaurant. Apparently it is the location of the original Heathman Hotel. Now the food. Wow. I don't eat meat, so I ordered a roasted veggie stuffed portobello. It was so filling and tasty. In fact, my meat-loving husband even asked for a few bites, which never happens! He had the pork (another shocker, the man was full of surprises). Usually, I want bread pudding for dessert, but the savory bread pudding was so yummy! Let me warn you, their food philosophy is to let the ingredients shine, so not tons of sauces and butter and over seasoning. I love this, but some may not. Sadly. We didn't save room for dessert, but we will be back.
(5)Jessica D.
I crave their food. I highly recommend trying a 1/2 salad, 1/2 sandwich and cup of soup combo. That way you can try a little of everything!
(4)Laura S.
We had a great dinner here. The mushroom soup and the tomato soup were two of the best soups I've ever had! The chocolate bundt cake dessert was also amazing. Great decor, great service, great restaurant.
(5)David P.
Had the buffalo chicken sandwich and tomato soup. Would definitely go back.
(5)Luke B.
My girlfriend and I braved going to this new spot on a Monday around 1pm. It was a tough place to find with a whole host of construction scaffolds that were camouflaging the entrance but once inside we fell in love with the charm of the place. Upon walking inside we notice there were only a few tables filled with people (3 or 4) and after 5 minutes of waiting (with no one in front of us) we were finally sat at a small table in the back. The menu was quite different from anything else I've ever seen but the food spoke for itself. The bread on the sandwich was toasted perfectly to where only the most outer layer of bread was baked to a flaky crunchy crust that harbors a fluffy moist interior. The mushroom soup was notably good. My only other gripe was it took 25 minutes for a sand/salad & sand/soup combo bringing our total visit to an hour. I would give this place 2 more stars had the service been quicker and the phone that was ringing off the hook in the background been answered.
(3)Brian O.
The happy hour was great! Definitely recommend the homemade ricotta on crostini, and the service was excellent. Great place for a happy hour.
(4)Benjamin H.
Very cool environment and excellent food with great service. Sampled from the appetizers, mains, and desserts...all five stars!
(5)Len L.
Love this spot- the ambiance is unlike anything else in Portland! Its beautifully decorated with fresh and enticing menu options. The artisan grilled cheese panini and tomato soup was incredible. Our sever, Aaron, was very attentive and made some excellent drink recommendations (If you like gin, try the French gimlet).
(5)Mike M.
Terrible terrible service food and drinks. Do not go here!!! I had two different cocktails that tasted as if the bartender poured corn syrup into them. When I complained the server was incredibly rude and refused to change my order. Really over priced and awful decorating in the interior. Plenty of other great places in the area so hopefully this one will be gone soon
(1)Mary M.
Last minute reservations.....cheerfully accepted....late to the restaurant by 15 +minutes....this faux pas on our part cheerfully dismissed by our hostess. Our table was ready...the decor was very Portland ...eclectic and almost pop-up ish. Gave my husband pause, but as he says the food makes the restaurant. Our lovely waitress breezed over and apologized for not getting to us quicker. I explained we had tickets to a show. She artfully steered us to items that would be out quickly. My husband took her suggestion of the Boar Bourguignon, though he was leery as boar can be gamey. I went for a small plate, Beef Tenderloins and we shared the roasted brussels sprouts. Hubby drank a whit beer me the Mcmule. Everything was amazing...every bite ecstasy. Not a molecule was left on our plates. The portions were just right for us, we ate to satisfaction. No room for dessert, but that will be for next time. Our check arrived without prompting ..oh and she checked in on us three times during the meal to make sure everything was going well and that we had everything we desired! This will be our new go to place for downtown dining. So happy we found you!
(5)Sarah Grace M.
Accidentally stumbled across this place yesterday while in search of a late lunch. Absolutely fantastic - cocktails, food, ambiance, service. A hidden gem!
(5)Jodi J.
I have to say that The Picnic House exceeded my expectations, the food was absolutely incredible!
(5)Don B.
Very nice place to grab a beer or cocktail. Don't be afraid of the scaffolding on the outside; it's nice and safe on the inside.
(5)Melissa G.
I took a big group of co-workers over to try their Happy Hour on a recent Friday night. The food was scrumptious, and the servers friendly, timely, and patient with our varied group personalities. We all came away with the conviction that we'd be coming back soon.
(4)Bell K.
Such a cute place to meet up for conversation, drink and food. Both dinner and lunch time have great choices and I've never seen it overcrowded. A new regular place for me.
(5)Lucy J.
My husband and I came here for dinner on a Saturday. The hostess was so nice and accommodating, and we had friendly service from beginning to end. The decor is a mix of steampunk and roaring twenties-- the music is classic ragtime/20s jazz, it's dimly lit by Schoolhouse Electric-type lighting, there are wall decals depicting hot air balloons, etc. It looks like it used to be the lobby of a very old hotel. The drinks alone are worth the visit. The extremely talented (if hipsterishly attired) bartender created all of the seasonal drinks himself. The Smashing Pumpkin (Thanksgiving in your mouth) and Persephone's Palm were our favorites. I ordered absinthe ("served the traditional way") since it was on the menu and I'm an absinthe fan, but I was surprised to find it disappointing: the waiter brought a proper glass of Lucid absinthe, an absinthe spoon, a sugar cube, and a tiny silver tea pot (the single-serve kind you find in restaurants) of lukewarm water. He proceeded to spill everywhere, including on me, as he dumped the water quickly over the sugar cube. It had only partially dissolved when he tipped it into the glass and mashed it down with the spoon, then told me to do the rest. If they have "traditional" absinthe on the menu, they should know that the water needs to be ice cold (so that the louche develops properly), and they should let the customer handle the water (which should be dripped onto the sugar slowly, again, so that the sugar dissolves properly and the louche develops). I know it's extremely nit-picky to take issue with this, but if it's the kind of place that takes pride in serving absinthe, they should do it right. On to the food. The food pretty much knocked our socks off. We shared the Charcuterie to start (very fancy-pants picnic food), and for our entrées we had the pumpkin gnocchi tossed in a hazelnut butter reduction and the boar bourguignon. All of it was gorgeous to look at and delicious to eat. The portions were exactly right for both food and drink. Overall, I wish I lived in this city so we could try everything on the menu!
(4)Shelley O.
With friends for happy hour - sometimes it is hard to find a place where 6 or 8 people can meet and still hear each other in downtown. Nice big tables, fun decor, good small plates for sharing or for dinner, inventive cocktail list.
(5)foodfoodfood f.
Maple duck leg, OMG. The salads here (although not cheap) are unreal - you can top them with a farm-fresh poached egg, a citrus chicken breast, or a maple duck leg. Owned by the same people that own Pudding on the Rice. The soups are great, too.
(5)Brian F.
I stumbled across this lovely place with a friend a few days after it opened. My experience began with intrigue, transitioned into awe and then--after chatting it up with the owners, (an adorable young couple), I experienced THE BEST DRINK of my life. Beautiful and just a block away from the Schnitz, this place cannot be missed!
(5)Justin B.
Went here for a low key end to a batchelor party week long trip. The service was great and the food was fantastic. Crunchy bread great bacon and an amazing atmosphere. If I lived in Portland I would eat here every day. Oh yeah and the mushroom soup was incredible.
(5)Johnny V.
I dont give out too many 5s but this place deserves it. We just came in to the city for a visit and this was our first stop. We were promptly greeted and the great service continued throughout. We got to meet the owner and were given some background to how they came up with their unique design. The food was amazing, the service was great and the happy hour prices brought it all together. 5s!
(5)Erin W.
Was downtown looking for somewhere to eat since the food carts were closed for dinner and we came across Picnic House on Yelp. Since it was nearby and had good reviews we decided to try it. I was immediately excited by the unique atmosphere, and we were promptly greeted and taken to our seats. The food was good (soup + sandwiches) although slightly overpriced (not surprising given the type of place it was) and a bit small. I would have given this place 4 stars due to its uniqueness and good tasting food (albeit a bit small and pricey as I mentioned) except that the second half of our visit the service went from good to TERRIBLE. We had to ask numerous times for water refills, it took forever to get our check, and there was a line of people at the door waiting to be seated with NO ONE there to greet them for nearly 10 minutes! One couple left, the others stuck it out, but didn't look happy. Not a good thing for a new place downtown... So needless to say, the tip we left wasn't great due to the service. I'd probably eat there again although it wouldn't be my first choice. I would likely go back to get a grab n' go lunch or rent a picnic basket though. The food was good enough that if I didn't have to deal with the service issues and could just take it to go I'd be more likely to do it. :)
(3)Keith K.
Great place with exceptional service and high quality food. The bratwurst was probably the best I've ever had and I spent four years living in Wisconsin! The grilled pound cake was also amazing and certainly a first for me.
(5)Alison M.
I went for lunch and it was awesome! All the entrees sounded so good and it was hard to pick. My friend and I both chose the half and half which was perfect for the price and serving size. The service was excellent and chefs actually know how to season the food perfectly. The rosemary-infused iced tea was a pleasant surprise. I will definitely go back to try their other tasty items. The decor is also amazing. I want that long wood-slab table in the front!
(5)Alexander F.
I walked into the door a bit skeptical because of the lack of patrons, but I was reassured of the quality of the place because of the warm welcome and fantastic service. That surprisingly isn't the best part! The entire building was gorgeous with a taste of class that often eludes many other restaurants. Although the menu is small the wide array of flavors and textural combinations makes up for it.
(5)Katie H.
I picked this place via yelp, and I'm so glad I went. I gotta say I almost shied away from the chicken because almost every time I go out, I get dry chicken. but our waiter (who was amazing, attentive, and really fun) suggested the chicken, so I got it. I gotta say, it amazed me. oh and the asparagus? to die for! I swear nowhere ever cooks it right. even fine dining at times fails. all around amazing experience. oh and the music was nice, jazz and such. lost one star because of a sloppy look in spots tho. wallpaper was torn and smudges all over te walls. but if I could give 4.5 I would. definitely check it out.
(4)Lindsay D.
This place is seriously awesome. In fact, I hesitate to write a review because as soon as people get the word that this place rules, it will be hard to get a table. The atmosphere can't be beat. It really feels like you're on a vintage picnic; open airy space rustic tables, picnic baskets as centerpieces, and greenery as decor. I had the chance to try many different dishes with a group of friends. Service was fast, friendly, and she had lots of good recommendations. We tried lots of small plates and a couple desserts and everything was super tasty. Keep in mind it's fancy picnic style, so no big dinner foods but more lots of smaller gourmet bites to try. I could see how it might seem a little pricey for some since the plates are small, but we had happy hour that was pretty reasonable. You can also people watch out the giant windows that face the Schitzner. I heard you can also order picnic baskets to-go and eat in the park. I can't wait to go back!
(5)A A.
We are from out of town and wanted a unique place to eat dinner. The hotel recommended here and we were not disappointed. The menu is great. I had the grilled cheese and mushroom soup. Delighted when it arrived with a delicious salad. Portions in general are not huge but my entree was filling and very satisfying for me. One funny part of the meal - we asked the waiter to recommend a good local red wine. He said the house wine was great so we ordered 2 bottles (party of 6). The wine was wonderful but we didn't notice until half way thru the bottle it was made in Argentina and not Oregon. Oh well, still a great meal.
(5)CC G.
This place is simply amazing. Due to the construction going on outside, it is easy to walk right past, but I highly recommend going in and getting one of their sandwiches. One thing that I absolutely love is that you can do a combo plate of any variation of soups, sandwiches, and salads, even two sandwiches if you want. I couldn't decide what I wanted the other day so that fit the bill perfectly! The server was great too - very attentive and full of good recommendations. I highly recommend this place - do yourself a favor and eat here!
(5)Susan H.
What a sweet little find in downtown. Easy atmosphere. Attentive service. Nice veggie-friendly menu. Yummy cocktails. All that and a jazzy duo playing for us all. Who knew?!
(4)Ann S.
Only read this if you have young kids and are considering bringing them along. Otherwise the previous reviews are probably spot on! I hate to break the streak of excellent reviews because this really is an awesome place! I have NEVER written a review for anything before and I am only compelled to write this one hoping the owners will consider making some small changes so that I will feel comfortable coming back. My family and I, including 2 young kids, had lunch here during the lunch hour. Our greeter and server was super friendly. The dining area easily accommodated our group and big stroller. A high chair was provided. Upon arrival it seemed perfect! However, his is NOT a kid friendly place to eat unless you are grabbing take out. Maybe that is intentional but in my opinion any place that supplies a high chair should also supply something that a child of high chair age might eat... I admit I should have taken a closer look at the menu before we were seated. My first clue should have been the fact that both my 2 year old AND 1 year old were served water in delicate-looking glass glasses. I had to ask for plastic then only got one and without a lid. The best bet for them seemed like the grilled cheese hold the onions and grilled watermelon. No go. They wouldn't have anything to do with the grilled cheese. When the server asked I was honest and told him neither of them would eat it. He didn't offer another suggestion ... crackers, a slice of UNgrilled watermelon, bread. My salad, the mixed greens with berries was super good but I had to give all the berries to my kids because they were starving and then had to scarf it down because they were getting unruly by this point with nothing but berries to eat. Maybe I am being unreasonable but the name Picnic House gives a family friendly feeling. I think kids, kites, fresh watermelon, corn on the cob, simple sandwiches, cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, yogurt. But this is really more of a romantic picnic for 2 kind of a place. Another thing, totally gross (I am embarrassed to admit this) but I had to change the 1 year olds diaper on the floor in the bathroom because there wasn't a changing table provided in either of their 2 otherwise very nice and clean bathrooms. Thank goodness it was clean! Maybe this is my fault for staying but in my experience a high chair available = at the very least a kid friendly beverage and container, a kid friendly menu item and a safe place for diaper changing. We have been to plenty of places that don't offer high chairs and that is totally their right but it alerts us to the fact that it is not a good place for us and we go somewhere else. My hope is that this review will prompt the owners to consider making some additions and not the opposite by encouraging them to get rid of the high chairs.
(3)Randy W.
I highly recommend this restaurant! The staff was friendly, the food was amazing, and the price was right! My soup was so good.
(5)Katherine R.
Bestest yummiest food ever!!! Great service and fun atmosphere! Love the bear! We will be back,
(5)Arun R.
Liked their small plates. Tried the roasted cauliflower. The cauliflower soup was good too. However was disappointed with the stuffed mushroom entree.
(3)Mike J.
Talk about the perfect pre-theater spot! We were on our way to a concert at the Schnitz, and got there a couple of hours early. OK, we thought, time to find some food. Walked about a block, and there was this promising looking place with a beautiful wooden table inside -- well "picnic table" doesn't do it justice. The desert listings looked good, so we thought we'd give it a try. The athmosphere looked like a scene from Paris in the '20s. They had Edith Piaf music in the background. And the food was great -- we did small plates. The cheese plate was exquisite. The aioli on the roasted vegetable place was wonderous. The salad included the perfect balance of balsamic and berries. And the bundt cake was filled with a complex array of chocolates. We'll be back!
(5)Laura G.
The atmosphere is amazing with all the old time printing blocks on the wall and the magnificent wood picnic table in the front. The whole picnic idea is pretty cool and the food is amazing -- local and fresh. I have to echo Elle C.'s review for sure. Can't wait to get back to PDX and sit around that table with my family again.
(5)Carole S.
What an unexpected delight!! Now I admit, when my husband suggested this place for dinner, the name had me envisioning barbecue and cole slaw of sorts--not really my thing. But WOW, I was really impressed with the fantastic food featuring seasonal ingredients. Started with the beets, oh MY they were good! My maple salmon was PERFECT, kale and quinoa salad delicious, my husband's chops and potatoes homemade-good; great bar menu (local porter and pumpkin cocktail fabulous!), and truly first class service. Our server Ashley was just wonderful--thoughtful, smart, really knew her menu, and just plain kind--a great experience. Cool setting in the original (not current) Heathman hotel, with a spacious mix of seating, good music, a few huge artisnal wood tables, outdoor street lamps indoors, giving it a perfectly Portland funky indoor-outdoor feel. Really terrific for us locals and for bringing guests. This place is a keeper!
(5)Christy R.
This place is amazing!! Food is scrumptious, atmosphere is amazing and you can really tell that the owners put love and care into every detail of this place. I wished I lived closer so I could come more often.
(5)Elaine M.
Really great food at a pretty reasonable price. Gorgeous old building and very Portland from the super skinny hipster in a bow tie seating us to the quirky details, like the check comes to the table in an old book.
(5)C M.
I try to eat at this Hipsterific sandwich restaurant every time I'm in Portland. I've been for both lunch and dinner meals and while they experiences are different, both are the bees-knees. Personally, I like Picnic House for lunch. The grilled sandwiches are creative with interesting and fresh ingredient combinations. The mushroom soup is divine, but almost too good because it means I haven't tried any of the other soups. I love the decor of the restaurant. The natural wood grains and the faux moss wall aesthetics hark to being outside at a picnic table. The taxidermy above the bar is fun. And there is craft beer on tap!
(5)Matthew T.
I keep going back and forth on 3.5 or 4 stars so I decided that the wonderful soups were worth the fourth star. Went for lunch, but had read the dinner menu posted outside so I was excited with the idea of the cheese plate or charcuterie, but looks like they don't offer those at lunch. so maybe I was a little bumped by that. But settled for the 1/2 and 1/2. Sandwitch and soup, which is odd for me since I'm not that much of a soup guy, but their's sounded so yummy I had to try them. My whole party went this way. I had the mushroom soup and the hot dog, which sounded good from the description but failed to deliver. Which is why I considered bumping them down to 3 (3.5 stars). But the mushroom soup was amazingly good, as was the pea soup. Other sandwiches were better and there were some other interesting choices in regard to the rice salad, which was huge and tasty. Service was excellent, but citrus latte wasn't all that "citrus" but not the end of the world as it tasted fine for other reason.
(4)Susan B.
4 stars instead of 5 for the uneven service at the door, and it appeared that the service was inconsistent on the floor (in the weeds a bit) but the service at the bar was great. This place is (New) American cuisine in a 110 year old building- finely crafted cocktails, using fresh herbs, they serve only local beers- tap only- brewers unknown to us out of Townes, but delicious. The grilled cheese was incredible, 3 local cheeses, hint of lemon, perfectly caramelized onions on incredible bread, wild mushroom soup that was so perfectly seasoned and velvety, Pavlova for dessert that tasted like angels made it. Someone in the kitchen here knows exactly what they are doing. If you're in downtown Portland, Oregon, stop here. Small menu, reasonable prices, in a lovely setting. The food was delicious!
(4)Aria R.
Everything was so amazingly crafted and well done. They had a lovely music choice, the vibe was all around cheerful and classy. All of the waiters were sweet and charming. (The bar tender was especially attractive oh my God.) The best dinner I've had in Portland so far.
(5)Carrie H.
Cool atmosphere... very trendy portlandia fare. Food was good and drinks were yummy. Definitely a cool place to check out and walking distance from the downtown Hilton which is nice.
(4)Heather F.
The tomato soup and turkey sandwich were awesome! This is an adorable spot, and everyone there was friendly and attentive. I would definitely come back for a special treat, but it's too far out of my price range for a casual meal. (Half sandwich, half soup for $12 without tip)
(4)Krystal S.
Wow!! What a great surprise/treat to find Picnic House. We were coming into town to attend an exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society and I was madly Yelping while our Garmin was warning us off the T curves. I happened across Picnic House. Perfect!! Made reservation via Open Table and we found it quickly and close to our ultimate destination. Great space!! Very hipster old-timey (copyright trademark all rights reserved!) So we opted for several small plate items, the crostinis with a lovely soft goat cheese, almonds and honey (sorry, going by memory here, but totally something like that), tenderloin and Gorgonzola, beets infused with great loveliness and a delish charcuterie. We were IMPRESSED! Our "rock and roll" waiter was tops! He recommended a great cocktail that I LOVED and repeated. All in all a great place we'd highly recommend! Oh, only thing I'd say is that the entree menu was a bit limited. That would be my only wee critique. Cheers!!
(4)Rouzhna N.
Oh how I love their interior design! It uses a lot of wood elements, which works perfectly without looking too "grandpa-y" And their lunch special is fantastic. SO much food, SO delicious, and SO cheap (for the amount of food you get). I really enjoyed everything I got, which was a soup, salad, sandwich combo. We all each got a different thing and there wasn't one that disappointed any one, so you cannot go wrong with those options. Also, the waitors are dressed so nice and they are also very pleasent.
(5)Jeff P.
I'm not really sure how the majority of was because we were there for over ann hour and still didn't have food. Was going to a show across the street so had to leave and had to cancel order. Service was terrible - took over 20 minutes for drink orders and small amount of appetizers we did get were nothing special. Servers seemed incompetent. Haven't really hard good things about this place from others so definitely not going back.
(1)Linda T.
did this place just open? I am so surprised there werent too many people around. happy hour menu was good. got the half grilled cheese + roasted tomato soup ($5) and cream cheese with toasted almond and honey crostini ($4). grilled cheese was good, but the soup was bomb! pear, blue cheese, sweet potato, cranberry, candied walnut salad with fig butter vinagriette ($9) was delicious. definitely a getter. service was attentive. ambiance and decorations were nice.
(4)Julie R.
Great tasting food. BLT and Berry salad were devine. The roasted chicken was a little tough and rubbery; other food was excellent. Decor is unique - loved the colors and calm relaxed feel.
(4)Belle U.
AMAZING!!!! I was in Portland for a business meeting and was caught in the "winter blast" that shut the whole city down! Luckily I was able to get over to The Picnic House for lunch just before the snow really did its damage. I had the "pick three" combo... which btw, THANK YOU for that option!!! Sometimes a girl is hungry & cant decided between half a sandwich, soup OR salad! So thank you for letting me choose all three! After traveling all morning from LA I needed it! Back to my food... I had: 1/2 Chicken & Bacon With: shaved roasted chicken, thick cut bacon, charred tomato, pickled red onion,avocado spinach, gorgonzola aioli. 1/2 Fresh Berries Salad Which has: mixed greens, pickled blueberries, fresh berries, candied almonds, crumbled feta and fig butter vinaigrette. 1/2 Roasted Tomato Soup All for $15!!! EVERYTHING was delicious!!! The service was ok Nothing spectacular, but not rude either. I was by myself in the whole place (again, winter blast) so that may have made it awkward. Picnic House your food was delicious and I cannot wait to visit you again in November (my next Portland trip).
(5)kelly v.
We came here for dinner while visiting from Austin and had a fantastic experience. We shared 3 entrees and a small plate between 4 people and it was the perfect amount of food. Not that it matters THAT much but the decor was a little off and think they should close off the curtains to the front room at night. Food was great though and I would definitely recommend going here.
(4)Brittany S.
This place has an awesome vibe and great food that is reasonably priced... Highly recommend!
(5)Stephanie H.
Love, love, love this place! The atmosphere is so fun. I wish my house looked like this place. Word of the wise, make a reservation or be prepared to wait. But it is well worth it!! The food is always amazing and the drinks are to die for. Definitely one of my favorite places to go for specialty cocktails. You can't go wrong with any of their signature drinks. They are always changing too it seems like with the fruit that is in season. Every time I have had one of their specials I was blown away, plus their regular menu always has tasty options to choose from. Plus, did I mention how great the service is?! Everyone that works there is super nice, friendly and efficient. Even after waiting for a table, you won't feel like the wait drags on once you are seated. Someone always promptly greets you with water and gets drinks going. Even if they are slammed, the servers are great at keeping you in the loop on wait times and making sure the drinks are flowing! Need to pay Picnic House another visit very soon!
(5)Alicia C.
Awesome cheese board! The mushroom soup I got was just ok. But the cheese board ... Totally 5star ! 4ppl's serve for $14, seasoned and paired perfectly
(4)Scott W.
Excellent upscale sandwiches, soups, and salads. Lunch menu has a great two or three item choose-your-own combo option for $12-15. Service was very friendly and food came out quickly. Haven't tried the dinner menu, but I'd certainly recommend it for lunch.
(4)Michael M.
Very good food and great ambiance. The stuffed portobello was very good, very big and very filling. The Gardenhead is a fantastic drink. I will definitely come here again the next time I am in Portland.
(4)Lauren Q.
I don't really get what's going on here or what all the hype is about. The food was tasty enough but nothing to write home about, certainly not enough to warrant the mad lunch rush. The decor is truly bizarre--I think they're going for some kind of whimsical Victorian thing but it's in this minimalist modern space and there's some weird-ass writing on the wall in like eight different fonts. They're clearly going for something but not quite hitting it, exemplified by the bad taxidermy wearing a top hat above the bar. What this aesthetic has to do with simple American picnic fare, I don't know. The price point was pretty good though. I guess this place is okay for Portland.
(3)april s.
During a quick trip to Portland was looking for a great dinner spot for me and mom. This was perfect-thanks yelpers. I agree with the comment about staff seeming confused about seating us, though we were walk-ins so we were just grateful they weren't booked or closed. Our waiter Aaron was very nice, even took the time to answer all of my questions about the menu and the building. So cool that it used to be an old hotel and that they used old printing 'plates' for wall decor. Mom ordered the steak and I, the salmon. She proclaimed the Parmesan quinoa polenta the best polenta she's ever had. We of course shared dishes and I concur it was most excellent. My salmon was cooked perfectly with a nice crispy outside and barely done inside. The balsalmic strawberries were different and very tasty.
(4)Sher R.
I found this place on Yelp so I was really happy that it lived up to it's rating. Yes it is a funky little place, lots of room and few tables. A very cool little place to have a bite and the food was amazing. We almost left because it took so long for the hostess to show up but I'm glad we didn't . I had just landed in Portland and this was the first place we hit. Both my husband and I had the lunch 1/2 sandwich and side. I had a side salad, he had soup. My sandwich and salad were amazing. The service was great, actually beyond great. Our server gave us a run down on where to go and how to get there. I'll definitely be back. The menu is small which I like, seems that better food always comes from a small menu. They could do a bit of sprucing up; looks a bit like it is still just sort of barely open for business. Really great flavor. Nice welcome to Portland restaurant.
(5)Mary J.
I must have just come on an off-night. I mean 4.5 stars out of 5 with almost 200 reviews?!? How can you go wrong? But I just feel like it was a "meh" experience. Granted we went in an hour prior to closing, but I still don't think this place should have suffered a 3-star review because of it. Why the three stars? 1) Although the server was funny, nice and charismatic, the service was slow. And I mean, I'd rather not be here past closing time just as much as he wouldn't want to be stuck past closing time, and yet that still seemed to have no bearing on waiting almost 45 minutes just for the entrees to come out... I'm pretty sure they were sitting around for awhile too because I needed a chainsaw to cut through the lukewarm chicken breast. 2) You could tell when they wanted you out. The heat went off, the bathrooms were being cleaned by the same server that just dropped off your meal, and waiting for the check seemed an eternity on top of it all. Honestly, I probably would go here again to give it another try, possibly earlier in the day as to avoid that end of the night bullshit. I loved the environment (I heard it used to be a hotel lobby for the Heathman?), the beer, wine and cocktail options were nice, and the food had potential. Honestly, I just want to try their grilled cheese.
(3)Liu L.
LOVE the brown rice salad and the grilled pound cake! Order the brown rice salad!!!
(5)Nate D.
Wonderful food, service, and atmosphere. Go in early and you won't have to wait although a reservation is recommended. I had been to lunch here for great sandwiches and salads but the dinner is off the hook. With the help of the excellent recommendations of our server I had the coulotte steak and my friend had the cast-iron chicken. Both were unbelievable. I highly recommend every aspect of this place, right down to the exceptionally clean restrooms.
(5)Egg M.
The chicken and truffle mashed potatoes in the Iron Skillet is one of the best chicken dishes in town. The mushroom soup was delicious, as were their drinks. Restaurant is a little loud/cavernous, but the food is great and the staff are great too.
(5)Jenny B.
Pros: Service Flavors Creativity Cons: A little pricy with small portions.
(4)Marie E.
This place was definitely a toss up between a 4 and 5 star rating it was so good! I found this place on yelp as I was looking for a good place for a lunch meet up during the holidays. I highly agree with the 4.5 star rating because it was truly amazing. The decor and atmosphere was adorable! It had 4 distinct areas that I could see, with really rustic and eclectic decorations. There was one large community table that was made out of a very large (what I assume was redwood) log slab. They had the details down to a science, including presenting the receipts in old books. The food was by far the best part! It was simple food done right. They had a menu of sandwiches, soups, salads and dessert for lunch. Each was simple in design but there were some elevated flavor combinations and each piece was prepared perfectly. My friend and I each got a half/half combo and shared. We got a shaved turkey sandwich, prosciutto sandwich, grilled cheese sandwich, and the roasted tomato soup. I could probably write a paragraph about each and still go on about how amazing each was, and I'm getting hungry thinking of them now. The staff were all super attractive, friendly and helpful, although a bit slow to being attentive to our needs. We did have quite the wait for ordering, receiving our food, and receipt. This is the sole reason that i'm giving a 4 start instead of a 5.
(4)Nora M.
My server was beautiful and civil, but disinterested. The other two servers had personality and seemed a lot more fun. The wait staff worked well together - a sign of good management The decor was wonderful! They put your bill in an old book - what fun! The food should have raised this a star. The mushroom soup was delicious - but luke-warm. The polenta was wonderful, but the protein was dried out. In fact the chorizo was so hard the fork couldn't spear it. A little more attention to details would have made all the difference, but I probably could have made something better in the hotel microwave.
(3)Melissa S.
I really liked the look and feel of the restaurant. I need to go again to give an honest service review. It was ok this time but unlike other yelpers I know you can't blame a restaurant for one experience and one waiter. The food was great. I loved the food and would be happy to go there again! Everything seemed to be very fresh and tasty!
(4)Laura B.
The food was good- went for lunch and had one of the sandwiches. Let's just say that the atmosphere was very "Portland. " if you're into that thing, great, if not, it won't interfere with enjoying the food. Bears in bowler hats on the walls, random paintings, and super hipster staff.
(3)Chris M.
Yuuuuuuummmmmmyyyyyy!!! This was such a great choice for lunch.... The shaved turkey sandwich was sooooo tasty. I combo'd it with their delicious tomato soup and I was in lunch time bliss. Full enough to be happy, but still able to move!!
(5)matthew m.
This place has great food and a great vibe! Our bartender, Matthew, was very personable.
(5)Jess P.
This place seems derived from a Portland Fairytale. Steampunk embellishments with an quaint/cutesey/antiquey feel (Our check was brought out in an antique novel of French lyrics), this place definitely has atmosphere. I am so happy a place like this exists downtown. Downtown Portland seems to lack middleground. You've got the super casual foodcarts, and the old stuffy/stodgy businessman restaurants. Picnic House fills the void- a cool, yet respectable spot downtown that serves good food at reasonable prices. The lunch menu deal- combine 2 options for $12- was perfect! Grilled cheese with carmelized onions, and butternut squash soup (with cranberry cream, natch)- oh, bliss. The portion was just right for me, although may be a bit small for those moments of roaring appetite. Our individual waiter was so hipster lovely. With round spectacles and a curly mustache, it was as if he walked straight out of the decor. However, I did have a complaint with the OTHER waiter. A young blonde, dare I say good looking (I'd hate to further feed that ego), man who refused to acknowledge me as I waited at the entryway for roughly 5 minutes. It was such an awkward introduction to an otherwise lovely lunch- I stood in the open space, waiting to be seated, as a waiter walked past me time and time again without as much as a simple hello or glance of acknowledgment. Look, I know it isn't your job. You are a waiter, not a hostess. But to the girl standing awkwardly by herself in a big airy space with absolutely nothing to distract from the uncomfortableness of waiting (no books, no chairs, no cornhole- thought I doubt that'd be appropriate- no way for me to otherwise occupy myself), a little gesture of friendliness would have gone a long way. Instead, I had to question whether I was actually standing in the right place: was there a bell to ring? should I have called beforehand? did I just stumble into a secret club? is it because I don't know the passcode? Yet, even the snooty waiter couldn't knock this place down. I am already planning a date night for cocktails and dinner at this wonderful spot.
(4)Rebecca C.
Went here for the first time yesterday for a business lunch. It was actually a really interesting building, apparently it used to be the lobby for the Heathman before it moved across the street. I loved the decor and the room, and the food was really good too. Which, frankly, if you're reading a review of a restuarant is probably the most important thing you need to know. Both of us did the soup and sandwich lunch combo, and it was just enough food. Usually I'm served huge portions that are lunch and dinner, but this was a perfect enough amount to have me full but not feeling like my gut was going to explode. The food itself was good, fresh and hot which, as it turns out, is harder to get from a restaurant than you would think. The grilled cheese with carmelized onions was really good, had that bite of cheddar that let you know it was there which was delicious. It paired perfectly with the hot tomato soup and frankly on such a cold, rainy day it hit the exact right note. I'm definitely putting this place on the regular lunch rotation.
(4)Michael C.
Very good dinner! The menu was small but interesting, the food was tasty, the prices were reasonable. the ambiance was fine, and the service was excellent. All four of us were very happy with our meals, and the s'mores dessert was quite unique and delicious. We'll be back!
(5)Tiffany B.
Sunday lunch spots are really a hit n miss around Portland! It's too late for brunch, and too early for dinner....luckily Yelp directed us to this new little spot! Reading all the other reviews prompted us to stop in and give them a shot. We were so glad we did, and you should too!! The interior, as many others have said, is amazing! When you enter thru the glass door, you just stop in your shoes and take it all in! The waiter was very nice and gave us a little history lesson on the old place. This was the old Heathman hotel lobby back in the 40's. The original tiled floors are still there and look great! The old mill work is beautiful, in the back, the ceiling lifts to major heights and this pretty patina metal ceiling is exposed with surrounding wood beams. Seriously- we sat and looked up and down thru our whole lunch! Our waiter showed us some pictures of the place when they bought it, the former was a jewelry store with low ceilings that covered all this gorgeous history. He said they had no idea when they tore down the plaster, all this wood was there! What a great find! The place is decorated nice, really gives you the park feeling with outdoor benches and this huge, and I mean HUGE, wood table and benches! They have only been open 6 months, and are planning on brunch service soon. This place would do great serving a weekend brunch, IMO. They lunch menu has soup, sandwiches and salads. You can pick any 2 or 3 to make a meal out of. The spiced pumpkin soup was so good on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Went perfectly with my Spanish Coffee! Yes, they have a full bar! The prosciutto with fig butter and arugala hit the spot too! Portions were prefect, not too heavy and we left feeling just right! A great little gem this place is, I hope they do well and stick around for a long time!
(4)Maegan S.
I have eaten here twice over the past few months, once with a small party of 4 and once with a large party of more than 20. The menu is delightfully small, with a broad scope for different tastes. The stuffed portobello is cooked to perfection, with a spicy polenta-esue topping (the chaotic application of arugula to the top is confusing though). Tenderloin tip appetizers are at the top of my list for sharing, but order several if you have a group. The roasted cauliflower needs work on presentation. Dark chocolate pudding for dessert with homemade marshmallows is like an adult s'more. To die for. The grilled pound cake is a bit of a miss. I give 4 stars because on my last visit the waitress did not bring my dinner out until everyone else was finished with their meals (~30 minute lag). Not a big deal, but no reparations or apologies were made. A free cocktail while I was waiting would have been nice.
(4)Devrey H.
After watching a play at the Brunish Theatre we stumbled across The Picnic House. I ordered the pork chop with bread pudding and found it to be excellent. The pork chop was seasoned well and juicy, but the star of the plate was the apple, cheddar, and caramelized onion bread pudding. The combined flavors were delicious and the perfect accompaniment to the pork chop. For dessert I ordered the Chèvre Cheesecake, which was to die for. Brilliant meal in a great atmosphere with stellar service. I will definitely return.
(5)Tony D.
Good food and service. This place is more of a lunch spot, but we walked over here for dinner since it was near our hotel. The place was pretty quiet, but we gave it a shot anyway. The small menu was pretty good and simple. Just soup and sandwiches, plus small starters. It was cheap, easy and hit the spot. It was definitely nothing fancy, but we liked the old building.
(4)Haley S.
My boyfriend and I are new to Portland and have been trying out new places. Picnic house was average at best. The service was slow and a bit awkward. We couldn't figure out the decor. My boyfriend is a vegetarian and got the portobello mushroom dish. He couldn't eat it because the flavor was so horrid. We won't be coming back.
(2)Frisky M.
Whimsical space. Open through the day. A tasty cocktail list. A fun yet knowledgeable waitress named Emily. Good food. What more could of you asked for in the middle of the day. Awesome place!
(5)Crystal H.
There is a TON of comfort food in Portland -- which is awesome, but left me craving something with a more delicate sensibility. This place nailed it. Very similar to our gastro pub back home, The Ravenous Pig. The menu changes every couple of weeks but we got the pulled pork shoulder sandwich and the roasted lemon chicken. The chicken was great, simple and rustic but the pork shoulder sandwich was like OMG holy wow deliciousness! Highly recommend. I will be dreaming about that sandwich in Florida! Service was good, and the ambience is awesome. It's in an old hotel lobby and the decor on the walls and staircase are old printing press plates giving it a bit of color and funkiness. The rest of the decor is reminiscent of decades past. Didn't try any of the cocktails, but they apparently make the mixing soda recipes from scratch!! Sounds awesome. We had the grilled pound cake for desert and every bite was delicate and delicious. Try it!!!! Any foodie will love it.
(5)Tonya S.
Went here Friday while down in Portland for a girls weekend. We were seated right away, our waitress was excited and friendly (not in an annoying way). We got one of the specials: compressed watermelon salad with a goat cheese stuffed squash blossom. From the menu, an order of rice balls, the fried chicken, and the mushroom lasagna. We each ordered a drink. Our bill was under $100, not bad!! The food was fun and flavorful. I LOVED the lasagna, I cannot stress how yummy it was!!! If you have a thing for sharp cheese and truffles, you have to have it! The chicken had a delightful crispy crust, the chicken must have soaked in a sweet/sugary marinate. The sweetness was a bit much but interesting. The chicken was in the bone, moist and flavorful. I got the drink with blueberries in it. Sweet and tart but not too much of either. My glass came with a crack, the wait-staff was extremely apologetic and took the drink off the bill. We were too full for dessert but they looked great! Definitely on my 'places to go in PDX' list!
(5)Jeannie O.
Cute decor, friendly staff, and good food. Good salad, good soup, however, the turkey sandwich was crying out for a condiment - too dry. The saving grace and not to be missed was the awesome chocolate cheesecake. Exploding with favor, a delight for your taste buds.
(4)Susan C.
Perfect end to our Portland Walking tour. Lunch for seven at what was the old Heathman Hotel, now at least for three years The Picnic House. Greeted and seated thanks to reservations via Open Table. Easy, peasy. The majority of the group ordered the mushroom soup and a salad combo, even though the temp outside was reaching 95 degrees. I had the tomato salad, a bit skimpy but delicious. Others had the. Chop salad, Asian salad and then sandwiches with soup. Wonderful. Many in the group had attended functions here for private events and some others frequently lunch here. We will be back.
(4)Peggy S.
Wow! This place is good! I was surprised that it wasn't very packed when we arrived, even though when we called in for a reservation, they said there won't be any availability till 7:45, but when we got there at 7:15, we were seated right away at a fairly empty dining room. We ordered a vegetarian charcuterie plate to share - I had my doubts at first, but it turned out to be really delicious. I loved the marinated portobello mushroom, and the mushroom pate. The picked radish was refreshing, and the vegetable terrine is a very creative way to dress up veggies. I got the roasted pork terrine with potato gruyere gratin, mustard mousse, brussels leaves, red pepper purée. I looooved my dish. The roasted pork terrine was very juicy and flavorful, and the mustard mousse cut the grease perfectly on the terrine. The potatoes were equally amazing with cheesy top and creamy layers of potato slices! I would absolutely return to try some of their other items on the menu. The service was prompt, professional and friendly, and the food is absolutely delicious with a very reasonable price!
(4)Kent M.
A tad pricey for the quality of food, especially given the competition in Portland. We had a bunch of things, none of which really jumped off the plate. I went for dinner, which may have been why. Might be worth coming in for some sandwiches/burgers at a more reasonable price at lunch. Although one thing they have going for it is a stuffed bear head wearing a bowler hat.
(3)Angela M.
I walked in and thought "oh no, this place is upscale-ish". Which can be fine, but not when I am not eating dairy or wheat. Or am starving. In fact, forget the wheat. Almost everything had dairy in it. And I suppose I could have requested no dairy, but I don't really see the point is spending $25+ on an entree if I'm going to remove the most delicious part of it. I suspect I also enjoy lower class plating. I would have preferred a bed of mashed potatoes instead of a sprinkling of roasted baby potatoes. I like to feel as though I will not run out of any ingredient on my plate. You know, a puddle of sauce instead of a drizzle. Or a gravy boat is even better. The pork terrine I ordered was decent. Neither notable or outstanding, I finished half of it before I ran out of potatoes, brussels, mustard mousse, and red pepper puree. Perhaps I was supposed to be forking gigantic mouthfuls of pork terrine into my maw and taking teeny little dabs and nibbles of everything else, but I feel like then the whole meal would have just tasted like pork grease. I think we are just not meant to be. I've also not experienced a place where you have to pay for your bread then pay for butter. But maybe that's a Portland thing. Or a fine dining Portland thing. Or a Picnic House thing. I will mention that the grilled cheese looked good, and if it wasn't made of everything I don't eat I would have ordered it.
(2)Jana C.
I experience an amazing meal here the night after going to Imperial for PDX Dining month. What a complete polar opposite experience.... so good the service, so good the menu offering that I chose the entire beer pairing to go with the meal, afraid whether I would make it out the door vertically or horizontally. Good thing the Hilton is but a block away. Amazing courses with wonderful textures and flavor. Loved my salad soup starter. Perfect with every bite, paired with an amber ale. The lamb shank with the veg components.... excellent composition, well balanced. Too bad there was not more meat off that bone. I wanted to gnaw it like Fred Flinstone. Sauce, kale, and root veg mousse.. yum!!! so was the Deschutes Obsidian Stout. Dessert was perfect as well. Rosehips from Portland brewing was my fave beer of the evening. I ate in the partitioned section near the dark, historic bar area. So cool, so deliciously decorated, so much character, so Portland. Loved the experience!!!
(4)Namtran V.
I came here for lunch and the decor is beautiful with a really hip vibe. I waited about 30 mins for a table for 6, but I could see a place like this filling up really quick during lunch. Their menu is easy with a few choices for soups, sandwiches, and salads. I opted for a half sandwich, half salad, and a side of chips. It was a perfect lunch serving. This place is kind of like a classy Panera. I'll definitely be coming back when I'm in the area!
(4)Ami T.
We checked this place out for Friday lunch and it was definitely busy! It is a cute hip place in SW Portland. The decor is a bit odd. The front part of the place is super cute and looks picnicy. I loved the wooden tree coat rack and the pretty lights in the front. The large communal wooden picnic bench is amazing. As you go further in, the decor looks more antique-y and doesn't match the front. I guess this may be a nod to the fact that the building used to be an old hotel in the 20s. The service was like all service in Portland--slightly slower but polite. The food was exciting and fun. It was a simple menu but everything looked great. I also thought there were a good amount of veggie options. All three soups were vegetarian (no chicken broth). We each got the half-half and soup. I got the grilled cheese which was pretty basic. The brown rice and root veggies salad was delicious and the mushroom soup was the best mushroom soup I have had. The other arugula and tomato sandwich was delicious and the tomato soup is great as well. I wasn't a huge fan of the carrot soup because it tasted more juice-y and thin instead of savory and soupy. The prices were on point for an upscale lunch place. Loved that they bring the check in a book!
(5)Jonathan R.
I just flew in to Portland on business and had heard about this place. Absolutely outstanding food and the service was exceptional. I look forward to going again. Wish we had this place in Salt Lake City.
(5)Matt E.
Maybe I'm biased. Picnic House is the first sit-down restaurant my husband and I ate at on our trip to find apartments in Portland, and we were still riding high on a celebratory wave. But I don't think it was simply a rush of endorphins that made me crush on Picnic House, but rather their consistently great service, beautiful interior and of course the delicious food. I'm definitely a fan. Since that initial dinner, I've been to Picnic House a number of times for lunch and all meals have been top notch. Off the (current) dinner menu I've tried the pistachio crusted salmon and the lamb chops. The salmon was prepared perfectly and the pop of the pomegranate made for not only a beautiful dish but also a immensely satisfying one. When it first came out I thought the portion might be a bit small, but it ended up being just right. The lamb? Well, it was good but I didn't closely enough consider the menu when ordering. It's basically DIY gyros, which isn't my cup of tea. The meat was prepared well, but I definitely suffered from envy of my date's meal. As for their sides, the roasted cauliflower and the fried brussels sprouts are both ridiculously good, and I didn't want to share. Some day I'd like to make a meal of just their sides. For lunch the offerings are much more geared towards quick soups, salads and sandwiches, which makes sense as their location is pretty central to downtown worker bees. My favorite sandwich featured charred tomato, caramelized onions, fresh cheeses (goat, feta, cream, ricotta), arugula, basil pesto. Ridiculously good, and if they happen to have a tomato soup on the menu, would pair perfectly. Their mixed greens salad with pickled blueberries is great as well, and I added roasted chicken to make it feel more like a full meal. What can I say? I eat big. My last experience at Picnic House was a bit of a production. I had to put together a dinner for 23 people, with a fairly tight budget. I immediately thought of Picnic House and led by the special events coordinator Ari, their team were fantastic from initial contact to the dinner itself. They assisted in organizing family-style appetizers and deserts, which made service easier and kept costs down. We also selected a small number of entrees to keep ordering simple and not overwhelm the kitchen. Food took a touch longer than I had hoped, but not enough to really worry about. Everybody worked together well, and nobody was left wanting for food or drink. I'd venture to say that everybody fully enjoyed the meal. I don't have the opportunity to return to restaurants all that often, but knowing that it's such a reliable standby, I see myself at Picnic House again soon.
(5)Jaime C.
this was our last night in Portland and wanted a nice dinner to cap off our vacation. We were not disappointed, the dishes are spectacular as well as the wait staff friendly outgoing and attentive. Try the truffle mushroom lasagna, perfect portion for such a rich dish. The caeser romaine wedge was a big hit as the dressing is truly home made and served with a nice poached egg and cracked pepper.
(5)Dionne S.
Food was amazing! Drinks well crafted and service top notch. No complaints from this happy girl.
(5)Nora D.
Wonderful interior design/decor. Really helpful and nice waitress. Wonderfully tasty food. The fried chicken was really good with a combination of sweet and savory. We also had the cheese board. I really like the brie with caramelized sugar on time (like a creme brule crust). I also liked the croquets.
(4)Briana S.
Same beautiful space, but it just isn't the same. I was a Picnic House regular when I was working in Portland in 2013. Flash forward two years and my friends and I decided to come here before RNR Portland. We were seated quickly, and a friendly waiter was helping us. I tried to order the lasagna, which he had recommended, but he came back and told me another table got the last slice. It was only 7:30 and they were already out?! :( I had the famous grilled cheese, which was still delicious, but not really what I wanted. But I knew I needed some starch and not just a salad (even though their entree salads are great from what I remember). My friends each got the meatloaf, but found the two sides were not warm AT ALL. The owner came over and offered to replace the sides (which she did), but it's surprising that they were able to come out of the kitchen and not be at an appropriate temperature. Really hoping this was just an off night... I used to love this place!
(3)Ivy C.
This is such a cute place with good service and very high quality, locally sourced ingredients. Their burger is so thick and juicy, and all sandwiches arrive hot and toasty with the freshest bread I've ever come across in any sandwich shop. I highly recommend doing a combination of 3 items for $15, which includes any 3 items in the lunch menu. It says half a salad and half a sandwich, but the sandwich is a decent size. Their desserts are very delicious too! The menu rotates so don't be afraid to ask the waiter what the most popular item is at the moment.
(4)Tristan R.
The environment was nice and friendly enough. Unique and interesting vibe. Great area. The food was good -- they incorporated novel ingredients to traditional dishes, which was interesting, and they used (to the extent possible) local and organic produce. Menu, however, was a bit too limited and the dishes a little too interesting for my crude tastes (they added an edible flower to the meatloaf). I do like how they focus on doing a few things very very well, but those few things didn't happen to overlap with dishes and/or ingredients that I like and prefer (and I like a lot of things too). I would still try this place again - it appears the menu changes so there's no reason to believe there won't be something that will be appealing to me at some point. Give it a shot.
(3)Josh S.
Best meal I've had in a long time. Amazing brussel sprouts!! Melt in your mouth fried chicken. Great wine. Awesome service. Thank you for making it a wonderful night!
(5)Chris P.
Great sandwiches - particularly the grilled cheese. The atmosphere was great - set in a old hotel which gave it a particularly refined elegance. The waitstaff was particularly friendly and helpful. Definitely a lunch go-to lunch spot.
(5)Stefani D.
The food is really impressive but the decore and everything else lacks First impression walking in neat and kinda trendy but the way this is set up feels like 2 different places when you hear picnic you think wood grass checked clothes but then you walk in the back of the restaurant is doesn't make sense. Plus the service is very slow and also the sliver ware is all mismatched especially when you sell $12 salads But the food is very outstanding I mean very outstanding great balance and great selections I would go back but would sit elsewhere
(4)Katy H.
What an absolutely fantastic experience I had here the other night. I was in Portland participating in a big work trip with nearly 2 dozen people. It's not easy to find a place to eat with a group that size but The Picnic House delivered! Well, no... I mean they made it happen. They didn't literally deliver, they have a huge communal table fit for kings in the front room of the restaurant. Just beyond it there are 4 tops and 2 tops for smaller, more intimate dinners. The service for our group was impeccable. Lots of refilling of water glasses, lots of checking in to see if we needed more of anything, and lots of pouring of wine. Totally outstanding considering they had other tables to take care of at the same time our massive group was there demanding a lot of attention of the wait staff and kitchen. The food was superb and the dessert was gone within minutes. I had the pork terrine and it was delicious. I also sneaked a few bites of the salmon and it was great as well. This is definitely a great spot for dates and catching up with friends over a lovely meal. Prices aren't unapproachable but the quality of the food makes it almost feel that way.
(5)Jessica K.
Came here for a birthday, the menu didn't have many options and everything was a little too unique for me. I thought I played it safe by going with grilled cheese but even that had some stinky cheese in it and I could barely eat it. Also the coffee tasted really burnt and just not good. Would not try this place again.
(3)Chelsea M.
Wohoo! As good as it gets! This place, for me, screams Portland. Fresh, local ingredients, awesome atmosphere and eclectic decor. So here's the rundown of my experience there on a Saturday night: 1. Reservations: made them through Yelp, seated on time. Would definitely suggest reservations because I was not seeing many people seated without them. 2. Drinks: What a great menu! I had a raspberry and rosemary concoction that was so unique, well balanced, and delicious. I would definitely recommend their cocktail list. My husband's Long Island was more of a rum and coke, so I would stick to their menu. 3. Cheese board: This is how a cheese board should be done! Generous helping of cheese and a medium-sized baguette. Easily shared between two people and probably could stretch it to four people. Delicious! Five stars! I love cheese! 4. Food: My husband loved his risotto even though it had mushrooms. It was well cooked and appropriately creamy. My lamb chops were phenomenal. The tzatziki and the other sauce with the pine nuts and arugula, yum! This was truly a well thought out plate with layers of deliciousness. The only down score here was that one of my three chops was under cooked, like still seeing a little pink before you cut into it. Unfortunately, it was the last one I cut into so not much to be done but the waitress did apologize and say she would let the chefs know. 5. Price: Pretty spot on for Portland. We walked out of there with a $74 tab - 2 entrees, 2 drinks, and a cheese board (did I mention I loved the cheese?). 6. Time: We were in and out of there, not rushing, in 45 minutes. This was great! I wonder if it comes from being across from the Schnitzer and people rushing to get to their show. So, if you are looking for a meal that will not drag on, this would be a great place! Other notes: Back seating section was darker/more intimate, we were seated in the front next to the windows and it had a more exposed feel, I would ask for a back room table next time. Moderate noise level, not horrible, but not quiet. Portions are appropriately sized her, nothing too big, but enough to make you feel like you are getting your money's worth.
(5)Nick M.
Well, we came here for dinner before the theatre, and, overall, it was great. The food was really good, the staff friendly, the decor really interesting. I think we must just have been there on a off-night in terms of service though, because while the staff were really friendly and helpful, they didn't really have the basics down. The beer pairings never arrived with the food, and twice we had to remind them to bring them at all, and drinks orders had to be followed up on. It's not a big deal, but at this price point the small stuff should be screwed-down pretty tight. I'll definitely be back, because the food was great, and I'm willing to believe we just picked the wrong night.
(4)Kendra D.
My husband and I ate dinner here last night. Reservations - no problem and we were seated five mins after arrival. Hostess - polite and got us our drinks quickly. Waiter - took our food order, brought us our bill. Nothing in between. Did not ask us how our food was, did not ask if we wanted a second drink, did not check on us at all! In fact, he seemed like he had a chip on his shoulder! ???? Weird. Food - Salmon was meh. Nothing special and tasted fishy. (Higgins salmon much better.) Salmon was not worth the $$. Lamb chops, however, were good. Nicely presented and well cooked. No problems there and worth the $$. No bread, butter or extras provided as you sip your drink and wait for your food. Not a problem for me, but surprising. Mixed Drink - Sharab was tasty. Very tart, but I liked it. The restaurant would probably be worth another try food and cocktail-wise, because their website pics look amazing. But I'm not sure I'd give them a second chance because of how we were treated by the server. Again - very odd treatment. Luckily, here in Portland there are lots and lots of other fantastic restaurants to choose from with better treatment by servers.
(2)Case W.
My friends & I were going to a show at the Schnitz and decided to have dinner here before because it was close and convenient. It was the same night as the Rose Festival Starlight Parade however we manage to find parking and away from the parade crowd. When we arrived we wanted to sit in the main dining area but was told it was reserved for a private function and they seated us in front entrance area which remind me of a deli or lunch cafe where you ordered your food first and they will call your name when it's ready. No feel of a hipster restaurant whatsoever It was hard to figure out who our server was as several people approached up and never introduce themselves and said they were going to be our server for the meal. One of them put a huge carafe of water and not bother to pour it in our glasses. After mulling over the menu we started out with the chicken liver mousse and the cauliflower dish. The mousse was good but we had to ask 2 different servers to provide us an extra loaf of bread which they took their own sweet time to get it to us. The cauliflower was okay but nothing to write home about. I ordered the Fried chicken which had no flavor and the crust was like biting into chalk with discouraging. My friends had the salmon over the risotto which was better but again no flavor. When we were finished, I left very disappointed and felt I spent a lot of money for a less than mediocre meal.
(1)Valerie J.
Had a lovely dinner here, thanks to a recommendation from my out-of-town friend. I also happen to take a different out-of-town friend with me. Both had high praise for how "Portland" they found it to be. Which pretty much sums it up. It was very good, and a great place to take tourists who are looking for an organic, slightly quirky, non-chain dining experience downtown. Watch as they thrall over the pine entryway and 1930's French cabaret soundtrack!
(4)Gabe P.
Pretty fancy and nice, well thought and well managed. The service here is impeccable, Patrick I believe was our guy, but the others we talked to were perfectly helpful and knowledgeable. The small tables are close together and you get to share your impressions with your neighbors, that adds a social factor to the experience. The food is great, had the Roasted Salmon (that comes topped with pomegranate seeds, yeap!) and Potato gnocchi, both delicious! There are many other appetizing options but you can only eat that much in 3 rounds of dinner in one night!
(5)Mike D.
Visiting from the east coast and popped in here for a late lunch. Certainly did not disappoint. Very cool ambiance. Wait staff was extremely attentive. And the chicken sandwich and mushroom soup among the best I've had. Very unique flare on what could otherwise be common sandwiches. They even bring the checks over in an actual book which I thought was neat. Definitely check it out for lunch if you're in the area.
(5)Ken L.
The roast beef sandwich combo: Roast beef sandwich with the perfect proportions of thinly sliced roast beef, caramelized onions, a touch of horseradish mayo aioli, cheddar, and arugula packaged in-between two slices of light crunchy bread*. Accompanying this beauty: the spring vegetable soup, and as a reminder I am not a big fan of soup, had me begging for more with its richness and smooth flavor. After all is said and done, this lunch meal combo gave me just enough to fill my belly but yet at a 100% satisfaction level. Price at $12 is higher than what I would have liked thus the one star deduct. ___________ *My pic shows half a sandwich (the smaller half) I shared. Menu online: media.wix.com/ugd/7034c9…
(4)Chris O.
Overall things were pretty good here. The menu isn't too big which is good and it's somewhat seasonal so you'll get new choices every time. I had a few things, one was the shaved kale salad added duck legs which was a very tasty salad although I'd recommend to add the chicken breast instead as the duck was expensive and had hardly any meat. I also shared a cheese plate which was good but a little heavy on the strong blue cheese, and I like blue cheese. They had a good selection of wines and beer, although I'd like to see more ciders as somehow I think it would go with the farm to table style food well. The service was good. Service was good and the atmosphere was pleasant. A great place to eat before or after the symphony which is right next door.
(4)Anne K.
Fantastic food, warm service, great atmosphere, fun people - the Picnic House had it all when we went there last night for our 15th wedding anniversary. My husband had lamb chops and I had the salmon with a scrumptious asparagus risotto. We shared the roasted cauliflower appetizer with caramelized onions, chickpeas, and currants. It was all cooked to perfection, with portion sizes that were generous without being overwhelming. What a treat! We had a special welcome from general manager Amy, who is clearly doing a terrific job in this place that blends history with modern twists, and classic comfort food with contemporary tastes. The place was upscale and hip without being stuffy or pretentious. We loved it all. After dinner we enjoyed a nightcap at their new bar addition, Barlow, and were thoroughly entertained by the bartender who grows his own rosemary and other elixir flavorings - plus, it was a real show to see him use bubbly liquid nitrogen to chill the glasses. Wonderful evening, all the way around. Thanks, Picnic House crew, for making our wedding anniversary so special! We'll definitely be back.
(5)Naomi L.
This place was pretty delicious! We came about an hour to closing on a Saturday night, luckily found nearby free meter parking, and walked right in. It was late, so there were plenty of open tables. Instead of seating us near the front to make the place look busy, the host/server took us to the back area. I'm so glad he did since we were able to see more of the decorations! Inside was like a nice garden party that made a baby with a hipster who was really into Alice in Wonderland. I guess that's a lot of the esthetic in Oregon, but I absolutely loved it after being so many more rustically decorated placed in NOLA. Food-wise, I enjoyed my sirloin culotte and had enough for the next day. My friend liked her pan fried chicken breast (also huge and enough for a 2nd meal). We agreed it was delicious, but not totally knock your socks off. I would totally bring visitors here to eat again if I went to visit again.
(4)Ronald A.
I have been here for lunch and dinner. It is always good. It has a good menu that is not too big. I had the lamb that was grilled. It is served with Grilled vegetables, including an olive. The salmon was encrusted with pistachios. Each dish was very good. Pork chops, irk terrine and a grilled cheese sandwich. Everything was wonderful. The wine lust has some very good choices with very fair prices. There are some expensive wines. There are some less expensive. Great meal. Come try it.
(4)Vi B.
I had a pretty okay experience here. Location: Right off Broadway. Parking can be hard to find. Walking in, I saw that the restaurant was mostly empty (possibly because it was a weeknight?). I didn't have anyone greet me, but I eventually found my friends in the back of the restaurant. The service from the waiter was great and the food was tasty, but I'm not sure if the full experience was worth the price.
(3)Janet H.
Picnic House was SO good that even though we weren't hungry at all, we finished EVERYTHING. Yeah, Clean Plate Club! We actually had pretty low expectations for this place, considering we had a pre-dinner at 5pm and became voracious fatties and decided to make reservations here for 8:45 pm. We strolled in, to discover how cutely decorated this restaurant is, how funny and witty our server is, and how amazing the food was! It was the best decision EVER to eat dinner number two here. This honestly was probably my favorite meal in Portland. First off, our server was absolutely hilarious and sarcastic -- I love it! He made dinner so entertaining :) He also gave great suggestions and checked on us constantly. As weird as it sounds, I secretly wished he could be my friend in real life... Now, onto the food... for the appetizers, I recommend the Moroccan cauliflower and the duck fat potatoes! The Cauliflower was so flavorful, with a great assortment of spices sprinkled on it! And, the duck fat potatoes... mmm... who doesn't love potatoes doused in fat? Hey, and don't feel bad. They did a study in France and noticed those who ate more duck fat were less likely to have cancer... And the main dish... get the pork chop. It was so divine! It was a bit on the dry side, but loved the flavors and the mixture of sweetness on it. Finally, the dessert. You must get the pavlova! It's a definitely a picture-worthy moment upon arrival, so get your camera ready. It's this ginormous dessert with whipped cream and berries that can feed 4 people. It's also reasonably priced. The last time I had it was in San Francisco for the same price and a size of my palm. I loved how they added their own twist with Granny Smith Apples to add a sour tang to the treat. Picnic House, I'm so glad we ate here. Be prepared, as I'll come back in a couple years.
(5)Sarah B.
The Picnic House is the perfect place for a flip-flopper like me. When presented with a menu, it's like my mind instantly goes blank. I want one of everything! As soon as I decide on something, something else catches my eye. What if that thing is better? What if I regret my decision? What if I order incorrectly and everyone hates me? Worse, what if I hate my food, and therefore myself? WHAT IF MY LUNCH ORDER BRINGS ABOUT THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE?! Such heady decisions are obviously hard on little old me. So The Picnic House's approach to lunch decisioning - letting me choose a little from Column A, B, and/or C (a smidge of sammich, a smidge of soup, AND a smidge of salad?! YES PLEASE) is the ultimate in responsibility absolution. When I dine here, I can rest assured in the knowledge that if the zombie apocalypse begins, it won't have been because I made the wrong lunch choice. On my last visit, I chose the wild mushroom soup, an uber-tasty portobello sammy, and a crazy-yummy butter lettuce salad. Naturally, since it was lunchtime (WHAT? Sometimes my workday ends at lunch, OK?) I also ordered a Rose City cocktail, which was diviiine. 'Twas a little like an aviation without the creme de violette, and such a perfect light, summery accompaniment to my fall-themed lunch. The service was GREAT, AND they take reservations, so I'm really pleased with this place. I don't have time to sit around waiting for a table at lunch time (or anytime, really, but especially not lunchtime), so reservations are key. The decor and ambiance is swell to boot - with quirky art, wood beamed high ceilings, and mirrors galore. I'm not downtown very often, but when I am I'll make sure to seek this place out.
(4)Vanessa S.
During my stay in Portland and before going up to Seattle, I think I tried coming here twice. The first time, it was closed. The second time, they were closed for a private event. After taking the bus back down to Portland from Seattle, I saw that the bus stop was pretty much a block away from The Picnic House and they were open. It was in the afternoon when we arrived. We waited a little bit to get a table even though the place wasn't that busy. We finally got seated by the window and ordered from the happy hour menu (my visit here was last year and I don't think they have happy hour here any more). My mom and I ordered the tomato soup and half grilled cheese. It was very good and nice to have after being on a bus. It was a very small portion, but helped to hold us over. A nice little spot. I'll come back here the next time I'm in Portland with an updated review.
(4)Sirayuki H.
When I pass in front of this restaurant I look in the window but haven't been inside. Today finally I went there and it was great! Inside was huge, bigger than I thought. And very cute! I and my friend got a lunch combination which is we can choose two of Soup, Salad and Sandwich from lunch menu. I ordered a salad with brown rice and a sandwich with shred prosciutto. Yum. I love this salad! I should have remembered this salad's full name! Anyways, that amount was perfect! I enjoy it! I should bring my husband next time! He will love there for sure!
(5)Ryan F.
Had a couple friends suggest Picnic House for dinner. Decided to give it a try for a lunch meeting and was very pleased. Good lunch selection, especially with the mix and match of soups, sandwiches and salads. Turkey sandwich was delicious, soup was great and so was my salad. Good cocktail selection and my friend said his burger was amazing. Had a peek at the dinner menu and will be back to try next time I'm in town.
(5)Lisa B.
We had high hopes for this spot. Unfortunately it didn't pan out. We tried the seasonal soup which was curry pumpkin. That was the star of the meal. Fiancée had the roasted chicken. When he cut into the chicken it was raw. It took us awhile to get the attention of someone. I had the pork chop and it was overdone and the onion loaf was overly custardy. I was primarily upset that with raw chicken they still charged us for the full meal. I mean do what you want but a discount or maybe taking the chicken off would have been a better idea.
(2)Eric R.
Service: 4 stars Ambiance: 4 stars Food: 2 stars I really like what they're trying to do. Unfortunately they don't actually get there The service was very good - not "cheesy hi-my-name-is-Howz-that-tasting", which is a plus. Human scale, honest, not at all pretentious (a miracle for this city!). The wine list is fine, and has a very serviceable Nebbiolo. But the food... Oh, the food... It's... Dull. Like, anyone with a Williams-Sonoma cookbook does this dull. Maybe things just Portland? What do I know? I'll just have some more wine and be fine with it.
(3)Katie M.
We came here for dinner before a show at the Schnitzer. We had a reservation, and our table was ready right away. The menu looked great. It was a Tuesday at 6 p.m. Unfortunately we never got to taste any of the food, since over an hour after we sat down, we had only received drinks (not even the bread we ordered!) and had to cancel our order and leave in order to be able to go somewhere to eat something, anything, before the show. I felt terrible for our waitress; clearly they were understaffed or something since we did not see her until at least 30 minutes after we were seated. The kitchen was incredibly slow. We ordered all our food at once, asked for it all to be brought out in any order, and got our check when we ordered, but they still couldn't manage to get one morsel of food on the table for an entire hour. And they didn't even comp our drinks! On the upside, the staff was very apologetic when refunding us (and the several other parties who came to the bar with the exact same issue at the same time as us), and all the food we saw around us looked like it would have been great. And the Jalapeño McChicken that I stuffed into my starving mouth before running to the Schnitz was delicious.
(1)Isocephaly B.
Arrived at around 2 pm Friday and just missed the lunch rush; the staff was clearly trying to recover, so everything was a bit slow, but had delightful, leisurely meal of soup and sandwiches, paired with fun cocktails and excellent wine--all for completely reasonable downtown price. Staff and ambiance were entirely charming; from the chalk-board in the entryway to the lamp-post in the dining room, the management brings a sense of fun and whimsy to its meals. The quality of the ingredients was clearly very high, so although the lunch menu basically comprises soup and sandwiches, the meal was entirely satisfying. Would gladly eat there again.
(5)Pip A.
Delicious - great for a light meal or a heavier one. Very accommodating wait staff. Had the grilled cheese and the tomato soup pairing and it was amazing. My friend had the burger and said it was the best he had ever had. The apricot cider is delicious as well. Highly recommend here. Vibe and decor is adorable too!
(5)steven s.
Drinks were not so good, but our food was. The chicken was great. Our server screwed up our order tho so we ended up eating one of our appetizers (we just thought he forgot) after our entres. That's fine, it happens to everybody but he should have appologized for making the mistake, instead he kind of insinuated that we had misled him by saying we'd like the risotto. Besides how weird that interaction was we still had a great time an enjoyed our food.
(3)Shirley K.
The food is Soooooooooooooo yummy here!! Came here for lunch and did the half sandwich and half salad combo for $12. It is $15 if you choose a half sandwich, half salad and cup of soup. The portion is big enough to share but you may need to also order a dessert - which is what we did! We had the pavlova with whipped cream and fresh berries for dessert. It was so much fun to eat that towering and patriotic dessert on the 4th of July (see pic)! The service was super friendly and helpful. Love this place!!
(5)Jessica H.
I've been here 3 times. The first time was soooo amazing! I had a delicious piece of salmon served on a cedar plank and it was so good I declared picnic house my new favorite restaurant. Unfortunately, my second experience was not so great. The service was slow, our waiter mixed up or omitted our order on two different items, and to top it off, the food didn't have the same "wow factor" it had the first time. I wasn't ready to give up. I tried picnic house for a third time... It was similar to my second experience. The waiter forgot parts of the order, the food was good, but "good" doesn't cut it when you live in a city that has so many wonderful food options. Honestly, the food probably deserves 3-4 stars, but the totality of my experiences have been disappointing. And for that, picnic house only gets 2 stars.
(2)Ophelia Y.
I feel like the Picnic House is one of Portland's best kept secrets. I've been here twice, and it's been really chill. The place has a rustic feel, with high ceilings, and is vintage and beautiful. The lunch menu features a solid collection of soups, salads, and sandwiches, and you can get and combinations of them that you'd like. It's very affordable for the quality and freshness of the food, and just tastes absolutely divine! I got the roast beef sandwich and a cup of soup. Perfect meal for a rainy Friday in Portland! I've gotten a really good salad from here and a ridiculously awesome berry dessert as well. A very solid Portland spot. Looks Portland. Feels Portland. Tastes Portland.
(5)Kim P.
Unbelievably good drinks and lunch. The beet and arugula salad was beautiful and delicious. Great atmosphere...will definitely return...
(5)Doug K.
Had to dine solo after my party cancelled. A quick seat at the bar at the height of the lunch rush and I had a great salad of Kale with roasted chicken with a fried over easy egg on top and all was good in the world. The slices of chicken were moist, the kale clean-other places I get dirt and grit but not here! and the addition of the over easy egg-I always order one when ever possible, was great! Service was fast and attentive and the bill didn't make my jaw drop. Great quality ingredients, excellent service and reasonable prices what more can one ask for??!!
(4)Tamara H.
Phenomenal food. I had the Pork Terrine. It was cooked perfectly and served with the most beautiful mustard sauce, mustard greens and potato gratin. My boyfriend had the Cold Smoked Duck. Amazing! The service was impeccable. The ambiance is cozy but airy. We have found a new gem in Portland and cannot wait to return to work our way down the menu!
(5)Forrest P.
Very good service, great food, interesting atmosphere. I was accidentally given the wrong entree (ordered daily special salmon, was given the menu version), once the error was noticed the staff quickly brought out the correct food, so I ended up with both-- definitely the right way to resolve the issue. Food was very good, and the staff even complimented my bow tie.
(5)Gabe J.
AWESOME - AWESOME! I read some of the stellar reviews as well as not so stellar, if you can find one, someone mentioned it was like the cheese cake factory and I was a bit put off but there were too many great review to ignore. I went for lunch while traveling and was seated right away by the friendly host, actually she asked if I wanted to sit at the bar as there wasn't any wait, otherwise it might be 5 minutes, I went over to the bar area and only 1 other person was there so we had plenty of space and room. The server/bar tender with a batman tie, he was awesome and said everything was great but had some favorites, I ordered the mushroom soup and the salad with the brown rice, which probably sounded the least appetizing but thought to try something different. LOVED, LOVED all of it, the mushroom soup was creamy and fresh tasting with just the right amount of seasoning. The salad I absolutely loved and want to make at home for my family, had lots of shredded and diced veggies with the brown rice and not too much dressing....the whole thing was super great, I was full but had wanted to try at least one of their desserts, at least a bit, so I ordered the pound cake with strawberries and my one bit turned into two, ok, maybe three, it was worth it. YUMMERS, can't wait to bring clients here, I'm sure it's already one of their faves. By the way whoever said it's like the cheesecake factory, I want to go to yours because mine is nothing like this place, the ambiance or the food. Don't know whacha talkin' bout Willis...
(5)Jillian R.
Very cool experience. I loved the steampunk ambiance (I do wish the bathrooms carried the theme over, but I'm just a weirdo who likes themed bathrooms). I loved the way that check was presented (spoiler alert: an old book). The food was also excellent; we had the cheeseplate, the pork chops, the grilled cheese and the chicken breast. For dessert, we had the grilled pound cake and the smores pudding. I loved the cheeseplate! There were four different types (2 hard, 2 soft) served with a loaf of bread. Make sure that they give you an extra loaf or else you will run out of bread. My main course was the chicken breast. I have to say, I am normally a beef eater and don't love chicken. This dish blew me away. So flavorful...the lemon and thyme were superb. For dessert I had the pound cake. Only criticism was that it had way too much whipped cream on it, but otherwise the dish was delicious. I loved the subtle (not too sweet!) flavors and the spring of mint on top was a perfect way to end the meal. Great experience, great food! Highly recommend.
(4)Irene S.
Came here for my birthday. The food was really good and the mood was very classy! Me and a group of friends ordered 4/dishes and shared it. For me personally I think it was on the pricier side with a smaller portion, but it wasn't too bad. Service was a little slow but the servers were all very friendly.
(3)Chris T.
This place was great, epic food, great ambiance-but please hire more servers. The service is slow, I could give you 5 stars if you fixed your service. So for starters I don't think the service is bad-just slow. They clearly don't have enough people on the floor. They do know their menu. All of it beer/wine and food. Honestly though there are only a handful of people running the whole wait staff and it shows. The food was wonderful. We started with the beet salad which was great, very fresh and the feta cheese added a nice richness to the salad. The standout was the cauliflower, epic flavor with a little kick! The steak was delicious but poorly cooked. It definitely shows the meat quality when the medium well cooked steak was still tender...even when it was ordered rare. All in all my wife and I love the meal. Just please hire more staff. Then I can rate you what you deserve.
(4)Robert G.
I can't emphasize how good our first meal in Portland was. We had no idea what to do when we first got here, and the 2-year old was behaving kind of crazy after a long car ride. So I decided to start with the wild mushroom soup. This was lovely, and wasn't blended to complete smoothness, which I liked. I also very much liked the chunks of mushrooms sparingly added, though I couldn't tell you what kind they were. After that the wife and I settled on a trio of small plates: Crostini - the best starter plate of a great bunch. Crispy, thin crostini topped with goat cheese (among others) and tasting of sweet lavender honey. Crunchy, toasted almonds were spread over the plate and dotted with the honey. I don't have much experience rating "farm-to-table" experiences but I this is *exactly* what I hoped it would be. Beef tenderloin - a very good plate that keeps the a skewer of beef tender and medium-rare on the inside, while charring the outside. The skewer alternates beef with goat cheese, which lends good creaminess to the plate. Duck fat potatoes - The potatoes are fried in the duck fat, and fortunately they're not greasy (although unfortunately, I couldn't quite taste the duck either. Ah well.) This is served with horseradish and chives, and reminds you more of sour cream than horseradish. Another great plate. Thanks, Portland, for a great introduction to your food scene. I'm ready to take on the rest!
(5)Ryan L.
My beau and I went here for lunch. For $15 I got a cup of soup, salad and 1/2 a sandwich. It was quite a bit of food for the price and it was delicious. The potato salad was delicious. The potatoes were cooked perfectly and it had a lot of flavor but not too much dressing. The sandwich was a roast chicken sandwich. It was great. I loved the bread. The cauliflower soup with brown butter and crispy kale was phenomenal. It was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The service was excellent. The cocktails were great also.
(5)Mike T.
Solid overall experience. Nice atmosphere and the food met expectations. The service, as others have suggested, was not rushed (slow). I do not recommend PH if you are looking for a quick bite. My kale salad was tasty, but overly dressed and salty. The Italian meat sandwich was good, but not excellent. Portion size was fair. The acoustics in the restaurant, like others said, makes it loud when the restaurant is full. I would not recommend taking people who are sensitive to loud restaurants here, but I felt that it was fine for my informal business/networking meeting. Enjoy!
(4)Bethany K.
TIME&PLACE: Wednesday night take out Had seen Picnic House on Yelp for a while, and finally took the plunge to eat there... or order take out, which counts, right? But, it was kind of a weird and underwhelming experience the entire way. 1) Called in to order takeout, but the gal on the phone asked me for how many people were in our party... that's strange, right? She also put me on hold at least three different times -- first to make sure the kitchen had capacity (which they did -- and when I went to pick up, there was literally a DOZEN empty tables. so I don't get it). She also put me on hold to confirm my order and how long it would take, and then a third time because she had to call me back about there not being any more cauliflower (which I had wanted) 2) Okay, so when she told me the cauliflower was out, I asked for other vegetarian side recommendations, and she suggested the brussel sprouts. I totally should have known but THEY WERE NOT VEGETARIAN. I had a bite and got a big whiff of something meaty -- it was pork. WHAT? Ugh. Didn't finish it, but was more just annoyed because I had specifically asked for something vegetarian. 3) Ordered a mushroom soup (which was good/fine!) and asked if it came with bread or anything (as soups often do) but she said no, it didn't. But she then offered to include a side of bread (or do something about it) but lo and behold - charged for it on the receipt. Sigh. 4) I will say that I really liked the hipstery decor and feel of the restaurant, though it was weird because it was so empty. Just a lot of weird experiences that left a kind of bleh taste in my mouth... not to mention the food itself was just okay. Not coming back!
(2)Clay H.
When the tip costs more than you would pay for an entire meal at a fast food joint, you may get dinged a star for slip ups. That being said, it was a nice meal. The ambiance was great and the service was about as good as it gets. We went the on Valentines day and selected to have the prix fixie meal. Course 1) My date had the oysters (her first time ever) and loved them. She raved about them for a good long time afterwards. I had the beet salad and found it delightful. Course 2) I had the duck, while my date wisely chose the trout. This was my first time having duck, but it seemed a bit chewy and just a bit flavorless. That would be fine given my lack of experience, but the potato croquettes that accompanied it were pretty tasteless. I give that portion 2 stars. Her course was delightful, however. We loved the barley risotto and the carrots along with the fish. It was the star of the night. Course 3) The dessert was lovely. Heavenly creme brulee along with tasty macaroons ended the night well. Drinks - My date had a moulin rouge that made her happy. Highly recommended. Overall, go there if you want a great date night experience, but skip the duck.
(4)Amy A.
This place is cool. The menu is interesting, delicious, and cooked to perfection. The cocktails are hand-crafted and tasty. The service is great! And the venue is awesome! I would love to rent this place out for a private event...There is a gorgeous staircase near the rear of the restaurant that looks like it goes up into a ballroom or dining area, but I asked our server about it and she said it was just a couple storage areas upstairs. Thats too bad, if The Picnic House management created a neat rentable venue upstairs, I could see it doing VERY well! All in all, I love this place, and fully intend to go back--over and over again!
(5)Jorie T.
I ate here with a party of 9, at lunchtime on a Friday. We had a reservation for 12:10pm, so there was no wait for our table. The service was great, up until the very end when it took our waitress 45 minutes from the time we were all done eating to get us our bill, pick up the card, and get us out the door. That, in combination with the time it took between the first and last plate to be served at our table is the reason for my 4 stars instead of 5. The atmosphere is very... Portland. There is moss on some of the walls, antique woodblock printing blocks embedded in moss walls and creating mosaics on other walls. There is a bear head with a bowler hat, some cutesy poems and sayings painted on the walls, and they bring your bill to you in an antique book. All of these "weird" things mesh together pretty well but there is a definite vibe that Picnic House is trying to "keep Portland weird". For lunch, you can choose to have a combo of half salad, half sandwich, and cup of soup, or just two of those three options. I chose to do a combo of 3, to sample as many of their menu items as possible, since everything sounded really tasty. The wild mushroom soup with white wine and thyme was probably my favorite. It was so good in fact, that I almost question if this item was vegetarian. The soup was full bodied and hearty, which made me wonder if there was a chicken stock base. I forgot to ask before and after ordering, but it wasn't indicated anywhere on the menu that there was meat in it, so I'm hoping there wasn't. I'm also told this place is pretty vegan friendly, so I'm guessing it was just ridiculously good soup. For my half sandwich, I chose the grilled cheese with caramelized onions, aged cheddar, and fresh cheeses. This was really closer to a cheese panini than a grilled cheese, as I don't think there was any oil or butter on the exterior of the sandwich to brown it, and it had grill press lines on the outside. The cheeses and onions inside were good, but the winner in this sandwich was really the bread. Very crispy/crunchy and fresh tasting. The salad I tried was the mixed greens with pickled blueberries, seasonal berries, candied almonds, feta cheese, and a fig butter vinaigrette. This was also really wonderful. Of the three, this definitely had the most complex flavor profile, and every element worked together. The fig butter vinaigrette was the one part I wasn't sure I'd care for, but it really complimented the pickled blueberries and greens very well. All in all, the food was superb and I'd have no problems going back a second or third time to sample everything (vegetarian) on the menu.
(4)DeathandFood H.
Holy Hipster Portland! The Picnic House is all things hipster yet some how it all works and the sum is better than the whole. TL:DR review-trendy decor, picnic inspired food that is surprisely good. Food- luckily they don't go over board on the picnic theme and with entrees under 20 and soups and shared plate from 6 to 16. We shared a lot of the smaller ones. Highlights were the wild mushroom, white wine, fresh thyme soup, the potato gnocchi, sauteed wild mushroom ragout. All the food was tasty if not always memorable. The decor is very Portland with a more modern area up front and then an other more charming space further in.
(4)Amanda C.
I came here on a weekday for an early dinner just past 5pm. The place was empty at first but became busy quickly. The front of the restaurant does look outdoorsy as though you were really at a picnic. However, towards the back of the restaurant, the lights become dimmed and the ambiance seems more romantic. Either way, great place for a date. Food was stellar, especially given that entrees were under $20. I ordered the coulotte steak and requested mashed potatoes instead of the quinoa which they were happy to accommodate. Boyfriend had the maple-brined pork chop with onion bread pudding - also good. The only thing that I did not think was worth it was the espresso crusted beef tenderloin. It was under the small shares menu but at $14, I was expecting a larger portion, especially considering price of entrees. Still yummy though. PS - I was under the impression The Picnic House does happy hour based on the previous yelp reviews/pictures but they are not any longer. They instead directed us to their sister bar next door.
(5)Lana N.
We actually had reservations for 830pm, but since we were in the area an hour earlier, we decided to stop by and see of anything was available. Once we came in we were greeted by the hostess which told us that she actually had a table. We came with the two little ones so I was a bit nervous that it would be an adult only place, but the staff were all so friendly and welcoming. Once we sat down our server was busy buy she acknowledged us and said that she would be right back. Once she came back, we just decided to order everything at once. It was Valentine's Day, so we were sure it would be busy. We then ordered the following : - McMule - their version of the Moscow mule. Tasted the same and it came in a very cool copper mug. - Roasted Duck - this was so tender and delicious. The duck was cooked perfectly and a side of potatoes and salad. The sauce on the plate was tangy and sweet, paired perfectly with the duck. - Pappardelle - thick pasta, served with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and a creme fraiche like sauce. The pasta was fresh and so were the vegetables Overall it was a great experience for our first night in Portland. The decor is rustic and I absolutely loved the cafe lighting in the front. They had some chairs and tables made out of wood and tree stumps, which were very cool. Staff was exceptional and food was fabulous, I'm definitely visiting again!
(5)Jennifer C.
Had a really great meal here. I would give a 4.5 if I could. Delicious squash soup, beet salad with omg chèvre panacotta!?!? and beef tenderloin. I focused on the small plates and loved it all. Service was fine, not overly friendly but totally fine. They were extremely accommodating of gluten free needs!
(4)Shirley K.
Wow I haven't been this impressed in so long! We had a 6 o'clock reservation but came an hour early to have some drinks. We were presently surprised when we were told we could be seated right away. So we decided to just have an earlier dinner. We loved how the menu was small. We started off with the beef tenderloin and
(5)Russ C.
I really loved this place. The food was great. Drinks excellent. We sat outside, but inside the place also has so much character. Definitely a don't miss spot. Good for vegetarians too!
(5)Beth M.
I had high hopes for The Picnic House, because Yelpers always send me to the yummiest destinations. This time I left feeling a little empty inside. I found the staff to be friendly, and the decor was whimsical, but the space itself was cavernous and loud, and the food was okay....nothing to write home about. I had the mushroom soup, which was fine, but not in any way exemplary. I also had the mushroom onion tart, which was equally okay, and a wedge salad that had more core than leaf. Hubs and guest each had the burger, and there were high hopes, but they both commented that they'd had much better, and our guest even questioned if they'd slipped him a veggie burger, because the texture seemed off. On the plus side, Hubs thought the tempura style onion rings were tasty. It was kind of them to seat us away from others, because it is a loud loud place, and impossible to have a conversation when the dining room is full. Back in the day, it would've been amazing to have this spot next to the symphony for a quick and inexpensive alternative to The Heathman. But, I am 100% sure that I would rather eat a Heathman Pub burger than The Picnic House version. I will come back for dinner sometime. Perhaps I caught them on an off day.
(3)Ryan M.
Great place! Met an old friend for lunch and was very impressed by the atmosphere and the staff. Our server was super friendly and attentive. Ever have a chicken salad sandwich? Me too. But have you ever had a buffalo chicken sandwich? Me neither....until yesterday! I'm glad I chose it. Super rich and creamy with a hint of spice. So good.
(5)Zach G.
Amazing waiters/service and even better food. Try the cauliflower and ask about the history of wrestling and Scientology in the building
(5)Shane W.
This place is lovely. The menu is very limited but pretty good. A friend and I shared 2 plates: I ordered the grilled cheese and tomato soup and it was perfect and fantastic. She had the cheese burger. It was soso.... Nothing special. The prices were great. The service was fine. I would go back
(4)Derek N.
Date night for my wife and I. Chris Issak was in concert next door within an hour 1/2. We found this location and set reservations. It was an experience to remember. I had the following: coulotte steak with gremolata butter, quinoa polenta, mignonette, shaved parmesan $19 My wife had: stuffed portobello mushroom, polenta bread, caramelized onion, roasted sweet potatoes, corn, brussels, green onion $15. Both were great choices and we shared our meal. I cannot get over how they handled the sauce that goes with this steak. I have tried researching how to recreate but have come up short. This is a work of art. My wife's meal was good, but I love how they did my steak dinner. Great location, atmosphere and service. I would give them 4.5 stars if this was an option.
(4)Barbara p.
We came with a birthday group for dinner and what a pleasant experience. The interior has very cute decor with tall ceilings. The service was excellent and the food was good too. Try the Stuffed Portebello Mushroom, soooo good!
(4)C H.
Updated from 1 to 2 stars based on the owners responsiveness and sincerity in trying to make it better. Hopefuly can give a full 5 next time we go!
(2)Jennifer C.
Fabulous food -- inventive, thoughtful flavor combinations that constantly surprise the palate. Interior is a former hotel lobby that makes for an entertaining ambiance. Convenient location across from symphony hall.
(5)Alexandra S.
The atmosphere is unique as it was part of the original Heathman Hotel (that's what the waiter told us). I had the nutty brown rice salad with sweet potatoes, turnips and hazelnut vinaigrette. Think almost fried rice except much healthier. It was really tasty, but I wouldn't call it a salad as it is mostly brown rice with a little bit of veggies. My husband had the pork shoulder sandwich. Both were fantastic! I also like that I can order online for pick up! I'd say the Picnic House is definitely worth trying if you haven't already..... we'll for sure be going back!
(4)Laura Q.
I loved this place! Never heard of it before today so there were no preconceived notions of what to expect. What pleasant surprise. I ordered 1/2 roasted pear salad and 1/2 roast beef sandwich and found the lunch to be delicious and filling. I will definitively be going back again. Yumm!
(5)Jj I.
Awesome food and service. The roasted turkey sandwich was great!
(5)Sam A.
Today I had lunch at the Picnic House. The design of the restaurant is warm, creative and fun. The food is tasty and the staff pleasant. This was my third visit to the restaurant. It is easy to see the Picnic House becoming a downtown lunch standard that everyone will enjoy.
(4)Kristen C.
Oh my goodness this was an AMAZING lunch. I had looked over the menu beforehand, and was glad I did because it all sounded so good! I ended up getting a 1/2 sandwich and salad plate. I had the Blueberry Glazed Roasted Turkey sandwich, which was incredible. The bread...oh the bread!! It was so flavorful in itself without having any particularly strong flavor to it. I chose the green salad with berries, cinnamon almonds, house made ricotta, and a pickled blueberry vinaigrette. It was the best salad I've ever had. For dessert, I split a piece of the Sour Cream Chocolate Bundt cake with my friend. SO good.Oh, I also had the best ginger ale I've ever experienced. They even MADE the coke my friend had. You KNOW you want to try it all!!!
(5)Kristin K.
We enjoyed a great lunch at The Picnic House - good food, fresh ingredients, thoughtfully prepared. I very much like the brown rice salad with roasted veggie, dressed with hazelnut vinaigrette - delish! The prices are what I would consider reasonable (this said by a frugal gal raised in the great mid-west:-)
(4)Renae P.
Amazing ambiance and fresh, delicious, lovely food! We will definitely be back often.
(5)Jaimie K.
Great food! I can't wait to go back and try something different. And you MUST get dessert!
(5)Elle C.
This may be my new favorite restaurant. The atmosphere just makes you feel good. I mean the place is REALLY lovely. I had the fresh berry salad with gorgonzola and added roast chicken breast. The berries looked perfect and tasted farm fresh. Made me savor every bite. The chicken was moist and flavorful. First time I've had a salad that made me think I was eatting dessert! They were very busy at lunch today, but Aaron, one of the owners, was running around making sure everyone was kept happy.
(5)Gillian T.
I stumbled on this place on my way to a show a the Schnitz one night and was very pleasantly surprised. The menu offerings all sounded delicious and everything my group ordered was flavorful and expertly prepared. The service was really great as well. We had a very friendly server who didn't hover too much, but paid enough attention to know when/if we needed something. I can't remember which drinks we all ordered, but I remember everyone in the group enjoying them. I had no idea how big of a place it was until I walked in and saw that the space kept going and going. When we were there, there wasn't a host or any sign indicating whether we should seat ourselves or wait, so I think that could be a spot to improve upon because I felt a little lost at first. But the experience was a very positive one and I am definitely planning on trying it again for lunch or their happy hour because both look like they have good prices and I'm going to assume large portions based on my experience ordering dinner. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious food in a no fuss atmosphere.
(4)Kayla N.
OMG I think this was my favorite stop in Portland. The mushroom soup lived up to it's Yelp reviews! I could have had 5 bowls of it. But my dinner was delicious anyways so I left very happy. What I really love was the ambiance, the dim lighting and intimate feeling even though it's packed and loud. It's definitely a chill hipster type of place and dress matches that. I would love to go back and try the lunch menu. The drinks were also very tasty, different concoctions that mixed well. Great vibe! They are doing things right here!
(5)Brianna S.
YUM!! Stopped in for a light dinner while traveling solo in Portland. It was the perfect combo of relaxed, casual and trendy. I sat at the window bar area. Not the most comfortable of seating arrangements, but I was there for the food :) I started with their tomato soup which was tasty, loved the bread crouton that went with it. Per my knee jerk reaction and the waitresses recommendation, I got the salmon with strawberry and jalapeno salsa. Unsure how that flavor profile would work, I'm so glad I went with it. It was delicious - the portion was huge and the salsa + asparagus side were pure bliss. Would definitely return with a group to make my way through the menu. Next time, dessert!
(4)K B.
We come here every time we travel to Portland because the service is great and the food is incredibly tasty and always so fresh. Their salads are all wonderful- next time, I might make an entire meal out of all of the salads.
(5)Cristy S.
We enjoyed our dinner at Picnic House - the bar is quaint and the cocktails were tasty. For dinner, being vegetarian, I enjoyed the mushroom lasagne. My husband had the Pork Terrine and seemed to enjoy it - I tried the mustard whip that accompanied his meal and found it light and tasty! The scalloped potatoes were a bit oily but we enjoyed dessert. I recommend Picnic House as a solid spot for dining while in Portland.
(4)Chelsea S.
we went for portland dining month, which might have been the problem. We got there right when they opened and i got the impression they were annoyed. food was just okay, couldn't imagine paying more than i did for the deal.
(2)Joni W.
Huh. I don't think I understood the concept here. Huge place, sparsely filled, decor was a little all over the map. The dinner menu didn't feature fun, picnic-y style food as I was expecting but rather just plain ol Portlandy basic lunch fare, and not even very good lunch fare at that. I'll likely be back to give it another try. Given the fun theme, I was expecting a lot more creativity with the selections.
(2)Sean S.
Picnic house feels like a cross a between a trendy boutique and rustic log cabin with simple but amazing food at amazing prices. Their shrimp salad sandwich is light yet flavorful on fresh baguettes from a local bakery. The tomato soup with oregano and fresh basil is a must try and their butter salad is beautifully crafted and well garnished. The service is fantastic, esp Emily who was very helpful suggesting local haunts to out of towners like myself. Would definitely come back next time in Portland.
(5)Sophie L.
Simple lunch but looks gourmet. It's a wonderful place to treat yourself. The price is not bad. And the decor is interesting. If you like to have a nice lunch with a friend or two. I highly recommend this semi cozy atmosphere.
(4)April C.
I have been not so patiently waiting to try this place and finally, the perfect time to try was happy hour! They have a small but unique menu of dishes including desserts and drinks. We ordered the chicken cesar skewers, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, and the crostini with goat cheese, honey, and nuts. The first two were small portions but the flavor was there and the crostini were quite plentiful and crazy good (I plan to recreate at home)! We also accidentally ordered the full-sized pavlova off the regular menu and wow, this was the greatest way to end an already stellar meal. Just try it. The ambiance is great with a vintage vibe and low lighting. I was here with a friend but this would be an amazing place for a date night, especially if you are going to show at the Schnitz. Like mentioned in the previous reviews, the hostess is a little frazzled? confused? not sure. She told me that she would have a table available in just a few minutes but there was only about three other twosomes there at that point, around 4:30pm. I was confused but we were seated and the waitress and bartender were lovely. Also, they are planning to open up a bar area that will serve over 20 beers/ciders on tap in the next few months. Renovations are happening right now!
(5)Vera L.
I ordered the Mushroom soup and the grilled cheese sandwich and I was pleasantly surprised. The portions are just right and the food is delicious! Our waitress was super attentive and helpful. Overall a very good experience.
(5)Gev M.
Walked in around 9:30 pm on a Saturday night, without a reservation, and were seated within 5 minutes. We were immediately taken with the decor (landmark meets quirk) and ambience (lively without being overwhelming). Cocktails were amazing! We deferred to our waiter in that regard, and his recommendations did not disappoint. Our server (whose name I unfortunately cannot recall) was super awesome. Equally amazing was the food: (1) the mixed green salad not only surprised me, it sneaked up on me and slapped me in the back of my head. Flavors are remarkably complex and well-balanced - an astounding feat for a starter salad. And pickled blueberries? It's a win-win folks; (2) stuffed portobello mushroom is a veggie party in your mouth. Again, really good and complex flavors, simple ingredients. I think they may be on to something here.... Overall, great food, great service, and great atmosphere. Oh, and very reasonably priced. Another huge plus: although we came in a little before their closing time, we did not feel rushed at any point in the evening. I can't wait to come back!
(5)Jim W.
When you take a bite of food and the response is "OMG - this is amazing" ... you know you've hit something special. I had a bowl of their tomato soup - and I was in tomato soup heaven... swimming in the perfectly seasoned appropriately thick steamy bowl of yumminess! Paired with their thick cut bacon and tomato sandwich... I was a happy lunch camper. Can't wait to go back and try something else!
(4)Celeste S.
The picnic house had excellent food, ambiance and service. It felt like I was being transported back in time with its vintage feel. We went during lunch and the pick three option was amazing. The tomato soup, Berry salad and Blt sandwich was very good. I'm definitely going back!
(5)Mike C.
Went in for lunch with my girlfriend today without reservations, had no problem getting a table. We had the half sandwich and soup, wild mushroom soup and buffalo chicken sandwich. My girlfriend had the turkey sandwich. Food arrived quickly and was delicious!! Our server Rachelle seemed rushed and was quite impersonal. Said was too busy to clear our table, which sounded odd. Anyway, I will go back as the food was quite delicious.
(4)Mark M.
This was a fantastic fare, and my favorite meal in Portland. Very reasonably priced as well. I had a great pork belly here, and some really well-braised ribs. Those ribs were served with some of the best Yorkshire pudding I ever had - even better than when I had them in England. They also had a grilled chicken, and I do not know what was in it, but it was like crack with the pureed celery. Really a fantastic fare here. What I liked about the food here was also it was full of fresh produce and flavors of the harvest. If you are out in a place like Portland, what is a better representation of all things green and good in nature? The wines here are also well picked, and went perfectly with the food. There was nothing that I could criticize here, as it was hands down a beautiful experience.
(5)Liz T.
This is a fun place downtown Portland. I came here with my mother and we really enjoyed this quirky / innovative place. Our food was really nice and I appreciated the small menu. As Steve Jobs says, "Choices cause confusion." I actually didn't mind only having a couple of delicious looking entrees. The prices were fair and we enjoyed our meal. My only complaint is that it is extremely loud when you sit in their ballroom and by the mirrors. We talked loud enough to have a good conversation, but after we left we realized we were screaming. We ordered local cider that was well described by the waiter. I was kind of craving a beer and didn't find anything on the menu I was craving... but it ended up OK since I liked the cider. We enjoyed our time and were impressed with the service. I would recommend this place, but possibly not for a first date or if you want to have a deep conversation.
(4)Mike G.
Like everyone else, we ordered the brown rice salad with nuts and quinoa. We literally ordered three of them. Like everyone else, we thought it tasted nutty. 4 stars, not 5 (one of us probably gave it a 3, so please keep your expectations reasonable). The mushroom soup was actually the standout dish that was surprisingly flavorful. I normally can't stand cream in soup, but this was worth it and had very little cream I think. The ambiance was fun although it took the hostess nearly 10 minutes to acknowledge our presence and seat us at one of the many open tables. Maybe move to self-service seating when your staff is busy?
(4)Nique F.
You know that feeling when a restaurant just "gets you"? When the menu doesn't include a single thing you don't love? When the ambiance makes you smile the minute you walk in, like you've found your happy place? That, for me, was the Picnic House. It doesn't hurt that they have an amazing local wine & beer list, too! The holy lunch trinity -- soup, salad, sammies -- is the focus here. And, you can have all three at once! Their half sandwich, half salad & soup combo (for $15) is a dream, and they put no limits on your choices. I had the half Buffalo Chicken Salad sandwich with pickled banana peppers blue cheese & arugula, perfectly zesty, lightly sauced, on a fresh baguette. My half soup was the roasted tomato with basil cream, and my half salad: Mixed Greens with lardons, sugar snap peas, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and toasted almonds. All three items arrive on a long rectangular plate. One of the most exciting sampler platters I've ever seen! With that, we had some Willamette Valley rose and an Oregon IRA. 1 hour into our vacation, and we were officially in love with Portland. The space is huge, with a small cafe in the front and a more grandiose dining room & little bar in in the back. The decor is jazzy 1920s salon style, with a few Northwestern touches like hefty rough-cut wood tables. Service was so friendly and low-key, we almost felt like locals. I will definitely be eating lunch here every time I'm in Portland!
(5)Angel S.
Fun decor. Tasty Happy Hour and Well Made Drinks. Lots of rave reviews about the brown rice salad and I found it pretty meh. Missing punch for the price.
(3)Leigh P.
I LOOOOVVVVE this place. It is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. This place is so amazing and vintage. It is a must see and the food is AMAZING! I had the tomato bisque soup and a wonderfully tasty salad. My lunch mate had the roast beef sandwich which got rave reviews and came with homemade potato chips that were awesome. Don't question your decision....GO HERE!
(5)Naomi S.
Rustic and stylish restaurant. I love their sandwich bread. The dressing for shrimp sandwich amazing!! I would definitely come back again when I visit Portland next time:)
(5)Sarah W.
Awesome restaurant due to great design & feel as well as wholesome and filling dishes! *** THE AMBIENCE *** I don't know what the history of the building is, but it definitely has old charm. The main dining area is quite large and grand, in fact, but the uniquely-crafted wooden tables and artwork make it very cozy. There were many others dining at this popular lunch spot, but fortunately we didn't feel like we had to scream to hear each other. And even with nearly a full house, the service was quick and we were out to our next meeting with time to spare. *** THE FOOD *** The food is delicious and extremely reasonably priced. I took the Half Soup/Half Salad/Half Sandwich Combination option, but felt like I was getting full portions of each! I selected Curry Pumpkin soup which was like the taste of autumn, Mixed Greens & Berries salad which was fresh with a pop of sweet crunch from candied nuts, and the Shaved Prosciutto sandwich which was a blend of sweet, salty, and savory.
(4)Olive K.
Wow. First of all, the decor is very interesting and the building is unique. It must have been a hotel in the past. I ordered a delicious grilled cheese that contained caramelized onions and aged white cheddar, along with a cup of tomato soup. I'm not even joking, it was the best grilled cheese I've ever had in my life. I was incredibly impressed with this place and recommend to everyone.
(5)Jenny C.
We came into Picnic House for dinner while in Portland. What can I say the food was fantastic, the service was great, the decor was quite charming & the vibe was very portland! The menu was impressive and I finally settled on the fried chicken & it was by far the best I've ever had! We will definitely be returning to Picnic House for more yummy food!!
(5)D B.
Before the aforementioned Itzhak Perlman concert came The Picnic House. Unassuming name, unassuming location, classic Portland mixed group of patrons. But my goodness the food wasn't mixed, it was excellent, and the portions were generous. I had an exceedingly tender pork terrine. My date had pistachio covered salmon with cilantro, pomegranate, etc., etc. That bite she gave me was enough to get me back here. Two quibbles keep from a 5 star: the odd table arrangements (strictly a matter of taste, i know) and the fact that the (excellent) roasted feta "small share" could have used a couple slices more of bread. Quibbles! I'll be back for sure. BONUS: It's a very short walk to the Schnitz if that's on your evening lineup card.
(4)Erik V.
This place was so tasty, the staff was really friendly and helpful, and the place was fairly empty so it was pretty peaceful, it should have had more people there though, the food was amazing! 20/18 value/price
(5)Ryan P.
Stopped in for dinner before attending a concert at the Schnitz. I enjoyed the salmon with asparagus risotto while my friend enjoyed the pork terrine. The food was delectable and the portions were nicely sized. They also have a creative cocktail and dessert menu. I hope to return to eventually try other items on the menu. The atmosphere inside is fantastic and they also have outdoor seating. Service was great and the entire staff was friendly and welcoming.
(5)Marlana S.
Hubby and I stopped in here on a night out for drinks and we both ended up getting the mushroom soup, too. I absolutely loved the decor. It reminded me of a Paris spring day, with a little circus thrown in. The lighting is dim and it is a perfect date spot. Our drinks were delicious. And the soup was amazing. It was like mushroom gravy with a very peppery flavor that made it so savory. We will be back for more!
(4)Chirag P.
Such a cool place, especially when hearing the history of the restaurant and how it's related to the Heathman Hotel across the street. Fantastic food and some great drinks. Definitely check it out if you're in downtown Portland.
(4)Ella H.
This place is great! I came here for lunch the other day and got the bacon, lettuce, and roasted tomato sandwich with lemon aioli. Delicious! The tomato basil soup surprised me, because I normally don't eat tomato soup. It was my favorite part of the meal. My aunt and grandmother had the soup to and they felt the same way. I also had the mixed green salad with pickled blueberries. Sounds weird, tastes amazing! They were little pops of sour on the salad. The bread here is crisp on the outside, and chewy in the middle. It adds so much to the sandwich. My family and I are members of the clean plate, (and bowl) club.
(5)Amanda S.
What an amazing little experience. My fellow yelpsters never steer me wrong. Great, whole foods - and while they don't have a kid menu - they do accommodate the youngsters.
(4)Gillian H.
Truthfully if I could give a place negative stars I would. This was hands downTHE WORST dining experience of my entire life. Let's begin with the fact that when we called to make reservations for my birthday dinner they said they were fully booked for two solid hours.... Which they weren't. When our party of FOUR, yes people just four, arrived they sat us at an enormously large table by the door away from the rest of the restaurant. It was like we were being punished for asking for reservations. The wait staff took their own sweet time and by that I mean 20 minutes to even show up to the table for drink orders and then an additional 20 to bring back 2 beers and 2 cocktails. Once we received our HIGHLY OVERPRICED drinks we ordered and truthfully that was an even worse mistake. The food took over an hour to arrive and having worked in the service industry myself I'm fairly certain it does not take over an hour to prepare a burger, 2 salads and Salmon dish. The food by the way was subpar. The fries at the pub I had later were ten times better than their garbage. We finally said something once we got our food and the waiter did not seem to care that we had been waiting so long nor did he offer to comp the meal but offered those who ordered beer discounts on the beer. Not discounts on the food- something everyone ordered, just the people who ordered beer got less expensive beer. It was the only time I seriously thought about just leaving and not paying. We all agreed going to a taco cart would have been cheaper, better service and more fun. We felt forgotten about at our table and on my birthday nonetheless. All in all: terrible staff, terrible prices and terrible experience. Save yourself the trouble and go to your favorite taco cart or burger joint. NOT WORTH IT!
(1)Cameron L.
Great spot. Interesting menu, amazing location (especially if you are seeing a show at The Schnitz). I've been for a work lunch and a pre-show dinner/drinks with friends. Food both times was excellent. Service is a tad slower than desired, but it all works out. Definitely request to sit in the dark area towards the bar...once I was seated in the brightly lit, "old-lady seats" towards the front; and they don't capture the character or vibe of the place. I had the salmon the other night, and it was cooked and seasoned perfectly. It earned raves from our table. Outstanding. I also love what they do with veggies.
(4)Kyle S.
We came here on a Thursday night and it was not busy. The atmosphere is cool, the building is the old Heathman Hotel, and it has a 20's flair. The service was really good, we were seated right away and the waiter took our order quickly. The hipster-dressed bartender made us a legit whiskey sour was was really good. We started field green salad with berries, walnuts, and feta, and it was great. Next we had the strawberry salmon with asparagus which was small portioned but extremely tasty and moist. We also had the stuffed portobello w Brussel sprouts which was excellent. We would definitely come back.
(5)Marcus K.
Excellent meal. Set up easy reservation by phone. Table was ready when we arrived. Waited for friends to arrive while sipping on the house wines. A chardonnay and a brut sparkling wine. Ordered a few dishes that all proved to be excellent. First the sautéed Brussels sprouts and bacon. Then I had the rockfish and asparagus. Yum! OK, asparagus is not in season but per the waiter it is available at Cash n Carry. My highlight was the macaroon and fruit and whip cream desert. It was sooooo good. Overall service was slow but we were in no hurry. In fact we were the last ones out at the end of the evening. Atmosphere was really nice. Its quiet even when the place was full so makes it perfect for talking and socializing. Very cool decoration reminiscent of the old hotel that used to be there. Bottom line. Take your time here and enjoy a really good meal. Perfect for date night or socializing with friends.
(5)Dave W.
Portland seems to do everything better than LA. The Picnic House drives this home. Not only was the space intimate while surprisingly large (I was there for a vow renewal which became a dance-off), but the food was top notch, with especially good dessert.
(5)Neal C.
Stopped by on a whim, place looked cool from the outside. I was in for a good surprise! The food was excellent and the drinks even better. Had a great time and the staff was extremely helpful. All in all a great experience, a funky place with a eclectic vibe.
(4)Shirley M.
Whimsical decor. Friendly Service and Delicious Food created by Chef Casey Gipson. The fried Brussels sprouts. Sweet soy, truffle, onsen egg and pickled radish was an incredibly fun and delicious dish. The Ginger Beer cocktail was unique and refreshing. The Chocolate Truffle Bar with Carmel sauce was a perfect ending to a tasty meal with friends. Next time I want to try their Black Truffle Mushroom Lasgne with sage cream sauce.
(5)Scott F.
I took three colleagues there last night for dinner. My first time there and it was incredible. I made a reservation which was good, as the restaurant filled up quickly, and this was a Wednesday night. We all ordered the fixed price March special which started off with a small salad and soup, followed by lamb shank, and topped off with a nice desert. The food, service, and venue was exceptional. Our server Molly was friendly, very attentive, and exceeded our expectations. I will most certainly return!
(5)Sarah S.
I thought what my friends and I experienced was an anomaly, but in reading the other reviews, I see that isn't the case. Like other customers who have posted here, we had a strange experience with the hostess. When we walked in, there were only three other tables seated. The hostess asked if we had a reservation, and when we said no, she acted annoyed and asked for a name. We gave it to her, then she immediately sat us. Confusing. Aside from the weird beginning, our waitress was outstanding. She gave us the nitty gritty on her favorite cocktails, which were all delish, as well as suggestions for our lunch order, also super yummy. Even though the place got busy, our server continued to check in on us and bring us everything we asked for, including drinks only on the dinner menu - what a pro! Aside from the confusing initial experience, I would go back.
(3)Meana K.
The name of this place doesn't quite capture its essence. Located in a renovated building which in the 1920s was the original Heathman Hotel, this restaurant has exceptional ambiance and food. On the night we came here, they weren't too busy and we were given very personalized service which I can only hope is the quality they aim for every night. Our server, Aaron, was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the preparation of the dishes. I appreciated his candidness in his recommendations, and that he provided us a little bit of history about the building and their plans for expansion. The interior space is striking and offers many details to visually explore. The music selection was classy but vibrant jazz. The cocktails were interesting although not as memorable as the food. I loved the brussel sprouts, the espresso encrusted beef tenderloin, the aged cheddar bread pudding that accompanies the pork dish, the salmon and asparagus, and the grilled cheese sandwich with roasted tomato soup. That may have been the best tomato soup I have ever tasted. The s'more pudding was nice too. I thought it was overall a good value for the quality of food. All of us were very pleased with our dishes and agreed the service was fantastic. I plan to put this place in the rotation and look forward to seeing it expand.
(4)Anne R.
We had dinner here and the food was fantastic. To start we had the roasted Brussels sprouts and mixed green salad. The mixed green salad had fresh berries, feta and some kind of candied nut. Delish. For dinner we shared the risotto special which was veggie and super tasty and unique. Drinks were strong and ambiance was perfect. Highly recommend!
(4)Stefanie S.
I would rate this a 4-star for walking off the street or having something small with friends, however I have been trying to communicate with them - in particular - the event staff, Ari, for over 4 weeks now to nail down a dinner for 25 people. You would think they would want the business however they are extremely slow to respond to anything nor do they even respond to your inquiries at all. Ari was out for a week (or something) and I requested the manager call me back to answer my questions so I could get the reservation and menu set and finalized. After two attempts of reaching the manager (!) I received NO contact. I have emailed Ari multiple times requesting a response and have gotten nothing. In my opinion this is unacceptable and, frankly, rude. I believe people say alot with their money...I will NOT be spending mine for this event here. Sad.
(1)Marina P.
Great french braserrie atmosphere, very tasty arty interior design. The service and music dwell with nostalgy for the bohemian salon. And to add to it all great food by all standards. Arancini risotto and marinated chicken were perfect. Enjoyed it very much
(5)Mike G.
This is a great find! Wonderful feel inside and the service was even better! Menu selection was very nice too! Yelp helped us find out about this place and it was only because of the reviews that we even tried it! Soooo glad we did....The quality of what came out of the kitchen was top notch! If anything could make it a "5 star" I would say just a bit more on the portion size...Thats it! Very good place and yes, we will be back!
(4)Aly R.
Not only are the lunch portions perfect, but the wine selection is phenomenal. I've returned so many times with friends and family and it's become a favorite spot! Even though the food does take a bit to come out, the fresh taste of the sandwiches are excellent and so worth the weight. The staff is wonderful and very helpful if you don't know what type of wine/entree you are looking for.
(5)Elizabeth H.
Great food, good service, well priced, uncomfortable seating.
(4)Renee L.
Picnic House is perfect: the ambience, the food, the drinks, the service. The boyfriend and I visited Portland for the first time and had dinner here. We got the pork chop and the portobello mushroom and both blew our minds. We also got the cauliflower as appetizer as well as the moulin rouge and the gardenhead cocktails. Everything was absolutely amazing. We will definitely visit again in the future.
(5)Lisa S.
Picnic House has a great start, it just needs some tweaking. great atmosphere and a very unique layout. service was fine, but not fantastic. our server was more interested in flirting with her friend at the bar then checking in on our table. For the food, my salmon was good. The weird side salad of winter veggies, black rice and quinoa was just plain oddball....the veggies were cut into long thin strips, curled up, translucent, and just not appetizing. The texture was "off". The salmon and veggies were served on some kind of oiled wooden round plate. do you really think they sand that plate down after every meal? I doubt it. so....the cleanliness factor was definitely on my mind. The short ribs were a little tough and a little too salty, the accompaniments with it though were innovative and tasty. For an appetizer, we had the brussels sprouts. Most were perfectly caramelized, some were almost raw. go figure. We did not drink, and those three items totaled $42. A little pricey for those portion sizes. We are looking forward to trying again and being able to raise this to 4 or even 5 stars!
(3)Allegra P.
Gourmet indoor picnic at it's best! Creative & eclectic decor that really does bring the outdoors in. The wedge salad is SO fresh & delicious not to mention their sandwiches. Whatever you order, you can't go wrong & you'll leave with your tank past full!
(4)Chris B.
Good sandwiches and nice soup. Lunch spot for sure. Stop by if you are downtown and near the Hilton. Lots of options north of here to choice from however and I would likely choose tasty or the carts before this spot.
(3)Elaine P.
It's an interesting experience. Beautiful place, but so loud, Needs padding. Paper towels, Expensive. But delicious food, unbelievable, actually. If in Portland, you must go to The Picnic House.
(4)Alyssa C.
I have now been here 3 times in the last month and a half and if you know me, you know i REALLY have to like a place to be a repeat customer. This place is awesome for so many reasons! 1) Their sandwiches. Oh man. I've had the italian, the fig prosciutto, and the chicken bacon so far. They are all delicious, but if I had to pick a fav, it would be the chicken bacon. 2) The SOUPS! But, specifically, the mushroom thyme soup. I got the cauliflower soup last time I went, which was good, but the mushroom soup is better. 3) The salads. I've even gotten salads here, guys. The brown rice salad is tasty, but I'd go with the one with pickled blueberries if you are gonna go to salad-town. OR -the pasta salad looked amazing. You can pick two from the above list for $12 or pick 3 for $15. I did the pick 2 about 5 hours ago and I am still full. When I did the pick 3, I didn't eat again that day because it hurt. so. good. 4. The ambiance/decor - this place is beautiful and HUGE. You could easily have a big group dinner/lunch here and could be accommodated. 5. I haven't tried them yet but the cocktails look NOM. Seriously, go here...your tastebuds will thank you.
(5)Evan S.
Beautiful setup, great atmosphere to admire once you walk in. Unfortunately, I feel as though that's where it ended. The service was atrocious, both waiting for drink/food orders and receiving those orders. Also, the menu items were well over priced, as they didn't offer any truly unique foods. The wine menu felt as if they were reaching to appeal to a high ticket market as they didn't offer many wines by the glass, the prices were all quite high, and they didn't have many wines from our fantastic local wine scene. The happy hour was unfortunately not even in the restaurant, but rather the bar (Barlow), so that made for some moving and lack of convenience...unfortunately, the service over there was also atrocious. I would not recommend this place to a friend , family member, or someone passing through Portland.
(2)Kathy B.
Really great food and cocktails. Grilled cheese was delicious. Risotto was yummy. Dessert was okay. Service was ok, not terrible, not great.
(4)Lisa B.
I love the decor here! The mix and match options are amazing. Great for those who like to sample everything. The potato salad is a must.
(5)Juli G.
Our group of five spontaneously decided to swing in here for lunch because one of women has a good friend who loves it and keeps coming back. We arrived at 11:45 without reservations, and they were spot-on lovely and seated us immediately. The decor is romantic and comfortable with high ceilings, beautiful lighting, and tasteful drapes and art throughout. The menu looked so delicious; really, every single item looked like something I'd want to try. They offer a great option to combine two or three of the following: soup, salad, and sandwich. I was hungry so I opted for the three item combo. This is when it got strange and why this review is four stars instead of five. Something I love to do when I encounter a menu on which everything looks good is request that the chef choose for me. I figure they invented and are preparing the food so they'll probably combine better than I could, ignorant of the subtle flavors of each dish. So I asked the server to have the chef choose a three-item combination for me. She then proceeded to rattle off three dishes that she thought I should have, as though I'd asked because I couldn't make a decision instead of honoring my desired gastronomic adventure with the chef. I simply asked again that the chef choose my combination. She was indignant and snapped, "We usually don't get that here." The plate that came out included the butter lettuce salad, buffalo chicken sandwich, and squash soup, all of which were delicious individually. They didn't work together as a combination, though, which made me think the snotty server chose that combination on purpose to teach me a lesson. I'd go back and recommend this place for lunch, but I'll choose my own combination in the future.
(4)Thomas N.
Loved this place! Took my date here for our first and we were both very pleased. Fairly classy, and the food was well priced.
(5)Mick R.
The family was pissed at me that I didn't mention the somewhat formal atmosphere but relaxed when I pointed out the kids in shorts two tables away. Everyone was intrigued by the menu, especially my son who chose the Wild Boar stew. I had the pork chop and my wife had the stuffed portobello mushroom. Everyone was very happy with their selections but I didn't like the sample of Wild Boar I had. We shared the grilled pound cake for dessert which was very good but not mind-blowing which is what I expected. The bill came to $80 which was better than I thought it would be. We'll definitely go back here next time we're downtown.
(4)Steven M.
Appetizers ok - entrees not so great. All dishes lacked seasoning and actually cold to the touch. Not a foodie paradise
(2)Aimee L.
Very very good food, fantastic interior, service is inconsistent (nice waitstaff but either understaffed or they just forget about you?) and so it's not the place you'd go if you need to get in and out in an hour. Menu seems to have little room for dietary restrictions besides "leave it off" but the salad was delicious. Looking forward to trying their happy hour (have tried to come by several times but they seem to do a lot of private events so we've never been).
(3)Chris S.
The chairs were a bit uncomfortable, so I docked 1 whole star. Fortunately, I was planning on giving them six stars for food, cocktails, ambience and service. So, that's a net five stars. Not too shabby. We had a 5-10 minute wait for lunch on a rainy Friday. There were a decent amount of people in the place, and we didn't have a reservation. It didn't seem to matter though, as they were moving people through pretty quickly. The food is fantastic, fresh and flavorful. I had the Farfalla Pasta salad and cup of broccolini soup. My SO had the shaved turkey sandwich and a cup wild mushroom soup. It was all very good. The portions were also perfect for the price and what I want out of lunch. We both cleaned our plates & bowls. Service was prompt, helpful and friendly. Attentive but not in your face. About the chairs. I couldn't lean back. The metal bar hit in a really uncomfortable spot. I wonder if that helped them move people through a bit quicker...
(5)Adam G.
Ok, we arrived to a half empty restaurant around 7pm. We had to wait about 5 minutes before anyone even approached us. The host then asked if we had a reservation we didn't. She said she'd be right back and set something up. Another woman called to us from the bar half a floor above us and asked if we needed help. We said no, thank you, someone was helping us. She then power tripped on us telling us no, she would help us, she's the general manager and that without a reservation it was a minimum 45 minute wait. There are two ways to have this conversation with customers. She chose the snotty, pretentious way. As we started to walk out, she ran down to us and said something about us coming back. Ummmm, no.
(1)Freesia J.
No Stars... this place is the worst service ever that we couldn't even dine here! First time here for both of us. Met my colleague here at 11:45am on Wed 4/29/2015. I show up and staff asks whether I had reservation. I said no. She said it gets pretty crowded here during lunch time. I knew this place is spacious so didn't think I needed a lunch reservation. Ok so we waited about 10 minutes and they put us in the back bar counter. We wanted to sit face to face so we can talk business. But the wait was going to be longer. Oddly, there were tons of empty tables for two everywhere throughout the restaurant!? so we ended up leaving and having our lunch meeting at Shigezo Japanese restaurant. On 5/13/2015, I emailed another colleague about this place and she told me that same thing! Her email said, "Picnic House can be hard to go...they are notorious for having bad service (e.g. won't seat you immediately even though restaurant is half empty)"! Boo...this place is No Picnic!
(1)Katlyn H.
It was good but felt like the Cheesecake Factory to me. Personally I don't like it when people dress up as bar tenders to be in a different time period but if you are into steam punk I recommend this place to you. That's just the ambiance, the food is pretty nice, if your a soup nazi like myself avoid it. It's very butter based. And all soups are put in a blender. Which isn't always a bad thing but variety is nice. It could be a chain though. I'm not sure but it felt like it could be one.
(3)Mona B.
Had a work lunch with the boss and a bunch of coworkers the other day. I had been hopeful (I mean the place was packed by the time our food arrived), but alas... - service: our waitress, while friendly, wasn't attentive, nor efficient. Didn't give me a spoon for my tea. Never asked me if I wanted more hot water for my tea (rather, I had to spend several min's and several attempts trying to catch her attention). She didn't give spoons to people at my table who ordered soup. Most importantly for me, she didn't ask me how I want my burger done - I figured she'd realize it and come back and ask me. Never did ask me and never came back around to tell her my preference until my food came out. That brings me to... - food: for a burger that's $12, I expect it to be better than... oh I don't know, say Five Guys (and I think Five Guys' burger are nothing to write home about). The Picinic House burger is $12 (I'm copying/pasting from their menu): burger, roasted tomato, aged white cheddar, red onion, cuke pickles, lettuce, house sauce, pickled onion ring 12 When I got it, it had no cheddar, 3 teeny pieces of tomato pieces, 1 lettuce leaf and 2 paper-thin sliced cucumber that was neither properly pickled, nor tasty. The meat itself came out medium rare! I kid you not, a coworker (male) sitting next to me took a one look and said "woah..." Waited around but again, our waitress didn't come by and my boss wanted to know if everything was alright, so you know what I had to do? I swallowed(I did not chew; I bit off a bite size and swallowed it) the burger that was still moo-ing at me. I was gagging. - ambiance: what ambiance? it was SO loud that I was yelling just to talk to someone sitting at the same table just across from me. Oh btw, ALL my coworkers who ordered "mushroom and caramelized onion tart" said it was cold, too small (smaller than the size of my palm) and not good at all. So very glad my boss paid for this meal - too many good restaurants around here to waste my hard-earned dime here.
(2)Jaime F.
Delicious food and an awesome atmosphere. I had the lamb chops and they were cooked perfectly on top of a bed of arugula drizzled with a delicious sauce (I think it was a basalmic reduction). The dish also came with onion and tomato skewers accompanied by pita and Taziki sauce.
(5)Betty K.
I've been to The Picnic House at least 6 times. The food is always good. There is no question about that. The real problem is the service. The servers themselves are always very nice, there just aren't enough of them. Every time I go, it looks like there are three people serving the entire restaurant. It's just not enough. During my last experience, we waited over 25 minutes to be seated (we were told it would be a 5 minute wait). When we were finally seated, we were placed at a corner table and completely forgotten about. After 20 + minutes of waiting to have our order taken, we finally got frustrated enough to ask the hostess for assistance. Apparently the server was not aware that anyone had been seated at our table. Once that ball got rolling everything was fine, but it really was the final straw to break the camel's back for this cute place. The food is great. The atmosphere is cute. I like the location. They just need more servers, plain and simple.
(2)Dan H.
This was a pleasant find. Thanks to Yelp we found another gem. I had actually passed this place by within the last month or so when I was wandering around downtown. Knew nothing about it as I had never heard about it before. There are so many new restaurants popping up in town that it is difficult to keep up. Plus I don't hang out in this part of town all that often. Sue and I were looking for one more drink (I was also looking for more food) before the ballet and another quick Yelp search pulled up the Picnic House. Glad to have found it amongst the construction that is going on about this restaurant. According to our server the construction is supposed to be going on until at least October. Too bad for them and the idea of having tables outside during the summer. More info according to our server. The Picnic House has been around since last July. Crazy. Who knew? Somebody did as there are a few reviews here. He also told me that a bulk of their business is due to Yelp. People (like us) doing Yelp searches and finding them that way. Go Yelp!!! We had beers, but we also had food. Sue was just interested in dessert and they had a really nice Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake ($6). She really wanted the Rice Pudding, but sadly they were out. The cake was quite tasty. I ordered the Bavette Skewers ($9) off the small plates section of the menu. Chimchurrie Beef skewers with pickled blueberries, arugula and avocado. Nice sized platter for the price. The beef had a ton of flavor and was cooked a nice medium. I prefer medium rare, but I'm not going to be picky. Due to a screw up by the kitchen we were also presented with a free stuffed Portobello Mushroom with roasted vegetables, caramelized onions and toasted polenta bread. I don't know how it ended up at our table, but they told us if we didn't eat it it was just going to go in the garbage. How does one turn that down. This is an entree and it was quite large. We took a good chunk of it home and had it for lunch the next day. There were sweet potatoes involved and it was very good. It will be cool to dive into the menu a bit more the next time we come back. The space has some good character to it. Cool floors and high ceilings. I have no doubt that we will be back.
(4)Bubba Y.
What a nice lunch we had here! Stopped in on a Yelp - invoked whim, Picnic House just happened to be on the same block during a shopping trip downtown. Glad we did. A short wait and we were seated, nice perky wait staff (Phillip?), water glasses filled. Cocktails were ordered and delivered promptly, our order taken, and lunch came quickly. I had a nice shaved turkey half sandwich and a wonderful mushroom soup (invoked memories of the Hungarian mushroom soup they served at Old Wives Tales before they shut down) . Both of my lunch friends enjoyed their sandwiches and salads. Talking off a star for noise level and broken hardware in the bathroom. But otherwise, a keeper.
(4)Jeff M.
Old world charm in a converted hotel. Massive columns and high ceiling. Love the wood benches. Outstanding unique dishes. The curry cauliflower soup is to die for. Not super kid friendly, but they do have a kid's version of their adult grilled cheese.
(5)Andrew S.
I came here on a Saturday for lunch with a friend. The wait was 10 minutes, which at first glance was really surprising because the entire storefront was empty. But I guess they don't serve diners in the front area. The restaurant was much more spacious than I was expecting and there were so many people sitting in the back area! With the print blocks reused as art pieces, and driftwood with various coat racks drilled into it, the whole restaurant has a repurposed feel to it. I felt like the bear head in the back detracted from the overall decor. When we were seated there was a bottle of water on the table for us. Our waiter was smartly dressed in a vest and tie. He was really nice and explained our food choices pretty clearly. I ordered half a grilled cheese sandwich and half a grilled tomato sandwich with iced tea. My friend ordered a half grilled tomato sandwich and half farfalle pasta salad (it's not a classic pasta salad, but a salad with pasta in it). My tea was delicious and had a large lemon garnish on the rim. My lunch was even better. The service after we started eating was pretty sparse. I was never offered a refill on my tea and we drank all our water. Our waiter came by once to see how we were doing. We were ready to try the grilled pound cake, but we waited almost 20 minutes after finishing our meal to see our waiter and changed our minds. Overall the service wasn't bad - they just appeared to be understaffed. We got our bill in an old book which I thought was a cool touch. I really enjoyed the food and 99% of the decor, and the servers were still very nice even if they weren't staffed properly. I'd try it again but I would also make sure I'm not in any kind of rush.
(4)Marina P.
Unique, special, inviting, and a great atmosphere! Take time to enjoy this place!
(5)Amber P.
Comfortable, inviting (once you get past the entry), warm, and a good place for a double date. The food on both my visits was prepared excellently and sometimes imaginatively. It hits that niche of food that I would never make for myself but the prices are reasonable for what you get. Save room for dessert, and ask about the specials.
(5)S M.
Good food, reasonable prices, very roomy. A bit loud in there but overall a great experience with my family!
(5)Phyllis B.
I can't believe I'm the first to leave a review! This place has a wonderful menu of sandwiches, soups and salads. I'm enjoying the brown rice, yam, with just the right amount of shredded carrots (roasted) agrugala, pickled red pepper and sliced almond. And the white mushroom soup was wonderful!
(5)R. E. R.
The tomato soup is literally the best I've ever had. I love the combination options at lunch and usually go for the buffalo chicken sandwich, tomato soup and wedge salad. Their bread is the perfect mixture of crunchy and soft. At dinner the savory pancake with short rib makes my mouth water as soon as I smell it. I also love that they have an amazing selection of local beers and liquors. Then the beautiful atmosphere...really, I can't get enough. Adore this place!
(5)Georgie K.
The setting is lovely, inviting and has a lot of character. Someone put in a lot of thought presenting this restaurant. This place easily accommodates large groups. That being said they have some quirks to work on. The food was pretty good. The prices were a bit high for what you get and the portion size. I ordered the Brussels sprouts which were delicious, but were Luke warm/cold. That dish was $8.00 for a essentially a side of vegetables. I also got the beef tenderloin small plate. It was Delicious and perfectly cooked, but it was three chunks of meat on kabob stick with some salad greens with pomegranates in it. That was $12.00. I knew it was going to be small, but not that small. The mash potatoes were perfect. Friends at the table did not care for the rock fish and thought the portabella dish was okay. The service was okay. The server was nice, but was inconsistent and inattentive. Drinks were taking a long time and all of our food was coming out at different times. We did not get to eat together even though we ordered everything at the same time and that was the plan.
(3)Furai X.
I'm not a dinner person (holla' brunch!) but maybe if I had more dining experiences like the one I had at Picnic House, I'd be more inclined to give dinner a shot. The bf and I had an absolutely wonderful time here. Since we made reservations for an earlier time slot, we were seated right away. The servers attentively tended to our drinks and our meals were extremely well prepared. The stuffed portobello with polenta was one of the best entree's I've had. The bf also enjoyed his porkshop and our shared roasted cauliflowers (a wee bit spicier than expected). We both ordered a signature cocktail which enhanced our already great experience.
(5)Annie b.
Phenomenal!!! Great soup salad sandwich menu. Love the turkey sandwich with apples. Amazing salads with ripe berries and nuts...Warm chocolate chip cookies with a shot of milk was yummmm. Decor and ambience are modern and quirky, with crazy high ceilings, fancy presentation of food, big portions, seemed fancy but still felt casual. A dichotomy of sorts. Wonderful place.
(5)Taralee L.
Tomato soup and grilled cheese! It's perfection! My only complaint is that we tried to go to dinner there last night after reading reviews and craving the said "tomato soup and grilled cheese" and they were closed for a private party after we walked all the way down there.
(4)Lena H.
LOVE this place. So glad I found it! Lunch was fantastic....try the sampler of 3 items for $15. The service is wonderful and the interior feels like you stepped inside a storybook. Will definitely be back.
(5)Hana F.
Good food and a super Portland hipster vibe. The service was pretty slow, but overall a solid experience. It gets a bit busy so it's probably smart to have reservations. Looking for a hip tasty Portland meal? This could be the spot for you. Having said that, it's pretty overpriced for what the food tastes like, and the service isn't good. Oh well.
(3)Susan K.
This restaurant is a real find! We had a marvelous dinner. The chef is wonderfully creative and the dishes are equal to or better than those in some of the best Bay Area restaurants.
(5)Ehow C.
A new year, a new restaurant to try! Picnic House is literally a block away from the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, which makes it ideal for a pre-concert dinner. We had made reservations for 6:30, though were slow to be seated due to the busy house that night. Once we were seated, our server was very attentive and friendly. We started off with some addictive garlic bread and wonderfully balanced and delicious drinks (Moulin Rouge, Smashing Pumpkin, McMule). The beef tenderloin small plate was fantastic, but we only wished that it came in an entree size. Alas, life is not fair. Despite coming an hour before the concert, our entrees weren't coming out fast enough before concert start. Luckily, the management catered to our schedule and we had five minutes to finish eat our tasty molasses salmon with quinoa and chorizo/prawn polenta. My only regret is not letting them know sooner, so we could savor the food longer and possibly have gotten dessert as well. Overall, it was a great time and delicious food. Definitely try a drink here, and the food will keep you sticking around.
(5)Zach G.
Delicious salads and a fantastic atmosphere with a friendly staff. Highly recommend it for a late lunch.
(5)Laura L.
I am totally 5-starring the interior design. Did you ever see "They Might be Giants" with George C. Scott as a 'mental patient' who thought he was Sherlock holmes and Joann Woodward was Dr. Watson - anyway remember how the 70's saw the Victorian era? Like wicker and birdcages and old books and pennyfarthings- well it's kinda like that but not really, but that's the closest I can come to explaining. Stopped in for dessert and coffee on Saturday afternoon. I got the chocolate pudding with brulee'd marshmellows and graham cracker crumbs - get it? it's a gooey s'more. It was so rich I made it thru about half. Dark, not too sweet, solid chocolate pudding with graham cracker crumbs on top and 3 toasted marshmallows on a skewer (mallows? Mellows? whatevs). My partner in dessert ordered the Pavlova and was expecting one of those tiny ramikin sized dealies - but no this was a dinner plate sized pile of whipped cream with shredded mint on top, on top of a huge meringue, with fresh berries sprinkled all about. Gut-busting sugar and air. It was beautiful. I want to go back for happy hour or lunch or anything really. Cocktails look amazing but are pretty spendy ($8 to $15). Only complaint? my coffee was old. Late saturday afternoon 4 hr old sitting in the airpot lukewarm and thick. But I was so impressed by everything else i barely noticed. Staff was awesome and cheerful. Anyway! Go forth and Picnic!
(5)Alex D.
The Picnic House did not disappoint! Loved the atmosphere, servers were great, and the food was scrumptious. I'd highly recommend giving one of their signature drinks a try. Those cocktail engineers over at the bar know what they're doing. (I had the Gardenhead and it was BOMB.)
(5)Liz F.
I enjoyed my first experience at the Picnic House quite a bit--we had delicious bites from the happy hour menu and really liked the decor. The second time I came in for HH, it seemed like the plates shrank and the prices grew but I still had a fine time and if I hadn't come back for dinner I would likely be writing a four star review today. I came in a third time for my birthday dinner on May 9th. We made reservations but even so were seated in a table next to the door in a fairly plain part of the restaurant. The waiter seemed to be in a hurry and tried to take our order when we had clearly just arrived and hadn't had time to look at the menu. We ordered drinks, an appetizer, salads, and an entrée to share. The pacing of the dishes was just terrible--they brought us our drinks after the appetizers, then dropped off the salads before we'd even had a few bites of the appetizer, then the entrée arrived a few seconds later. All of that food was crowded on top of our tiny table and we still hadn't finished our first round of drinks. Obviously our server fired all three courses at once instead of pacing us. If he hadn't, he would have gotten a much larger tip and we would have ordered many more drinks and maybe more food. I wasn't starving when I arrived and wanted a drink and appetizer to spark my appetite but when I saw all the food on the table I completely lost interest in eating. This seems like one of those hipster Portland restaurants that hires their cool friends instead of experienced and professional waiters. I won't be returning.
(1)Christina N.
This place is amazing! Came here for lunch, in a large group of 9. They were very accomodating with the last minute reservation, speedy service and friendly, welcoming environment. Their lunch menu hosts a variety of different options for sandwiches, salads and soups with an option of a combination of two or all of the three for a very reasonable price! I had the combo with half a Shaved Turkey sandwich and half of the Farfalla Pasta, both very delicious! Would definitely reccommend either, even both :). We came around 11:30am right before the lunch traffic hit. There were plenty of empty table when we arrived but it started to get really busy a little past noon.
(5)Deanna T.
Food was ok, a little heavy for my taste. Soups where the best thing I had on the menu. Tried my friends mushroom soup, pretty good one of the best mushroom soups I've ever had. I had the tomato soup which is good, but just as good as Boudin's SF (my fave for tomato soup). My entree was the steak with quinoa polenta which was OK, a little too heavy for my taste. As far as customer service goes... my friends both ordered a cocktail called the Seelbach and thought it was disgusting, I tried it and thought it tasted like gross cough medicine. My friends TRIED to finish the drink after all they did order it, but because I have many years in the restaurant and hospitality industry I told my friends to let the waitress know that the drink was not very good. The waitress told us maybe it just wasn't their palette, which could be true but I told her that maybe the restaurant might appreciate customer feedback. In my background I would have told my manager and maybe seeing if they could do something about it. In the end, my friends ended up ordering a different drink and still tipping the waitress 20%. I think she might have also been the hostess though. Maybe she doesn't have a lot of customer or guest experience. Also gave us a crappy table in front with the air conditioner blowing on us, on a chilly day.
(2)Trevor H.
The menu is quite small, but don't underestimate what's on it! I highly recommend the salmon with asparagus risotto as well as the grilled cheese with tomato soup! They definitely exceeded expectations! The ambience is on point to say the least, and make sure to stop in at Barlows (which is connected) for a before or after dinner drink!
(5)Troy S.
Just another stop on our Portland trip. This place was awesome- very cool ambiance, awesome wait staff, and amazing food/dessert. I recommend the salmon and the chicken. And for dessert be sure to try the grilled pound cake!
(5)Ankur B.
In brief: The Picnic House serves upscale, moderately pricey delicious cocktails and entrees in a Prohibition Era ambiance. I am no stranger to upscale restaurants after having spent time in Boston, London and New York City. I had two house cocktail ($5 per), a mixed green salad with fresh berries and a fig vinaigrette and salmon seasoned with Anaheim peppers and a strawberry sauce. Suffice it to say, if I had the same in NYC, I would have not have paid $45... The salmon was perfectly cooked and melted in the mouth with a slight tartness from the strawberry providing a nice counterbalance. The salad was large but not overly filling (probably enough if you're not too hungry and want to add fried eggs, duck or chicken). After seeing a bunch of reviews, I had the grilled pound cake - why the hell don't we have this on the East Coast? The cake is lightly grilled with a lemon curd, mint and amaretto whipped cream leaving an unparalleled pairing... Get it... Now! Best of all, it wasn't packed and the food was served quickly (Thursday after Happy Hour) for me to squeeze it in before a red eye. A great way to end a jaunt to Stumptown.
(5)Kelly D.
I was visiting Portland from Seattle and needed a place to grab a quick bite and wait for rush hour traffic to die down. I really lucked out by coming to this place- I am hard pressed to find a restaurant in Seattle that could hold a candle to the ambiance in this place. It's built in the lobby of a former hotel and there is no detail spared- from the vintage letterpress plates lining the stairs to the stuffed monocle-wearing bear head to the moss art that hangs at the entrance. I felt like I stepped into a page out of Alice in Wonderland. Not only that but the beers on tap were all local Oregon beers- a treat for me being from out of town. All the waiters were attentive and were truly passionate about the food- I ordered the grilled cheese, the beef tenderloin and the roasted cauliflower and each dish on its own was fantastic. I will definitely make this a regular stop for future visits to PDX.
(5)Austin P.
I've been here for lunch a couple times, and their lunch menu is soup, salads, and sandwiches. The food is delicious, and if you like trying different things, they have the Pick 2 and Pick 3 options. However, when considering what you get for the price, there are better options in the area.
(3)Daniel B.
We flew into Portland Friday evening and walked over to Picnic House after some quick yelp research. Such an awesome restaurant with a good vibe and really nice service. The brussel sprouts are insane! ...along with the beet salad and pork chop.
(5)Jessica K.
The Picnic House is just lovely. It's one of those places that makes dining out in Portland a unique experience. We didn't even know this place was here until searching for a happy hour the other evening. Upon entering, it was like stumbling into an enchanting period piece film. Very fun. The only thing that didn't come up is that we showed up for happy hour, but no mention was made of it and no menus were presented. Alas, we were already entranced by the entree menu. The food is American Style with its own flair. We started with their scrumptious garlic bread and mushroom soup. From the minute we poured that rich, dark soup from the pitcher into the bowl, it was heaven. Bowl-licking good really. I had the pumpkin gnocchi and it was fantastic. The bf devoured his prawns and chorizo with polenta. Prices are a touch on the high side, but the food and experience balance it out. The libations are quite tantalizing, I opted for a gin concoction with Pfriem Wit, which was interesting. My guy went for the Sazerac. We could have tried several more, but it was a work night. If you are looking for an evening with a touch of whimsy, look no further than The Picnic House.
(4)Douglas O.
Unbelievable food. Was in Portland and it was close to the hotel -- turned out to be an absolute highlight of the trip. The black truffle lasagne is remarkable, and the chocolate truffle bar is INCREDIBLE. Loved the food, the ambiance, the service -- and the prices are extremely reasonable too. I would almost go back to Portland just to dine there again. Great job Picnic House!
(5)Carol C.
Awesome place with great service! I was recovering from a weekend of gluttonous out-of-control eating, so I demurely had a soup (wild mushroom) and brussels sprouts. They were both good, but the brussels sprouts (with bacon!) were too bitter for me. The mocktail, however, was amazing! I told the bartender via the waiter that I like either ginger + bourbon/scotch cocktails or St Germaine + grapefruit juice cocktails. He whipped up something that had ginger beer, lemon, honey, and rose water (essence?), among other things. It's usually disappointing when a 'mocktail' tastes like regular juice, but this one actually tasted like a fun cocktail. Win! Other pluses: Since it was a bachelorette party, they gave us free dessert - s'more pudding, yum! One of the girls had the short ribs and they were too salty for her, so she left most of it uneaten. The waiter noticed and insisted on comping it. So nice! We made sure to leave an extra large tip. Our bachelorette mentioned that the grilled cheese was the best she'd ever had. The decor is also fun and classy. A bear head above the bar with a top hat and spectacle. A large wooden slab table (communal?). What looked like stamped patterns (including a T Rex) tiled backwards on certain walls and the stairway so that the bottom part stuck out, giving the walls and stairway a nice texture and look.
(4)Glenn L.
I had the spring veg soup and the pan fried salmon dish. Both were yummy! and filling. The strawberry,onion,aneheim relish was too sweet though. The ambiance is great with subtle lighting and 20s-30s jazzy music playing. Looking forward to trying other fare on their menu. Friendly staff, and rather fast service.
(4)Olivia O.
Very cute dinner/lunch spot, a stone's throw from the Schnitz and walking distance from PSU. My husband and I popped in here on a rainy Friday night. First of all, insanely cute, very big, and a bit slow. We stood in the doorway for maybe a few minutes before someone noticed us. This may be a problem because we noticed several couples, even a small group of people, pop into the restaurant, wait at the "to be seated" sign, and then leave because no one bothered to check out the front of the house. The waitress welcomed us and promptly left to go set us up a table next to a loudly shrieking baby. Wait a minute - the restaurant is half empty. My husband and I both agreed, there was no way in hell we were going to sit where she was setting us up. There is loads of space in every direction - why would you sit us next to someone having a parent-child meltdown? When she came back we asked her if we could sit literally anywhere else. She looked confused so we pointed at a table with plush seats near the front of the house. She obliged but said it would take time for them to clean that table. That's fine, but lord this place is slow. She could have just maybe waited two seconds before cleaning the first table when she greeted us? The menu looks amazing. When we started looking at our options we got dizzy with choices. They have a seasonal menu with all sorts of regional goods - we saw salmon, wild boar, pumpkin gnocchi, oven roasted chicken, garlic bread. We went with some garlic bread appetizer and both ended up ordering the wild boar over noodles for our main dinner. And then we made the mistake of ordering tea to start us off with. The restaurant has lovely tea cups. There is a miniature tea pot that sits directly over your tea cup. Brew in your pot, pour into your cup. But when we wanted milk or sugar it took fifteen minutes of waiting before we just got up and asked a random waiter if he could just oblige us. They put the milk in an espresso cup, which I guess this is a minor thing but it created a big mess - they didn't have a little milk jug or something with a lip/spout. It's extremely difficult to measure out how much milk you want from an espresso cup, especially when they've given you one espresso cup for two people's worth of tea. Aside from the mess we made trying to drink our tea, the food was amazing. Not the restaurant's fault, but the shrieking baby in the middle of the restaurant continued to lose its shit for the entire time we were there. The baby was there before we got there, and the family seated with it didn't look like they were leaving by the time we paid up and left. It seems really inconsiderate, not just to other patrons but to the baby who is clearly suffering and doesn't want to be there anymore or might need something that can in no way be provided in a downtown restaurant. Again the restaurant was a bit slow. We thought about dessert and even told a waiter we wanted to see a dessert menu. We waited and waited, watched a few people pop in and leave when no one sat them promptly, and then we realized it was probably best we stop while we're ahead. The wild boar was so perfect we didn't want our evening to sour listening to a stranger's baby shriek for another hour. By the time the waiter came back we told him it took them so long to get back to us we were ready to leave. We paid a fairly reasonable price for our dinners (I think it roughly $15/plate, for some of the best wild boar I've had in ages). We walked home in the rain and filled up on ice cream back at our apartment. We definitely want to come back again, maybe just sit down right away and tell a waiter later when they notice we're there. I recommend showing up and being a bit pushy because the staff might forget you're there. Order right away or go flag down a waiter the second you scan one in vicinity (probably they will be turned away from you, deliberately avoiding any and all eye contact). Tell the waiter what you want and as soon as they serve the food ask for the check. You will eat a superb meal and you can thank me later for the little trick I've just taught you. I'm sure Picnic House will ease its bumps in the road as it finds its place as a restaurant. This is only the beginning. I'm delighted to try what they serve me next.
(4)Ike W.
If your in Portland you have to visit Picnic House! Every time I visit (dinner or lunch) I am impressed with the quality and preparation of the food. They have a great atmosphere in a incredible historical building in downtown Portland. Their whole menu is fantastic but I would recommend their cast iron chicken breast or maple-brined pork chop and their pavlova dessert is to die for.
(5)Fred E.
What can I say. Slow wretched service. We had a show at the Schnitzer at 7:30 pm and our reservation was at 6 pm. We immediately ordered appetizers and drinks...those came out in a timely fashion. At 6:30 the server took the order for our mains. We said we had the show and what would be easy on the kitchen. She suggested salads or salmon. In the meantime more drinks were ordered and came out sporadically. At 7:20 the bill arrived, because some other girl heard we were in a hurry, but still no food. And they added gratuity!!! At 7:30 we were racing into the Schnitzer, having to wait until there was a break to enter...and no we never received our mains courses. It was a mess. Had we not been in a group and I would have set some people straight in short order. Yes the appetizers were tasty, but we will not be back. There are too many good restaurants in this area (Higgens, Nel Centro, Raven and Rose, etc) without horrific service. In addition there were charges for food not received (what a surprise).
(1)Michael S.
I'm as critical as there is out there, I don't give out five stars very often, in fact, I don't think I have given out five stars on yelp but this place rocks!! Get the salmon, whatever you do, get the salmon!! Moist and flavorful all three times I've been there. Steak is awesome, salads are awesome, drinks are awesome. The waitress, wish I could remember her name, knew her sh*&t. The bartender came over and described many of the ingredients in the drinks, as we do not keep up on these things. I know, not very descriptive but the five stars should say it all. I thought this place was trying a bit to hard when I first got there but they made me forget my bias against pretentiousness and I joined in. Great atmosphere, great staff. I'd marry this place if I could. It's that good!
(5)Emily M.
Yummy food! Good service, nice decor. We were a party of seven so we tried a lot of things. Mushroom Soup was very good and charcuterie plate was really good and well served. A friend ordered the beets side and wasn't bad. Another ordered a salad and it looked fun and colorful but I didn't try it We all ordered either the wild boar or the steak. Wild boar was good, but the steak was fabulous I ordered it Med Rare and it was perfect!! Other people that ordered the steak were also impressed. I will definitely recommend this place and try to visit again in the near future.
(4)Joel T.
I randomly wandered into this restaurant for lunch on a beautiful Monday afternoon. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect based on the name. I thought maybe picnic tables, baskets, and cold food were in store. It turns out to have an old timey, sort of classy speakeasy feel in a large open space with lots of wooden features, cool wall decor, and 20's music playing. I really enjoyed the ambiance as it made my handlebar moustache feel right at home. The lunch menu was mainly soups, salads, and sandwiches all of which had an intriguing flare. I went for the half sandwich and salad combo picking the chicken and bacon sandwich with the brown rice salad. It was a little pricey for lunch at $12 but turned out to be a lot of food. The half sandwich was easily sizable enough for me to consider it a full sandwich. The side salad wasn't too small either. The flavor of both we're amazing. The sandwich was on a hard toasted bun which gave it a nice crunch. The creamy aioli dressing, salty bacon, and roasted chicken flavors combined deliciously. I found myself going back and forth between bites of sandwich and salad without stopping until the plate was empty. I was very impressed. If you have a large moustache that is still partially filling in be careful not to pull the lower hairs into your mouth when breaking into the bread. It gets messy. My only suggestion would be to decrease the serving size slightly and reduce the price to $8 or so. That would make it much more manageable for frequent lunch visits and be just the right amount of food. Overall a job well done. Check it out!
(5)Cathleen F.
So Disappointed, Reading all the Reviews, and with the recommendation of our Hotel concierge & Yelp, my companions and I made our way. The Decor is darling, it really looks like picnic settings, eclectic type Decor! It took awhile for our waiter to appear, which would be the case though out the meal. We started off with the meat and cheese board, it was good with a great selection of cheese. The 2 Stars really had to do with the food, we all order different meals. I ordered the Pork Chop, which might have been good, but it was DRY, Overcooked and to top it off Cold! All of our meals were luke to cold! I had to send the pork chop back, the waiter said I'll take it off your bill and scampered away. I'm still hungry! Hello..... Bueller? When he re-appeared I asked if I could order the soup, unfortunately it was luke/cold too! Whats going on here? The Staff was not friendly, and I felt like I was putting out my waiter. Hopefully this was just a one night off......... Sadly I won't be returning, not interested in a second try!
(2)Marissa O.
Great food, fun vibe, decent price. I went for lunch and got the combo which included the tomato soup, iceberg wedge salad, and grilled cheese. I know that sounds pretty ordinary, but the food tasted really good. The tomato soup had olive oil drizzle and the grilled cheese was made with caramelized onions. You could choose a cup of soup, half sandwich, and half salad for only $15. Your bill comes in an old book. I loved the decor of the place, although over the bar there is a stuffed bear head wearing a top hat and monocle...
(4)Veneta N.
After all the raving reviews I read I was sceptical but The Picnic House definitely lives up to hype. I visited just after they re-open at 5pm and it was quiet and relaxing. The place itself is very nicely done. The Mushroom soup is heavenly. The staff were great in making my late lunch a very enjoyable experience. Highly recommend it
(5)Chad H.
Ok, This might really be 3.5 stars but I will give it the benefit because too few people know about this little gem of a place. First of all, imagine an old hotel lobby (thats what is was years ago) converted into a picnic space, espresso house, restaurant and bar. Toss in some fun decorations (including a bear in a monocle and bowler hat and a stairway covered in license plates) and you have a quirky great warm space to dine in. The food? Well, the breads are always fresh in the sandwiches and the portions are just right. I love their poached shrimp sandwich with a cup of soup for lunch. Their happy hour is amazing - great drinks and their cheese plate has inspired many conversations among friends - it was that good! I would recommend meeting friends before a performance at the Schnitz, entertaining out of town guests from the Heathman or the Hilton, sneaking away from the rain at the saturday market or pre-movie. This place will wow your friends who have walked by for years and never set foot inside (which was my case for a couple of years). The service has always been very good here and I have yet to bring someone new who didn't declare it one of their new downtown favorites. Take a step into this eclectic space and enjoy.
(4)M P.
Loved this restaurant. Everything was excellent -- cocktail, appetizer, entree, dessert, service. Terrific menu and upscale casual atmosphere. I was visiting Portland and stumbled upon this place via Yelp, so thank you for leading me here!
(5)Justin G.
Lunch was nice, I enjoyed the mushroom soup and Italian meat sandwich. Great space but a little on the chilly side. Service was mediocre as we didn't see our waitress again after she dropped off our food. Also, for an upscale joint you would think that they would have some descent silverware. It felt like I was using a spoon from a diner. All-in-all it was an ok experience as the food outweighed service. We will return at some point.
(3)Kelsey D.
I'm not sure I could possibly love this restaurant any more! Delicious food, even better cocktails, and the most perfect decor makes for a terrific Portland dining experience!
(5)Jennifer F.
Really enjoyed the atmosphere, although a bit noisy at times. Very unique setting and decor. I loved it, very Portland. Food was amazing and reasonably priced. Two drinks, one small plate, two grilled cheese (with soup) and a dessert to share was about $65. Service was excellent. I recommend their bar next door Barlow for a more intimate setting, also great service (everything is order at bar).
(5)Keith B.
Had to make sure I still had both of my shoes...could have sworn they were feeding me one and calling it a steak...
(1)Chrissy S.
Good food and drinks. Great service, friendly staff. Burger was good and tastey, the Elvis dessert was phenomenal
(4)Rachel M.
The reason I am giving The Picnic House an 3/5 is the service. The food was pretty great. The hostess asked if we had a reservation, and when we said we didn't, she had us wait for 15 minutes saying the server was too busy for us (he had one table of 8, and one table of 2). There was nowhere to sit to wait for our table, so we asked if we could be seated at the table and wait there. She said that wasn't an option, so 15 minutes later we were seated. We sat for about 10 minutes before anyone even came over to get our drink order. The hostess walked by us multiple times - she definitely could have taken a drink order, no? Or maybe another waiter? Took another 10 min to get our drinks and a while for our food. At any rate, we were only in Portland for 1 day and we wanted to try the food that everyone says is amazing. It definitely was. I've written more about the food and our experience on my blog, with photos - nom-nomla.com
(3)Andrew B.
This place is great. You will want to place a reservation before coming though. About seven groups of people were turned down (even though there seemed to be tables open) because they were booked for lunch on a Wednesday. I ended up getting a half sandwich and a half salad and the portion sizes were a great deal for what you were paying.
(5)Maggie C.
Full disclosure: I never actually got the chance to eat here, the hostess was just that terrible. (Yes, I know, I'm writing one of those reviews that are not actually about the food. Usually when I see this type of review I dismiss it on the assumption that the author is a grumpy troll with unreasonable expectations. But I thought this was a pretty significant negative and wanted to share) It's Thursday at 12:45 pm and my mom and I wanted to try out The Picnic House. I'm hosting a private party in a few months and the venue looked perfect. We were so excited to scope out the space and food. There were two groups ahead of us when we got there, which wasn't a problem at all. The hostess wasn't around when we walked in, but we saw her bustling around clearing tables. We kept trying to make eye contact with her but she was preoccupied. Still, not a problem. After about 15 minutes of waiting, a group of 4 walked in and right as the hostess appeared. She greeted them and put their name down. Still, this was not really a problem, perhaps she thought we were part of another group. My mom stepped up and said that we've been waiting for awhile and asked to put her name down for 2. This is where it got surprising...The hostess snarked back "When I ask for names I expect you to come put your names down". My mom, take aback, "Oh, hmm, we've been waiting for 15 minutes and you haven't spoken to the area once." Hostess, aggressively: "It is your responsibility to put your name down. Do you want to put your name down now?" Mom, shocked "No, no thanks." I hope this get's back to the Picnic House leadership---the tall hostess was strangely aggressive and unwelcoming. What a bizarre experience. Definitely will not host my dinner there- it's not worth the risk of subjecting my friends and family to such surliness.
(1)Sarah S.
Had the curry pumpkin soup and grilled cheese. After a long day of travel it hit the spot. Good comfort.
(5)Laura P.
Ate there Friday night. We were cheerfully greeted and seated. Our Waitress was really great, cheerful, knew the menu and the drink menu inside and out. We started with their version of a Manhattan. WOW, it was an amazing drink. We shared several small plates, starting with the artisanal cheese plate. It was very good. The bread they served was the best baguette I've ever had, It was warm, very light and airy on the inside and the crust melted in your mouth. None of that tugging where you think that you may pull some teeth getting through the bread. It was unbelievable. Next we had the Grilled Watermelon. It was very imaginative. The Mixed greens and berry salad was very good. The toasted cinnamon honey almond were really good as was the house made ricotta and pickled blueberry vinaigrette. Don't forget to add the Maple Duck Drumstick. It was out of this world! We finished with the Pan Fried rockfish. It was on of the highlights of the meal. Very flaky, delicate and yummy served with green chile and strawberry relish. We finished the meal with the Grilled pound cake with lemon curt, fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Two coffees with cream were the perfect finishing touches to a most satisfying meal. The location was charming and perfect for a romantic meal or a great meal before a show at the Schnitzer. Next week they will have Grab and Go picnics available. You can even rent the picnic basket. It's an amazing little find, don't miss this one!
(5)Jenny H.
Great place to eat and catch up with some friends. I came for lunch on Saturday and was happy to find that it's not crowded at all. I hate waiting a long time to get seated and then even longer to get your food. For lunch they just have sandwiches, salads, and soups. I was feeling indecisive until I saw their great combo options of 1/2 sandwich, 1/2 salad, and cup of soup for $15. Perfect because I could try a little of everything. Don't get fooled by their "1/2" commend though because I thought the portions were quite big. WILD MUSHROOM SOUP : Soo delicious!! I'm a huge mushroom fan and this soup was perfect for me. Super rich mushroom taste and not too heavy with the cream flavoring. I would come back just for the soup. NUTTY BROWN RICE SALAD : Sounded interesting and was highly recommended on yelp. Definitely a good choice. Arugula with sweet potato, roasted cauliflower, and brown rice all mixed in with a hazelnut vinaigrette sauce. Yummy! CITRUS POACHED SHRIMP SANDWICH : They have the option of a cold sandwich or toasted and I chose toasted of course. Sandwich was very good with large pieces of shrimp and loved the celery and herbs. My complaint would be there was too much aioli but I'm guessing that's only my problem since I don't like mayo/aioli sauces too much and wouldn't have ordered it if I realized it was mixed into the shrimp.
(4)Jenni D.
There is so much satisfaction in crossing something off from your "Foodie To-Do List" - and The Picnic House was one of those spots for me. I'd been wanting to try this place for several months, so I was excited to take my friend here when she was in town visiting. The ambiance is cool and subtle... with a kind of steam-punk themed decor. The menu is simple and there are tons of drink options for those in search of tasty libations. The Warm Beets are the perfect starter, and will leave you wanting more. The Roasted Butternut Squash Soup felt like a warm fire on a cold night. The experience is positively aromatic and delightful. I'm looking forward to trying the Pumpkin Gnocchi next time :)
(4)Stacey G.
This was a fabulous find and I am super excited. I came for lunch and the place filled up really quickly after we got there. Had a sandwich and a salad and they were both just delicious. I have added this place into my regular go to list.
(4)Sharon G.
Have been a few times before, love the decor and fact that it was previously the Heathman. Food had been good but not great but the other night we had a great meal, the mushroom lasagna was exquisite, one of those dishes you will crave again and again. Love the repurposed printing plates throughout, wish I had a few of those beauties!
(4)Stephanie L.
Pleasant dining experience. Went for my 38th birthday (we took our 4yr old daughter and 7yr old son). Started with the cheese plate and charcuterie plate. Both were great but thought there was much more cheese than meat products. Had butter lettuce salad which was good (bacon excellent) but somewhat hard to eat in the dish it is in. Son had the salmon which had great flavor but was over cooked (which was fine for him, but for a salmon junkie would have been sad). Husband had chicken which he said was over cooked. Hard to eat the veggies/potatoes under the dishes. My grilled cheese and tomato soup were amazing! I loved it! We had grilled pound cake and s'mores pudding for dessert. They were both excellent. So all in all if it were just me rating the restaurant, I would give it a strong 4 but because of the rest if my family's feedback we are in the 3 star area.
(3)Brad D.
This is a dream destination for foodies. I love the grilled cheese with caramelized onions. I've also had the steak and the mixed greens chicken salad. The grilled pound cake is scrumptious, but the cheesecake is absolutely decadent. The servers and staff are all eager to please and super friendly.
(5)Mike S.
I had just some apps and a quick drink here with a co-worker mini meeting, But the atmosphere is rustic and smelled of rich Oaks and Timbers. Our server was totally cool and laid back. Next time I forget my basket, I'm going here for a picnic.
(4)Bethany R.
Just...nice. The pumpkin soup with cranberry cream starter was much better than the stuffed portobello entree. Enjoyable dinner with good company, but truthfully only two dishes from our table of seven really seemed worth ordering a second time.
(3)Gabe W.
I met a friend here for dinner and had a very nice experience. The restaurant was relatively quiet at dinner time, which leads me to believe that it has more of a lunch time crowd.
(4)Mira K.
This place is just terrific! Great ambiance with wonderful beer and wine selection, and the service was too notch. We loved everything we had here, beginning with their beef tenderloin with pomegranates - so good and refreshing! We also ordered their potatoes, which were some of the best we have had. They do something magical to them to mash them, then crisp the outside and leave a pillowy inside and serve with some amazing blue cheese sauce. Awesome. For entrees, we shared the grilled cheese with carmelized onions, which sounds a little odd but was just amazing. We also had their mushroom soup, which was very flavorful and earthy. The highlight of an already delightful meal was the pork with bread pudding, and it was off the charts amazing. The pork was perfectly prepared with a perfectly complimentary sauce and perfect bread pudding. Did I mention it was perfect? We were lucky to stumble into this place with amazing food and very reasonable prices! Two drinks, two appetizers and two entrees set us back about $75 including tip. I will definitely be back and would recommend to anyone looking for a great night out!
(5)Troy W.
Picnic house is an upgrade on any sandwich I've ever had. You can't go wrong with anything on the food or drink menu. My service was friendly and fast enough. The atmosphere is very eclectic and not too busy. I like the area too, touristy but not too bad. I had what I would call BLT with aioli. The Sharab cocktail was a great addition to my lunch.
(5)Tonya H.
Everyone is awesome! Great food! A must go! Thanks a lot to Phillip today and our guy bartender yesterday for going above and beyond. :) I really loved the tomato soup with basil cream and their bacon in the salads and Bloody Mary.
(5)Shez P.
PH was probably our best overall meal/experience on our most recent trip to PDX. It was my gf's bday wknd and since most establishment's were closed due to the snow storm, finding PH was a very pleasant surprise. We had lunch, my gf had the cauliflower soup and the brown rice salad which she could not get enough of! Her meal was accompanied by a yummy porter that was on tap. I had the cream of tomato soup and the fig butter and prosciutto sandwich, which reinforced my belief that Swine is Devine! I had the Seelbach cocktail which was fantastic. The bar tender even let me try a little of the Temperance bourbon (local). the service was great and the space was very cool as well. We'd definitely come back the next time we're in PDX!
(5)Michelle A.
LOVED the atmosphere and all the details of the place. Went for happy hour, the small amount of food we ate was very good. Service was attentive. All in all a great place. Would definitely go back.
(4)Phillip H.
Wonderful experience all the way around. Wife and I were in PDX for a night, which happened to be Valentine's Day. Spontaneously picked PH for dinner. They featured a prix fixe four course menu, pairing optional. The cheese and charcuterie starter was delightfully savory with a nice pinot blanc. Salads, a lemon caesar and a berries with spring mix, came with soup shots. The mushroom soup was lovely. This course featured a subtle pinot gris, which we liked better than the sweet blanc. My wife had the salmon over quinoa and black rice, which she loved, especially paired with the pinot noir. I enjoyed the maple-brined pork chop entree. The brining made the chop unbelievably tender and moist. Just luscious. Competing for its attention, though, was a savory cheddar apple bread pudding. Baked to perfection, it was fantastically indulgent. A robust malbec was well-paired. Dinner closed with gewurtztraminer and a dessert trio, the standout of which was an espresso shot poured over a small scoop of hazelnut ice cream. As good as our meals were, Picnic House's atmosphere, decor, and pace were equally enjoyable. Live music from womenwithstandards.com just the right mood. The servers have so much personality and good spirit. The print plates and paintings against the dark woods art deco tiles were arty and quirky in just the right ways. Topping all of that off, we had a great conversation with Aaron, the owner, as he was straightening and preparing to close for the evening. His passion for his wife's work (she's the executive chef, interior designer, and painted some of the wall art) was very evident, as was his commitment to providing a great restaurant experience. Overall, we spent a very satisfying 3 hours there, and look forward to doing so again.
(5)Rosemary S.
Very disappointing. The Valentine's Day weekend menu was limited, overpriced and everyone at our table was disappointed. The side dishes were inedible. My cocktail was $13 and barely had an ounce of liquor in it - reminded me of a dollhouse sized glass. I typically love this place. I will say that the service was excellent all around. Also, the fried brussell sprouts appetizer was delicious.
(1)Terry O.
We had a series of small plates and we were delighted and full and best of all enjoyed sharing. A very nice place!
(4)Karen K.
I think the food good the prices are fair. Different atmosphere. I think that is the reason for the three stars. I did not like sitting so close to the other tables and the wait staff was hovering . Not private enough for me.
(3)Will E.
The Picnic House was an absolutely amazing find on my trip to Portland! My server, Emily, was a complete delight, and kept me feeling at ease the entire time I was in the restaurant. She was probably the nicest waitress I've ever had. Speaking of superlatives, I also had the best cocktail of my life at The Picnic House. It's a seasonal drink called the Vernal Equinox, and it was so refreshing and tasty, I had to force myself not to order another (and then another). I also tried their Moulin Rouge, which is a sweeter cocktail (not usually my thing), but it was absolutely delicious! So if at all possible, get Emily as your server. If not, the wonderful atmosphere and great tasting food is well worth the trip. Can't wait to go back to see what seasonal cocktails there'll be for summer!
(5)Tom D.
Our office is at 4th & Alder, and we ventured here the other day because we were tired of all of the old stand-bys closer to the office. When you walk in for the first time, it's impossible to ignore the decor. It's obvious someone spent a lot of time putting together an interior that is both visually interesting and cozy. Most importantly, the extremely high ceilings make the place seem open and welcoming. I ordered the green salad with a duck drumette as well as the mushroom soup. Everything was excellent. Portion sizes were small if you're comparing them to Denny's, but were perfect for me, and the food prices were totally reasonable. (Drinks seemed reasonably priced too, but watch out for the surprise $15 cocktail on the drink list!) Lastly, the service was amazing. Our waitress was instantly warm and welcoming, had a great sense of humor, and expertly helped me navigate the menu. If I had one complaint, it would be that it took a little while to get our check, but we were there at an awkward time in the late afternoon, and my party was involved in a vigorous debate at the time, so I think the staff perhaps just didn't want to interrupt. We will definitely be back, and I'll keep this place in mind for lunch meetings due to the ample space available.
(5)Dylan G.
Exceptional food, great service and really lovely atmosphere. I think my only complaint, and this is because I work in film, is that the upper area lights are daylight balanced fluorescents and everywhere else they use tungsten. Fixing those lights would be a great atmospheric improvement. Just throw some 'CTO' gels over them. The food and service make up for it. I'll return here for sure.
(5)Ed H.
Nice farm to table place with some interesting dishes in a pleasant decor and with friendly service. We came here with a group on a Saturday night. No problem making the reservation. We shared a nice Pinot Noir. We shared the cheese selection and a salad to start. Both were very good. I had a cup of the mushroom soup, it was very tasty. Several of us had the bass. It was served over asparagus and had an unusual strawberry glaze which ended up being delish. Others had the chicken breast in a skillet and the grilled cheese and tomato soup, both of which were reported as excellent. We split a pound cake and s'mores for dessert. Both were wonderful. Recommended.
(5)Allison H.
I really love everything about this place. The decor is awesome - very warm and welcoming and I love the larger communal tables for groups. Plus, there is a bear with a monocle over the bar so that's pretty rad. Food is very good - excellent selection of cheeses, fresh baked bread, and the lemon chicken with vegetables and mashed potatoes was excellent. If you are looking for a little sweet bite after - definitely get the milk and cookies; 3 mini chocolate chip cookies and a shot glass of milk. Doesn't get much better than that.
(5)Alex G.
I'm approaching week three of an awful, constantly-mutating cold, and eating is of zero interest to me. However, needing to actually eat, I wanted one thing for dinner tonight: tomato soup with grilled cheese. The east side is cruelly devoid of many soup and grilled cheese options, so I did a Yelp search and found The Picnic House not far across the bridge. I was nervous after reading the many poor reviews of its customer service, so I booked a reservation and hoped for the best. However, when we arrived we were promptly greeted and seated, as was most everyone I saw while we were there. The service throughout dinner was polite and attentive, and we had absolutely zero complaints! (It was a Monday night, but a good amount of the tables were filled.) The food, however, was just as other Yelpers described -- fantastic. It's hard to lure the boyfriend from walking-distance Lardo or Double Dragon (not happening for me today, thx), but he was enticed to cross the bridge by the prospect of duck fat potatoes. They were served with a garlic sour creamish sauce, and they were perfectly crisp and delicious. My tomato soup and grilled cheese was near-perfect. The grilled cheese was amazing; the cheeses, hint of caramelized onion, and excellent bread combined to create one of the best sammiches I've ever had (which is saying something). The tomato soup, while delicious, was topped with a basil cream sauce that I personally didn't love; however, it didn't take much from the overall combination. The boyfriend ordered the chopped salad, intrigued by the lardon (bacon-like) pieces, and he devoured it within minutes. Unfortunately, my unhappy stomach didn't permit us to try dessert. The ambiance and atmosphere of the restaurant was nice -- it wasn't overly hipster, and the wall and table décor were all beautiful. However -- and this isn't a massive complaint -- I found myself distracted by the weird scuff patterns and damage to. the linoleum. Not a major complaint, but I spent far too long trying to figure out if it was there on purpose or not. It was a nice change of pace from our regular go-to dinner options, and I'll definitely be back again when my stomach is feeling better. Other than my one petty complaint, the food, service, and atmosphere all contributed to a pleasant Monday evening.
(4)Sudipto G.
Was surprised by the service (or rather the lack of it) at such a higly rated place on yelp. Agreed the food was definitely good, but taking 45 mins to get me a salmon with vegetable and quinoa rice is way too much time. Also, they took 10 mins to get us seated even though we had a reservation. I would have liked to gone back and tried the other dishes but don't want to spend two hours waiting for my dish to arrive.
(3)Cleveland B.
My girlfriend and I came to visit Portland from Los Angeles for her birthday and with our 4 day stay this is hands down the best place we ate at. The servers are extremely friendly and all around great people. We stopped in twice because there weren't many places open within walking distance from our hotel (It was, however, snowing... I know, right?) The dishes are fantastic. We had their tomato soup, cauliflower soup, cheese plate, roasted brussel sprouts, buffalo chicken cheese dip. Really simple stuff but it was all food we would probably cook at home and it hit the spot. The decor is cute and it has tons of charm. If I'm ever in Portland this is going to be my place to go downtown.
(5)chris t.
Had an enjoyable lunch. Service was a bit slow. Had two half sandwiches, grilled cheese and blt with the rice salad.
(4)Gina R.
The reason for 2 stars ... because "Meh. I truly have experienced better." For starters, I am a hospitality junkie, and customer service goes a long way with me. We were greeted by the hostess who immediately asked of if we had a reservation, in a bit of a snooty way. Just not very welcoming. We had to wait for our table even though several were open. Our server had a sass to him that could have been very fun, but unfortunately came across like he could have really cared less to be honest, and gave the impression that he really just didn't want to be there. He also had a large party at a different table, and that didn't help matters as his attention remained with that table. The ambiance of this place couldn't be cuter, and the name fits so well. It literally looks like a Picnic House! There are strings of lights, "windows" that look like you are standing on the outside of a house, cute quotes, greenery, and you really feel like you are outside. The problem was the food tasted like it literally sat in a picnic basket. I had the stuffed portobello which I would have imagined would have been far more delish had it been warm. My dinner companions had the lemon roasted chicken, the maple brined pork chop, and the short rib over savory pancake. None of the dishes were warm (everything luke warm, and mine was almost cold). The braised beef looked a little dry, but the pork chop was extremely dry to the point where the person that ordered it did let the waiter know. He was kind enough to take the dish off of the check since she didn't really eat it. She then ordered the Roasted Tomato Soup, and it was delicious, but again luke warm. The appetizer we shared was the Artisanal Cheese Plate which was very good! It was only served with one bread loaf which was 5 small pieces for the 4 of us however, and it took 45 minutes to finally get more bread after we asked 3 additional times. The 2nd bread loaf came well after dinner was served. For Dessert, we shared the Grilled Pound Cake and S'more Pudding, and those were the saving grace of my picnicking experience, or this review might have been 1 star.
(2)Josh T.
Wonderful space and design. Funky, artsy, and very portland. Great reuse of an old building. They host events as well. My nonprofit agency had a fundraiser here for 100 people and they space was perfect and the staff very easy to work with. Sound can be an issue (as in sound system didn't work well) but the food and drinks are top notch. As a restaurant, the lunch specials are great. I love the nutty brown rice salad. Nom Nom Nom.
(4)Karen C.
Better for lunch than dinner. Great sandwiches. However, the meat dishes tend to outshine anything vegetarian for dinner.
(3)Jill T.
Wow, the food is delicious in general (mixed salad with fresh fresh berries, beet salad w/ pistachio crumbs, brown rice salad & soups). I'm gluten free so I don't eat sandwiches but I always wish I could. Here's the thing...creme brûlée. Holy smokes! It's perfect, creamy and delicious--not gelatinous like many creme brûlées. This is so hard to do, I know because I've tried. I've NEVER had such good creme brûlée. Perfection...thank you!
(5)Mark L.
This is a funky but cool place to eat in Portland. The décor was an odd mash-up of styles but visually interesting. The food was mostly delicious except for the risotto. Just a little bland and overpriced. It was crowded with a wait so it must be pretty popular with the locals.
(4)Kim W.
This place is FANTASTIC! I made a reservation on Open Table for a midweek lunch, just based on all the great Yelp reviews. I had the "choose 3" combo of a soup, salad and sandwich, because I honestly could not narrow it down to just one or 2. I cleaned my plate. The atmosphere is nifty- with moss covered stone walls and reclaimed wood tables (yes the chairs aren't very comfortable- but once this food touches your lips, you will forget all about what you are sitting on). Tables of all sizes allow for business lunches, gatherings with friends or just a lunch date. Try the tomato soup- all others pale in comparison to theirs. I also had the grilled cheese with caramelized onions that basically just melted in my mouth. The cocktail menu is also fun and inventive.
(5)Lisa H.
Oh my....what a treasure! Two meals in two days while we've been visiting Portland. And I could easily eat the rest if my meals here for the duration of my trip. Lunch - soups are awesome! Turkey and apple sandwich amazing. Dinner - Patrick, our waiter was spot on with a wine recommendation. Dinner was perfect and dessert was sublime! Order the toasted lemon pound cake or live to regret it.
(5)Qiong S.
First meal in Portland! Had to do a takeout because of my needy toddler. The way the salmon tasted blew me away! So good!
(5)Allie B.
Hostess was surly and flippant. We walked into a 60% empty restaurant (plenty of tables) at 12:40pm and the host refused to seat us because "she has reservations that were coming that needed to be seated" and quoted us with a 20 minute wait. I had to refrain from responding "your reservations are late, we are here and I'm sure your servers would better appreciate you not holding their tables so they can make money." I worked in the service industry for 6 years and I tip 20+ %. If you're a server at TPH, please be aware that your hostess is turning away your business. We walked done the street to SouthPark, the host and server were friendly and courteous and our food was awesome.
(1)Scot D.
This place is pretty awesome for a lunch spot. I think the deal is you need to make a reservation so to not be disappointed. The menu was great in terms of selection an the ability to do half a sand and salad was perfect. Service great an food perfect. I will return!
(5)Kymm E.
The soups here are outstanding, puréed flavorful and fresh ingredients. Today's was peas, zucchini and potato. Always check your to go order, they forgot one soup, out of 2. Wasn't a huge order. They have changed the interior arrangement several times but still has that prohibition days feel to what the back room saloon resembled. This place is high quality soups, salads and sandwiches, my favorite for all three combo.
(5)Rach F.
We were 4 adults and 3 kids. The place looked empty but they said they wouldn't let is in because we need reservations
(1)Jennifer S.
Delicious food, quirky and fun presentation, and great space. The cauliflower soup was delicious, the kale chips added a nice crunch. The salmon was perfectly cooked and savory-sweet balanced just right.
(4)Pechluck L.
The Picnic House has an awesome large airy space between Park and Broadway at 728 SW Salmon Street. It takes its theme of urban picnic and brings it to life in its atmosphere. The decorative elements here combines the classic touches of the natural outdoors (a huge wooden picnic table including chairs of logs and moss simulated on some walls, and the wall behind what appears will soon be a deli area has a scene of tree, river, and forest animals), all while also lining the walls with printing blocks and touches of vintage 1920s Parisian chic with the fabric of the lounge and bar stools and various wall art and fixtures, interplaying all these various textures to add an air of romance and hint of antique treasure. A bear head with a bowler hat and monocle perched and presiding above the bar embodies all of these with a dash of whimsy. It's not often that I find a place that presents such style and character in its atmosphere Everything seems to be of high quality bistro fare you'd find hope to find in the romantic Paris you would drop by in your neighborhood route- homey and smart and elegant all at the same time. Here and there you see a call back to their theme with an actual picnic basket, as well as signage letting you that these straw baskets, fully stocked with plates and silverware and glasses and even a blanket, can be rented by the day + filled with food. The mixed greens with fresh berries, toasted cinnamon honey almonds and house made ricotta with a pickled blueberry vinaigrette had a tart freshness to it balanced by a touch of sweetness from the cinnamon honey. The arugula, roasted corn, spring onion and roasted tomatoes with avocado in a grilled lemon dressing on the other hand offered a piquant peppery contrast with each tomato giving a little burst of ripe sweetness here or there. The dessert was one of the best chocolate cakes we ever had, a chocolate sour cream bundt cake with chocolate ganache that was served slightly warm, with rich milk chocolate in every soft moist bite. And ah, pavlova. Ah, this light airy goodness of egg whites and sugar into meringue with fresh berries and vanilla cream. At first this plate looked intimidating as it is basically the size of a whole pie but then we realized you were being given the best part, the crunchy top half, a thin shell of firmness surrounding an inside that melted in our mouth so quickly that we needed another spoonful carefully balancing crisp bits of meringue with soft vanilla cream and such beautiful sweet strawberry in each bite to extend the rush. I also discovered my favorite two cocktails that the Picnic House offers from their cocktail menu. After trying the lighter cocktail sparklers of the Fleur de Lis and Sauvie on previous visits, this time I welcomed the Moulin Rouge martini with Indio Marionberry infused vodka, Clear Creek Blackberry liqueur, blueberry simple syrup, fresh squeezed lemon and garnished with a pickled blueberry, a combination of sweet with a touch of tart so it was not too sweet. But, my favorite was The Nymph cocktail, both delicate and strong, with Pink Spruce gin, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and a simple syrup muddled with cucumber. Refreshing citrusy but you can feel the magic afterwards!
(5)Gene M.
The food was so savory. Delicious. But the table was too big. We went there for a large party and you had to yell across the table which was not to my liking. Also they only accepted 3 credit cards per party so we were all struggling with the cash aspect. And gratuity was automatically included on the tab. I think you'll have a great time if you go there with a smaller party 2-4 :)
(3)Teresa R.
The food was delish and Ty the waiter...divine. Very charming ambiance for a great lunch with a dear friend. Butternut soup with grilled cheese - both above average.
(5)Niki S.
The ONLY reason I can't give this place the 5th star, is the price- I felt comparatively it was about a dollar-two dollars higher than what I would normally pay. That said, the service, decor, and charming personality of the entire operation makes one forget they are paying an extra buck or two... or at least it did for me. Main dish: I ordered a half salad/half soup combo. Mushroom soup, fresh berry salad. Soup was slightly bland, but very good texture- added a tiny salt and all was well. Creamy and hearty. Salad was good size, the berries and candied nuts together made a great amount of crunch and sweet in the salad. Diet coke with cherry grenadine. HAND MADE, mind you! Talk about OG! Grilled Pound Cake w/whipped cream and some lemon curd, dear lord- this was both dense, yet delicate and just amount of sweet to linger on my tongue and leave me skipping out of the building. I would eat here every day if I had the money and didn't mind the cost- I love 1920-1930's era items, and this place is adorned in them, with some history of the building as well, just ask one of the charming servers for more info. Price aside, I would suggest this place for anyone at least once. So much that I am considering it as my rehearsal dinner venue.
(4)Barry S.
So we started with some wine and an interesting Vodka cocktail they call a Sharab..... Blood orange vodka with a home made strawberry syrup. Very refreshing on a summer evening... Not sweet... Nice tartness. The mushroom soup was really good... Creamy and a bit spicy. The tomato soup was excellent... Enjoyed the fresh oregano. For main course we split the grilled salmon with asparagus and the stuffed portobello mushroom with polenta. Both dishes were excellent. Presented well and I especially liked the strawberry Anaheim pepper salsa on the top of the salmon. The wait staff and GM made us feel right at home.... Now for Steely Dan!!!
(4)C T.
Cute place, could use with some soundproofing. Appreciated the enthusiastic waitress and creative menu items. Ate the grilled cheese (it's a MUST!) and wild mushroom soup - delicious but could use a Vitamix blend on high, not necessary for flavor, just consistency. Hub ordered a trio - Cesar salad with a fried egg on top (extra) should have been runny was overdone, grilled cheese, and tomato soup which I stole and was excellent!! On my plate there was a small pile of stale chips to round it out. A stellar pickle would have been a better option for flavor, color, and a nice crunch. I had a glass of champagne b/c it's vacation - why not? And he had an "ok" beer which was an IPA but he can't remember the name as it was spoken to him, not printed. Final thought, spruce up the entrance, it's unwelcoming as you stare at empty tables wondering why they haven't seated you yet even though you have a reservation. Make it more separate from dining area, more cozy. Also, we are from out of town and walked around the block, right past it on the other side of the street. It's a little unassuming from the outside with the dark colors.
(4)Davis H.
The food here was solid, the atmosphere was interesting and fun, and the staff was friendly. Unfortunately the service is unreasonably slow, to the point of ruining the experience for us. The place was not at all busy and we were a party of three, but we waited 40+ minutes from ordering to being served. One of us ordered a drink halfway through eating and it just never came. This was a bummer because we did really like it, but we've just never gone back because we don't really feel like sitting there. I would recommend it if slow service doesn't bug you and you want some great food, but avoid otherwise.
(3)Chris M.
Retained much of the coolness of the original lobby of the Heathman Hotel. The layout is very cool complete with stuffed bear head over the bar. The lunch menu is approachable with salads, soups and hot/cold sandwiches. Staff is friendly and attentive but like all new restaurants are still working out some kinks.
(4)Carrie L.
My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this place while visiting Portland and was truly surprised by how amazing everything was. Pros: 1) The food tasted awesome. We started off with cauliflowers as our appetizer and I loved it. For our main course, I had the stuffed mushroom and my boyfriend had the maple brined pork chop. Both were amazing. The stuffing in the mushroom was better than any stuffing I've ever had. There was a lot of flavor to it - -I think they mixed it with carrots, vegetables, and other ingredients. It ended up being a bit dense at the end, but I would still order it again! As for the pork chop - it was flavored really well and the meat was cook to just tender. The bread pudding side on his dish was (what I thought) pretty innovative. It was called bread pudding, but really more like mac and cheese. 2) Staff was nice. Our waiter did a great job of making sure we had water, checking in to see if we needed anything else, etc. It was the kind of service you would expect from a fancy place, but he did it without being intrusive or overly trying too hard. It was just great. 3) Even with no reservation, we waited only about 15 minutes before we got seated. 4) The price of the meal came out way less than what either one of us expected and the portions are much bigger than what I'm used to. Cons: Can't think of any!
(5)Tomohiro F.
A very modern yet classy place. Food menu is somewhat limited but they do each item very well. The portions are generous. Servers are nice, attentive and personable. Great atmosphere.
(5)Kate L.
Some of the best sandwiches, soup and salads in town. The buffalo chicken salad sandwich is so good, as is the mushroom soup. Best bet is to get a combo and enjoy both!
(4)Melanie Z.
The Picnic House is an experience! The hipster vibe is SUPER strong, which I don't usually love, but everyone was super friendly and the service was wonderful. They just opened Barlow next door, so while you wait for your table you can have a drink there. The cheese tray at Picnic House was absolutely delicious. I had the culotte steak and it was fine - not the best ever, but the quinoa polenta was delicious. Definitely order the grilled pound cake for dessert! It was outstanding.
(4)Katie G.
Holy Mary Mother of God. This place is amazing. Every single thing I ate -- the steak with a quinoa-polenta combo that made me want to lie in a bed of it and die while eating it, the unreasonably delicious tomato soup (OJ doesn't have any claim on liquid sunshine when this stuff exists), the savory mushroom soup, the salad with summer berries that had no right to be that tasty -- was outstanding. I simply cannot wait to go back. There were so many things on the menu I wanted to try, but a girl's stomach is only so big. Fortunately, this place is VERY well-priced for what you get -- honest portions that are neither snobbily small nor grotesquely large. The atmosphere is nice as well -- a tiny bit disjointed in it's bring-the-outside-in decor -- but largely warm and appropriate. I feel happy to have a seat by the window in the front part, and never went to the back, so I can't say it's not nice back there, but I loved the feeling of the outdoorsy front section. My DH and I don't go out much for dinner -- I am unemployed and this was a special treat before seeing Neil DeGrasse Tyson -- but the excellence of this food, combined with the affordability and the wonderful ambiance mean that this place is getting added onto our regular list for when we go out for a night downtown. If you are wondering whether or not to go -- GO!
(5)Molly R.
We recently held our son and daughter-in-law's rehearsal dinner at the picnic house. Everything was over the top! The food was excellent and the staff amazing. They were so easy to work with to make this night truly magical! Thank you thank you
(5)Georgia M.
The boyfriend and I went to the Picnic House on date night before a comedy show, and the food was absolutely delicious. I got the chicken, he got the grilled cheese and soup, and we devoured both. The drinks were great, and the homemade marshmallows in the chocolate pudding were scrumptious! Picnic House is definitely our fancy restaurant for anniversaries and important dinners!
(5)Lee M.
1) Alleged five minute wait and there were plenty of open tables. 2) The dessert I wanted based in the pictures was not on the menu but the kicker was 3) the "no substitutions" comment. Thanks for the lack of flexibility, perhaps you should put it in writing on the menu like other restaurants that don't have the ability to change a SIDE. I even asked what is the charge to change.
(1)Austin C.
Amazing restaurant! The service is great, the food is great! We came in asking for take-out sandwiches, and when our schedule cleared we asked if we could change the order so as to sit down and stay, and they were incredibly gracious and accommodating. All the servers were friendly and kind, and the sandwiches were equally spectacular. The ambience is relaxing and beautiful, the lighting calming and fantastically decorated with a unique attention to detail. I'm excited to come back soon!
(5)Brandon C.
Best picnic I've ever had! I had the roast beef sandwich, it was delicious! Wonderful service and beautiful atmosphere! It was a very enjoyable experience.
(5)Holly R.
I mean... This. PLACE. You have to go. Just have to. Great food, cool space. It is absolutely superb, and that's not even a word I use in my regular vocab. I mean come on, who doesn't love chowing down next to a bar that's greatest charm is a taxidermy bear wearing a bowler hat and monocle? You guys. Supes adorbs. I recommend getting everything I ate. We started with the Brussels sprouts, which were grilled with dried cranberries and BACON, as well as the lamb skewers. Next was the wild berry salad. Ummm de-LISH! Homemade ricotta cheese had me sold, and the blueberry vinaigrette did not disappoint. I may or may not have licked the plate. But seriously I did. For actual din, I ordered the rockfish which had a strawberry sauce on it and looked NOM, but because I am impulsive, switched to the salmon last minute. Just could not pass up truffle mashed potatoes, and I suggest you don't either. Dessert? Duh. Order one of each? Obvi. If you can only handle one, go with the brûlée. But you will be sad you skipped the rest. Don't say I didn't warn you. Oh and the decor?? I can't. I just can't. It is so perfectly put together, with a giant reclaimed wooden picnic table in the front, and PH monogrammed expertly on the walls. White subway tiles decorated one wall. I basically died. I witnessed the staff putting together a couple of their picnic baskets for other customers, but didn't have the opportunity to peak inside. SUCH a cute concept. Go. Just go. Don't even think twice. And definitely make a reservation.
(5)Kaz K.
Servers tried to take our plate away while we were still working on it. This happened twice, and I needed stop them saying we were not finished. The restaurant was not very busy, but for some reason, it was very difficult to get attention of servers.
(2)Eryn E.
We are from out of town and are so happy we stumbled upon this place. We sat at the bar and got excellent service from Matthew. He was helpful with drinks as well as food (and we both have weird food allergies). I had the salmon and my boyfriend had the wild boar. Both are amazing. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Mindy W.
I had dinner with two girlfriends on a Monday night. To start we had some brussel sprouts (good) and the crostini's (just ok). I ordered the Salmon with the strawberry relish. The dish was good and the strawberries were a powerful taste, but I liked it. Our waiter was outstanding, tall thin young guy. He was cheeky but not creepy. I really like the atmosphere at the back of the restaurant by the bar. The front area needs a decor face lift, it has ice cream shop wall paper and the lighting is not right. I would recommend this place to someone.
(4)Jean F.
Food was simple and fantastic. Lunch- mushroom soup- really good and buffalo chicken salad was sooooo good. The thick chicks of bacon, great Gorgonzola cheese and ripe yummy tomatoes made this salad so much better than it sounds!!!
(5)C M.
I try to eat at this Hipsterific sandwich restaurant every time I'm in Portland. I've been for both lunch and dinner meals and while they experiences are different, both are the bees-knees. Personally, I like Picnic House for lunch. The grilled sandwiches are creative with interesting and fresh ingredient combinations. The mushroom soup is divine, but almost too good because it means I haven't tried any of the other soups. I love the decor of the restaurant. The natural wood grains and the faux moss wall aesthetics hark to being outside at a picnic table. The taxidermy above the bar is fun. And there is craft beer on tap!
(5)Matthew T.
I keep going back and forth on 3.5 or 4 stars so I decided that the wonderful soups were worth the fourth star. Went for lunch, but had read the dinner menu posted outside so I was excited with the idea of the cheese plate or charcuterie, but looks like they don't offer those at lunch. so maybe I was a little bumped by that. But settled for the 1/2 and 1/2. Sandwitch and soup, which is odd for me since I'm not that much of a soup guy, but their's sounded so yummy I had to try them. My whole party went this way. I had the mushroom soup and the hot dog, which sounded good from the description but failed to deliver. Which is why I considered bumping them down to 3 (3.5 stars). But the mushroom soup was amazingly good, as was the pea soup. Other sandwiches were better and there were some other interesting choices in regard to the rice salad, which was huge and tasty. Service was excellent, but citrus latte wasn't all that "citrus" but not the end of the world as it tasted fine for other reason.
(4)Susan B.
4 stars instead of 5 for the uneven service at the door, and it appeared that the service was inconsistent on the floor (in the weeds a bit) but the service at the bar was great. This place is (New) American cuisine in a 110 year old building- finely crafted cocktails, using fresh herbs, they serve only local beers- tap only- brewers unknown to us out of Townes, but delicious. The grilled cheese was incredible, 3 local cheeses, hint of lemon, perfectly caramelized onions on incredible bread, wild mushroom soup that was so perfectly seasoned and velvety, Pavlova for dessert that tasted like angels made it. Someone in the kitchen here knows exactly what they are doing. If you're in downtown Portland, Oregon, stop here. Small menu, reasonable prices, in a lovely setting. The food was delicious!
(4)Aria R.
Everything was so amazingly crafted and well done. They had a lovely music choice, the vibe was all around cheerful and classy. All of the waiters were sweet and charming. (The bar tender was especially attractive oh my God.) The best dinner I've had in Portland so far.
(5)Carrie H.
Cool atmosphere... very trendy portlandia fare. Food was good and drinks were yummy. Definitely a cool place to check out and walking distance from the downtown Hilton which is nice.
(4)Heather F.
The tomato soup and turkey sandwich were awesome! This is an adorable spot, and everyone there was friendly and attentive. I would definitely come back for a special treat, but it's too far out of my price range for a casual meal. (Half sandwich, half soup for $12 without tip)
(4)Krystal S.
Wow!! What a great surprise/treat to find Picnic House. We were coming into town to attend an exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society and I was madly Yelping while our Garmin was warning us off the T curves. I happened across Picnic House. Perfect!! Made reservation via Open Table and we found it quickly and close to our ultimate destination. Great space!! Very hipster old-timey (copyright trademark all rights reserved!) So we opted for several small plate items, the crostinis with a lovely soft goat cheese, almonds and honey (sorry, going by memory here, but totally something like that), tenderloin and Gorgonzola, beets infused with great loveliness and a delish charcuterie. We were IMPRESSED! Our "rock and roll" waiter was tops! He recommended a great cocktail that I LOVED and repeated. All in all a great place we'd highly recommend! Oh, only thing I'd say is that the entree menu was a bit limited. That would be my only wee critique. Cheers!!
(4)Rouzhna N.
Oh how I love their interior design! It uses a lot of wood elements, which works perfectly without looking too "grandpa-y" And their lunch special is fantastic. SO much food, SO delicious, and SO cheap (for the amount of food you get). I really enjoyed everything I got, which was a soup, salad, sandwich combo. We all each got a different thing and there wasn't one that disappointed any one, so you cannot go wrong with those options. Also, the waitors are dressed so nice and they are also very pleasent.
(5)Jeff P.
I'm not really sure how the majority of was because we were there for over ann hour and still didn't have food. Was going to a show across the street so had to leave and had to cancel order. Service was terrible - took over 20 minutes for drink orders and small amount of appetizers we did get were nothing special. Servers seemed incompetent. Haven't really hard good things about this place from others so definitely not going back.
(1)Linda T.
did this place just open? I am so surprised there werent too many people around. happy hour menu was good. got the half grilled cheese + roasted tomato soup ($5) and cream cheese with toasted almond and honey crostini ($4). grilled cheese was good, but the soup was bomb! pear, blue cheese, sweet potato, cranberry, candied walnut salad with fig butter vinagriette ($9) was delicious. definitely a getter. service was attentive. ambiance and decorations were nice.
(4)Julie R.
Great tasting food. BLT and Berry salad were devine. The roasted chicken was a little tough and rubbery; other food was excellent. Decor is unique - loved the colors and calm relaxed feel.
(4)Belle U.
AMAZING!!!! I was in Portland for a business meeting and was caught in the "winter blast" that shut the whole city down! Luckily I was able to get over to The Picnic House for lunch just before the snow really did its damage. I had the "pick three" combo... which btw, THANK YOU for that option!!! Sometimes a girl is hungry & cant decided between half a sandwich, soup OR salad! So thank you for letting me choose all three! After traveling all morning from LA I needed it! Back to my food... I had: 1/2 Chicken & Bacon With: shaved roasted chicken, thick cut bacon, charred tomato, pickled red onion,avocado spinach, gorgonzola aioli. 1/2 Fresh Berries Salad Which has: mixed greens, pickled blueberries, fresh berries, candied almonds, crumbled feta and fig butter vinaigrette. 1/2 Roasted Tomato Soup All for $15!!! EVERYTHING was delicious!!! The service was ok Nothing spectacular, but not rude either. I was by myself in the whole place (again, winter blast) so that may have made it awkward. Picnic House your food was delicious and I cannot wait to visit you again in November (my next Portland trip).
(5)kelly v.
We came here for dinner while visiting from Austin and had a fantastic experience. We shared 3 entrees and a small plate between 4 people and it was the perfect amount of food. Not that it matters THAT much but the decor was a little off and think they should close off the curtains to the front room at night. Food was great though and I would definitely recommend going here.
(4)Brittany S.
This place has an awesome vibe and great food that is reasonably priced... Highly recommend!
(5)Stephanie H.
Love, love, love this place! The atmosphere is so fun. I wish my house looked like this place. Word of the wise, make a reservation or be prepared to wait. But it is well worth it!! The food is always amazing and the drinks are to die for. Definitely one of my favorite places to go for specialty cocktails. You can't go wrong with any of their signature drinks. They are always changing too it seems like with the fruit that is in season. Every time I have had one of their specials I was blown away, plus their regular menu always has tasty options to choose from. Plus, did I mention how great the service is?! Everyone that works there is super nice, friendly and efficient. Even after waiting for a table, you won't feel like the wait drags on once you are seated. Someone always promptly greets you with water and gets drinks going. Even if they are slammed, the servers are great at keeping you in the loop on wait times and making sure the drinks are flowing! Need to pay Picnic House another visit very soon!
(5)Alicia C.
Awesome cheese board! The mushroom soup I got was just ok. But the cheese board ... Totally 5star ! 4ppl's serve for $14, seasoned and paired perfectly
(4)Scott W.
Excellent upscale sandwiches, soups, and salads. Lunch menu has a great two or three item choose-your-own combo option for $12-15. Service was very friendly and food came out quickly. Haven't tried the dinner menu, but I'd certainly recommend it for lunch.
(4)Michael M.
Very good food and great ambiance. The stuffed portobello was very good, very big and very filling. The Gardenhead is a fantastic drink. I will definitely come here again the next time I am in Portland.
(4)Lauren Q.
I don't really get what's going on here or what all the hype is about. The food was tasty enough but nothing to write home about, certainly not enough to warrant the mad lunch rush. The decor is truly bizarre--I think they're going for some kind of whimsical Victorian thing but it's in this minimalist modern space and there's some weird-ass writing on the wall in like eight different fonts. They're clearly going for something but not quite hitting it, exemplified by the bad taxidermy wearing a top hat above the bar. What this aesthetic has to do with simple American picnic fare, I don't know. The price point was pretty good though. I guess this place is okay for Portland.
(3)april s.
During a quick trip to Portland was looking for a great dinner spot for me and mom. This was perfect-thanks yelpers. I agree with the comment about staff seeming confused about seating us, though we were walk-ins so we were just grateful they weren't booked or closed. Our waiter Aaron was very nice, even took the time to answer all of my questions about the menu and the building. So cool that it used to be an old hotel and that they used old printing 'plates' for wall decor. Mom ordered the steak and I, the salmon. She proclaimed the Parmesan quinoa polenta the best polenta she's ever had. We of course shared dishes and I concur it was most excellent. My salmon was cooked perfectly with a nice crispy outside and barely done inside. The balsalmic strawberries were different and very tasty.
(4)Sher R.
I found this place on Yelp so I was really happy that it lived up to it's rating. Yes it is a funky little place, lots of room and few tables. A very cool little place to have a bite and the food was amazing. We almost left because it took so long for the hostess to show up but I'm glad we didn't . I had just landed in Portland and this was the first place we hit. Both my husband and I had the lunch 1/2 sandwich and side. I had a side salad, he had soup. My sandwich and salad were amazing. The service was great, actually beyond great. Our server gave us a run down on where to go and how to get there. I'll definitely be back. The menu is small which I like, seems that better food always comes from a small menu. They could do a bit of sprucing up; looks a bit like it is still just sort of barely open for business. Really great flavor. Nice welcome to Portland restaurant.
(5)Mary J.
I must have just come on an off-night. I mean 4.5 stars out of 5 with almost 200 reviews?!? How can you go wrong? But I just feel like it was a "meh" experience. Granted we went in an hour prior to closing, but I still don't think this place should have suffered a 3-star review because of it. Why the three stars? 1) Although the server was funny, nice and charismatic, the service was slow. And I mean, I'd rather not be here past closing time just as much as he wouldn't want to be stuck past closing time, and yet that still seemed to have no bearing on waiting almost 45 minutes just for the entrees to come out... I'm pretty sure they were sitting around for awhile too because I needed a chainsaw to cut through the lukewarm chicken breast. 2) You could tell when they wanted you out. The heat went off, the bathrooms were being cleaned by the same server that just dropped off your meal, and waiting for the check seemed an eternity on top of it all. Honestly, I probably would go here again to give it another try, possibly earlier in the day as to avoid that end of the night bullshit. I loved the environment (I heard it used to be a hotel lobby for the Heathman?), the beer, wine and cocktail options were nice, and the food had potential. Honestly, I just want to try their grilled cheese.
(3)Liu L.
LOVE the brown rice salad and the grilled pound cake! Order the brown rice salad!!!
(5)Marie E.
This place was definitely a toss up between a 4 and 5 star rating it was so good! I found this place on yelp as I was looking for a good place for a lunch meet up during the holidays. I highly agree with the 4.5 star rating because it was truly amazing. The decor and atmosphere was adorable! It had 4 distinct areas that I could see, with really rustic and eclectic decorations. There was one large community table that was made out of a very large (what I assume was redwood) log slab. They had the details down to a science, including presenting the receipts in old books. The food was by far the best part! It was simple food done right. They had a menu of sandwiches, soups, salads and dessert for lunch. Each was simple in design but there were some elevated flavor combinations and each piece was prepared perfectly. My friend and I each got a half/half combo and shared. We got a shaved turkey sandwich, prosciutto sandwich, grilled cheese sandwich, and the roasted tomato soup. I could probably write a paragraph about each and still go on about how amazing each was, and I'm getting hungry thinking of them now. The staff were all super attractive, friendly and helpful, although a bit slow to being attentive to our needs. We did have quite the wait for ordering, receiving our food, and receipt. This is the sole reason that i'm giving a 4 start instead of a 5.
(4)Nora M.
My server was beautiful and civil, but disinterested. The other two servers had personality and seemed a lot more fun. The wait staff worked well together - a sign of good management The decor was wonderful! They put your bill in an old book - what fun! The food should have raised this a star. The mushroom soup was delicious - but luke-warm. The polenta was wonderful, but the protein was dried out. In fact the chorizo was so hard the fork couldn't spear it. A little more attention to details would have made all the difference, but I probably could have made something better in the hotel microwave.
(3)Melissa S.
I really liked the look and feel of the restaurant. I need to go again to give an honest service review. It was ok this time but unlike other yelpers I know you can't blame a restaurant for one experience and one waiter. The food was great. I loved the food and would be happy to go there again! Everything seemed to be very fresh and tasty!
(4)Laura B.
The food was good- went for lunch and had one of the sandwiches. Let's just say that the atmosphere was very "Portland. " if you're into that thing, great, if not, it won't interfere with enjoying the food. Bears in bowler hats on the walls, random paintings, and super hipster staff.
(3)Chris M.
Yuuuuuuummmmmmyyyyyy!!! This was such a great choice for lunch.... The shaved turkey sandwich was sooooo tasty. I combo'd it with their delicious tomato soup and I was in lunch time bliss. Full enough to be happy, but still able to move!!
(5)matthew m.
This place has great food and a great vibe! Our bartender, Matthew, was very personable.
(5)Jess P.
This place seems derived from a Portland Fairytale. Steampunk embellishments with an quaint/cutesey/antiquey feel (Our check was brought out in an antique novel of French lyrics), this place definitely has atmosphere. I am so happy a place like this exists downtown. Downtown Portland seems to lack middleground. You've got the super casual foodcarts, and the old stuffy/stodgy businessman restaurants. Picnic House fills the void- a cool, yet respectable spot downtown that serves good food at reasonable prices. The lunch menu deal- combine 2 options for $12- was perfect! Grilled cheese with carmelized onions, and butternut squash soup (with cranberry cream, natch)- oh, bliss. The portion was just right for me, although may be a bit small for those moments of roaring appetite. Our individual waiter was so hipster lovely. With round spectacles and a curly mustache, it was as if he walked straight out of the decor. However, I did have a complaint with the OTHER waiter. A young blonde, dare I say good looking (I'd hate to further feed that ego), man who refused to acknowledge me as I waited at the entryway for roughly 5 minutes. It was such an awkward introduction to an otherwise lovely lunch- I stood in the open space, waiting to be seated, as a waiter walked past me time and time again without as much as a simple hello or glance of acknowledgment. Look, I know it isn't your job. You are a waiter, not a hostess. But to the girl standing awkwardly by herself in a big airy space with absolutely nothing to distract from the uncomfortableness of waiting (no books, no chairs, no cornhole- thought I doubt that'd be appropriate- no way for me to otherwise occupy myself), a little gesture of friendliness would have gone a long way. Instead, I had to question whether I was actually standing in the right place: was there a bell to ring? should I have called beforehand? did I just stumble into a secret club? is it because I don't know the passcode? Yet, even the snooty waiter couldn't knock this place down. I am already planning a date night for cocktails and dinner at this wonderful spot.
(4)Rebecca C.
Went here for the first time yesterday for a business lunch. It was actually a really interesting building, apparently it used to be the lobby for the Heathman before it moved across the street. I loved the decor and the room, and the food was really good too. Which, frankly, if you're reading a review of a restuarant is probably the most important thing you need to know. Both of us did the soup and sandwich lunch combo, and it was just enough food. Usually I'm served huge portions that are lunch and dinner, but this was a perfect enough amount to have me full but not feeling like my gut was going to explode. The food itself was good, fresh and hot which, as it turns out, is harder to get from a restaurant than you would think. The grilled cheese with carmelized onions was really good, had that bite of cheddar that let you know it was there which was delicious. It paired perfectly with the hot tomato soup and frankly on such a cold, rainy day it hit the exact right note. I'm definitely putting this place on the regular lunch rotation.
(4)Michael C.
Very good dinner! The menu was small but interesting, the food was tasty, the prices were reasonable. the ambiance was fine, and the service was excellent. All four of us were very happy with our meals, and the s'mores dessert was quite unique and delicious. We'll be back!
(5)Nate D.
Wonderful food, service, and atmosphere. Go in early and you won't have to wait although a reservation is recommended. I had been to lunch here for great sandwiches and salads but the dinner is off the hook. With the help of the excellent recommendations of our server I had the coulotte steak and my friend had the cast-iron chicken. Both were unbelievable. I highly recommend every aspect of this place, right down to the exceptionally clean restrooms.
(5)Egg M.
The chicken and truffle mashed potatoes in the Iron Skillet is one of the best chicken dishes in town. The mushroom soup was delicious, as were their drinks. Restaurant is a little loud/cavernous, but the food is great and the staff are great too.
(5)Tiffany B.
Sunday lunch spots are really a hit n miss around Portland! It's too late for brunch, and too early for dinner....luckily Yelp directed us to this new little spot! Reading all the other reviews prompted us to stop in and give them a shot. We were so glad we did, and you should too!! The interior, as many others have said, is amazing! When you enter thru the glass door, you just stop in your shoes and take it all in! The waiter was very nice and gave us a little history lesson on the old place. This was the old Heathman hotel lobby back in the 40's. The original tiled floors are still there and look great! The old mill work is beautiful, in the back, the ceiling lifts to major heights and this pretty patina metal ceiling is exposed with surrounding wood beams. Seriously- we sat and looked up and down thru our whole lunch! Our waiter showed us some pictures of the place when they bought it, the former was a jewelry store with low ceilings that covered all this gorgeous history. He said they had no idea when they tore down the plaster, all this wood was there! What a great find! The place is decorated nice, really gives you the park feeling with outdoor benches and this huge, and I mean HUGE, wood table and benches! They have only been open 6 months, and are planning on brunch service soon. This place would do great serving a weekend brunch, IMO. They lunch menu has soup, sandwiches and salads. You can pick any 2 or 3 to make a meal out of. The spiced pumpkin soup was so good on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Went perfectly with my Spanish Coffee! Yes, they have a full bar! The prosciutto with fig butter and arugala hit the spot too! Portions were prefect, not too heavy and we left feeling just right! A great little gem this place is, I hope they do well and stick around for a long time!
(4)Maegan S.
I have eaten here twice over the past few months, once with a small party of 4 and once with a large party of more than 20. The menu is delightfully small, with a broad scope for different tastes. The stuffed portobello is cooked to perfection, with a spicy polenta-esue topping (the chaotic application of arugula to the top is confusing though). Tenderloin tip appetizers are at the top of my list for sharing, but order several if you have a group. The roasted cauliflower needs work on presentation. Dark chocolate pudding for dessert with homemade marshmallows is like an adult s'more. To die for. The grilled pound cake is a bit of a miss. I give 4 stars because on my last visit the waitress did not bring my dinner out until everyone else was finished with their meals (~30 minute lag). Not a big deal, but no reparations or apologies were made. A free cocktail while I was waiting would have been nice.
(4)Devrey H.
After watching a play at the Brunish Theatre we stumbled across The Picnic House. I ordered the pork chop with bread pudding and found it to be excellent. The pork chop was seasoned well and juicy, but the star of the plate was the apple, cheddar, and caramelized onion bread pudding. The combined flavors were delicious and the perfect accompaniment to the pork chop. For dessert I ordered the Chèvre Cheesecake, which was to die for. Brilliant meal in a great atmosphere with stellar service. I will definitely return.
(5)Tony D.
Good food and service. This place is more of a lunch spot, but we walked over here for dinner since it was near our hotel. The place was pretty quiet, but we gave it a shot anyway. The small menu was pretty good and simple. Just soup and sandwiches, plus small starters. It was cheap, easy and hit the spot. It was definitely nothing fancy, but we liked the old building.
(4)Haley S.
My boyfriend and I are new to Portland and have been trying out new places. Picnic house was average at best. The service was slow and a bit awkward. We couldn't figure out the decor. My boyfriend is a vegetarian and got the portobello mushroom dish. He couldn't eat it because the flavor was so horrid. We won't be coming back.
(2)Frisky M.
Whimsical space. Open through the day. A tasty cocktail list. A fun yet knowledgeable waitress named Emily. Good food. What more could of you asked for in the middle of the day. Awesome place!
(5)Crystal H.
There is a TON of comfort food in Portland -- which is awesome, but left me craving something with a more delicate sensibility. This place nailed it. Very similar to our gastro pub back home, The Ravenous Pig. The menu changes every couple of weeks but we got the pulled pork shoulder sandwich and the roasted lemon chicken. The chicken was great, simple and rustic but the pork shoulder sandwich was like OMG holy wow deliciousness! Highly recommend. I will be dreaming about that sandwich in Florida! Service was good, and the ambience is awesome. It's in an old hotel lobby and the decor on the walls and staircase are old printing press plates giving it a bit of color and funkiness. The rest of the decor is reminiscent of decades past. Didn't try any of the cocktails, but they apparently make the mixing soda recipes from scratch!! Sounds awesome. We had the grilled pound cake for desert and every bite was delicate and delicious. Try it!!!! Any foodie will love it.
(5)Tonya S.
Went here Friday while down in Portland for a girls weekend. We were seated right away, our waitress was excited and friendly (not in an annoying way). We got one of the specials: compressed watermelon salad with a goat cheese stuffed squash blossom. From the menu, an order of rice balls, the fried chicken, and the mushroom lasagna. We each ordered a drink. Our bill was under $100, not bad!! The food was fun and flavorful. I LOVED the lasagna, I cannot stress how yummy it was!!! If you have a thing for sharp cheese and truffles, you have to have it! The chicken had a delightful crispy crust, the chicken must have soaked in a sweet/sugary marinate. The sweetness was a bit much but interesting. The chicken was in the bone, moist and flavorful. I got the drink with blueberries in it. Sweet and tart but not too much of either. My glass came with a crack, the wait-staff was extremely apologetic and took the drink off the bill. We were too full for dessert but they looked great! Definitely on my 'places to go in PDX' list!
(5)Jeannie O.
Cute decor, friendly staff, and good food. Good salad, good soup, however, the turkey sandwich was crying out for a condiment - too dry. The saving grace and not to be missed was the awesome chocolate cheesecake. Exploding with favor, a delight for your taste buds.
(4)Jenny B.
Pros: Service Flavors Creativity Cons: A little pricy with small portions.
(4)Susan C.
Perfect end to our Portland Walking tour. Lunch for seven at what was the old Heathman Hotel, now at least for three years The Picnic House. Greeted and seated thanks to reservations via Open Table. Easy, peasy. The majority of the group ordered the mushroom soup and a salad combo, even though the temp outside was reaching 95 degrees. I had the tomato salad, a bit skimpy but delicious. Others had the. Chop salad, Asian salad and then sandwiches with soup. Wonderful. Many in the group had attended functions here for private events and some others frequently lunch here. We will be back.
(4)Peggy S.
Wow! This place is good! I was surprised that it wasn't very packed when we arrived, even though when we called in for a reservation, they said there won't be any availability till 7:45, but when we got there at 7:15, we were seated right away at a fairly empty dining room. We ordered a vegetarian charcuterie plate to share - I had my doubts at first, but it turned out to be really delicious. I loved the marinated portobello mushroom, and the mushroom pate. The picked radish was refreshing, and the vegetable terrine is a very creative way to dress up veggies. I got the roasted pork terrine with potato gruyere gratin, mustard mousse, brussels leaves, red pepper purée. I looooved my dish. The roasted pork terrine was very juicy and flavorful, and the mustard mousse cut the grease perfectly on the terrine. The potatoes were equally amazing with cheesy top and creamy layers of potato slices! I would absolutely return to try some of their other items on the menu. The service was prompt, professional and friendly, and the food is absolutely delicious with a very reasonable price!
(4)Kent M.
A tad pricey for the quality of food, especially given the competition in Portland. We had a bunch of things, none of which really jumped off the plate. I went for dinner, which may have been why. Might be worth coming in for some sandwiches/burgers at a more reasonable price at lunch. Although one thing they have going for it is a stuffed bear head wearing a bowler hat.
(3)Angela M.
I walked in and thought "oh no, this place is upscale-ish". Which can be fine, but not when I am not eating dairy or wheat. Or am starving. In fact, forget the wheat. Almost everything had dairy in it. And I suppose I could have requested no dairy, but I don't really see the point is spending $25+ on an entree if I'm going to remove the most delicious part of it. I suspect I also enjoy lower class plating. I would have preferred a bed of mashed potatoes instead of a sprinkling of roasted baby potatoes. I like to feel as though I will not run out of any ingredient on my plate. You know, a puddle of sauce instead of a drizzle. Or a gravy boat is even better. The pork terrine I ordered was decent. Neither notable or outstanding, I finished half of it before I ran out of potatoes, brussels, mustard mousse, and red pepper puree. Perhaps I was supposed to be forking gigantic mouthfuls of pork terrine into my maw and taking teeny little dabs and nibbles of everything else, but I feel like then the whole meal would have just tasted like pork grease. I think we are just not meant to be. I've also not experienced a place where you have to pay for your bread then pay for butter. But maybe that's a Portland thing. Or a fine dining Portland thing. Or a Picnic House thing. I will mention that the grilled cheese looked good, and if it wasn't made of everything I don't eat I would have ordered it.
(2)Jana C.
I experience an amazing meal here the night after going to Imperial for PDX Dining month. What a complete polar opposite experience.... so good the service, so good the menu offering that I chose the entire beer pairing to go with the meal, afraid whether I would make it out the door vertically or horizontally. Good thing the Hilton is but a block away. Amazing courses with wonderful textures and flavor. Loved my salad soup starter. Perfect with every bite, paired with an amber ale. The lamb shank with the veg components.... excellent composition, well balanced. Too bad there was not more meat off that bone. I wanted to gnaw it like Fred Flinstone. Sauce, kale, and root veg mousse.. yum!!! so was the Deschutes Obsidian Stout. Dessert was perfect as well. Rosehips from Portland brewing was my fave beer of the evening. I ate in the partitioned section near the dark, historic bar area. So cool, so deliciously decorated, so much character, so Portland. Loved the experience!!!
(4)Namtran V.
I came here for lunch and the decor is beautiful with a really hip vibe. I waited about 30 mins for a table for 6, but I could see a place like this filling up really quick during lunch. Their menu is easy with a few choices for soups, sandwiches, and salads. I opted for a half sandwich, half salad, and a side of chips. It was a perfect lunch serving. This place is kind of like a classy Panera. I'll definitely be coming back when I'm in the area!
(4)Matt E.
Maybe I'm biased. Picnic House is the first sit-down restaurant my husband and I ate at on our trip to find apartments in Portland, and we were still riding high on a celebratory wave. But I don't think it was simply a rush of endorphins that made me crush on Picnic House, but rather their consistently great service, beautiful interior and of course the delicious food. I'm definitely a fan. Since that initial dinner, I've been to Picnic House a number of times for lunch and all meals have been top notch. Off the (current) dinner menu I've tried the pistachio crusted salmon and the lamb chops. The salmon was prepared perfectly and the pop of the pomegranate made for not only a beautiful dish but also a immensely satisfying one. When it first came out I thought the portion might be a bit small, but it ended up being just right. The lamb? Well, it was good but I didn't closely enough consider the menu when ordering. It's basically DIY gyros, which isn't my cup of tea. The meat was prepared well, but I definitely suffered from envy of my date's meal. As for their sides, the roasted cauliflower and the fried brussels sprouts are both ridiculously good, and I didn't want to share. Some day I'd like to make a meal of just their sides. For lunch the offerings are much more geared towards quick soups, salads and sandwiches, which makes sense as their location is pretty central to downtown worker bees. My favorite sandwich featured charred tomato, caramelized onions, fresh cheeses (goat, feta, cream, ricotta), arugula, basil pesto. Ridiculously good, and if they happen to have a tomato soup on the menu, would pair perfectly. Their mixed greens salad with pickled blueberries is great as well, and I added roasted chicken to make it feel more like a full meal. What can I say? I eat big. My last experience at Picnic House was a bit of a production. I had to put together a dinner for 23 people, with a fairly tight budget. I immediately thought of Picnic House and led by the special events coordinator Ari, their team were fantastic from initial contact to the dinner itself. They assisted in organizing family-style appetizers and deserts, which made service easier and kept costs down. We also selected a small number of entrees to keep ordering simple and not overwhelm the kitchen. Food took a touch longer than I had hoped, but not enough to really worry about. Everybody worked together well, and nobody was left wanting for food or drink. I'd venture to say that everybody fully enjoyed the meal. I don't have the opportunity to return to restaurants all that often, but knowing that it's such a reliable standby, I see myself at Picnic House again soon.
(5)Ami T.
We checked this place out for Friday lunch and it was definitely busy! It is a cute hip place in SW Portland. The decor is a bit odd. The front part of the place is super cute and looks picnicy. I loved the wooden tree coat rack and the pretty lights in the front. The large communal wooden picnic bench is amazing. As you go further in, the decor looks more antique-y and doesn't match the front. I guess this may be a nod to the fact that the building used to be an old hotel in the 20s. The service was like all service in Portland--slightly slower but polite. The food was exciting and fun. It was a simple menu but everything looked great. I also thought there were a good amount of veggie options. All three soups were vegetarian (no chicken broth). We each got the half-half and soup. I got the grilled cheese which was pretty basic. The brown rice and root veggies salad was delicious and the mushroom soup was the best mushroom soup I have had. The other arugula and tomato sandwich was delicious and the tomato soup is great as well. I wasn't a huge fan of the carrot soup because it tasted more juice-y and thin instead of savory and soupy. The prices were on point for an upscale lunch place. Loved that they bring the check in a book!
(5)Briana S.
Same beautiful space, but it just isn't the same. I was a Picnic House regular when I was working in Portland in 2013. Flash forward two years and my friends and I decided to come here before RNR Portland. We were seated quickly, and a friendly waiter was helping us. I tried to order the lasagna, which he had recommended, but he came back and told me another table got the last slice. It was only 7:30 and they were already out?! :( I had the famous grilled cheese, which was still delicious, but not really what I wanted. But I knew I needed some starch and not just a salad (even though their entree salads are great from what I remember). My friends each got the meatloaf, but found the two sides were not warm AT ALL. The owner came over and offered to replace the sides (which she did), but it's surprising that they were able to come out of the kitchen and not be at an appropriate temperature. Really hoping this was just an off night... I used to love this place!
(3)Ivy C.
This is such a cute place with good service and very high quality, locally sourced ingredients. Their burger is so thick and juicy, and all sandwiches arrive hot and toasty with the freshest bread I've ever come across in any sandwich shop. I highly recommend doing a combination of 3 items for $15, which includes any 3 items in the lunch menu. It says half a salad and half a sandwich, but the sandwich is a decent size. Their desserts are very delicious too! The menu rotates so don't be afraid to ask the waiter what the most popular item is at the moment.
(4)Tristan R.
The environment was nice and friendly enough. Unique and interesting vibe. Great area. The food was good -- they incorporated novel ingredients to traditional dishes, which was interesting, and they used (to the extent possible) local and organic produce. Menu, however, was a bit too limited and the dishes a little too interesting for my crude tastes (they added an edible flower to the meatloaf). I do like how they focus on doing a few things very very well, but those few things didn't happen to overlap with dishes and/or ingredients that I like and prefer (and I like a lot of things too). I would still try this place again - it appears the menu changes so there's no reason to believe there won't be something that will be appealing to me at some point. Give it a shot.
(3)Josh S.
Best meal I've had in a long time. Amazing brussel sprouts!! Melt in your mouth fried chicken. Great wine. Awesome service. Thank you for making it a wonderful night!
(5)Chris P.
Great sandwiches - particularly the grilled cheese. The atmosphere was great - set in a old hotel which gave it a particularly refined elegance. The waitstaff was particularly friendly and helpful. Definitely a lunch go-to lunch spot.
(5)Stefani D.
The food is really impressive but the decore and everything else lacks First impression walking in neat and kinda trendy but the way this is set up feels like 2 different places when you hear picnic you think wood grass checked clothes but then you walk in the back of the restaurant is doesn't make sense. Plus the service is very slow and also the sliver ware is all mismatched especially when you sell $12 salads But the food is very outstanding I mean very outstanding great balance and great selections I would go back but would sit elsewhere
(4)Jaime C.
this was our last night in Portland and wanted a nice dinner to cap off our vacation. We were not disappointed, the dishes are spectacular as well as the wait staff friendly outgoing and attentive. Try the truffle mushroom lasagna, perfect portion for such a rich dish. The caeser romaine wedge was a big hit as the dressing is truly home made and served with a nice poached egg and cracked pepper.
(5)Dionne S.
Food was amazing! Drinks well crafted and service top notch. No complaints from this happy girl.
(5)Nora D.
Wonderful interior design/decor. Really helpful and nice waitress. Wonderfully tasty food. The fried chicken was really good with a combination of sweet and savory. We also had the cheese board. I really like the brie with caramelized sugar on time (like a creme brule crust). I also liked the croquets.
(4)Jonathan R.
I just flew in to Portland on business and had heard about this place. Absolutely outstanding food and the service was exceptional. I look forward to going again. Wish we had this place in Salt Lake City.
(5)Katy H.
What an absolutely fantastic experience I had here the other night. I was in Portland participating in a big work trip with nearly 2 dozen people. It's not easy to find a place to eat with a group that size but The Picnic House delivered! Well, no... I mean they made it happen. They didn't literally deliver, they have a huge communal table fit for kings in the front room of the restaurant. Just beyond it there are 4 tops and 2 tops for smaller, more intimate dinners. The service for our group was impeccable. Lots of refilling of water glasses, lots of checking in to see if we needed more of anything, and lots of pouring of wine. Totally outstanding considering they had other tables to take care of at the same time our massive group was there demanding a lot of attention of the wait staff and kitchen. The food was superb and the dessert was gone within minutes. I had the pork terrine and it was delicious. I also sneaked a few bites of the salmon and it was great as well. This is definitely a great spot for dates and catching up with friends over a lovely meal. Prices aren't unapproachable but the quality of the food makes it almost feel that way.
(5)Jessica K.
Came here for a birthday, the menu didn't have many options and everything was a little too unique for me. I thought I played it safe by going with grilled cheese but even that had some stinky cheese in it and I could barely eat it. Also the coffee tasted really burnt and just not good. Would not try this place again.
(3)Chelsea M.
Wohoo! As good as it gets! This place, for me, screams Portland. Fresh, local ingredients, awesome atmosphere and eclectic decor. So here's the rundown of my experience there on a Saturday night: 1. Reservations: made them through Yelp, seated on time. Would definitely suggest reservations because I was not seeing many people seated without them. 2. Drinks: What a great menu! I had a raspberry and rosemary concoction that was so unique, well balanced, and delicious. I would definitely recommend their cocktail list. My husband's Long Island was more of a rum and coke, so I would stick to their menu. 3. Cheese board: This is how a cheese board should be done! Generous helping of cheese and a medium-sized baguette. Easily shared between two people and probably could stretch it to four people. Delicious! Five stars! I love cheese! 4. Food: My husband loved his risotto even though it had mushrooms. It was well cooked and appropriately creamy. My lamb chops were phenomenal. The tzatziki and the other sauce with the pine nuts and arugula, yum! This was truly a well thought out plate with layers of deliciousness. The only down score here was that one of my three chops was under cooked, like still seeing a little pink before you cut into it. Unfortunately, it was the last one I cut into so not much to be done but the waitress did apologize and say she would let the chefs know. 5. Price: Pretty spot on for Portland. We walked out of there with a $74 tab - 2 entrees, 2 drinks, and a cheese board (did I mention I loved the cheese?). 6. Time: We were in and out of there, not rushing, in 45 minutes. This was great! I wonder if it comes from being across from the Schnitzer and people rushing to get to their show. So, if you are looking for a meal that will not drag on, this would be a great place! Other notes: Back seating section was darker/more intimate, we were seated in the front next to the windows and it had a more exposed feel, I would ask for a back room table next time. Moderate noise level, not horrible, but not quiet. Portions are appropriately sized her, nothing too big, but enough to make you feel like you are getting your money's worth.
(5)Nick M.
Well, we came here for dinner before the theatre, and, overall, it was great. The food was really good, the staff friendly, the decor really interesting. I think we must just have been there on a off-night in terms of service though, because while the staff were really friendly and helpful, they didn't really have the basics down. The beer pairings never arrived with the food, and twice we had to remind them to bring them at all, and drinks orders had to be followed up on. It's not a big deal, but at this price point the small stuff should be screwed-down pretty tight. I'll definitely be back, because the food was great, and I'm willing to believe we just picked the wrong night.
(4)Kendra D.
My husband and I ate dinner here last night. Reservations - no problem and we were seated five mins after arrival. Hostess - polite and got us our drinks quickly. Waiter - took our food order, brought us our bill. Nothing in between. Did not ask us how our food was, did not ask if we wanted a second drink, did not check on us at all! In fact, he seemed like he had a chip on his shoulder! ???? Weird. Food - Salmon was meh. Nothing special and tasted fishy. (Higgins salmon much better.) Salmon was not worth the $$. Lamb chops, however, were good. Nicely presented and well cooked. No problems there and worth the $$. No bread, butter or extras provided as you sip your drink and wait for your food. Not a problem for me, but surprising. Mixed Drink - Sharab was tasty. Very tart, but I liked it. The restaurant would probably be worth another try food and cocktail-wise, because their website pics look amazing. But I'm not sure I'd give them a second chance because of how we were treated by the server. Again - very odd treatment. Luckily, here in Portland there are lots and lots of other fantastic restaurants to choose from with better treatment by servers.
(2)Case W.
My friends & I were going to a show at the Schnitz and decided to have dinner here before because it was close and convenient. It was the same night as the Rose Festival Starlight Parade however we manage to find parking and away from the parade crowd. When we arrived we wanted to sit in the main dining area but was told it was reserved for a private function and they seated us in front entrance area which remind me of a deli or lunch cafe where you ordered your food first and they will call your name when it's ready. No feel of a hipster restaurant whatsoever It was hard to figure out who our server was as several people approached up and never introduce themselves and said they were going to be our server for the meal. One of them put a huge carafe of water and not bother to pour it in our glasses. After mulling over the menu we started out with the chicken liver mousse and the cauliflower dish. The mousse was good but we had to ask 2 different servers to provide us an extra loaf of bread which they took their own sweet time to get it to us. The cauliflower was okay but nothing to write home about. I ordered the Fried chicken which had no flavor and the crust was like biting into chalk with discouraging. My friends had the salmon over the risotto which was better but again no flavor. When we were finished, I left very disappointed and felt I spent a lot of money for a less than mediocre meal.
(1)Valerie J.
Had a lovely dinner here, thanks to a recommendation from my out-of-town friend. I also happen to take a different out-of-town friend with me. Both had high praise for how "Portland" they found it to be. Which pretty much sums it up. It was very good, and a great place to take tourists who are looking for an organic, slightly quirky, non-chain dining experience downtown. Watch as they thrall over the pine entryway and 1930's French cabaret soundtrack!
(4)Gabe P.
Pretty fancy and nice, well thought and well managed. The service here is impeccable, Patrick I believe was our guy, but the others we talked to were perfectly helpful and knowledgeable. The small tables are close together and you get to share your impressions with your neighbors, that adds a social factor to the experience. The food is great, had the Roasted Salmon (that comes topped with pomegranate seeds, yeap!) and Potato gnocchi, both delicious! There are many other appetizing options but you can only eat that much in 3 rounds of dinner in one night!
(5)Mike D.
Visiting from the east coast and popped in here for a late lunch. Certainly did not disappoint. Very cool ambiance. Wait staff was extremely attentive. And the chicken sandwich and mushroom soup among the best I've had. Very unique flare on what could otherwise be common sandwiches. They even bring the checks over in an actual book which I thought was neat. Definitely check it out for lunch if you're in the area.
(5)Ken L.
The roast beef sandwich combo: Roast beef sandwich with the perfect proportions of thinly sliced roast beef, caramelized onions, a touch of horseradish mayo aioli, cheddar, and arugula packaged in-between two slices of light crunchy bread*. Accompanying this beauty: the spring vegetable soup, and as a reminder I am not a big fan of soup, had me begging for more with its richness and smooth flavor. After all is said and done, this lunch meal combo gave me just enough to fill my belly but yet at a 100% satisfaction level. Price at $12 is higher than what I would have liked thus the one star deduct. ___________ *My pic shows half a sandwich (the smaller half) I shared. Menu online: media.wix.com/ugd/7034c9…
(4)Chris O.
Overall things were pretty good here. The menu isn't too big which is good and it's somewhat seasonal so you'll get new choices every time. I had a few things, one was the shaved kale salad added duck legs which was a very tasty salad although I'd recommend to add the chicken breast instead as the duck was expensive and had hardly any meat. I also shared a cheese plate which was good but a little heavy on the strong blue cheese, and I like blue cheese. They had a good selection of wines and beer, although I'd like to see more ciders as somehow I think it would go with the farm to table style food well. The service was good. Service was good and the atmosphere was pleasant. A great place to eat before or after the symphony which is right next door.
(4)Anne K.
Fantastic food, warm service, great atmosphere, fun people - the Picnic House had it all when we went there last night for our 15th wedding anniversary. My husband had lamb chops and I had the salmon with a scrumptious asparagus risotto. We shared the roasted cauliflower appetizer with caramelized onions, chickpeas, and currants. It was all cooked to perfection, with portion sizes that were generous without being overwhelming. What a treat! We had a special welcome from general manager Amy, who is clearly doing a terrific job in this place that blends history with modern twists, and classic comfort food with contemporary tastes. The place was upscale and hip without being stuffy or pretentious. We loved it all. After dinner we enjoyed a nightcap at their new bar addition, Barlow, and were thoroughly entertained by the bartender who grows his own rosemary and other elixir flavorings - plus, it was a real show to see him use bubbly liquid nitrogen to chill the glasses. Wonderful evening, all the way around. Thanks, Picnic House crew, for making our wedding anniversary so special! We'll definitely be back.
(5)Naomi L.
This place was pretty delicious! We came about an hour to closing on a Saturday night, luckily found nearby free meter parking, and walked right in. It was late, so there were plenty of open tables. Instead of seating us near the front to make the place look busy, the host/server took us to the back area. I'm so glad he did since we were able to see more of the decorations! Inside was like a nice garden party that made a baby with a hipster who was really into Alice in Wonderland. I guess that's a lot of the esthetic in Oregon, but I absolutely loved it after being so many more rustically decorated placed in NOLA. Food-wise, I enjoyed my sirloin culotte and had enough for the next day. My friend liked her pan fried chicken breast (also huge and enough for a 2nd meal). We agreed it was delicious, but not totally knock your socks off. I would totally bring visitors here to eat again if I went to visit again.
(4)Janet H.
Picnic House was SO good that even though we weren't hungry at all, we finished EVERYTHING. Yeah, Clean Plate Club! We actually had pretty low expectations for this place, considering we had a pre-dinner at 5pm and became voracious fatties and decided to make reservations here for 8:45 pm. We strolled in, to discover how cutely decorated this restaurant is, how funny and witty our server is, and how amazing the food was! It was the best decision EVER to eat dinner number two here. This honestly was probably my favorite meal in Portland. First off, our server was absolutely hilarious and sarcastic -- I love it! He made dinner so entertaining :) He also gave great suggestions and checked on us constantly. As weird as it sounds, I secretly wished he could be my friend in real life... Now, onto the food... for the appetizers, I recommend the Moroccan cauliflower and the duck fat potatoes! The Cauliflower was so flavorful, with a great assortment of spices sprinkled on it! And, the duck fat potatoes... mmm... who doesn't love potatoes doused in fat? Hey, and don't feel bad. They did a study in France and noticed those who ate more duck fat were less likely to have cancer... And the main dish... get the pork chop. It was so divine! It was a bit on the dry side, but loved the flavors and the mixture of sweetness on it. Finally, the dessert. You must get the pavlova! It's a definitely a picture-worthy moment upon arrival, so get your camera ready. It's this ginormous dessert with whipped cream and berries that can feed 4 people. It's also reasonably priced. The last time I had it was in San Francisco for the same price and a size of my palm. I loved how they added their own twist with Granny Smith Apples to add a sour tang to the treat. Picnic House, I'm so glad we ate here. Be prepared, as I'll come back in a couple years.
(5)Sarah B.
The Picnic House is the perfect place for a flip-flopper like me. When presented with a menu, it's like my mind instantly goes blank. I want one of everything! As soon as I decide on something, something else catches my eye. What if that thing is better? What if I regret my decision? What if I order incorrectly and everyone hates me? Worse, what if I hate my food, and therefore myself? WHAT IF MY LUNCH ORDER BRINGS ABOUT THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE?! Such heady decisions are obviously hard on little old me. So The Picnic House's approach to lunch decisioning - letting me choose a little from Column A, B, and/or C (a smidge of sammich, a smidge of soup, AND a smidge of salad?! YES PLEASE) is the ultimate in responsibility absolution. When I dine here, I can rest assured in the knowledge that if the zombie apocalypse begins, it won't have been because I made the wrong lunch choice. On my last visit, I chose the wild mushroom soup, an uber-tasty portobello sammy, and a crazy-yummy butter lettuce salad. Naturally, since it was lunchtime (WHAT? Sometimes my workday ends at lunch, OK?) I also ordered a Rose City cocktail, which was diviiine. 'Twas a little like an aviation without the creme de violette, and such a perfect light, summery accompaniment to my fall-themed lunch. The service was GREAT, AND they take reservations, so I'm really pleased with this place. I don't have time to sit around waiting for a table at lunch time (or anytime, really, but especially not lunchtime), so reservations are key. The decor and ambiance is swell to boot - with quirky art, wood beamed high ceilings, and mirrors galore. I'm not downtown very often, but when I am I'll make sure to seek this place out.
(4)Ronald A.
I have been here for lunch and dinner. It is always good. It has a good menu that is not too big. I had the lamb that was grilled. It is served with Grilled vegetables, including an olive. The salmon was encrusted with pistachios. Each dish was very good. Pork chops, irk terrine and a grilled cheese sandwich. Everything was wonderful. The wine lust has some very good choices with very fair prices. There are some expensive wines. There are some less expensive. Great meal. Come try it.
(4)Vi B.
I had a pretty okay experience here. Location: Right off Broadway. Parking can be hard to find. Walking in, I saw that the restaurant was mostly empty (possibly because it was a weeknight?). I didn't have anyone greet me, but I eventually found my friends in the back of the restaurant. The service from the waiter was great and the food was tasty, but I'm not sure if the full experience was worth the price.
(3)Vanessa S.
During my stay in Portland and before going up to Seattle, I think I tried coming here twice. The first time, it was closed. The second time, they were closed for a private event. After taking the bus back down to Portland from Seattle, I saw that the bus stop was pretty much a block away from The Picnic House and they were open. It was in the afternoon when we arrived. We waited a little bit to get a table even though the place wasn't that busy. We finally got seated by the window and ordered from the happy hour menu (my visit here was last year and I don't think they have happy hour here any more). My mom and I ordered the tomato soup and half grilled cheese. It was very good and nice to have after being on a bus. It was a very small portion, but helped to hold us over. A nice little spot. I'll come back here the next time I'm in Portland with an updated review.
(4)Sirayuki H.
When I pass in front of this restaurant I look in the window but haven't been inside. Today finally I went there and it was great! Inside was huge, bigger than I thought. And very cute! I and my friend got a lunch combination which is we can choose two of Soup, Salad and Sandwich from lunch menu. I ordered a salad with brown rice and a sandwich with shred prosciutto. Yum. I love this salad! I should have remembered this salad's full name! Anyways, that amount was perfect! I enjoy it! I should bring my husband next time! He will love there for sure!
(5)Ryan F.
Had a couple friends suggest Picnic House for dinner. Decided to give it a try for a lunch meeting and was very pleased. Good lunch selection, especially with the mix and match of soups, sandwiches and salads. Turkey sandwich was delicious, soup was great and so was my salad. Good cocktail selection and my friend said his burger was amazing. Had a peek at the dinner menu and will be back to try next time I'm in town.
(5)Lisa B.
We had high hopes for this spot. Unfortunately it didn't pan out. We tried the seasonal soup which was curry pumpkin. That was the star of the meal. Fiancée had the roasted chicken. When he cut into the chicken it was raw. It took us awhile to get the attention of someone. I had the pork chop and it was overdone and the onion loaf was overly custardy. I was primarily upset that with raw chicken they still charged us for the full meal. I mean do what you want but a discount or maybe taking the chicken off would have been a better idea.
(2)Katie M.
We came here for dinner before a show at the Schnitzer. We had a reservation, and our table was ready right away. The menu looked great. It was a Tuesday at 6 p.m. Unfortunately we never got to taste any of the food, since over an hour after we sat down, we had only received drinks (not even the bread we ordered!) and had to cancel our order and leave in order to be able to go somewhere to eat something, anything, before the show. I felt terrible for our waitress; clearly they were understaffed or something since we did not see her until at least 30 minutes after we were seated. The kitchen was incredibly slow. We ordered all our food at once, asked for it all to be brought out in any order, and got our check when we ordered, but they still couldn't manage to get one morsel of food on the table for an entire hour. And they didn't even comp our drinks! On the upside, the staff was very apologetic when refunding us (and the several other parties who came to the bar with the exact same issue at the same time as us), and all the food we saw around us looked like it would have been great. And the Jalapeño McChicken that I stuffed into my starving mouth before running to the Schnitz was delicious.
(1)Isocephaly B.
Arrived at around 2 pm Friday and just missed the lunch rush; the staff was clearly trying to recover, so everything was a bit slow, but had delightful, leisurely meal of soup and sandwiches, paired with fun cocktails and excellent wine--all for completely reasonable downtown price. Staff and ambiance were entirely charming; from the chalk-board in the entryway to the lamp-post in the dining room, the management brings a sense of fun and whimsy to its meals. The quality of the ingredients was clearly very high, so although the lunch menu basically comprises soup and sandwiches, the meal was entirely satisfying. Would gladly eat there again.
(5)Pip A.
Delicious - great for a light meal or a heavier one. Very accommodating wait staff. Had the grilled cheese and the tomato soup pairing and it was amazing. My friend had the burger and said it was the best he had ever had. The apricot cider is delicious as well. Highly recommend here. Vibe and decor is adorable too!
(5)steven s.
Drinks were not so good, but our food was. The chicken was great. Our server screwed up our order tho so we ended up eating one of our appetizers (we just thought he forgot) after our entres. That's fine, it happens to everybody but he should have appologized for making the mistake, instead he kind of insinuated that we had misled him by saying we'd like the risotto. Besides how weird that interaction was we still had a great time an enjoyed our food.
(3)Jessica H.
I've been here 3 times. The first time was soooo amazing! I had a delicious piece of salmon served on a cedar plank and it was so good I declared picnic house my new favorite restaurant. Unfortunately, my second experience was not so great. The service was slow, our waiter mixed up or omitted our order on two different items, and to top it off, the food didn't have the same "wow factor" it had the first time. I wasn't ready to give up. I tried picnic house for a third time... It was similar to my second experience. The waiter forgot parts of the order, the food was good, but "good" doesn't cut it when you live in a city that has so many wonderful food options. Honestly, the food probably deserves 3-4 stars, but the totality of my experiences have been disappointing. And for that, picnic house only gets 2 stars.
(2)Ophelia Y.
I feel like the Picnic House is one of Portland's best kept secrets. I've been here twice, and it's been really chill. The place has a rustic feel, with high ceilings, and is vintage and beautiful. The lunch menu features a solid collection of soups, salads, and sandwiches, and you can get and combinations of them that you'd like. It's very affordable for the quality and freshness of the food, and just tastes absolutely divine! I got the roast beef sandwich and a cup of soup. Perfect meal for a rainy Friday in Portland! I've gotten a really good salad from here and a ridiculously awesome berry dessert as well. A very solid Portland spot. Looks Portland. Feels Portland. Tastes Portland.
(5)Kim P.
Unbelievably good drinks and lunch. The beet and arugula salad was beautiful and delicious. Great atmosphere...will definitely return...
(5)Doug K.
Had to dine solo after my party cancelled. A quick seat at the bar at the height of the lunch rush and I had a great salad of Kale with roasted chicken with a fried over easy egg on top and all was good in the world. The slices of chicken were moist, the kale clean-other places I get dirt and grit but not here! and the addition of the over easy egg-I always order one when ever possible, was great! Service was fast and attentive and the bill didn't make my jaw drop. Great quality ingredients, excellent service and reasonable prices what more can one ask for??!!
(4)Gabe J.
AWESOME - AWESOME! I read some of the stellar reviews as well as not so stellar, if you can find one, someone mentioned it was like the cheese cake factory and I was a bit put off but there were too many great review to ignore. I went for lunch while traveling and was seated right away by the friendly host, actually she asked if I wanted to sit at the bar as there wasn't any wait, otherwise it might be 5 minutes, I went over to the bar area and only 1 other person was there so we had plenty of space and room. The server/bar tender with a batman tie, he was awesome and said everything was great but had some favorites, I ordered the mushroom soup and the salad with the brown rice, which probably sounded the least appetizing but thought to try something different. LOVED, LOVED all of it, the mushroom soup was creamy and fresh tasting with just the right amount of seasoning. The salad I absolutely loved and want to make at home for my family, had lots of shredded and diced veggies with the brown rice and not too much dressing....the whole thing was super great, I was full but had wanted to try at least one of their desserts, at least a bit, so I ordered the pound cake with strawberries and my one bit turned into two, ok, maybe three, it was worth it. YUMMERS, can't wait to bring clients here, I'm sure it's already one of their faves. By the way whoever said it's like the cheesecake factory, I want to go to yours because mine is nothing like this place, the ambiance or the food. Don't know whacha talkin' bout Willis...
(5)Jillian R.
Very cool experience. I loved the steampunk ambiance (I do wish the bathrooms carried the theme over, but I'm just a weirdo who likes themed bathrooms). I loved the way that check was presented (spoiler alert: an old book). The food was also excellent; we had the cheeseplate, the pork chops, the grilled cheese and the chicken breast. For dessert, we had the grilled pound cake and the smores pudding. I loved the cheeseplate! There were four different types (2 hard, 2 soft) served with a loaf of bread. Make sure that they give you an extra loaf or else you will run out of bread. My main course was the chicken breast. I have to say, I am normally a beef eater and don't love chicken. This dish blew me away. So flavorful...the lemon and thyme were superb. For dessert I had the pound cake. Only criticism was that it had way too much whipped cream on it, but otherwise the dish was delicious. I loved the subtle (not too sweet!) flavors and the spring of mint on top was a perfect way to end the meal. Great experience, great food! Highly recommend.
(4)Irene S.
Came here for my birthday. The food was really good and the mood was very classy! Me and a group of friends ordered 4/dishes and shared it. For me personally I think it was on the pricier side with a smaller portion, but it wasn't too bad. Service was a little slow but the servers were all very friendly.
(3)Chris T.
This place was great, epic food, great ambiance-but please hire more servers. The service is slow, I could give you 5 stars if you fixed your service. So for starters I don't think the service is bad-just slow. They clearly don't have enough people on the floor. They do know their menu. All of it beer/wine and food. Honestly though there are only a handful of people running the whole wait staff and it shows. The food was wonderful. We started with the beet salad which was great, very fresh and the feta cheese added a nice richness to the salad. The standout was the cauliflower, epic flavor with a little kick! The steak was delicious but poorly cooked. It definitely shows the meat quality when the medium well cooked steak was still tender...even when it was ordered rare. All in all my wife and I love the meal. Just please hire more staff. Then I can rate you what you deserve.
(4)Robert G.
I can't emphasize how good our first meal in Portland was. We had no idea what to do when we first got here, and the 2-year old was behaving kind of crazy after a long car ride. So I decided to start with the wild mushroom soup. This was lovely, and wasn't blended to complete smoothness, which I liked. I also very much liked the chunks of mushrooms sparingly added, though I couldn't tell you what kind they were. After that the wife and I settled on a trio of small plates: Crostini - the best starter plate of a great bunch. Crispy, thin crostini topped with goat cheese (among others) and tasting of sweet lavender honey. Crunchy, toasted almonds were spread over the plate and dotted with the honey. I don't have much experience rating "farm-to-table" experiences but I this is *exactly* what I hoped it would be. Beef tenderloin - a very good plate that keeps the a skewer of beef tender and medium-rare on the inside, while charring the outside. The skewer alternates beef with goat cheese, which lends good creaminess to the plate. Duck fat potatoes - The potatoes are fried in the duck fat, and fortunately they're not greasy (although unfortunately, I couldn't quite taste the duck either. Ah well.) This is served with horseradish and chives, and reminds you more of sour cream than horseradish. Another great plate. Thanks, Portland, for a great introduction to your food scene. I'm ready to take on the rest!
(5)Bethany K.
TIME&PLACE: Wednesday night take out Had seen Picnic House on Yelp for a while, and finally took the plunge to eat there... or order take out, which counts, right? But, it was kind of a weird and underwhelming experience the entire way. 1) Called in to order takeout, but the gal on the phone asked me for how many people were in our party... that's strange, right? She also put me on hold at least three different times -- first to make sure the kitchen had capacity (which they did -- and when I went to pick up, there was literally a DOZEN empty tables. so I don't get it). She also put me on hold to confirm my order and how long it would take, and then a third time because she had to call me back about there not being any more cauliflower (which I had wanted) 2) Okay, so when she told me the cauliflower was out, I asked for other vegetarian side recommendations, and she suggested the brussel sprouts. I totally should have known but THEY WERE NOT VEGETARIAN. I had a bite and got a big whiff of something meaty -- it was pork. WHAT? Ugh. Didn't finish it, but was more just annoyed because I had specifically asked for something vegetarian. 3) Ordered a mushroom soup (which was good/fine!) and asked if it came with bread or anything (as soups often do) but she said no, it didn't. But she then offered to include a side of bread (or do something about it) but lo and behold - charged for it on the receipt. Sigh. 4) I will say that I really liked the hipstery decor and feel of the restaurant, though it was weird because it was so empty. Just a lot of weird experiences that left a kind of bleh taste in my mouth... not to mention the food itself was just okay. Not coming back!
(2)Jorie T.
I ate here with a party of 9, at lunchtime on a Friday. We had a reservation for 12:10pm, so there was no wait for our table. The service was great, up until the very end when it took our waitress 45 minutes from the time we were all done eating to get us our bill, pick up the card, and get us out the door. That, in combination with the time it took between the first and last plate to be served at our table is the reason for my 4 stars instead of 5. The atmosphere is very... Portland. There is moss on some of the walls, antique woodblock printing blocks embedded in moss walls and creating mosaics on other walls. There is a bear head with a bowler hat, some cutesy poems and sayings painted on the walls, and they bring your bill to you in an antique book. All of these "weird" things mesh together pretty well but there is a definite vibe that Picnic House is trying to "keep Portland weird". For lunch, you can choose to have a combo of half salad, half sandwich, and cup of soup, or just two of those three options. I chose to do a combo of 3, to sample as many of their menu items as possible, since everything sounded really tasty. The wild mushroom soup with white wine and thyme was probably my favorite. It was so good in fact, that I almost question if this item was vegetarian. The soup was full bodied and hearty, which made me wonder if there was a chicken stock base. I forgot to ask before and after ordering, but it wasn't indicated anywhere on the menu that there was meat in it, so I'm hoping there wasn't. I'm also told this place is pretty vegan friendly, so I'm guessing it was just ridiculously good soup. For my half sandwich, I chose the grilled cheese with caramelized onions, aged cheddar, and fresh cheeses. This was really closer to a cheese panini than a grilled cheese, as I don't think there was any oil or butter on the exterior of the sandwich to brown it, and it had grill press lines on the outside. The cheeses and onions inside were good, but the winner in this sandwich was really the bread. Very crispy/crunchy and fresh tasting. The salad I tried was the mixed greens with pickled blueberries, seasonal berries, candied almonds, feta cheese, and a fig butter vinaigrette. This was also really wonderful. Of the three, this definitely had the most complex flavor profile, and every element worked together. The fig butter vinaigrette was the one part I wasn't sure I'd care for, but it really complimented the pickled blueberries and greens very well. All in all, the food was superb and I'd have no problems going back a second or third time to sample everything (vegetarian) on the menu.
(4)DeathandFood H.
Holy Hipster Portland! The Picnic House is all things hipster yet some how it all works and the sum is better than the whole. TL:DR review-trendy decor, picnic inspired food that is surprisely good. Food- luckily they don't go over board on the picnic theme and with entrees under 20 and soups and shared plate from 6 to 16. We shared a lot of the smaller ones. Highlights were the wild mushroom, white wine, fresh thyme soup, the potato gnocchi, sauteed wild mushroom ragout. All the food was tasty if not always memorable. The decor is very Portland with a more modern area up front and then an other more charming space further in.
(4)Clay H.
When the tip costs more than you would pay for an entire meal at a fast food joint, you may get dinged a star for slip ups. That being said, it was a nice meal. The ambiance was great and the service was about as good as it gets. We went the on Valentines day and selected to have the prix fixie meal. Course 1) My date had the oysters (her first time ever) and loved them. She raved about them for a good long time afterwards. I had the beet salad and found it delightful. Course 2) I had the duck, while my date wisely chose the trout. This was my first time having duck, but it seemed a bit chewy and just a bit flavorless. That would be fine given my lack of experience, but the potato croquettes that accompanied it were pretty tasteless. I give that portion 2 stars. Her course was delightful, however. We loved the barley risotto and the carrots along with the fish. It was the star of the night. Course 3) The dessert was lovely. Heavenly creme brulee along with tasty macaroons ended the night well. Drinks - My date had a moulin rouge that made her happy. Highly recommended. Overall, go there if you want a great date night experience, but skip the duck.
(4)Amy A.
This place is cool. The menu is interesting, delicious, and cooked to perfection. The cocktails are hand-crafted and tasty. The service is great! And the venue is awesome! I would love to rent this place out for a private event...There is a gorgeous staircase near the rear of the restaurant that looks like it goes up into a ballroom or dining area, but I asked our server about it and she said it was just a couple storage areas upstairs. Thats too bad, if The Picnic House management created a neat rentable venue upstairs, I could see it doing VERY well! All in all, I love this place, and fully intend to go back--over and over again!
(5)Amanda C.
I came here on a weekday for an early dinner just past 5pm. The place was empty at first but became busy quickly. The front of the restaurant does look outdoorsy as though you were really at a picnic. However, towards the back of the restaurant, the lights become dimmed and the ambiance seems more romantic. Either way, great place for a date. Food was stellar, especially given that entrees were under $20. I ordered the coulotte steak and requested mashed potatoes instead of the quinoa which they were happy to accommodate. Boyfriend had the maple-brined pork chop with onion bread pudding - also good. The only thing that I did not think was worth it was the espresso crusted beef tenderloin. It was under the small shares menu but at $14, I was expecting a larger portion, especially considering price of entrees. Still yummy though. PS - I was under the impression The Picnic House does happy hour based on the previous yelp reviews/pictures but they are not any longer. They instead directed us to their sister bar next door.
(5)Lana N.
We actually had reservations for 830pm, but since we were in the area an hour earlier, we decided to stop by and see of anything was available. Once we came in we were greeted by the hostess which told us that she actually had a table. We came with the two little ones so I was a bit nervous that it would be an adult only place, but the staff were all so friendly and welcoming. Once we sat down our server was busy buy she acknowledged us and said that she would be right back. Once she came back, we just decided to order everything at once. It was Valentine's Day, so we were sure it would be busy. We then ordered the following : - McMule - their version of the Moscow mule. Tasted the same and it came in a very cool copper mug. - Roasted Duck - this was so tender and delicious. The duck was cooked perfectly and a side of potatoes and salad. The sauce on the plate was tangy and sweet, paired perfectly with the duck. - Pappardelle - thick pasta, served with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and a creme fraiche like sauce. The pasta was fresh and so were the vegetables Overall it was a great experience for our first night in Portland. The decor is rustic and I absolutely loved the cafe lighting in the front. They had some chairs and tables made out of wood and tree stumps, which were very cool. Staff was exceptional and food was fabulous, I'm definitely visiting again!
(5)Jennifer C.
Had a really great meal here. I would give a 4.5 if I could. Delicious squash soup, beet salad with omg chèvre panacotta!?!? and beef tenderloin. I focused on the small plates and loved it all. Service was fine, not overly friendly but totally fine. They were extremely accommodating of gluten free needs!
(4)Shirley K.
Wow I haven't been this impressed in so long! We had a 6 o'clock reservation but came an hour early to have some drinks. We were presently surprised when we were told we could be seated right away. So we decided to just have an earlier dinner. We loved how the menu was small. We started off with the beef tenderloin and
(5)Russ C.
I really loved this place. The food was great. Drinks excellent. We sat outside, but inside the place also has so much character. Definitely a don't miss spot. Good for vegetarians too!
(5)Shirley K.
The food is Soooooooooooooo yummy here!! Came here for lunch and did the half sandwich and half salad combo for $12. It is $15 if you choose a half sandwich, half salad and cup of soup. The portion is big enough to share but you may need to also order a dessert - which is what we did! We had the pavlova with whipped cream and fresh berries for dessert. It was so much fun to eat that towering and patriotic dessert on the 4th of July (see pic)! The service was super friendly and helpful. Love this place!!
(5)Tamara H.
Phenomenal food. I had the Pork Terrine. It was cooked perfectly and served with the most beautiful mustard sauce, mustard greens and potato gratin. My boyfriend had the Cold Smoked Duck. Amazing! The service was impeccable. The ambiance is cozy but airy. We have found a new gem in Portland and cannot wait to return to work our way down the menu!
(5)Forrest P.
Very good service, great food, interesting atmosphere. I was accidentally given the wrong entree (ordered daily special salmon, was given the menu version), once the error was noticed the staff quickly brought out the correct food, so I ended up with both-- definitely the right way to resolve the issue. Food was very good, and the staff even complimented my bow tie.
(5)Eric R.
Service: 4 stars Ambiance: 4 stars Food: 2 stars I really like what they're trying to do. Unfortunately they don't actually get there The service was very good - not "cheesy hi-my-name-is-Howz-that-tasting", which is a plus. Human scale, honest, not at all pretentious (a miracle for this city!). The wine list is fine, and has a very serviceable Nebbiolo. But the food... Oh, the food... It's... Dull. Like, anyone with a Williams-Sonoma cookbook does this dull. Maybe things just Portland? What do I know? I'll just have some more wine and be fine with it.
(3)Beth M.
I had high hopes for The Picnic House, because Yelpers always send me to the yummiest destinations. This time I left feeling a little empty inside. I found the staff to be friendly, and the decor was whimsical, but the space itself was cavernous and loud, and the food was okay....nothing to write home about. I had the mushroom soup, which was fine, but not in any way exemplary. I also had the mushroom onion tart, which was equally okay, and a wedge salad that had more core than leaf. Hubs and guest each had the burger, and there were high hopes, but they both commented that they'd had much better, and our guest even questioned if they'd slipped him a veggie burger, because the texture seemed off. On the plus side, Hubs thought the tempura style onion rings were tasty. It was kind of them to seat us away from others, because it is a loud loud place, and impossible to have a conversation when the dining room is full. Back in the day, it would've been amazing to have this spot next to the symphony for a quick and inexpensive alternative to The Heathman. But, I am 100% sure that I would rather eat a Heathman Pub burger than The Picnic House version. I will come back for dinner sometime. Perhaps I caught them on an off day.
(3)Ryan M.
Great place! Met an old friend for lunch and was very impressed by the atmosphere and the staff. Our server was super friendly and attentive. Ever have a chicken salad sandwich? Me too. But have you ever had a buffalo chicken sandwich? Me neither....until yesterday! I'm glad I chose it. Super rich and creamy with a hint of spice. So good.
(5)Zach G.
Amazing waiters/service and even better food. Try the cauliflower and ask about the history of wrestling and Scientology in the building
(5)Shane W.
This place is lovely. The menu is very limited but pretty good. A friend and I shared 2 plates: I ordered the grilled cheese and tomato soup and it was perfect and fantastic. She had the cheese burger. It was soso.... Nothing special. The prices were great. The service was fine. I would go back
(4)Derek N.
Date night for my wife and I. Chris Issak was in concert next door within an hour 1/2. We found this location and set reservations. It was an experience to remember. I had the following: coulotte steak with gremolata butter, quinoa polenta, mignonette, shaved parmesan $19 My wife had: stuffed portobello mushroom, polenta bread, caramelized onion, roasted sweet potatoes, corn, brussels, green onion $15. Both were great choices and we shared our meal. I cannot get over how they handled the sauce that goes with this steak. I have tried researching how to recreate but have come up short. This is a work of art. My wife's meal was good, but I love how they did my steak dinner. Great location, atmosphere and service. I would give them 4.5 stars if this was an option.
(4)Kayla N.
OMG I think this was my favorite stop in Portland. The mushroom soup lived up to it's Yelp reviews! I could have had 5 bowls of it. But my dinner was delicious anyways so I left very happy. What I really love was the ambiance, the dim lighting and intimate feeling even though it's packed and loud. It's definitely a chill hipster type of place and dress matches that. I would love to go back and try the lunch menu. The drinks were also very tasty, different concoctions that mixed well. Great vibe! They are doing things right here!
(5)Brianna S.
YUM!! Stopped in for a light dinner while traveling solo in Portland. It was the perfect combo of relaxed, casual and trendy. I sat at the window bar area. Not the most comfortable of seating arrangements, but I was there for the food :) I started with their tomato soup which was tasty, loved the bread crouton that went with it. Per my knee jerk reaction and the waitresses recommendation, I got the salmon with strawberry and jalapeno salsa. Unsure how that flavor profile would work, I'm so glad I went with it. It was delicious - the portion was huge and the salsa + asparagus side were pure bliss. Would definitely return with a group to make my way through the menu. Next time, dessert!
(4)K B.
We come here every time we travel to Portland because the service is great and the food is incredibly tasty and always so fresh. Their salads are all wonderful- next time, I might make an entire meal out of all of the salads.
(5)Cristy S.
We enjoyed our dinner at Picnic House - the bar is quaint and the cocktails were tasty. For dinner, being vegetarian, I enjoyed the mushroom lasagne. My husband had the Pork Terrine and seemed to enjoy it - I tried the mustard whip that accompanied his meal and found it light and tasty! The scalloped potatoes were a bit oily but we enjoyed dessert. I recommend Picnic House as a solid spot for dining while in Portland.
(4)Chelsea S.
we went for portland dining month, which might have been the problem. We got there right when they opened and i got the impression they were annoyed. food was just okay, couldn't imagine paying more than i did for the deal.
(2)Joni W.
Huh. I don't think I understood the concept here. Huge place, sparsely filled, decor was a little all over the map. The dinner menu didn't feature fun, picnic-y style food as I was expecting but rather just plain ol Portlandy basic lunch fare, and not even very good lunch fare at that. I'll likely be back to give it another try. Given the fun theme, I was expecting a lot more creativity with the selections.
(2)Sean S.
Picnic house feels like a cross a between a trendy boutique and rustic log cabin with simple but amazing food at amazing prices. Their shrimp salad sandwich is light yet flavorful on fresh baguettes from a local bakery. The tomato soup with oregano and fresh basil is a must try and their butter salad is beautifully crafted and well garnished. The service is fantastic, esp Emily who was very helpful suggesting local haunts to out of towners like myself. Would definitely come back next time in Portland.
(5)April C.
I have been not so patiently waiting to try this place and finally, the perfect time to try was happy hour! They have a small but unique menu of dishes including desserts and drinks. We ordered the chicken cesar skewers, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, and the crostini with goat cheese, honey, and nuts. The first two were small portions but the flavor was there and the crostini were quite plentiful and crazy good (I plan to recreate at home)! We also accidentally ordered the full-sized pavlova off the regular menu and wow, this was the greatest way to end an already stellar meal. Just try it. The ambiance is great with a vintage vibe and low lighting. I was here with a friend but this would be an amazing place for a date night, especially if you are going to show at the Schnitz. Like mentioned in the previous reviews, the hostess is a little frazzled? confused? not sure. She told me that she would have a table available in just a few minutes but there was only about three other twosomes there at that point, around 4:30pm. I was confused but we were seated and the waitress and bartender were lovely. Also, they are planning to open up a bar area that will serve over 20 beers/ciders on tap in the next few months. Renovations are happening right now!
(5)Vera L.
I ordered the Mushroom soup and the grilled cheese sandwich and I was pleasantly surprised. The portions are just right and the food is delicious! Our waitress was super attentive and helpful. Overall a very good experience.
(5)Gev M.
Walked in around 9:30 pm on a Saturday night, without a reservation, and were seated within 5 minutes. We were immediately taken with the decor (landmark meets quirk) and ambience (lively without being overwhelming). Cocktails were amazing! We deferred to our waiter in that regard, and his recommendations did not disappoint. Our server (whose name I unfortunately cannot recall) was super awesome. Equally amazing was the food: (1) the mixed green salad not only surprised me, it sneaked up on me and slapped me in the back of my head. Flavors are remarkably complex and well-balanced - an astounding feat for a starter salad. And pickled blueberries? It's a win-win folks; (2) stuffed portobello mushroom is a veggie party in your mouth. Again, really good and complex flavors, simple ingredients. I think they may be on to something here.... Overall, great food, great service, and great atmosphere. Oh, and very reasonably priced. Another huge plus: although we came in a little before their closing time, we did not feel rushed at any point in the evening. I can't wait to come back!
(5)Jim W.
When you take a bite of food and the response is "OMG - this is amazing" ... you know you've hit something special. I had a bowl of their tomato soup - and I was in tomato soup heaven... swimming in the perfectly seasoned appropriately thick steamy bowl of yumminess! Paired with their thick cut bacon and tomato sandwich... I was a happy lunch camper. Can't wait to go back and try something else!
(4)Celeste S.
The picnic house had excellent food, ambiance and service. It felt like I was being transported back in time with its vintage feel. We went during lunch and the pick three option was amazing. The tomato soup, Berry salad and Blt sandwich was very good. I'm definitely going back!
(5)Sophie L.
Simple lunch but looks gourmet. It's a wonderful place to treat yourself. The price is not bad. And the decor is interesting. If you like to have a nice lunch with a friend or two. I highly recommend this semi cozy atmosphere.
(4)Ryan L.
My beau and I went here for lunch. For $15 I got a cup of soup, salad and 1/2 a sandwich. It was quite a bit of food for the price and it was delicious. The potato salad was delicious. The potatoes were cooked perfectly and it had a lot of flavor but not too much dressing. The sandwich was a roast chicken sandwich. It was great. I loved the bread. The cauliflower soup with brown butter and crispy kale was phenomenal. It was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The service was excellent. The cocktails were great also.
(5)Mike T.
Solid overall experience. Nice atmosphere and the food met expectations. The service, as others have suggested, was not rushed (slow). I do not recommend PH if you are looking for a quick bite. My kale salad was tasty, but overly dressed and salty. The Italian meat sandwich was good, but not excellent. Portion size was fair. The acoustics in the restaurant, like others said, makes it loud when the restaurant is full. I would not recommend taking people who are sensitive to loud restaurants here, but I felt that it was fine for my informal business/networking meeting. Enjoy!
(4)Mike C.
Went in for lunch with my girlfriend today without reservations, had no problem getting a table. We had the half sandwich and soup, wild mushroom soup and buffalo chicken sandwich. My girlfriend had the turkey sandwich. Food arrived quickly and was delicious!! Our server Rachelle seemed rushed and was quite impersonal. Said was too busy to clear our table, which sounded odd. Anyway, I will go back as the food was quite delicious.
(4)Mark M.
This was a fantastic fare, and my favorite meal in Portland. Very reasonably priced as well. I had a great pork belly here, and some really well-braised ribs. Those ribs were served with some of the best Yorkshire pudding I ever had - even better than when I had them in England. They also had a grilled chicken, and I do not know what was in it, but it was like crack with the pureed celery. Really a fantastic fare here. What I liked about the food here was also it was full of fresh produce and flavors of the harvest. If you are out in a place like Portland, what is a better representation of all things green and good in nature? The wines here are also well picked, and went perfectly with the food. There was nothing that I could criticize here, as it was hands down a beautiful experience.
(5)Liz T.
This is a fun place downtown Portland. I came here with my mother and we really enjoyed this quirky / innovative place. Our food was really nice and I appreciated the small menu. As Steve Jobs says, "Choices cause confusion." I actually didn't mind only having a couple of delicious looking entrees. The prices were fair and we enjoyed our meal. My only complaint is that it is extremely loud when you sit in their ballroom and by the mirrors. We talked loud enough to have a good conversation, but after we left we realized we were screaming. We ordered local cider that was well described by the waiter. I was kind of craving a beer and didn't find anything on the menu I was craving... but it ended up OK since I liked the cider. We enjoyed our time and were impressed with the service. I would recommend this place, but possibly not for a first date or if you want to have a deep conversation.
(4)Mike G.
Like everyone else, we ordered the brown rice salad with nuts and quinoa. We literally ordered three of them. Like everyone else, we thought it tasted nutty. 4 stars, not 5 (one of us probably gave it a 3, so please keep your expectations reasonable). The mushroom soup was actually the standout dish that was surprisingly flavorful. I normally can't stand cream in soup, but this was worth it and had very little cream I think. The ambiance was fun although it took the hostess nearly 10 minutes to acknowledge our presence and seat us at one of the many open tables. Maybe move to self-service seating when your staff is busy?
(4)Nique F.
You know that feeling when a restaurant just "gets you"? When the menu doesn't include a single thing you don't love? When the ambiance makes you smile the minute you walk in, like you've found your happy place? That, for me, was the Picnic House. It doesn't hurt that they have an amazing local wine & beer list, too! The holy lunch trinity -- soup, salad, sammies -- is the focus here. And, you can have all three at once! Their half sandwich, half salad & soup combo (for $15) is a dream, and they put no limits on your choices. I had the half Buffalo Chicken Salad sandwich with pickled banana peppers blue cheese & arugula, perfectly zesty, lightly sauced, on a fresh baguette. My half soup was the roasted tomato with basil cream, and my half salad: Mixed Greens with lardons, sugar snap peas, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and toasted almonds. All three items arrive on a long rectangular plate. One of the most exciting sampler platters I've ever seen! With that, we had some Willamette Valley rose and an Oregon IRA. 1 hour into our vacation, and we were officially in love with Portland. The space is huge, with a small cafe in the front and a more grandiose dining room & little bar in in the back. The decor is jazzy 1920s salon style, with a few Northwestern touches like hefty rough-cut wood tables. Service was so friendly and low-key, we almost felt like locals. I will definitely be eating lunch here every time I'm in Portland!
(5)Angel S.
Fun decor. Tasty Happy Hour and Well Made Drinks. Lots of rave reviews about the brown rice salad and I found it pretty meh. Missing punch for the price.
(3)Leigh P.
I LOOOOVVVVE this place. It is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. This place is so amazing and vintage. It is a must see and the food is AMAZING! I had the tomato bisque soup and a wonderfully tasty salad. My lunch mate had the roast beef sandwich which got rave reviews and came with homemade potato chips that were awesome. Don't question your decision....GO HERE!
(5)Naomi S.
Rustic and stylish restaurant. I love their sandwich bread. The dressing for shrimp sandwich amazing!! I would definitely come back again when I visit Portland next time:)
(5)Sarah W.
Awesome restaurant due to great design & feel as well as wholesome and filling dishes! *** THE AMBIENCE *** I don't know what the history of the building is, but it definitely has old charm. The main dining area is quite large and grand, in fact, but the uniquely-crafted wooden tables and artwork make it very cozy. There were many others dining at this popular lunch spot, but fortunately we didn't feel like we had to scream to hear each other. And even with nearly a full house, the service was quick and we were out to our next meeting with time to spare. *** THE FOOD *** The food is delicious and extremely reasonably priced. I took the Half Soup/Half Salad/Half Sandwich Combination option, but felt like I was getting full portions of each! I selected Curry Pumpkin soup which was like the taste of autumn, Mixed Greens & Berries salad which was fresh with a pop of sweet crunch from candied nuts, and the Shaved Prosciutto sandwich which was a blend of sweet, salty, and savory.
(4)Olive K.
Wow. First of all, the decor is very interesting and the building is unique. It must have been a hotel in the past. I ordered a delicious grilled cheese that contained caramelized onions and aged white cheddar, along with a cup of tomato soup. I'm not even joking, it was the best grilled cheese I've ever had in my life. I was incredibly impressed with this place and recommend to everyone.
(5)Jenny C.
We came into Picnic House for dinner while in Portland. What can I say the food was fantastic, the service was great, the decor was quite charming & the vibe was very portland! The menu was impressive and I finally settled on the fried chicken & it was by far the best I've ever had! We will definitely be returning to Picnic House for more yummy food!!
(5)D B.
Before the aforementioned Itzhak Perlman concert came The Picnic House. Unassuming name, unassuming location, classic Portland mixed group of patrons. But my goodness the food wasn't mixed, it was excellent, and the portions were generous. I had an exceedingly tender pork terrine. My date had pistachio covered salmon with cilantro, pomegranate, etc., etc. That bite she gave me was enough to get me back here. Two quibbles keep from a 5 star: the odd table arrangements (strictly a matter of taste, i know) and the fact that the (excellent) roasted feta "small share" could have used a couple slices more of bread. Quibbles! I'll be back for sure. BONUS: It's a very short walk to the Schnitz if that's on your evening lineup card.
(4)Erik V.
This place was so tasty, the staff was really friendly and helpful, and the place was fairly empty so it was pretty peaceful, it should have had more people there though, the food was amazing! 20/18 value/price
(5)Ryan P.
Stopped in for dinner before attending a concert at the Schnitz. I enjoyed the salmon with asparagus risotto while my friend enjoyed the pork terrine. The food was delectable and the portions were nicely sized. They also have a creative cocktail and dessert menu. I hope to return to eventually try other items on the menu. The atmosphere inside is fantastic and they also have outdoor seating. Service was great and the entire staff was friendly and welcoming.
(5)Marlana S.
Hubby and I stopped in here on a night out for drinks and we both ended up getting the mushroom soup, too. I absolutely loved the decor. It reminded me of a Paris spring day, with a little circus thrown in. The lighting is dim and it is a perfect date spot. Our drinks were delicious. And the soup was amazing. It was like mushroom gravy with a very peppery flavor that made it so savory. We will be back for more!
(4)Chirag P.
Such a cool place, especially when hearing the history of the restaurant and how it's related to the Heathman Hotel across the street. Fantastic food and some great drinks. Definitely check it out if you're in downtown Portland.
(4)Ella H.
This place is great! I came here for lunch the other day and got the bacon, lettuce, and roasted tomato sandwich with lemon aioli. Delicious! The tomato basil soup surprised me, because I normally don't eat tomato soup. It was my favorite part of the meal. My aunt and grandmother had the soup to and they felt the same way. I also had the mixed green salad with pickled blueberries. Sounds weird, tastes amazing! They were little pops of sour on the salad. The bread here is crisp on the outside, and chewy in the middle. It adds so much to the sandwich. My family and I are members of the clean plate, (and bowl) club.
(5)Amanda S.
What an amazing little experience. My fellow yelpsters never steer me wrong. Great, whole foods - and while they don't have a kid menu - they do accommodate the youngsters.
(4)Gillian H.
Truthfully if I could give a place negative stars I would. This was hands downTHE WORST dining experience of my entire life. Let's begin with the fact that when we called to make reservations for my birthday dinner they said they were fully booked for two solid hours.... Which they weren't. When our party of FOUR, yes people just four, arrived they sat us at an enormously large table by the door away from the rest of the restaurant. It was like we were being punished for asking for reservations. The wait staff took their own sweet time and by that I mean 20 minutes to even show up to the table for drink orders and then an additional 20 to bring back 2 beers and 2 cocktails. Once we received our HIGHLY OVERPRICED drinks we ordered and truthfully that was an even worse mistake. The food took over an hour to arrive and having worked in the service industry myself I'm fairly certain it does not take over an hour to prepare a burger, 2 salads and Salmon dish. The food by the way was subpar. The fries at the pub I had later were ten times better than their garbage. We finally said something once we got our food and the waiter did not seem to care that we had been waiting so long nor did he offer to comp the meal but offered those who ordered beer discounts on the beer. Not discounts on the food- something everyone ordered, just the people who ordered beer got less expensive beer. It was the only time I seriously thought about just leaving and not paying. We all agreed going to a taco cart would have been cheaper, better service and more fun. We felt forgotten about at our table and on my birthday nonetheless. All in all: terrible staff, terrible prices and terrible experience. Save yourself the trouble and go to your favorite taco cart or burger joint. NOT WORTH IT!
(1)Cameron L.
Great spot. Interesting menu, amazing location (especially if you are seeing a show at The Schnitz). I've been for a work lunch and a pre-show dinner/drinks with friends. Food both times was excellent. Service is a tad slower than desired, but it all works out. Definitely request to sit in the dark area towards the bar...once I was seated in the brightly lit, "old-lady seats" towards the front; and they don't capture the character or vibe of the place. I had the salmon the other night, and it was cooked and seasoned perfectly. It earned raves from our table. Outstanding. I also love what they do with veggies.
(4)Kyle S.
We came here on a Thursday night and it was not busy. The atmosphere is cool, the building is the old Heathman Hotel, and it has a 20's flair. The service was really good, we were seated right away and the waiter took our order quickly. The hipster-dressed bartender made us a legit whiskey sour was was really good. We started field green salad with berries, walnuts, and feta, and it was great. Next we had the strawberry salmon with asparagus which was small portioned but extremely tasty and moist. We also had the stuffed portobello w Brussel sprouts which was excellent. We would definitely come back.
(5)Marcus K.
Excellent meal. Set up easy reservation by phone. Table was ready when we arrived. Waited for friends to arrive while sipping on the house wines. A chardonnay and a brut sparkling wine. Ordered a few dishes that all proved to be excellent. First the sautéed Brussels sprouts and bacon. Then I had the rockfish and asparagus. Yum! OK, asparagus is not in season but per the waiter it is available at Cash n Carry. My highlight was the macaroon and fruit and whip cream desert. It was sooooo good. Overall service was slow but we were in no hurry. In fact we were the last ones out at the end of the evening. Atmosphere was really nice. Its quiet even when the place was full so makes it perfect for talking and socializing. Very cool decoration reminiscent of the old hotel that used to be there. Bottom line. Take your time here and enjoy a really good meal. Perfect for date night or socializing with friends.
(5)Dave W.
Portland seems to do everything better than LA. The Picnic House drives this home. Not only was the space intimate while surprisingly large (I was there for a vow renewal which became a dance-off), but the food was top notch, with especially good dessert.
(5)Neal C.
Stopped by on a whim, place looked cool from the outside. I was in for a good surprise! The food was excellent and the drinks even better. Had a great time and the staff was extremely helpful. All in all a great experience, a funky place with a eclectic vibe.
(4)Shirley M.
Whimsical decor. Friendly Service and Delicious Food created by Chef Casey Gipson. The fried Brussels sprouts. Sweet soy, truffle, onsen egg and pickled radish was an incredibly fun and delicious dish. The Ginger Beer cocktail was unique and refreshing. The Chocolate Truffle Bar with Carmel sauce was a perfect ending to a tasty meal with friends. Next time I want to try their Black Truffle Mushroom Lasgne with sage cream sauce.
(5)Scott F.
I took three colleagues there last night for dinner. My first time there and it was incredible. I made a reservation which was good, as the restaurant filled up quickly, and this was a Wednesday night. We all ordered the fixed price March special which started off with a small salad and soup, followed by lamb shank, and topped off with a nice desert. The food, service, and venue was exceptional. Our server Molly was friendly, very attentive, and exceeded our expectations. I will most certainly return!
(5)Sarah S.
I thought what my friends and I experienced was an anomaly, but in reading the other reviews, I see that isn't the case. Like other customers who have posted here, we had a strange experience with the hostess. When we walked in, there were only three other tables seated. The hostess asked if we had a reservation, and when we said no, she acted annoyed and asked for a name. We gave it to her, then she immediately sat us. Confusing. Aside from the weird beginning, our waitress was outstanding. She gave us the nitty gritty on her favorite cocktails, which were all delish, as well as suggestions for our lunch order, also super yummy. Even though the place got busy, our server continued to check in on us and bring us everything we asked for, including drinks only on the dinner menu - what a pro! Aside from the confusing initial experience, I would go back.
(3)Meana K.
The name of this place doesn't quite capture its essence. Located in a renovated building which in the 1920s was the original Heathman Hotel, this restaurant has exceptional ambiance and food. On the night we came here, they weren't too busy and we were given very personalized service which I can only hope is the quality they aim for every night. Our server, Aaron, was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the preparation of the dishes. I appreciated his candidness in his recommendations, and that he provided us a little bit of history about the building and their plans for expansion. The interior space is striking and offers many details to visually explore. The music selection was classy but vibrant jazz. The cocktails were interesting although not as memorable as the food. I loved the brussel sprouts, the espresso encrusted beef tenderloin, the aged cheddar bread pudding that accompanies the pork dish, the salmon and asparagus, and the grilled cheese sandwich with roasted tomato soup. That may have been the best tomato soup I have ever tasted. The s'more pudding was nice too. I thought it was overall a good value for the quality of food. All of us were very pleased with our dishes and agreed the service was fantastic. I plan to put this place in the rotation and look forward to seeing it expand.
(4)Anne R.
We had dinner here and the food was fantastic. To start we had the roasted Brussels sprouts and mixed green salad. The mixed green salad had fresh berries, feta and some kind of candied nut. Delish. For dinner we shared the risotto special which was veggie and super tasty and unique. Drinks were strong and ambiance was perfect. Highly recommend!
(4)Stefanie S.
I would rate this a 4-star for walking off the street or having something small with friends, however I have been trying to communicate with them - in particular - the event staff, Ari, for over 4 weeks now to nail down a dinner for 25 people. You would think they would want the business however they are extremely slow to respond to anything nor do they even respond to your inquiries at all. Ari was out for a week (or something) and I requested the manager call me back to answer my questions so I could get the reservation and menu set and finalized. After two attempts of reaching the manager (!) I received NO contact. I have emailed Ari multiple times requesting a response and have gotten nothing. In my opinion this is unacceptable and, frankly, rude. I believe people say alot with their money...I will NOT be spending mine for this event here. Sad.
(1)Marina P.
Great french braserrie atmosphere, very tasty arty interior design. The service and music dwell with nostalgy for the bohemian salon. And to add to it all great food by all standards. Arancini risotto and marinated chicken were perfect. Enjoyed it very much
(5)Mike G.
This is a great find! Wonderful feel inside and the service was even better! Menu selection was very nice too! Yelp helped us find out about this place and it was only because of the reviews that we even tried it! Soooo glad we did....The quality of what came out of the kitchen was top notch! If anything could make it a "5 star" I would say just a bit more on the portion size...Thats it! Very good place and yes, we will be back!
(4)Aly R.
Not only are the lunch portions perfect, but the wine selection is phenomenal. I've returned so many times with friends and family and it's become a favorite spot! Even though the food does take a bit to come out, the fresh taste of the sandwiches are excellent and so worth the weight. The staff is wonderful and very helpful if you don't know what type of wine/entree you are looking for.
(5)Elizabeth H.
Great food, good service, well priced, uncomfortable seating.
(4)Renee L.
Picnic House is perfect: the ambience, the food, the drinks, the service. The boyfriend and I visited Portland for the first time and had dinner here. We got the pork chop and the portobello mushroom and both blew our minds. We also got the cauliflower as appetizer as well as the moulin rouge and the gardenhead cocktails. Everything was absolutely amazing. We will definitely visit again in the future.
(5)Lisa S.
Picnic House has a great start, it just needs some tweaking. great atmosphere and a very unique layout. service was fine, but not fantastic. our server was more interested in flirting with her friend at the bar then checking in on our table. For the food, my salmon was good. The weird side salad of winter veggies, black rice and quinoa was just plain oddball....the veggies were cut into long thin strips, curled up, translucent, and just not appetizing. The texture was "off". The salmon and veggies were served on some kind of oiled wooden round plate. do you really think they sand that plate down after every meal? I doubt it. so....the cleanliness factor was definitely on my mind. The short ribs were a little tough and a little too salty, the accompaniments with it though were innovative and tasty. For an appetizer, we had the brussels sprouts. Most were perfectly caramelized, some were almost raw. go figure. We did not drink, and those three items totaled $42. A little pricey for those portion sizes. We are looking forward to trying again and being able to raise this to 4 or even 5 stars!
(3)Allegra P.
Gourmet indoor picnic at it's best! Creative & eclectic decor that really does bring the outdoors in. The wedge salad is SO fresh & delicious not to mention their sandwiches. Whatever you order, you can't go wrong & you'll leave with your tank past full!
(4)Chris B.
Good sandwiches and nice soup. Lunch spot for sure. Stop by if you are downtown and near the Hilton. Lots of options north of here to choice from however and I would likely choose tasty or the carts before this spot.
(3)Elaine P.
It's an interesting experience. Beautiful place, but so loud, Needs padding. Paper towels, Expensive. But delicious food, unbelievable, actually. If in Portland, you must go to The Picnic House.
(4)Alyssa C.
I have now been here 3 times in the last month and a half and if you know me, you know i REALLY have to like a place to be a repeat customer. This place is awesome for so many reasons! 1) Their sandwiches. Oh man. I've had the italian, the fig prosciutto, and the chicken bacon so far. They are all delicious, but if I had to pick a fav, it would be the chicken bacon. 2) The SOUPS! But, specifically, the mushroom thyme soup. I got the cauliflower soup last time I went, which was good, but the mushroom soup is better. 3) The salads. I've even gotten salads here, guys. The brown rice salad is tasty, but I'd go with the one with pickled blueberries if you are gonna go to salad-town. OR -the pasta salad looked amazing. You can pick two from the above list for $12 or pick 3 for $15. I did the pick 2 about 5 hours ago and I am still full. When I did the pick 3, I didn't eat again that day because it hurt. so. good. 4. The ambiance/decor - this place is beautiful and HUGE. You could easily have a big group dinner/lunch here and could be accommodated. 5. I haven't tried them yet but the cocktails look NOM. Seriously, go here...your tastebuds will thank you.
(5)Evan S.
Beautiful setup, great atmosphere to admire once you walk in. Unfortunately, I feel as though that's where it ended. The service was atrocious, both waiting for drink/food orders and receiving those orders. Also, the menu items were well over priced, as they didn't offer any truly unique foods. The wine menu felt as if they were reaching to appeal to a high ticket market as they didn't offer many wines by the glass, the prices were all quite high, and they didn't have many wines from our fantastic local wine scene. The happy hour was unfortunately not even in the restaurant, but rather the bar (Barlow), so that made for some moving and lack of convenience...unfortunately, the service over there was also atrocious. I would not recommend this place to a friend , family member, or someone passing through Portland.
(2)Kathy B.
Really great food and cocktails. Grilled cheese was delicious. Risotto was yummy. Dessert was okay. Service was ok, not terrible, not great.
(4)Lisa B.
I love the decor here! The mix and match options are amazing. Great for those who like to sample everything. The potato salad is a must.
(5)Juli G.
Our group of five spontaneously decided to swing in here for lunch because one of women has a good friend who loves it and keeps coming back. We arrived at 11:45 without reservations, and they were spot-on lovely and seated us immediately. The decor is romantic and comfortable with high ceilings, beautiful lighting, and tasteful drapes and art throughout. The menu looked so delicious; really, every single item looked like something I'd want to try. They offer a great option to combine two or three of the following: soup, salad, and sandwich. I was hungry so I opted for the three item combo. This is when it got strange and why this review is four stars instead of five. Something I love to do when I encounter a menu on which everything looks good is request that the chef choose for me. I figure they invented and are preparing the food so they'll probably combine better than I could, ignorant of the subtle flavors of each dish. So I asked the server to have the chef choose a three-item combination for me. She then proceeded to rattle off three dishes that she thought I should have, as though I'd asked because I couldn't make a decision instead of honoring my desired gastronomic adventure with the chef. I simply asked again that the chef choose my combination. She was indignant and snapped, "We usually don't get that here." The plate that came out included the butter lettuce salad, buffalo chicken sandwich, and squash soup, all of which were delicious individually. They didn't work together as a combination, though, which made me think the snotty server chose that combination on purpose to teach me a lesson. I'd go back and recommend this place for lunch, but I'll choose my own combination in the future.
(4)Thomas N.
Loved this place! Took my date here for our first and we were both very pleased. Fairly classy, and the food was well priced.
(5)Mick R.
The family was pissed at me that I didn't mention the somewhat formal atmosphere but relaxed when I pointed out the kids in shorts two tables away. Everyone was intrigued by the menu, especially my son who chose the Wild Boar stew. I had the pork chop and my wife had the stuffed portobello mushroom. Everyone was very happy with their selections but I didn't like the sample of Wild Boar I had. We shared the grilled pound cake for dessert which was very good but not mind-blowing which is what I expected. The bill came to $80 which was better than I thought it would be. We'll definitely go back here next time we're downtown.
(4)Steven M.
Appetizers ok - entrees not so great. All dishes lacked seasoning and actually cold to the touch. Not a foodie paradise
(2)Aimee L.
Very very good food, fantastic interior, service is inconsistent (nice waitstaff but either understaffed or they just forget about you?) and so it's not the place you'd go if you need to get in and out in an hour. Menu seems to have little room for dietary restrictions besides "leave it off" but the salad was delicious. Looking forward to trying their happy hour (have tried to come by several times but they seem to do a lot of private events so we've never been).
(3)Chris S.
The chairs were a bit uncomfortable, so I docked 1 whole star. Fortunately, I was planning on giving them six stars for food, cocktails, ambience and service. So, that's a net five stars. Not too shabby. We had a 5-10 minute wait for lunch on a rainy Friday. There were a decent amount of people in the place, and we didn't have a reservation. It didn't seem to matter though, as they were moving people through pretty quickly. The food is fantastic, fresh and flavorful. I had the Farfalla Pasta salad and cup of broccolini soup. My SO had the shaved turkey sandwich and a cup wild mushroom soup. It was all very good. The portions were also perfect for the price and what I want out of lunch. We both cleaned our plates & bowls. Service was prompt, helpful and friendly. Attentive but not in your face. About the chairs. I couldn't lean back. The metal bar hit in a really uncomfortable spot. I wonder if that helped them move people through a bit quicker...
(5)Adam G.
Ok, we arrived to a half empty restaurant around 7pm. We had to wait about 5 minutes before anyone even approached us. The host then asked if we had a reservation we didn't. She said she'd be right back and set something up. Another woman called to us from the bar half a floor above us and asked if we needed help. We said no, thank you, someone was helping us. She then power tripped on us telling us no, she would help us, she's the general manager and that without a reservation it was a minimum 45 minute wait. There are two ways to have this conversation with customers. She chose the snotty, pretentious way. As we started to walk out, she ran down to us and said something about us coming back. Ummmm, no.
(1)Mona B.
Had a work lunch with the boss and a bunch of coworkers the other day. I had been hopeful (I mean the place was packed by the time our food arrived), but alas... - service: our waitress, while friendly, wasn't attentive, nor efficient. Didn't give me a spoon for my tea. Never asked me if I wanted more hot water for my tea (rather, I had to spend several min's and several attempts trying to catch her attention). She didn't give spoons to people at my table who ordered soup. Most importantly for me, she didn't ask me how I want my burger done - I figured she'd realize it and come back and ask me. Never did ask me and never came back around to tell her my preference until my food came out. That brings me to... - food: for a burger that's $12, I expect it to be better than... oh I don't know, say Five Guys (and I think Five Guys' burger are nothing to write home about). The Picinic House burger is $12 (I'm copying/pasting from their menu): burger, roasted tomato, aged white cheddar, red onion, cuke pickles, lettuce, house sauce, pickled onion ring 12 When I got it, it had no cheddar, 3 teeny pieces of tomato pieces, 1 lettuce leaf and 2 paper-thin sliced cucumber that was neither properly pickled, nor tasty. The meat itself came out medium rare! I kid you not, a coworker (male) sitting next to me took a one look and said "woah..." Waited around but again, our waitress didn't come by and my boss wanted to know if everything was alright, so you know what I had to do? I swallowed(I did not chew; I bit off a bite size and swallowed it) the burger that was still moo-ing at me. I was gagging. - ambiance: what ambiance? it was SO loud that I was yelling just to talk to someone sitting at the same table just across from me. Oh btw, ALL my coworkers who ordered "mushroom and caramelized onion tart" said it was cold, too small (smaller than the size of my palm) and not good at all. So very glad my boss paid for this meal - too many good restaurants around here to waste my hard-earned dime here.
(2)Dan H.
This was a pleasant find. Thanks to Yelp we found another gem. I had actually passed this place by within the last month or so when I was wandering around downtown. Knew nothing about it as I had never heard about it before. There are so many new restaurants popping up in town that it is difficult to keep up. Plus I don't hang out in this part of town all that often. Sue and I were looking for one more drink (I was also looking for more food) before the ballet and another quick Yelp search pulled up the Picnic House. Glad to have found it amongst the construction that is going on about this restaurant. According to our server the construction is supposed to be going on until at least October. Too bad for them and the idea of having tables outside during the summer. More info according to our server. The Picnic House has been around since last July. Crazy. Who knew? Somebody did as there are a few reviews here. He also told me that a bulk of their business is due to Yelp. People (like us) doing Yelp searches and finding them that way. Go Yelp!!! We had beers, but we also had food. Sue was just interested in dessert and they had a really nice Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake ($6). She really wanted the Rice Pudding, but sadly they were out. The cake was quite tasty. I ordered the Bavette Skewers ($9) off the small plates section of the menu. Chimchurrie Beef skewers with pickled blueberries, arugula and avocado. Nice sized platter for the price. The beef had a ton of flavor and was cooked a nice medium. I prefer medium rare, but I'm not going to be picky. Due to a screw up by the kitchen we were also presented with a free stuffed Portobello Mushroom with roasted vegetables, caramelized onions and toasted polenta bread. I don't know how it ended up at our table, but they told us if we didn't eat it it was just going to go in the garbage. How does one turn that down. This is an entree and it was quite large. We took a good chunk of it home and had it for lunch the next day. There were sweet potatoes involved and it was very good. It will be cool to dive into the menu a bit more the next time we come back. The space has some good character to it. Cool floors and high ceilings. I have no doubt that we will be back.
(4)Bubba Y.
What a nice lunch we had here! Stopped in on a Yelp - invoked whim, Picnic House just happened to be on the same block during a shopping trip downtown. Glad we did. A short wait and we were seated, nice perky wait staff (Phillip?), water glasses filled. Cocktails were ordered and delivered promptly, our order taken, and lunch came quickly. I had a nice shaved turkey half sandwich and a wonderful mushroom soup (invoked memories of the Hungarian mushroom soup they served at Old Wives Tales before they shut down) . Both of my lunch friends enjoyed their sandwiches and salads. Talking off a star for noise level and broken hardware in the bathroom. But otherwise, a keeper.
(4)Jeff M.
Old world charm in a converted hotel. Massive columns and high ceiling. Love the wood benches. Outstanding unique dishes. The curry cauliflower soup is to die for. Not super kid friendly, but they do have a kid's version of their adult grilled cheese.
(5)Freesia J.
No Stars... this place is the worst service ever that we couldn't even dine here! First time here for both of us. Met my colleague here at 11:45am on Wed 4/29/2015. I show up and staff asks whether I had reservation. I said no. She said it gets pretty crowded here during lunch time. I knew this place is spacious so didn't think I needed a lunch reservation. Ok so we waited about 10 minutes and they put us in the back bar counter. We wanted to sit face to face so we can talk business. But the wait was going to be longer. Oddly, there were tons of empty tables for two everywhere throughout the restaurant!? so we ended up leaving and having our lunch meeting at Shigezo Japanese restaurant. On 5/13/2015, I emailed another colleague about this place and she told me that same thing! Her email said, "Picnic House can be hard to go...they are notorious for having bad service (e.g. won't seat you immediately even though restaurant is half empty)"! Boo...this place is No Picnic!
(1)Katlyn H.
It was good but felt like the Cheesecake Factory to me. Personally I don't like it when people dress up as bar tenders to be in a different time period but if you are into steam punk I recommend this place to you. That's just the ambiance, the food is pretty nice, if your a soup nazi like myself avoid it. It's very butter based. And all soups are put in a blender. Which isn't always a bad thing but variety is nice. It could be a chain though. I'm not sure but it felt like it could be one.
(3)Andrew S.
I came here on a Saturday for lunch with a friend. The wait was 10 minutes, which at first glance was really surprising because the entire storefront was empty. But I guess they don't serve diners in the front area. The restaurant was much more spacious than I was expecting and there were so many people sitting in the back area! With the print blocks reused as art pieces, and driftwood with various coat racks drilled into it, the whole restaurant has a repurposed feel to it. I felt like the bear head in the back detracted from the overall decor. When we were seated there was a bottle of water on the table for us. Our waiter was smartly dressed in a vest and tie. He was really nice and explained our food choices pretty clearly. I ordered half a grilled cheese sandwich and half a grilled tomato sandwich with iced tea. My friend ordered a half grilled tomato sandwich and half farfalle pasta salad (it's not a classic pasta salad, but a salad with pasta in it). My tea was delicious and had a large lemon garnish on the rim. My lunch was even better. The service after we started eating was pretty sparse. I was never offered a refill on my tea and we drank all our water. Our waiter came by once to see how we were doing. We were ready to try the grilled pound cake, but we waited almost 20 minutes after finishing our meal to see our waiter and changed our minds. Overall the service wasn't bad - they just appeared to be understaffed. We got our bill in an old book which I thought was a cool touch. I really enjoyed the food and 99% of the decor, and the servers were still very nice even if they weren't staffed properly. I'd try it again but I would also make sure I'm not in any kind of rush.
(4)Marina P.
Unique, special, inviting, and a great atmosphere! Take time to enjoy this place!
(5)Amber P.
Comfortable, inviting (once you get past the entry), warm, and a good place for a double date. The food on both my visits was prepared excellently and sometimes imaginatively. It hits that niche of food that I would never make for myself but the prices are reasonable for what you get. Save room for dessert, and ask about the specials.
(5)S M.
Good food, reasonable prices, very roomy. A bit loud in there but overall a great experience with my family!
(5)Phyllis B.
I can't believe I'm the first to leave a review! This place has a wonderful menu of sandwiches, soups and salads. I'm enjoying the brown rice, yam, with just the right amount of shredded carrots (roasted) agrugala, pickled red pepper and sliced almond. And the white mushroom soup was wonderful!
(5)Georgie K.
The setting is lovely, inviting and has a lot of character. Someone put in a lot of thought presenting this restaurant. This place easily accommodates large groups. That being said they have some quirks to work on. The food was pretty good. The prices were a bit high for what you get and the portion size. I ordered the Brussels sprouts which were delicious, but were Luke warm/cold. That dish was $8.00 for a essentially a side of vegetables. I also got the beef tenderloin small plate. It was Delicious and perfectly cooked, but it was three chunks of meat on kabob stick with some salad greens with pomegranates in it. That was $12.00. I knew it was going to be small, but not that small. The mash potatoes were perfect. Friends at the table did not care for the rock fish and thought the portabella dish was okay. The service was okay. The server was nice, but was inconsistent and inattentive. Drinks were taking a long time and all of our food was coming out at different times. We did not get to eat together even though we ordered everything at the same time and that was the plan.
(3)Furai X.
I'm not a dinner person (holla' brunch!) but maybe if I had more dining experiences like the one I had at Picnic House, I'd be more inclined to give dinner a shot. The bf and I had an absolutely wonderful time here. Since we made reservations for an earlier time slot, we were seated right away. The servers attentively tended to our drinks and our meals were extremely well prepared. The stuffed portobello with polenta was one of the best entree's I've had. The bf also enjoyed his porkshop and our shared roasted cauliflowers (a wee bit spicier than expected). We both ordered a signature cocktail which enhanced our already great experience.
(5)Annie b.
Phenomenal!!! Great soup salad sandwich menu. Love the turkey sandwich with apples. Amazing salads with ripe berries and nuts...Warm chocolate chip cookies with a shot of milk was yummmm. Decor and ambience are modern and quirky, with crazy high ceilings, fancy presentation of food, big portions, seemed fancy but still felt casual. A dichotomy of sorts. Wonderful place.
(5)Taralee L.
Tomato soup and grilled cheese! It's perfection! My only complaint is that we tried to go to dinner there last night after reading reviews and craving the said "tomato soup and grilled cheese" and they were closed for a private party after we walked all the way down there.
(4)Lena H.
LOVE this place. So glad I found it! Lunch was fantastic....try the sampler of 3 items for $15. The service is wonderful and the interior feels like you stepped inside a storybook. Will definitely be back.
(5)Hana F.
Good food and a super Portland hipster vibe. The service was pretty slow, but overall a solid experience. It gets a bit busy so it's probably smart to have reservations. Looking for a hip tasty Portland meal? This could be the spot for you. Having said that, it's pretty overpriced for what the food tastes like, and the service isn't good. Oh well.
(3)Susan K.
This restaurant is a real find! We had a marvelous dinner. The chef is wonderfully creative and the dishes are equal to or better than those in some of the best Bay Area restaurants.
(5)R. E. R.
The tomato soup is literally the best I've ever had. I love the combination options at lunch and usually go for the buffalo chicken sandwich, tomato soup and wedge salad. Their bread is the perfect mixture of crunchy and soft. At dinner the savory pancake with short rib makes my mouth water as soon as I smell it. I also love that they have an amazing selection of local beers and liquors. Then the beautiful atmosphere...really, I can't get enough. Adore this place!
(5)Ehow C.
A new year, a new restaurant to try! Picnic House is literally a block away from the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, which makes it ideal for a pre-concert dinner. We had made reservations for 6:30, though were slow to be seated due to the busy house that night. Once we were seated, our server was very attentive and friendly. We started off with some addictive garlic bread and wonderfully balanced and delicious drinks (Moulin Rouge, Smashing Pumpkin, McMule). The beef tenderloin small plate was fantastic, but we only wished that it came in an entree size. Alas, life is not fair. Despite coming an hour before the concert, our entrees weren't coming out fast enough before concert start. Luckily, the management catered to our schedule and we had five minutes to finish eat our tasty molasses salmon with quinoa and chorizo/prawn polenta. My only regret is not letting them know sooner, so we could savor the food longer and possibly have gotten dessert as well. Overall, it was a great time and delicious food. Definitely try a drink here, and the food will keep you sticking around.
(5)Zach G.
Delicious salads and a fantastic atmosphere with a friendly staff. Highly recommend it for a late lunch.
(5)Laura L.
I am totally 5-starring the interior design. Did you ever see "They Might be Giants" with George C. Scott as a 'mental patient' who thought he was Sherlock holmes and Joann Woodward was Dr. Watson - anyway remember how the 70's saw the Victorian era? Like wicker and birdcages and old books and pennyfarthings- well it's kinda like that but not really, but that's the closest I can come to explaining. Stopped in for dessert and coffee on Saturday afternoon. I got the chocolate pudding with brulee'd marshmellows and graham cracker crumbs - get it? it's a gooey s'more. It was so rich I made it thru about half. Dark, not too sweet, solid chocolate pudding with graham cracker crumbs on top and 3 toasted marshmallows on a skewer (mallows? Mellows? whatevs). My partner in dessert ordered the Pavlova and was expecting one of those tiny ramikin sized dealies - but no this was a dinner plate sized pile of whipped cream with shredded mint on top, on top of a huge meringue, with fresh berries sprinkled all about. Gut-busting sugar and air. It was beautiful. I want to go back for happy hour or lunch or anything really. Cocktails look amazing but are pretty spendy ($8 to $15). Only complaint? my coffee was old. Late saturday afternoon 4 hr old sitting in the airpot lukewarm and thick. But I was so impressed by everything else i barely noticed. Staff was awesome and cheerful. Anyway! Go forth and Picnic!
(5)Alex D.
The Picnic House did not disappoint! Loved the atmosphere, servers were great, and the food was scrumptious. I'd highly recommend giving one of their signature drinks a try. Those cocktail engineers over at the bar know what they're doing. (I had the Gardenhead and it was BOMB.)
(5)Liz F.
I enjoyed my first experience at the Picnic House quite a bit--we had delicious bites from the happy hour menu and really liked the decor. The second time I came in for HH, it seemed like the plates shrank and the prices grew but I still had a fine time and if I hadn't come back for dinner I would likely be writing a four star review today. I came in a third time for my birthday dinner on May 9th. We made reservations but even so were seated in a table next to the door in a fairly plain part of the restaurant. The waiter seemed to be in a hurry and tried to take our order when we had clearly just arrived and hadn't had time to look at the menu. We ordered drinks, an appetizer, salads, and an entrée to share. The pacing of the dishes was just terrible--they brought us our drinks after the appetizers, then dropped off the salads before we'd even had a few bites of the appetizer, then the entrée arrived a few seconds later. All of that food was crowded on top of our tiny table and we still hadn't finished our first round of drinks. Obviously our server fired all three courses at once instead of pacing us. If he hadn't, he would have gotten a much larger tip and we would have ordered many more drinks and maybe more food. I wasn't starving when I arrived and wanted a drink and appetizer to spark my appetite but when I saw all the food on the table I completely lost interest in eating. This seems like one of those hipster Portland restaurants that hires their cool friends instead of experienced and professional waiters. I won't be returning.
(1)Christina N.
This place is amazing! Came here for lunch, in a large group of 9. They were very accomodating with the last minute reservation, speedy service and friendly, welcoming environment. Their lunch menu hosts a variety of different options for sandwiches, salads and soups with an option of a combination of two or all of the three for a very reasonable price! I had the combo with half a Shaved Turkey sandwich and half of the Farfalla Pasta, both very delicious! Would definitely reccommend either, even both :). We came around 11:30am right before the lunch traffic hit. There were plenty of empty table when we arrived but it started to get really busy a little past noon.
(5)Deanna T.
Food was ok, a little heavy for my taste. Soups where the best thing I had on the menu. Tried my friends mushroom soup, pretty good one of the best mushroom soups I've ever had. I had the tomato soup which is good, but just as good as Boudin's SF (my fave for tomato soup). My entree was the steak with quinoa polenta which was OK, a little too heavy for my taste. As far as customer service goes... my friends both ordered a cocktail called the Seelbach and thought it was disgusting, I tried it and thought it tasted like gross cough medicine. My friends TRIED to finish the drink after all they did order it, but because I have many years in the restaurant and hospitality industry I told my friends to let the waitress know that the drink was not very good. The waitress told us maybe it just wasn't their palette, which could be true but I told her that maybe the restaurant might appreciate customer feedback. In my background I would have told my manager and maybe seeing if they could do something about it. In the end, my friends ended up ordering a different drink and still tipping the waitress 20%. I think she might have also been the hostess though. Maybe she doesn't have a lot of customer or guest experience. Also gave us a crappy table in front with the air conditioner blowing on us, on a chilly day.
(2)Jaime F.
Delicious food and an awesome atmosphere. I had the lamb chops and they were cooked perfectly on top of a bed of arugula drizzled with a delicious sauce (I think it was a basalmic reduction). The dish also came with onion and tomato skewers accompanied by pita and Taziki sauce.
(5)Betty K.
I've been to The Picnic House at least 6 times. The food is always good. There is no question about that. The real problem is the service. The servers themselves are always very nice, there just aren't enough of them. Every time I go, it looks like there are three people serving the entire restaurant. It's just not enough. During my last experience, we waited over 25 minutes to be seated (we were told it would be a 5 minute wait). When we were finally seated, we were placed at a corner table and completely forgotten about. After 20 + minutes of waiting to have our order taken, we finally got frustrated enough to ask the hostess for assistance. Apparently the server was not aware that anyone had been seated at our table. Once that ball got rolling everything was fine, but it really was the final straw to break the camel's back for this cute place. The food is great. The atmosphere is cute. I like the location. They just need more servers, plain and simple.
(2)Trevor H.
The menu is quite small, but don't underestimate what's on it! I highly recommend the salmon with asparagus risotto as well as the grilled cheese with tomato soup! They definitely exceeded expectations! The ambience is on point to say the least, and make sure to stop in at Barlows (which is connected) for a before or after dinner drink!
(5)Troy S.
Just another stop on our Portland trip. This place was awesome- very cool ambiance, awesome wait staff, and amazing food/dessert. I recommend the salmon and the chicken. And for dessert be sure to try the grilled pound cake!
(5)Ankur B.
In brief: The Picnic House serves upscale, moderately pricey delicious cocktails and entrees in a Prohibition Era ambiance. I am no stranger to upscale restaurants after having spent time in Boston, London and New York City. I had two house cocktail ($5 per), a mixed green salad with fresh berries and a fig vinaigrette and salmon seasoned with Anaheim peppers and a strawberry sauce. Suffice it to say, if I had the same in NYC, I would have not have paid $45... The salmon was perfectly cooked and melted in the mouth with a slight tartness from the strawberry providing a nice counterbalance. The salad was large but not overly filling (probably enough if you're not too hungry and want to add fried eggs, duck or chicken). After seeing a bunch of reviews, I had the grilled pound cake - why the hell don't we have this on the East Coast? The cake is lightly grilled with a lemon curd, mint and amaretto whipped cream leaving an unparalleled pairing... Get it... Now! Best of all, it wasn't packed and the food was served quickly (Thursday after Happy Hour) for me to squeeze it in before a red eye. A great way to end a jaunt to Stumptown.
(5)Kelly D.
I was visiting Portland from Seattle and needed a place to grab a quick bite and wait for rush hour traffic to die down. I really lucked out by coming to this place- I am hard pressed to find a restaurant in Seattle that could hold a candle to the ambiance in this place. It's built in the lobby of a former hotel and there is no detail spared- from the vintage letterpress plates lining the stairs to the stuffed monocle-wearing bear head to the moss art that hangs at the entrance. I felt like I stepped into a page out of Alice in Wonderland. Not only that but the beers on tap were all local Oregon beers- a treat for me being from out of town. All the waiters were attentive and were truly passionate about the food- I ordered the grilled cheese, the beef tenderloin and the roasted cauliflower and each dish on its own was fantastic. I will definitely make this a regular stop for future visits to PDX.
(5)Jessica K.
The Picnic House is just lovely. It's one of those places that makes dining out in Portland a unique experience. We didn't even know this place was here until searching for a happy hour the other evening. Upon entering, it was like stumbling into an enchanting period piece film. Very fun. The only thing that didn't come up is that we showed up for happy hour, but no mention was made of it and no menus were presented. Alas, we were already entranced by the entree menu. The food is American Style with its own flair. We started with their scrumptious garlic bread and mushroom soup. From the minute we poured that rich, dark soup from the pitcher into the bowl, it was heaven. Bowl-licking good really. I had the pumpkin gnocchi and it was fantastic. The bf devoured his prawns and chorizo with polenta. Prices are a touch on the high side, but the food and experience balance it out. The libations are quite tantalizing, I opted for a gin concoction with Pfriem Wit, which was interesting. My guy went for the Sazerac. We could have tried several more, but it was a work night. If you are looking for an evening with a touch of whimsy, look no further than The Picnic House.
(4)Douglas O.
Unbelievable food. Was in Portland and it was close to the hotel -- turned out to be an absolute highlight of the trip. The black truffle lasagne is remarkable, and the chocolate truffle bar is INCREDIBLE. Loved the food, the ambiance, the service -- and the prices are extremely reasonable too. I would almost go back to Portland just to dine there again. Great job Picnic House!
(5)Carol C.
Awesome place with great service! I was recovering from a weekend of gluttonous out-of-control eating, so I demurely had a soup (wild mushroom) and brussels sprouts. They were both good, but the brussels sprouts (with bacon!) were too bitter for me. The mocktail, however, was amazing! I told the bartender via the waiter that I like either ginger + bourbon/scotch cocktails or St Germaine + grapefruit juice cocktails. He whipped up something that had ginger beer, lemon, honey, and rose water (essence?), among other things. It's usually disappointing when a 'mocktail' tastes like regular juice, but this one actually tasted like a fun cocktail. Win! Other pluses: Since it was a bachelorette party, they gave us free dessert - s'more pudding, yum! One of the girls had the short ribs and they were too salty for her, so she left most of it uneaten. The waiter noticed and insisted on comping it. So nice! We made sure to leave an extra large tip. Our bachelorette mentioned that the grilled cheese was the best she'd ever had. The decor is also fun and classy. A bear head above the bar with a top hat and spectacle. A large wooden slab table (communal?). What looked like stamped patterns (including a T Rex) tiled backwards on certain walls and the stairway so that the bottom part stuck out, giving the walls and stairway a nice texture and look.
(4)Glenn L.
I had the spring veg soup and the pan fried salmon dish. Both were yummy! and filling. The strawberry,onion,aneheim relish was too sweet though. The ambiance is great with subtle lighting and 20s-30s jazzy music playing. Looking forward to trying other fare on their menu. Friendly staff, and rather fast service.
(4)Olivia O.
Very cute dinner/lunch spot, a stone's throw from the Schnitz and walking distance from PSU. My husband and I popped in here on a rainy Friday night. First of all, insanely cute, very big, and a bit slow. We stood in the doorway for maybe a few minutes before someone noticed us. This may be a problem because we noticed several couples, even a small group of people, pop into the restaurant, wait at the "to be seated" sign, and then leave because no one bothered to check out the front of the house. The waitress welcomed us and promptly left to go set us up a table next to a loudly shrieking baby. Wait a minute - the restaurant is half empty. My husband and I both agreed, there was no way in hell we were going to sit where she was setting us up. There is loads of space in every direction - why would you sit us next to someone having a parent-child meltdown? When she came back we asked her if we could sit literally anywhere else. She looked confused so we pointed at a table with plush seats near the front of the house. She obliged but said it would take time for them to clean that table. That's fine, but lord this place is slow. She could have just maybe waited two seconds before cleaning the first table when she greeted us? The menu looks amazing. When we started looking at our options we got dizzy with choices. They have a seasonal menu with all sorts of regional goods - we saw salmon, wild boar, pumpkin gnocchi, oven roasted chicken, garlic bread. We went with some garlic bread appetizer and both ended up ordering the wild boar over noodles for our main dinner. And then we made the mistake of ordering tea to start us off with. The restaurant has lovely tea cups. There is a miniature tea pot that sits directly over your tea cup. Brew in your pot, pour into your cup. But when we wanted milk or sugar it took fifteen minutes of waiting before we just got up and asked a random waiter if he could just oblige us. They put the milk in an espresso cup, which I guess this is a minor thing but it created a big mess - they didn't have a little milk jug or something with a lip/spout. It's extremely difficult to measure out how much milk you want from an espresso cup, especially when they've given you one espresso cup for two people's worth of tea. Aside from the mess we made trying to drink our tea, the food was amazing. Not the restaurant's fault, but the shrieking baby in the middle of the restaurant continued to lose its shit for the entire time we were there. The baby was there before we got there, and the family seated with it didn't look like they were leaving by the time we paid up and left. It seems really inconsiderate, not just to other patrons but to the baby who is clearly suffering and doesn't want to be there anymore or might need something that can in no way be provided in a downtown restaurant. Again the restaurant was a bit slow. We thought about dessert and even told a waiter we wanted to see a dessert menu. We waited and waited, watched a few people pop in and leave when no one sat them promptly, and then we realized it was probably best we stop while we're ahead. The wild boar was so perfect we didn't want our evening to sour listening to a stranger's baby shriek for another hour. By the time the waiter came back we told him it took them so long to get back to us we were ready to leave. We paid a fairly reasonable price for our dinners (I think it roughly $15/plate, for some of the best wild boar I've had in ages). We walked home in the rain and filled up on ice cream back at our apartment. We definitely want to come back again, maybe just sit down right away and tell a waiter later when they notice we're there. I recommend showing up and being a bit pushy because the staff might forget you're there. Order right away or go flag down a waiter the second you scan one in vicinity (probably they will be turned away from you, deliberately avoiding any and all eye contact). Tell the waiter what you want and as soon as they serve the food ask for the check. You will eat a superb meal and you can thank me later for the little trick I've just taught you. I'm sure Picnic House will ease its bumps in the road as it finds its place as a restaurant. This is only the beginning. I'm delighted to try what they serve me next.
(4)Austin P.
I've been here for lunch a couple times, and their lunch menu is soup, salads, and sandwiches. The food is delicious, and if you like trying different things, they have the Pick 2 and Pick 3 options. However, when considering what you get for the price, there are better options in the area.
(3)Daniel B.
We flew into Portland Friday evening and walked over to Picnic House after some quick yelp research. Such an awesome restaurant with a good vibe and really nice service. The brussel sprouts are insane! ...along with the beet salad and pork chop.
(5)Ike W.
If your in Portland you have to visit Picnic House! Every time I visit (dinner or lunch) I am impressed with the quality and preparation of the food. They have a great atmosphere in a incredible historical building in downtown Portland. Their whole menu is fantastic but I would recommend their cast iron chicken breast or maple-brined pork chop and their pavlova dessert is to die for.
(5)Fred E.
What can I say. Slow wretched service. We had a show at the Schnitzer at 7:30 pm and our reservation was at 6 pm. We immediately ordered appetizers and drinks...those came out in a timely fashion. At 6:30 the server took the order for our mains. We said we had the show and what would be easy on the kitchen. She suggested salads or salmon. In the meantime more drinks were ordered and came out sporadically. At 7:20 the bill arrived, because some other girl heard we were in a hurry, but still no food. And they added gratuity!!! At 7:30 we were racing into the Schnitzer, having to wait until there was a break to enter...and no we never received our mains courses. It was a mess. Had we not been in a group and I would have set some people straight in short order. Yes the appetizers were tasty, but we will not be back. There are too many good restaurants in this area (Higgens, Nel Centro, Raven and Rose, etc) without horrific service. In addition there were charges for food not received (what a surprise).
(1)Michael S.
I'm as critical as there is out there, I don't give out five stars very often, in fact, I don't think I have given out five stars on yelp but this place rocks!! Get the salmon, whatever you do, get the salmon!! Moist and flavorful all three times I've been there. Steak is awesome, salads are awesome, drinks are awesome. The waitress, wish I could remember her name, knew her sh*&t. The bartender came over and described many of the ingredients in the drinks, as we do not keep up on these things. I know, not very descriptive but the five stars should say it all. I thought this place was trying a bit to hard when I first got there but they made me forget my bias against pretentiousness and I joined in. Great atmosphere, great staff. I'd marry this place if I could. It's that good!
(5)Joel T.
I randomly wandered into this restaurant for lunch on a beautiful Monday afternoon. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect based on the name. I thought maybe picnic tables, baskets, and cold food were in store. It turns out to have an old timey, sort of classy speakeasy feel in a large open space with lots of wooden features, cool wall decor, and 20's music playing. I really enjoyed the ambiance as it made my handlebar moustache feel right at home. The lunch menu was mainly soups, salads, and sandwiches all of which had an intriguing flare. I went for the half sandwich and salad combo picking the chicken and bacon sandwich with the brown rice salad. It was a little pricey for lunch at $12 but turned out to be a lot of food. The half sandwich was easily sizable enough for me to consider it a full sandwich. The side salad wasn't too small either. The flavor of both we're amazing. The sandwich was on a hard toasted bun which gave it a nice crunch. The creamy aioli dressing, salty bacon, and roasted chicken flavors combined deliciously. I found myself going back and forth between bites of sandwich and salad without stopping until the plate was empty. I was very impressed. If you have a large moustache that is still partially filling in be careful not to pull the lower hairs into your mouth when breaking into the bread. It gets messy. My only suggestion would be to decrease the serving size slightly and reduce the price to $8 or so. That would make it much more manageable for frequent lunch visits and be just the right amount of food. Overall a job well done. Check it out!
(5)Cathleen F.
So Disappointed, Reading all the Reviews, and with the recommendation of our Hotel concierge & Yelp, my companions and I made our way. The Decor is darling, it really looks like picnic settings, eclectic type Decor! It took awhile for our waiter to appear, which would be the case though out the meal. We started off with the meat and cheese board, it was good with a great selection of cheese. The 2 Stars really had to do with the food, we all order different meals. I ordered the Pork Chop, which might have been good, but it was DRY, Overcooked and to top it off Cold! All of our meals were luke to cold! I had to send the pork chop back, the waiter said I'll take it off your bill and scampered away. I'm still hungry! Hello..... Bueller? When he re-appeared I asked if I could order the soup, unfortunately it was luke/cold too! Whats going on here? The Staff was not friendly, and I felt like I was putting out my waiter. Hopefully this was just a one night off......... Sadly I won't be returning, not interested in a second try!
(2)Marissa O.
Great food, fun vibe, decent price. I went for lunch and got the combo which included the tomato soup, iceberg wedge salad, and grilled cheese. I know that sounds pretty ordinary, but the food tasted really good. The tomato soup had olive oil drizzle and the grilled cheese was made with caramelized onions. You could choose a cup of soup, half sandwich, and half salad for only $15. Your bill comes in an old book. I loved the decor of the place, although over the bar there is a stuffed bear head wearing a top hat and monocle...
(4)Veneta N.
After all the raving reviews I read I was sceptical but The Picnic House definitely lives up to hype. I visited just after they re-open at 5pm and it was quiet and relaxing. The place itself is very nicely done. The Mushroom soup is heavenly. The staff were great in making my late lunch a very enjoyable experience. Highly recommend it
(5)Chad H.
Ok, This might really be 3.5 stars but I will give it the benefit because too few people know about this little gem of a place. First of all, imagine an old hotel lobby (thats what is was years ago) converted into a picnic space, espresso house, restaurant and bar. Toss in some fun decorations (including a bear in a monocle and bowler hat and a stairway covered in license plates) and you have a quirky great warm space to dine in. The food? Well, the breads are always fresh in the sandwiches and the portions are just right. I love their poached shrimp sandwich with a cup of soup for lunch. Their happy hour is amazing - great drinks and their cheese plate has inspired many conversations among friends - it was that good! I would recommend meeting friends before a performance at the Schnitz, entertaining out of town guests from the Heathman or the Hilton, sneaking away from the rain at the saturday market or pre-movie. This place will wow your friends who have walked by for years and never set foot inside (which was my case for a couple of years). The service has always been very good here and I have yet to bring someone new who didn't declare it one of their new downtown favorites. Take a step into this eclectic space and enjoy.
(4)M P.
Loved this restaurant. Everything was excellent -- cocktail, appetizer, entree, dessert, service. Terrific menu and upscale casual atmosphere. I was visiting Portland and stumbled upon this place via Yelp, so thank you for leading me here!
(5)Justin G.
Lunch was nice, I enjoyed the mushroom soup and Italian meat sandwich. Great space but a little on the chilly side. Service was mediocre as we didn't see our waitress again after she dropped off our food. Also, for an upscale joint you would think that they would have some descent silverware. It felt like I was using a spoon from a diner. All-in-all it was an ok experience as the food outweighed service. We will return at some point.
(3)Kelsey D.
I'm not sure I could possibly love this restaurant any more! Delicious food, even better cocktails, and the most perfect decor makes for a terrific Portland dining experience!
(5)Jennifer F.
Really enjoyed the atmosphere, although a bit noisy at times. Very unique setting and decor. I loved it, very Portland. Food was amazing and reasonably priced. Two drinks, one small plate, two grilled cheese (with soup) and a dessert to share was about $65. Service was excellent. I recommend their bar next door Barlow for a more intimate setting, also great service (everything is order at bar).
(5)Keith B.
Had to make sure I still had both of my shoes...could have sworn they were feeding me one and calling it a steak...
(1)Chrissy S.
Good food and drinks. Great service, friendly staff. Burger was good and tastey, the Elvis dessert was phenomenal
(4)Rachel M.
The reason I am giving The Picnic House an 3/5 is the service. The food was pretty great. The hostess asked if we had a reservation, and when we said we didn't, she had us wait for 15 minutes saying the server was too busy for us (he had one table of 8, and one table of 2). There was nowhere to sit to wait for our table, so we asked if we could be seated at the table and wait there. She said that wasn't an option, so 15 minutes later we were seated. We sat for about 10 minutes before anyone even came over to get our drink order. The hostess walked by us multiple times - she definitely could have taken a drink order, no? Or maybe another waiter? Took another 10 min to get our drinks and a while for our food. At any rate, we were only in Portland for 1 day and we wanted to try the food that everyone says is amazing. It definitely was. I've written more about the food and our experience on my blog, with photos - nom-nomla.com
(3)Andrew B.
This place is great. You will want to place a reservation before coming though. About seven groups of people were turned down (even though there seemed to be tables open) because they were booked for lunch on a Wednesday. I ended up getting a half sandwich and a half salad and the portion sizes were a great deal for what you were paying.
(5)Maggie C.
Full disclosure: I never actually got the chance to eat here, the hostess was just that terrible. (Yes, I know, I'm writing one of those reviews that are not actually about the food. Usually when I see this type of review I dismiss it on the assumption that the author is a grumpy troll with unreasonable expectations. But I thought this was a pretty significant negative and wanted to share) It's Thursday at 12:45 pm and my mom and I wanted to try out The Picnic House. I'm hosting a private party in a few months and the venue looked perfect. We were so excited to scope out the space and food. There were two groups ahead of us when we got there, which wasn't a problem at all. The hostess wasn't around when we walked in, but we saw her bustling around clearing tables. We kept trying to make eye contact with her but she was preoccupied. Still, not a problem. After about 15 minutes of waiting, a group of 4 walked in and right as the hostess appeared. She greeted them and put their name down. Still, this was not really a problem, perhaps she thought we were part of another group. My mom stepped up and said that we've been waiting for awhile and asked to put her name down for 2. This is where it got surprising...The hostess snarked back "When I ask for names I expect you to come put your names down". My mom, take aback, "Oh, hmm, we've been waiting for 15 minutes and you haven't spoken to the area once." Hostess, aggressively: "It is your responsibility to put your name down. Do you want to put your name down now?" Mom, shocked "No, no thanks." I hope this get's back to the Picnic House leadership---the tall hostess was strangely aggressive and unwelcoming. What a bizarre experience. Definitely will not host my dinner there- it's not worth the risk of subjecting my friends and family to such surliness.
(1)Sarah S.
Had the curry pumpkin soup and grilled cheese. After a long day of travel it hit the spot. Good comfort.
(5)Emily M.
Yummy food! Good service, nice decor. We were a party of seven so we tried a lot of things. Mushroom Soup was very good and charcuterie plate was really good and well served. A friend ordered the beets side and wasn't bad. Another ordered a salad and it looked fun and colorful but I didn't try it We all ordered either the wild boar or the steak. Wild boar was good, but the steak was fabulous I ordered it Med Rare and it was perfect!! Other people that ordered the steak were also impressed. I will definitely recommend this place and try to visit again in the near future.
(4)Laura P.
Ate there Friday night. We were cheerfully greeted and seated. Our Waitress was really great, cheerful, knew the menu and the drink menu inside and out. We started with their version of a Manhattan. WOW, it was an amazing drink. We shared several small plates, starting with the artisanal cheese plate. It was very good. The bread they served was the best baguette I've ever had, It was warm, very light and airy on the inside and the crust melted in your mouth. None of that tugging where you think that you may pull some teeth getting through the bread. It was unbelievable. Next we had the Grilled Watermelon. It was very imaginative. The Mixed greens and berry salad was very good. The toasted cinnamon honey almond were really good as was the house made ricotta and pickled blueberry vinaigrette. Don't forget to add the Maple Duck Drumstick. It was out of this world! We finished with the Pan Fried rockfish. It was on of the highlights of the meal. Very flaky, delicate and yummy served with green chile and strawberry relish. We finished the meal with the Grilled pound cake with lemon curt, fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Two coffees with cream were the perfect finishing touches to a most satisfying meal. The location was charming and perfect for a romantic meal or a great meal before a show at the Schnitzer. Next week they will have Grab and Go picnics available. You can even rent the picnic basket. It's an amazing little find, don't miss this one!
(5)Jenny H.
Great place to eat and catch up with some friends. I came for lunch on Saturday and was happy to find that it's not crowded at all. I hate waiting a long time to get seated and then even longer to get your food. For lunch they just have sandwiches, salads, and soups. I was feeling indecisive until I saw their great combo options of 1/2 sandwich, 1/2 salad, and cup of soup for $15. Perfect because I could try a little of everything. Don't get fooled by their "1/2" commend though because I thought the portions were quite big. WILD MUSHROOM SOUP : Soo delicious!! I'm a huge mushroom fan and this soup was perfect for me. Super rich mushroom taste and not too heavy with the cream flavoring. I would come back just for the soup. NUTTY BROWN RICE SALAD : Sounded interesting and was highly recommended on yelp. Definitely a good choice. Arugula with sweet potato, roasted cauliflower, and brown rice all mixed in with a hazelnut vinaigrette sauce. Yummy! CITRUS POACHED SHRIMP SANDWICH : They have the option of a cold sandwich or toasted and I chose toasted of course. Sandwich was very good with large pieces of shrimp and loved the celery and herbs. My complaint would be there was too much aioli but I'm guessing that's only my problem since I don't like mayo/aioli sauces too much and wouldn't have ordered it if I realized it was mixed into the shrimp.
(4)Jenni D.
There is so much satisfaction in crossing something off from your "Foodie To-Do List" - and The Picnic House was one of those spots for me. I'd been wanting to try this place for several months, so I was excited to take my friend here when she was in town visiting. The ambiance is cool and subtle... with a kind of steam-punk themed decor. The menu is simple and there are tons of drink options for those in search of tasty libations. The Warm Beets are the perfect starter, and will leave you wanting more. The Roasted Butternut Squash Soup felt like a warm fire on a cold night. The experience is positively aromatic and delightful. I'm looking forward to trying the Pumpkin Gnocchi next time :)
(4)Stacey G.
This was a fabulous find and I am super excited. I came for lunch and the place filled up really quickly after we got there. Had a sandwich and a salad and they were both just delicious. I have added this place into my regular go to list.
(4)Sharon G.
Have been a few times before, love the decor and fact that it was previously the Heathman. Food had been good but not great but the other night we had a great meal, the mushroom lasagna was exquisite, one of those dishes you will crave again and again. Love the repurposed printing plates throughout, wish I had a few of those beauties!
(4)Stephanie L.
Pleasant dining experience. Went for my 38th birthday (we took our 4yr old daughter and 7yr old son). Started with the cheese plate and charcuterie plate. Both were great but thought there was much more cheese than meat products. Had butter lettuce salad which was good (bacon excellent) but somewhat hard to eat in the dish it is in. Son had the salmon which had great flavor but was over cooked (which was fine for him, but for a salmon junkie would have been sad). Husband had chicken which he said was over cooked. Hard to eat the veggies/potatoes under the dishes. My grilled cheese and tomato soup were amazing! I loved it! We had grilled pound cake and s'mores pudding for dessert. They were both excellent. So all in all if it were just me rating the restaurant, I would give it a strong 4 but because of the rest if my family's feedback we are in the 3 star area.
(3)Brad D.
This is a dream destination for foodies. I love the grilled cheese with caramelized onions. I've also had the steak and the mixed greens chicken salad. The grilled pound cake is scrumptious, but the cheesecake is absolutely decadent. The servers and staff are all eager to please and super friendly.
(5)Mike S.
I had just some apps and a quick drink here with a co-worker mini meeting, But the atmosphere is rustic and smelled of rich Oaks and Timbers. Our server was totally cool and laid back. Next time I forget my basket, I'm going here for a picnic.
(4)Bethany R.
Just...nice. The pumpkin soup with cranberry cream starter was much better than the stuffed portobello entree. Enjoyable dinner with good company, but truthfully only two dishes from our table of seven really seemed worth ordering a second time.
(3)Gabe W.
I met a friend here for dinner and had a very nice experience. The restaurant was relatively quiet at dinner time, which leads me to believe that it has more of a lunch time crowd.
(4)Mira K.
This place is just terrific! Great ambiance with wonderful beer and wine selection, and the service was too notch. We loved everything we had here, beginning with their beef tenderloin with pomegranates - so good and refreshing! We also ordered their potatoes, which were some of the best we have had. They do something magical to them to mash them, then crisp the outside and leave a pillowy inside and serve with some amazing blue cheese sauce. Awesome. For entrees, we shared the grilled cheese with carmelized onions, which sounds a little odd but was just amazing. We also had their mushroom soup, which was very flavorful and earthy. The highlight of an already delightful meal was the pork with bread pudding, and it was off the charts amazing. The pork was perfectly prepared with a perfectly complimentary sauce and perfect bread pudding. Did I mention it was perfect? We were lucky to stumble into this place with amazing food and very reasonable prices! Two drinks, two appetizers and two entrees set us back about $75 including tip. I will definitely be back and would recommend to anyone looking for a great night out!
(5)Troy W.
Picnic house is an upgrade on any sandwich I've ever had. You can't go wrong with anything on the food or drink menu. My service was friendly and fast enough. The atmosphere is very eclectic and not too busy. I like the area too, touristy but not too bad. I had what I would call BLT with aioli. The Sharab cocktail was a great addition to my lunch.
(5)Tonya H.
Everyone is awesome! Great food! A must go! Thanks a lot to Phillip today and our guy bartender yesterday for going above and beyond. :) I really loved the tomato soup with basil cream and their bacon in the salads and Bloody Mary.
(5)Shez P.
PH was probably our best overall meal/experience on our most recent trip to PDX. It was my gf's bday wknd and since most establishment's were closed due to the snow storm, finding PH was a very pleasant surprise. We had lunch, my gf had the cauliflower soup and the brown rice salad which she could not get enough of! Her meal was accompanied by a yummy porter that was on tap. I had the cream of tomato soup and the fig butter and prosciutto sandwich, which reinforced my belief that Swine is Devine! I had the Seelbach cocktail which was fantastic. The bar tender even let me try a little of the Temperance bourbon (local). the service was great and the space was very cool as well. We'd definitely come back the next time we're in PDX!
(5)Michelle A.
LOVED the atmosphere and all the details of the place. Went for happy hour, the small amount of food we ate was very good. Service was attentive. All in all a great place. Would definitely go back.
(4)Phillip H.
Wonderful experience all the way around. Wife and I were in PDX for a night, which happened to be Valentine's Day. Spontaneously picked PH for dinner. They featured a prix fixe four course menu, pairing optional. The cheese and charcuterie starter was delightfully savory with a nice pinot blanc. Salads, a lemon caesar and a berries with spring mix, came with soup shots. The mushroom soup was lovely. This course featured a subtle pinot gris, which we liked better than the sweet blanc. My wife had the salmon over quinoa and black rice, which she loved, especially paired with the pinot noir. I enjoyed the maple-brined pork chop entree. The brining made the chop unbelievably tender and moist. Just luscious. Competing for its attention, though, was a savory cheddar apple bread pudding. Baked to perfection, it was fantastically indulgent. A robust malbec was well-paired. Dinner closed with gewurtztraminer and a dessert trio, the standout of which was an espresso shot poured over a small scoop of hazelnut ice cream. As good as our meals were, Picnic House's atmosphere, decor, and pace were equally enjoyable. Live music from womenwithstandards.com just the right mood. The servers have so much personality and good spirit. The print plates and paintings against the dark woods art deco tiles were arty and quirky in just the right ways. Topping all of that off, we had a great conversation with Aaron, the owner, as he was straightening and preparing to close for the evening. His passion for his wife's work (she's the executive chef, interior designer, and painted some of the wall art) was very evident, as was his commitment to providing a great restaurant experience. Overall, we spent a very satisfying 3 hours there, and look forward to doing so again.
(5)Rosemary S.
Very disappointing. The Valentine's Day weekend menu was limited, overpriced and everyone at our table was disappointed. The side dishes were inedible. My cocktail was $13 and barely had an ounce of liquor in it - reminded me of a dollhouse sized glass. I typically love this place. I will say that the service was excellent all around. Also, the fried brussell sprouts appetizer was delicious.
(1)Terry O.
We had a series of small plates and we were delighted and full and best of all enjoyed sharing. A very nice place!
(4)Karen K.
I think the food good the prices are fair. Different atmosphere. I think that is the reason for the three stars. I did not like sitting so close to the other tables and the wait staff was hovering . Not private enough for me.
(3)Will E.
The Picnic House was an absolutely amazing find on my trip to Portland! My server, Emily, was a complete delight, and kept me feeling at ease the entire time I was in the restaurant. She was probably the nicest waitress I've ever had. Speaking of superlatives, I also had the best cocktail of my life at The Picnic House. It's a seasonal drink called the Vernal Equinox, and it was so refreshing and tasty, I had to force myself not to order another (and then another). I also tried their Moulin Rouge, which is a sweeter cocktail (not usually my thing), but it was absolutely delicious! So if at all possible, get Emily as your server. If not, the wonderful atmosphere and great tasting food is well worth the trip. Can't wait to go back to see what seasonal cocktails there'll be for summer!
(5)Tom D.
Our office is at 4th & Alder, and we ventured here the other day because we were tired of all of the old stand-bys closer to the office. When you walk in for the first time, it's impossible to ignore the decor. It's obvious someone spent a lot of time putting together an interior that is both visually interesting and cozy. Most importantly, the extremely high ceilings make the place seem open and welcoming. I ordered the green salad with a duck drumette as well as the mushroom soup. Everything was excellent. Portion sizes were small if you're comparing them to Denny's, but were perfect for me, and the food prices were totally reasonable. (Drinks seemed reasonably priced too, but watch out for the surprise $15 cocktail on the drink list!) Lastly, the service was amazing. Our waitress was instantly warm and welcoming, had a great sense of humor, and expertly helped me navigate the menu. If I had one complaint, it would be that it took a little while to get our check, but we were there at an awkward time in the late afternoon, and my party was involved in a vigorous debate at the time, so I think the staff perhaps just didn't want to interrupt. We will definitely be back, and I'll keep this place in mind for lunch meetings due to the ample space available.
(5)Dylan G.
Exceptional food, great service and really lovely atmosphere. I think my only complaint, and this is because I work in film, is that the upper area lights are daylight balanced fluorescents and everywhere else they use tungsten. Fixing those lights would be a great atmospheric improvement. Just throw some 'CTO' gels over them. The food and service make up for it. I'll return here for sure.
(5)Alex G.
I'm approaching week three of an awful, constantly-mutating cold, and eating is of zero interest to me. However, needing to actually eat, I wanted one thing for dinner tonight: tomato soup with grilled cheese. The east side is cruelly devoid of many soup and grilled cheese options, so I did a Yelp search and found The Picnic House not far across the bridge. I was nervous after reading the many poor reviews of its customer service, so I booked a reservation and hoped for the best. However, when we arrived we were promptly greeted and seated, as was most everyone I saw while we were there. The service throughout dinner was polite and attentive, and we had absolutely zero complaints! (It was a Monday night, but a good amount of the tables were filled.) The food, however, was just as other Yelpers described -- fantastic. It's hard to lure the boyfriend from walking-distance Lardo or Double Dragon (not happening for me today, thx), but he was enticed to cross the bridge by the prospect of duck fat potatoes. They were served with a garlic sour creamish sauce, and they were perfectly crisp and delicious. My tomato soup and grilled cheese was near-perfect. The grilled cheese was amazing; the cheeses, hint of caramelized onion, and excellent bread combined to create one of the best sammiches I've ever had (which is saying something). The tomato soup, while delicious, was topped with a basil cream sauce that I personally didn't love; however, it didn't take much from the overall combination. The boyfriend ordered the chopped salad, intrigued by the lardon (bacon-like) pieces, and he devoured it within minutes. Unfortunately, my unhappy stomach didn't permit us to try dessert. The ambiance and atmosphere of the restaurant was nice -- it wasn't overly hipster, and the wall and table décor were all beautiful. However -- and this isn't a massive complaint -- I found myself distracted by the weird scuff patterns and damage to. the linoleum. Not a major complaint, but I spent far too long trying to figure out if it was there on purpose or not. It was a nice change of pace from our regular go-to dinner options, and I'll definitely be back again when my stomach is feeling better. Other than my one petty complaint, the food, service, and atmosphere all contributed to a pleasant Monday evening.
(4)Sudipto G.
Was surprised by the service (or rather the lack of it) at such a higly rated place on yelp. Agreed the food was definitely good, but taking 45 mins to get me a salmon with vegetable and quinoa rice is way too much time. Also, they took 10 mins to get us seated even though we had a reservation. I would have liked to gone back and tried the other dishes but don't want to spend two hours waiting for my dish to arrive.
(3)Cleveland B.
My girlfriend and I came to visit Portland from Los Angeles for her birthday and with our 4 day stay this is hands down the best place we ate at. The servers are extremely friendly and all around great people. We stopped in twice because there weren't many places open within walking distance from our hotel (It was, however, snowing... I know, right?) The dishes are fantastic. We had their tomato soup, cauliflower soup, cheese plate, roasted brussel sprouts, buffalo chicken cheese dip. Really simple stuff but it was all food we would probably cook at home and it hit the spot. The decor is cute and it has tons of charm. If I'm ever in Portland this is going to be my place to go downtown.
(5)chris t.
Had an enjoyable lunch. Service was a bit slow. Had two half sandwiches, grilled cheese and blt with the rice salad.
(4)Ed H.
Nice farm to table place with some interesting dishes in a pleasant decor and with friendly service. We came here with a group on a Saturday night. No problem making the reservation. We shared a nice Pinot Noir. We shared the cheese selection and a salad to start. Both were very good. I had a cup of the mushroom soup, it was very tasty. Several of us had the bass. It was served over asparagus and had an unusual strawberry glaze which ended up being delish. Others had the chicken breast in a skillet and the grilled cheese and tomato soup, both of which were reported as excellent. We split a pound cake and s'mores for dessert. Both were wonderful. Recommended.
(5)Gina R.
The reason for 2 stars ... because "Meh. I truly have experienced better." For starters, I am a hospitality junkie, and customer service goes a long way with me. We were greeted by the hostess who immediately asked of if we had a reservation, in a bit of a snooty way. Just not very welcoming. We had to wait for our table even though several were open. Our server had a sass to him that could have been very fun, but unfortunately came across like he could have really cared less to be honest, and gave the impression that he really just didn't want to be there. He also had a large party at a different table, and that didn't help matters as his attention remained with that table. The ambiance of this place couldn't be cuter, and the name fits so well. It literally looks like a Picnic House! There are strings of lights, "windows" that look like you are standing on the outside of a house, cute quotes, greenery, and you really feel like you are outside. The problem was the food tasted like it literally sat in a picnic basket. I had the stuffed portobello which I would have imagined would have been far more delish had it been warm. My dinner companions had the lemon roasted chicken, the maple brined pork chop, and the short rib over savory pancake. None of the dishes were warm (everything luke warm, and mine was almost cold). The braised beef looked a little dry, but the pork chop was extremely dry to the point where the person that ordered it did let the waiter know. He was kind enough to take the dish off of the check since she didn't really eat it. She then ordered the Roasted Tomato Soup, and it was delicious, but again luke warm. The appetizer we shared was the Artisanal Cheese Plate which was very good! It was only served with one bread loaf which was 5 small pieces for the 4 of us however, and it took 45 minutes to finally get more bread after we asked 3 additional times. The 2nd bread loaf came well after dinner was served. For Dessert, we shared the Grilled Pound Cake and S'more Pudding, and those were the saving grace of my picnicking experience, or this review might have been 1 star.
(2)Josh T.
Wonderful space and design. Funky, artsy, and very portland. Great reuse of an old building. They host events as well. My nonprofit agency had a fundraiser here for 100 people and they space was perfect and the staff very easy to work with. Sound can be an issue (as in sound system didn't work well) but the food and drinks are top notch. As a restaurant, the lunch specials are great. I love the nutty brown rice salad. Nom Nom Nom.
(4)Karen C.
Better for lunch than dinner. Great sandwiches. However, the meat dishes tend to outshine anything vegetarian for dinner.
(3)Jill T.
Wow, the food is delicious in general (mixed salad with fresh fresh berries, beet salad w/ pistachio crumbs, brown rice salad & soups). I'm gluten free so I don't eat sandwiches but I always wish I could. Here's the thing...creme brûlée. Holy smokes! It's perfect, creamy and delicious--not gelatinous like many creme brûlées. This is so hard to do, I know because I've tried. I've NEVER had such good creme brûlée. Perfection...thank you!
(5)Mark L.
This is a funky but cool place to eat in Portland. The décor was an odd mash-up of styles but visually interesting. The food was mostly delicious except for the risotto. Just a little bland and overpriced. It was crowded with a wait so it must be pretty popular with the locals.
(4)Allison H.
I really love everything about this place. The decor is awesome - very warm and welcoming and I love the larger communal tables for groups. Plus, there is a bear with a monocle over the bar so that's pretty rad. Food is very good - excellent selection of cheeses, fresh baked bread, and the lemon chicken with vegetables and mashed potatoes was excellent. If you are looking for a little sweet bite after - definitely get the milk and cookies; 3 mini chocolate chip cookies and a shot glass of milk. Doesn't get much better than that.
(5)Kim W.
This place is FANTASTIC! I made a reservation on Open Table for a midweek lunch, just based on all the great Yelp reviews. I had the "choose 3" combo of a soup, salad and sandwich, because I honestly could not narrow it down to just one or 2. I cleaned my plate. The atmosphere is nifty- with moss covered stone walls and reclaimed wood tables (yes the chairs aren't very comfortable- but once this food touches your lips, you will forget all about what you are sitting on). Tables of all sizes allow for business lunches, gatherings with friends or just a lunch date. Try the tomato soup- all others pale in comparison to theirs. I also had the grilled cheese with caramelized onions that basically just melted in my mouth. The cocktail menu is also fun and inventive.
(5)Lisa H.
Oh my....what a treasure! Two meals in two days while we've been visiting Portland. And I could easily eat the rest if my meals here for the duration of my trip. Lunch - soups are awesome! Turkey and apple sandwich amazing. Dinner - Patrick, our waiter was spot on with a wine recommendation. Dinner was perfect and dessert was sublime! Order the toasted lemon pound cake or live to regret it.
(5)Qiong S.
First meal in Portland! Had to do a takeout because of my needy toddler. The way the salmon tasted blew me away! So good!
(5)Allie B.
Hostess was surly and flippant. We walked into a 60% empty restaurant (plenty of tables) at 12:40pm and the host refused to seat us because "she has reservations that were coming that needed to be seated" and quoted us with a 20 minute wait. I had to refrain from responding "your reservations are late, we are here and I'm sure your servers would better appreciate you not holding their tables so they can make money." I worked in the service industry for 6 years and I tip 20+ %. If you're a server at TPH, please be aware that your hostess is turning away your business. We walked done the street to SouthPark, the host and server were friendly and courteous and our food was awesome.
(1)Scot D.
This place is pretty awesome for a lunch spot. I think the deal is you need to make a reservation so to not be disappointed. The menu was great in terms of selection an the ability to do half a sand and salad was perfect. Service great an food perfect. I will return!
(5)Pechluck L.
The Picnic House has an awesome large airy space between Park and Broadway at 728 SW Salmon Street. It takes its theme of urban picnic and brings it to life in its atmosphere. The decorative elements here combines the classic touches of the natural outdoors (a huge wooden picnic table including chairs of logs and moss simulated on some walls, and the wall behind what appears will soon be a deli area has a scene of tree, river, and forest animals), all while also lining the walls with printing blocks and touches of vintage 1920s Parisian chic with the fabric of the lounge and bar stools and various wall art and fixtures, interplaying all these various textures to add an air of romance and hint of antique treasure. A bear head with a bowler hat and monocle perched and presiding above the bar embodies all of these with a dash of whimsy. It's not often that I find a place that presents such style and character in its atmosphere Everything seems to be of high quality bistro fare you'd find hope to find in the romantic Paris you would drop by in your neighborhood route- homey and smart and elegant all at the same time. Here and there you see a call back to their theme with an actual picnic basket, as well as signage letting you that these straw baskets, fully stocked with plates and silverware and glasses and even a blanket, can be rented by the day + filled with food. The mixed greens with fresh berries, toasted cinnamon honey almonds and house made ricotta with a pickled blueberry vinaigrette had a tart freshness to it balanced by a touch of sweetness from the cinnamon honey. The arugula, roasted corn, spring onion and roasted tomatoes with avocado in a grilled lemon dressing on the other hand offered a piquant peppery contrast with each tomato giving a little burst of ripe sweetness here or there. The dessert was one of the best chocolate cakes we ever had, a chocolate sour cream bundt cake with chocolate ganache that was served slightly warm, with rich milk chocolate in every soft moist bite. And ah, pavlova. Ah, this light airy goodness of egg whites and sugar into meringue with fresh berries and vanilla cream. At first this plate looked intimidating as it is basically the size of a whole pie but then we realized you were being given the best part, the crunchy top half, a thin shell of firmness surrounding an inside that melted in our mouth so quickly that we needed another spoonful carefully balancing crisp bits of meringue with soft vanilla cream and such beautiful sweet strawberry in each bite to extend the rush. I also discovered my favorite two cocktails that the Picnic House offers from their cocktail menu. After trying the lighter cocktail sparklers of the Fleur de Lis and Sauvie on previous visits, this time I welcomed the Moulin Rouge martini with Indio Marionberry infused vodka, Clear Creek Blackberry liqueur, blueberry simple syrup, fresh squeezed lemon and garnished with a pickled blueberry, a combination of sweet with a touch of tart so it was not too sweet. But, my favorite was The Nymph cocktail, both delicate and strong, with Pink Spruce gin, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and a simple syrup muddled with cucumber. Refreshing citrusy but you can feel the magic afterwards!
(5)Gene M.
The food was so savory. Delicious. But the table was too big. We went there for a large party and you had to yell across the table which was not to my liking. Also they only accepted 3 credit cards per party so we were all struggling with the cash aspect. And gratuity was automatically included on the tab. I think you'll have a great time if you go there with a smaller party 2-4 :)
(3)Kymm E.
The soups here are outstanding, puréed flavorful and fresh ingredients. Today's was peas, zucchini and potato. Always check your to go order, they forgot one soup, out of 2. Wasn't a huge order. They have changed the interior arrangement several times but still has that prohibition days feel to what the back room saloon resembled. This place is high quality soups, salads and sandwiches, my favorite for all three combo.
(5)Rach F.
We were 4 adults and 3 kids. The place looked empty but they said they wouldn't let is in because we need reservations
(1)Jennifer S.
Delicious food, quirky and fun presentation, and great space. The cauliflower soup was delicious, the kale chips added a nice crunch. The salmon was perfectly cooked and savory-sweet balanced just right.
(4)Teresa R.
The food was delish and Ty the waiter...divine. Very charming ambiance for a great lunch with a dear friend. Butternut soup with grilled cheese - both above average.
(5)Niki S.
The ONLY reason I can't give this place the 5th star, is the price- I felt comparatively it was about a dollar-two dollars higher than what I would normally pay. That said, the service, decor, and charming personality of the entire operation makes one forget they are paying an extra buck or two... or at least it did for me. Main dish: I ordered a half salad/half soup combo. Mushroom soup, fresh berry salad. Soup was slightly bland, but very good texture- added a tiny salt and all was well. Creamy and hearty. Salad was good size, the berries and candied nuts together made a great amount of crunch and sweet in the salad. Diet coke with cherry grenadine. HAND MADE, mind you! Talk about OG! Grilled Pound Cake w/whipped cream and some lemon curd, dear lord- this was both dense, yet delicate and just amount of sweet to linger on my tongue and leave me skipping out of the building. I would eat here every day if I had the money and didn't mind the cost- I love 1920-1930's era items, and this place is adorned in them, with some history of the building as well, just ask one of the charming servers for more info. Price aside, I would suggest this place for anyone at least once. So much that I am considering it as my rehearsal dinner venue.
(4)Barry S.
So we started with some wine and an interesting Vodka cocktail they call a Sharab..... Blood orange vodka with a home made strawberry syrup. Very refreshing on a summer evening... Not sweet... Nice tartness. The mushroom soup was really good... Creamy and a bit spicy. The tomato soup was excellent... Enjoyed the fresh oregano. For main course we split the grilled salmon with asparagus and the stuffed portobello mushroom with polenta. Both dishes were excellent. Presented well and I especially liked the strawberry Anaheim pepper salsa on the top of the salmon. The wait staff and GM made us feel right at home.... Now for Steely Dan!!!
(4)C T.
Cute place, could use with some soundproofing. Appreciated the enthusiastic waitress and creative menu items. Ate the grilled cheese (it's a MUST!) and wild mushroom soup - delicious but could use a Vitamix blend on high, not necessary for flavor, just consistency. Hub ordered a trio - Cesar salad with a fried egg on top (extra) should have been runny was overdone, grilled cheese, and tomato soup which I stole and was excellent!! On my plate there was a small pile of stale chips to round it out. A stellar pickle would have been a better option for flavor, color, and a nice crunch. I had a glass of champagne b/c it's vacation - why not? And he had an "ok" beer which was an IPA but he can't remember the name as it was spoken to him, not printed. Final thought, spruce up the entrance, it's unwelcoming as you stare at empty tables wondering why they haven't seated you yet even though you have a reservation. Make it more separate from dining area, more cozy. Also, we are from out of town and walked around the block, right past it on the other side of the street. It's a little unassuming from the outside with the dark colors.
(4)Davis H.
The food here was solid, the atmosphere was interesting and fun, and the staff was friendly. Unfortunately the service is unreasonably slow, to the point of ruining the experience for us. The place was not at all busy and we were a party of three, but we waited 40+ minutes from ordering to being served. One of us ordered a drink halfway through eating and it just never came. This was a bummer because we did really like it, but we've just never gone back because we don't really feel like sitting there. I would recommend it if slow service doesn't bug you and you want some great food, but avoid otherwise.
(3)Chris M.
Retained much of the coolness of the original lobby of the Heathman Hotel. The layout is very cool complete with stuffed bear head over the bar. The lunch menu is approachable with salads, soups and hot/cold sandwiches. Staff is friendly and attentive but like all new restaurants are still working out some kinks.
(4)Carrie L.
My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this place while visiting Portland and was truly surprised by how amazing everything was. Pros: 1) The food tasted awesome. We started off with cauliflowers as our appetizer and I loved it. For our main course, I had the stuffed mushroom and my boyfriend had the maple brined pork chop. Both were amazing. The stuffing in the mushroom was better than any stuffing I've ever had. There was a lot of flavor to it - -I think they mixed it with carrots, vegetables, and other ingredients. It ended up being a bit dense at the end, but I would still order it again! As for the pork chop - it was flavored really well and the meat was cook to just tender. The bread pudding side on his dish was (what I thought) pretty innovative. It was called bread pudding, but really more like mac and cheese. 2) Staff was nice. Our waiter did a great job of making sure we had water, checking in to see if we needed anything else, etc. It was the kind of service you would expect from a fancy place, but he did it without being intrusive or overly trying too hard. It was just great. 3) Even with no reservation, we waited only about 15 minutes before we got seated. 4) The price of the meal came out way less than what either one of us expected and the portions are much bigger than what I'm used to. Cons: Can't think of any!
(5)Tomohiro F.
A very modern yet classy place. Food menu is somewhat limited but they do each item very well. The portions are generous. Servers are nice, attentive and personable. Great atmosphere.
(5)Kate L.
Some of the best sandwiches, soup and salads in town. The buffalo chicken salad sandwich is so good, as is the mushroom soup. Best bet is to get a combo and enjoy both!
(4)Melanie Z.
The Picnic House is an experience! The hipster vibe is SUPER strong, which I don't usually love, but everyone was super friendly and the service was wonderful. They just opened Barlow next door, so while you wait for your table you can have a drink there. The cheese tray at Picnic House was absolutely delicious. I had the culotte steak and it was fine - not the best ever, but the quinoa polenta was delicious. Definitely order the grilled pound cake for dessert! It was outstanding.
(4)Katie G.
Holy Mary Mother of God. This place is amazing. Every single thing I ate -- the steak with a quinoa-polenta combo that made me want to lie in a bed of it and die while eating it, the unreasonably delicious tomato soup (OJ doesn't have any claim on liquid sunshine when this stuff exists), the savory mushroom soup, the salad with summer berries that had no right to be that tasty -- was outstanding. I simply cannot wait to go back. There were so many things on the menu I wanted to try, but a girl's stomach is only so big. Fortunately, this place is VERY well-priced for what you get -- honest portions that are neither snobbily small nor grotesquely large. The atmosphere is nice as well -- a tiny bit disjointed in it's bring-the-outside-in decor -- but largely warm and appropriate. I feel happy to have a seat by the window in the front part, and never went to the back, so I can't say it's not nice back there, but I loved the feeling of the outdoorsy front section. My DH and I don't go out much for dinner -- I am unemployed and this was a special treat before seeing Neil DeGrasse Tyson -- but the excellence of this food, combined with the affordability and the wonderful ambiance mean that this place is getting added onto our regular list for when we go out for a night downtown. If you are wondering whether or not to go -- GO!
(5)Molly R.
We recently held our son and daughter-in-law's rehearsal dinner at the picnic house. Everything was over the top! The food was excellent and the staff amazing. They were so easy to work with to make this night truly magical! Thank you thank you
(5)Georgia M.
The boyfriend and I went to the Picnic House on date night before a comedy show, and the food was absolutely delicious. I got the chicken, he got the grilled cheese and soup, and we devoured both. The drinks were great, and the homemade marshmallows in the chocolate pudding were scrumptious! Picnic House is definitely our fancy restaurant for anniversaries and important dinners!
(5)Lee M.
1) Alleged five minute wait and there were plenty of open tables. 2) The dessert I wanted based in the pictures was not on the menu but the kicker was 3) the "no substitutions" comment. Thanks for the lack of flexibility, perhaps you should put it in writing on the menu like other restaurants that don't have the ability to change a SIDE. I even asked what is the charge to change.
(1)Holly R.
I mean... This. PLACE. You have to go. Just have to. Great food, cool space. It is absolutely superb, and that's not even a word I use in my regular vocab. I mean come on, who doesn't love chowing down next to a bar that's greatest charm is a taxidermy bear wearing a bowler hat and monocle? You guys. Supes adorbs. I recommend getting everything I ate. We started with the Brussels sprouts, which were grilled with dried cranberries and BACON, as well as the lamb skewers. Next was the wild berry salad. Ummm de-LISH! Homemade ricotta cheese had me sold, and the blueberry vinaigrette did not disappoint. I may or may not have licked the plate. But seriously I did. For actual din, I ordered the rockfish which had a strawberry sauce on it and looked NOM, but because I am impulsive, switched to the salmon last minute. Just could not pass up truffle mashed potatoes, and I suggest you don't either. Dessert? Duh. Order one of each? Obvi. If you can only handle one, go with the brûlée. But you will be sad you skipped the rest. Don't say I didn't warn you. Oh and the decor?? I can't. I just can't. It is so perfectly put together, with a giant reclaimed wooden picnic table in the front, and PH monogrammed expertly on the walls. White subway tiles decorated one wall. I basically died. I witnessed the staff putting together a couple of their picnic baskets for other customers, but didn't have the opportunity to peak inside. SUCH a cute concept. Go. Just go. Don't even think twice. And definitely make a reservation.
(5)Kaz K.
Servers tried to take our plate away while we were still working on it. This happened twice, and I needed stop them saying we were not finished. The restaurant was not very busy, but for some reason, it was very difficult to get attention of servers.
(2)Eryn E.
We are from out of town and are so happy we stumbled upon this place. We sat at the bar and got excellent service from Matthew. He was helpful with drinks as well as food (and we both have weird food allergies). I had the salmon and my boyfriend had the wild boar. Both are amazing. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Mindy W.
I had dinner with two girlfriends on a Monday night. To start we had some brussel sprouts (good) and the crostini's (just ok). I ordered the Salmon with the strawberry relish. The dish was good and the strawberries were a powerful taste, but I liked it. Our waiter was outstanding, tall thin young guy. He was cheeky but not creepy. I really like the atmosphere at the back of the restaurant by the bar. The front area needs a decor face lift, it has ice cream shop wall paper and the lighting is not right. I would recommend this place to someone.
(4)Jean F.
Food was simple and fantastic. Lunch- mushroom soup- really good and buffalo chicken salad was sooooo good. The thick chicks of bacon, great Gorgonzola cheese and ripe yummy tomatoes made this salad so much better than it sounds!!!
(5)Austin C.
Amazing restaurant! The service is great, the food is great! We came in asking for take-out sandwiches, and when our schedule cleared we asked if we could change the order so as to sit down and stay, and they were incredibly gracious and accommodating. All the servers were friendly and kind, and the sandwiches were equally spectacular. The ambience is relaxing and beautiful, the lighting calming and fantastically decorated with a unique attention to detail. I'm excited to come back soon!
(5)Brandon C.
Best picnic I've ever had! I had the roast beef sandwich, it was delicious! Wonderful service and beautiful atmosphere! It was a very enjoyable experience.
(5)Patrick D.
Food was really tasty. We had brussel sprouts, bruschetta with cheese, butter lettuce salad and salmon. Almost absolutely impeccable. While all dishes were prepared with care and perfect rechnical execution, the salmon was unfortunately overwhelmed by the sweetness of the overabundant strawberry and pepper relish. Again salmon and asparagus prepared to perfection; salmon seared on outside and moist and slightly mefium in center; asparagus al dente. Just the coception of dish unbalanced. Still a wonderful meal and would gladly return.
(4)maegan c.
I can't believe I've waited so long to come here! The cocktails are amazing, the food is amazing and the service was even more amazing! I had the trip of soup, the espresso crusted tenderloin and roasted cauliflower with currants! All of their items are local, organic and happy!! I appreciated the atmosphere and the overall experience that was created!
(5)Amanda P.
I had a wonderful experience here at the Picnic House, Portland Oregon. I am from the north east and stumbled across this little jem while visiting a friend. Needless to say I was alone while she was at work, wondering around the city on foot, came in and sat at the bar. The decor was wonderful and kept in the style of the cuisine. The staff was so friendly, the service was great and the food was fantastic! I've been recommending this place to all the people that I knew and that I met while out there, AND I keep talking about it since I've been home. If I ever make it back out to Portland I will be coming back to the Picnic House!
(4)Kimberly K.
Major meh for lunch at Picnic House. Had the half salad and half sandwich combo with the grilled chicken sandwich and roasted veggie farro salad. The sandwich was flavorless. Definitely needed seasoning. The salad was over cooked and the flavors were indistinguishable. On a positive note, all the ingredients were very fresh and clearly sourced from local farms.
(3)Abby S.
The food was fantastic--I ordered the cast iron chicken breast and it was so good, reminiscent of fried chicken and mashed potatoes in flavor, but more elegant and less guilt-inducing. Drinks were also great, and I loved the decor--super whimsical and fun with a very vintage feel and great music. Service was also wonderful! An all-around great experience!
(5)Mr T.
Nice room (very high ceiling), very good service, tasty but small cocktails, decent beer taps. Food was fine, fresh, healthy tasting.
(3)shannon w.
I am biased. I have loved Jessica's cooking since she cater my sister's wedding in my mom's kitchen 15 years ago. I adored the rice pudding yumminess. But Picnic House BLEW ME AWAY. Subtle and stunning all at once. I want to have a party here. Or sneak away for lunch with my bestie. Best grilled cheese and tomato soup ever. Rock on girl! Lucky Portland to have you.
(5)Whitney G.
My husband and I went here for an early dinner before a show. The service was excellent. The staff were very aware of our time constraints and recommended dishes that would make our meal quick and not feel rushed to eat. She also told us the time before asking if we wanted additional cocktails. It was very appreciated which lead to a great experience. The food was good, but there are many good places to eat in Portland, so it didn't stick out for us.
(4)Ozzie L.
The service here was what gave the stars, food was ok. Potentially could have been what we ordered but definitely not 4 or 5 stars. Ambience was cool and different but so is Portland in general. Not sure if I would come back but possibly in a drunken stupor.
(3)Yin D.
This place was one of our favorite restaurants during our Portland visit. Very good short rib. Everything was fresh and tasty.
(5)Tiffany Q.
My reason for only three stars is because our dinner entrees weren't memorable. My dish came out room temperature and I didn't even finish it because it just wasn't doing it for me. It's REALLY rare I don't finish my meal or at least take it home but this polenta dish was blan, dry and not hot. Meh. Not pleased by it. My boyfriend ordered a chicken dish and he gobbled that baby up so at least he was happy with his food. However, this review isn't about the entrees. This review is about the dessert and our waiter. So, we were on vacation and in Portland for one night and we decided to try Picnic House based on Yelp reviews and our growing hunger and we sat around our hotel room. The food was a disappointment (for me at least) but we decided to order a S'more Pudding for dessert because we are chocolate fiends. Placed the order and within a few minutes our waiter came back and had to tell us they were all out but he managed to nab the last happy hour version of the S'more pudding and because they weren't able to give us the full size dessert, the mini version was on the house. BOOO but sweet! Oh man, that pudding was amazing. We devoured all four bites within seconds. It was tiny to begin with but we would go back to Portland just for that pudding. We're still talking about it a month after eating it. Conclusion: IF YOU LOVE CHOCOLATE, SMORES AND PUDDING THEN YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS DESSERT. You won't regret it and the hipsters around you will be jealous they gave up sugar, gluten, flavor, whatever.
(3)Jimi P.
Perfect place. We tried it out based on the yelp community, and they didnt dissapoint us. A cosy atmosphere and really attentive service.
(5)Katrina B.
Really great food and ambiance. Service very slow, they should hire more staff.
(4)Jillian R.
We had a wonderful happy hour on Thursday. Aaron our server was great and helped us discover Anthem Cherry Cider *yum*. The menu was perfect for sharing.
(4)Ava S.
The Picnic House accomplishes every goal that a downtown restaurant strives to achieve! 1* It offers a lively, unique "Portland" atmosphere and environment - from the log slab table to the quirky chalkboards and animal busts. Very charming! 2* Great menu variety and healthy options - I especially love the nutty brown rice salad, the Italian meats sandwich, and every soup that I've ever ordered. For lunch they allow you to do a "pick 1, 2 or 3" of their sandwiches, salads and soups fulfilling every appetite. 3* Can be as convenient and quick or long and arduous as you desire. I've entertained clients there in under 30 minutes and also lounged with friends chatting for more than 1 hour. 4* Service has always been friendly and efficient. Services have offered great insight on the menu options and recommendatiosn proved correct. 5* Added bonus points for historical significance. The space was once the Lobby of an original Portland hotel from the 1920's and still has remnants of the original space. Hip hip hooray for the Picnic House
(5)David W.
Came here for my friends birthday dinner and overall thought it was ok. Typical American fare. Nothing special that stood out on the menu. I think the menu changes every so often. I had the grilled salmon with asparagus. Prices weren't bad at all. $12 for a salmon dish is really reasonable. Salmon dishes in CA go for about $20 or more at a nice restaurant. Don't forget about tax. That's why I love Oregon!
(3)Steve B.
Ok where do I begin? Maybe the restroom sign that's stuck to the wall with blue duct tape in each corner. Other than that, the ambiance is nice, oops no...there were more employees scooting around than at a Trader Joes. We were out numbered probably 6 to 1. So, my wife orders a glass of a French wine from the Loire valley. For some odd reason, she thought it was good. I tasted it and noticed right off that it was nearly vinegar. So she agrees and calls the waitress over, and it's agreed that it needs to be replaced. She's requested to order a different wine, she picks one. I see the "bartender" pour the new glass from an already open bottle, not quite a full pour. No problem! She opens another bottle and adds it to the glass!!! When our meal arrives, I take a bite of my sandwich and there's something really crunchy inside...it's a green avocado...crunchier than a crips apple! I told that waitress and returns later saying she has notified the manager. No other contact was made. The bill comes and is unchanged...full price paid for ignorance. Never again folks. Never again.
(1)Sharon A.
Yummy grilled cheese! Pretty decent Caesar salad too. Funky atmosphere but I really liked this place.
(4)Albert G.
Excellent food and good venue. Cheese plate is a must order. Very good selection and the presentation was the best my wife has seen. Should have split the salad with my wife, we both order one based on the price and it was almost entree size. Salmon was good, but my wife's chicken was better. My son had the artesian grilled cheese and soup. He liked the mushroom soup the best of the two items. Definitely recommend.
(4)Bertha F.
Such an unusual and fun place to eat. The location appears to be an old fashioned store or office location of some sort (oddly, it reminds me of my high school prom; I was lucky enough to attend a lovely old high school with a handsome gymnasium). Their approach to food is both fresh and refreshing. I had the lime-marinated shrimp salad which was absolutely delicious! And the shrimp were real diced large shrimp, not those tiny bay shrimp. My dining partner chose the chicken salad sandwich with a cup of red tomato soup and declares this to be the best tomato soup ever! There are so many other things to order. I can't wait to go back next time I'm back west at the OTHER Portland! LOL
(5)Maling S.
Came here for a quick lunch before heading back home - 6 hour drive. Omg! This lunch was scrumptious! Roast beef sandwich, roasted cauliflower soup with nutty brown rice salad. My favourite was the nutty brown rice salad. Perfect marriage with the roasted hazelnut vinaigrette! Finished it off with Pavlova cake. Can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu.
(5)Andrew W.
Woohoo! As good as it gets is right! What a gem of a restaurant. My girlfriend and I had a reservation for 7:30 on a Friday night. We arrived closer to 7:00 and they accommodated our request to be seated earlier if possible. Immediately you can tell the ambiance is great because of the old hotel lobby it is situated in. The tables are well placed so you don't feel like you are being crammed into a cattle car. Our server was very prompt and helpful. We started off with an order of the Cheese Crostini and the Duck Fat Potatoes. I also ordered a Seelbach from the drink menu. Each small plate was the perfect size for two and had amazing flavor. My girlfriend even commented that the Crostini might be a perfect plate. The potatoes were full of that duck flavor and along with the Gorgonzola Sauce made for another well balanced dish. Of the two, I liked the potatoes a tad bit more. For our main course, I had the pork chop and she had the short rib. On the pork chop, the bread pudding was amazing...a hint of sweet and a hint of the chedday helped to balance out the savory of the pork and asparagus on the plate. A truly great dish that I would order again. For the short rib, the carrots were cooked perfectly and the pancake that served as the bed for the dish was a light, fluffy, and flavorful sponge for the sauce. Also another dish I would order again. The meal was rounded out with another drink from the bar menu, a Moulin Rouge. Again, another great cocktail that framed the meal perfectly. Also, the pickled blueberries at the bottom were a great end to the entire meal. What a gem of a restaurant that is sure to become one of Portland's favorite and busiest new eateries. Go before it becomes famous and hard to get into!
(5)Lexie G.
Business must be good for the Picnic House to turn away a party of 6 because their family-style table (ability to seat 14 at least) was occupied by "important" guests planning a wedding. Hope you make money off the wedding because you just lost $200 and our corporate business forever. Oh, and the host didn't even care that we left. Obviously, he is not the owner, and I hope his boss reads this review. PS Rating should be 0 but I couldn't post that.
(1)Angie A.
This place is really special. We had a table of nine people and we were all attended to very well. The food is fresh and interesting. We could not resist dessert. The cheesecake was my favorite. Cannot wait to go back.
(5)Sarah H.
Got here for an early reservation on Saturday. Pretty quiet when we arrived but soon filled up. Table for two was tiny, food decent though and not too pricy. I had the wild boar bourguignon and hubby the grilled cheese.Server not altogether with it but nothing major. Stopped for a drink next door at Barlow. Great drinks with a cool cat vibe. I'd go to both again.
(4)Scott K.
Great atmosphere and great food. The portobello mushroom stuffed with polenta was our highlight.
(5)Bob R.
Came here first time based on Yelp reviews. Sorry but this place did not make the average for me. Sat down and the sandwiches looked huge so we ordered two combos of a soup and half a sandwich. the half sandwiches are not nearly as big as a half of a whole sandwich. And the portions on my chicken salad sandwich were very skimpy, a thin layer of chicken salad and a few little green leaves. The soups were lukewarm and we sent them back for hot bowls. Next time I would just order a sandwich. Seemed a little pricey and left hungry. Service was adequate, the waitress seemed annoyed after I complained about the soup being cold. She said nobody else had said anything; must just be me, I thought. I thought I should just keep quiet about the sandwich and they can read my Yelp review.
(3)Kim C.
1st visit won't be our last. Great space, friendly staff, terrific food. Best cheese plate in Portland.
(5)Ashley C.
Service was scarce when I arrive. Both myself and another group waited for 2 minutes before the waitress came and asked us to wait a few more minutes, since she needs to prepare the tables. They looked prepared. She was very friendly. But one sever for five table seems too much for her to handle. Will see. Everything changed when we got our food. Amazing! Recommend getting the 2 items meal, which will turn it into four items. We had the corn soup, basic greens, and the prosciutto and bacon sandwiches. Delicious! I'm hooked.
(5)Theresa T.
I was in Portland recently for business trip and found this gem in downtown for lunch. Love the vintage 50s/60s decor here with a touch of hipster charm. Coming from New York City where restaurants are always seem overwhelmingly busy and trying too hard to impress, I enjoyed the great food and service here with the west coast warm, friendly and laid back vibe. I would definitely return next time I'm in town. They also seem to have a great cocktail selection.
(4)Adam H.
This place definitely feels like Portland. The ambiance is pretty cool. Never thought about putting strawberries on my Salmon, but it was amazing! Also had the brussel sprouts, which I highly recommend. Service was not that great. Waitress seemed kind of cold. My wife and I felt like an inconvenience to her. Wasn't a terrible experience, but not spectacular either. Didn't feel worth $50 after tip, especially since we didn't order drinks... I little spendy for what you get in my opinion.
(3)J. K.
Amazing! We has the cheese platter, with pretty large portions of heavenly cheese and a grilled cheese with tomato soup. Everything was divine!
(5)Tim A.
Fantastic. It's a $12 lunch but it's very good, fresh, creative, and excellent! Beautiful decor and music that is 1920's style. Awesome wait staff that is helpful and friendly. Highly recommended! And happy hour from 3-6 pm daily.
(5)Jeanie S.
Fun eclectic "Portland" atmosphere with a wonderful selection of fresh salads, soups & sandwiches. My companion needed a gluten free selection and she had a large variety of options. I had the tomato garlic soup & my friend had the fresh mushroom which included many slices of mushroom. We agreed that these were both very tasty although we had to ask for hers to be reheated. My sandwich had prosciutto & fig butter-a great unusual combination. Her salad was filled with large berries & lightly dressed. I will definitely return to select different entrees when downtown Portland for lunch.
(4)Pam L.
I had a simple tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich and it was delicious ! The sandwich had grilled sweet onion and the soup was flavored with yummy spices.. eat there you won't be disappointed. Had a glass of very very nice Chardonnay also terrific!
(4)Jen E.
so..... I can not believe that I forgot to give this place a review. In fact I feel so bad about it I grounded myself.....however I was never good at following rules.....so really I stayed grounded for like 5 minutes. Okay I discovered this place on line while looking for a place for a bunch of us to meet up for a day of fun, due to unusual things that happened most of my friends were not able to meet up with us.....their loss for a couple of us did make it down there and well..... OH HOLY CRAP! THE FOOD IS EXCELLENT. I ordered the biscuits with strawberry jam and truffle oil. Honestly I was a little afraid to try this combo but was very happy I did. I shared it with my friends who did show up and they turned into piranhas.....in a feeding frenzy. I then got their mushroom soup and all I have to say is wow....just wow. Possibly the best soup I have had in many, many years! I have happy thoughts when I know I am about to eat there. The air seems a bit crisper, the light a wee bit brighter, birds.....birds sing a little more. The inside is the original lobby for the original Heathman hotel. so it is a little weird but weird in a good way. The bear with the monocle and top hat cracks me up and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable about their food. oh and they make a mean cup of coffee...... you can have an intimate table for two or a large table for groups or a huge table running down the middle of the bottom level.... if you have a huge amount of people or dont mind sharing.
(5)Laura B.
Absolutely delicious! Had the chicken entree which melted in your mouth. Tried the pork chop as well- yummy too. Choc pound cake with salted caramel ice cream for dessert was heavenly. $5 draft local beers. Great staff- wait staff and kitchen too (James came out and explained how he made the chicken dish- yes- it was that good). Would love to have a place like this in my hometown. Portland- you are lucky to have The Picnic House!
(5)Tom D.
This big open spaced restaurant is a great spot for its food and decor. It is located in the lobby of the old Heathman Hotel, and they have preserved the space really well with a nice three story atrium. The tables are well spaced so you get a feel of being in your own private space. The food here is excellent. There were three of us so we all got different things and shared. Roasted cauliflower, roasted pear salad, and mushroom soup were all delicious. I have no problem recommending this place as a great value for a night out!
(5)J B.
Amazing service at the end of a Monday night by Matthew the bartender. The salmon in the strawberry/green chili sauce was spectacular. Great and affordable wines by the glass. I wish I lived in Portland!
(5)Michael H.
Walking into the Picnic House you feel a bit like walking into a STEAMPUNK world. The drinks are delicious, I would def recommend the Moulin Rouge. Very good to the last drop. The service was amazing and very on top of the group and yet not overhwhelming us. For food I had the Prawns and Chorizo. Now in another life I would have maybe said yuck but this was so delicious. Also check out the delicious truffle potatos. Yummy Goodness.
(5)Cherie G.
This delightful eatery is housed in what was a hotel foyer, built in 1924. Velvet curtains divide the sunny window front of the restaurant from the darker, high beamed room with the bar set in the back, 1920's music filling the cavernous space. It seemed like there should be fashionable flapper women dancing the jitterbug on the original floor. We were seated immediately at one if the small, claw-footed bistro tables that fill the space. A water decanter sits on each table, and was refilled as we needed. The waiters were chicly dressed young men who harkened back to the 20's. We chose the three course meal, starting with a bitter green salad that was perfect. We each chose a different entree--the grilled salmon with salsa tasted as if it were freshly caught that very morning (and likely was), and the lemon chicken was presented in a cast iron skillet on a bed of the lightest mashed potatoes I've ever eaten. The roasted chicken had a crunchy lemony outer skin with tender juicy meat inside. My daughter thought that the chocolate pudding desert was so delicious that nothing else in her future life would ever be as good. The final delight was when the check arrived in an old book, prob from the 1920's. All was served and attended to promptly. We loved the ambiance, the architecture, the servers, the food and the check book. We did make reservations through Open Table, and the place filled up quickly starting around six, so we recommend you consider reservations.
(4)Charly S.
There are some phenomenal restaurants in Portland serving foods of all kinds.... and so far this is my fave. 1. It is a huge space which seems a tad overwhelming at first, but somehow they make it comfortable with well placed tables and nicely decorated open areas. The high ceilings and architecture are fantastic. 2. They play lovely dinner music, very 50's rat pack sort of stuff, some jazzy - in this classic building it just fits to create a delightful ambiance. 3. The service was fantastic. One guy working alone so it was not lightning fast, but he was efficient and friendly. He really took the time to explain some of the dishes, answer our questions and have a quick chat. I always appreciate service that is not frazzled. 4. The menu is familiar and comfortable with some great twists. The food was fantastic. You know when you go to a restaurant and your food comes and you think "wow, that looks good" and then it tastes average at best? You will not have that here. The food tasted as good as it looked, and it looked awesome! We commented throughout our meal how good it was.... delicious. 5. The prices are excellent. Our favourite foods; the grilled cheese with roasted tomato soup, even comes with a nice salad and the brussels sprouts roasted with lardons (like bacon but thicker). Thanks Picnic House for a great dining experience. Looking forward to our next trip to Portland already!
(5)Kyan H.
Nothing spectacular. Food was decent: Citrus Spice Latte - really unique and delicious latte with grapefruit pulp Wild Mushroom Soup - delicious Buffalo Chicken Salad Sandwich - 3 out of 5 on a star rating Space: Interesting - formerly the lobby of the Heathman (which confused me, as the Heathman is now across the street)... nice, open space... but could have better utilized the space. It felt a little off. The communal dining room table feels very in the spotlight. I do enjoy the large staircase and decor with the old printing press stamps on the wall.
(3)Emy F.
Shut up with this place! It's too adorable for words, but it's not SO adorable that you feel uncomfortable. The decor is done with a light enough hand that you're able to appreciate its funkiness without being overwhelmed by a place trying too hard. I appreciate that. The food. the portions were surprisingly big. A colleague ordered a roasted pear salad as a starter and it was entirely entree sized at a starter price. Based on that, I decided to order two starters -- the roasted corn soup and brussels sprouts. The sprouts, oddly, got a little "heavy" because they are cooked in bacon... I could have done with a little less of the oiliness, but for the first 1/2 of my pile of sprouts they were awesome. Would be great to share. The roasted corn soup was complete and total heaven. I could eat that stuff every night. My other colleagues all also reported that their food was excellent. We were committed to dessert but not sure what to try, so based on the server's recommendations we got a grilled pound cake and the creme brulee. Do not pass up dessert. Just plain do not pass up dessert. Delightful. Tom Waits coming from the speakers was the perfect dining companion. Really a great place. I wish I could've packed it into my suitcase and taken it home with me at the end of my business trip.
(4)Belle P.
We had a group of 8 that went to dinner here on a recent Saturday night. We had early reservations - 5 p.m.; and the place wasn't busy at all (though we made reservations just to be safe). This is a very "Portland" type place - really cute/funky decor - great menu with lots of fresh food options - great service. We ordered appetizers, beer flights, the cheese plate, the charcuterie plate, salmon, pasta - quite a variety of foods from the menu. Everything was excellent. I had the house Pinot Noir, which wasn't exceptional - but for a house wine it was very good. The waitress was happy to split the check between 3 parties, which really helped us a lot. Our service was excellent from start to finish. We were seeing a show nearby and this was just a perfect place to meet for an early dinner beforehand with friends. I would definitely eat here again.
(5)emily t.
Stopped by here on a whim thanks to Yelp - just wanted to grab a quick lunch before catching our flight back to LA. Incidentally it ended up being our favorite meal of the whole trip! My boyfriend and I each got the half salad/half sandwich/cup of soup lunch combination. The portions were HUGE - we could've easily split one. But at least we had delicious leftovers to have as dinner on the plane. The nutty brown rice salad was so unique and worth coming back for in itself. The wait staff is super friendly and the vibe is classy yet casual. Our waiter informed us that they're now serving brunch, so we'll definitely be back to check that out next time we're in town. Missing Portland's amazing food already!
(5)Melana Y.
This place is very spacious! Dropped in for happy hour ... a flight of beer and warm buffalo chicken cheese dip, all for just $9?? Yes please!! Service was very friendly and punctual. Beers were tasty, cheese dip even tastier. No complaints, all compliments.
(4)Stephany F.
Amazing food. Tasty sandwiches (!!!) and salads, great service, cute decor. Can taste the high quality of ingredients.
(5)Lynn E.
We loved the atmosphere here at the Picnic House. The prices are also reasonable. Some of the staff were super friendly, while one was not. We didn't make reservations beforehand, so we had to sit in the front room and it was really cold! My husband and I enjoyed ourselves and the meal was wonderful.
(4)Katie U.
My husband and I went for happy hour on 7/11/14. We were really excited to try this place out because of all the great reviews. We arrived shortly after happy hour started, there were a few people sitting in the bar area and we were seated quickly. I think they're trying a little to hard on the whole Portlandia vibe. Also, it was warm inside and it was already a hot day outside so a cooler environment would have been nice. The biggest problem with the ambience was the flashing ambulance lights from outside that were reflecting all around the room. I realize that isn't their fault but the hostess said it happens often from an assisted living facility next door so they might want to find a solution- it is seriously seizure inducing light reflection. I found the service to be a little stuffy and that isn't really what I'm looking for in a happy hour. The general manager was giving an interview in the little lounge area next to the bar and it was amusing/awkward to listen to. When we left she was having a conversation with the hostess about why she kept her late and neither of them acknowledged us as we left. We ordered the Chicken Caesar Salad Skewers and the Buffalo Wing Dip. The caesar dressing only tasted like anchovies, I normally like anchovy flavor in my caesar dressing but it was overkill. The buffalo wing dip had very little buffalo flavor and mostly tasted like blue cheese. Overall the food was just okay, nothing special and there is MUCH better food in Portland. There was only 1 happy hour drink special and it was a raspberry mojito, not something we were interested in. Kind of a bummer to go to a place with a really interesting cocktail menu but none of those cocktails were on the happy hour menu. Limited and pretty boring beer selection too. Portland is an awesome city for happy hour and The Picnic House just doesn't measure up. Our happy hour experience has crossed The Picnic House off our list for future dining experiences.
(2)Emma R.
Love this place. It's got a unique vibe and FANTASTIC food. I'm always a big fan of small plates and having the opportunity to taste lots of things and there's no end of great things to try here. Definitely worth putting on your go-to list. It's not overblown, overpriced or kitschy ... it's perfect for a refined palette looking for something tasty to enjoy alone or with friends. As an a foodie that has spent a lot of time eating in great restaurants in NYC, Picnic House brings the quality and creativity I'm looking for anytime I go out to eat.
(4)Michelle H.
Welcome to the rabbit hole. That's how I describe the awesome interior. It's very 'Alice in Wonderland.' The decor would have led me in on its own, but I was also on good authority that the grub wasn't too shabby either. We tried calling from the office a few times and reached their voicemail that wasn't setup. Odd. There is also online ordering, but not being able to reach someone on the phone made me a little wary. What if they weren't open even though their hours said they were? Seemed like a potential disaster waiting to happen. Even at nearly 1pm, there was a pretty busy dining room. The servers seemed a little understaffed so there was a bit of chaos as those who were there were spreading themselves thin amongst the crowd. We were led back to the bar to take a look at menus and make our order. The lunch menu has combinations of soup, salads, and sandwiches. The price point is slightly higher than I'd normally jump at for a regular lunch ($10-$12 before drink/tip), but you're paying for a little more adventure in the ingredients and the rent they're probably paying for this huge space. My turkey sandwich + brown rice salad combo was equal parts awesome, inventive, and a lot of food. The "small" sandwich would have been sufficient on its own. It still came with chips, too. They classed it up with things like "blueberry glaze, aged white cheddar, tart apple, & fig butter." It wasn't overwhelming with the soft roll and tender turkey. The brown rice salad was nutty from the hazelnut vinaigrette, and bursting with a bunch of roasted vegetables. I definitely was not bummed. Other things eaten included the pear salad with thick slices of chicken breast and the roast beef sandwich with enough delicious horseradish to leave you tasting it for a long time after. From order to food in hand, it was maybe 10 minutes at best. Definitely no complaints. I would have loved to have been able to call it in, though, but my guess is they turned the phone off because there wasn't anyone available to actually answer it. I would have asked, but our interactions with the staff was brief and efficient. I'll be back, for sure, just not regularly. Welcome to the office rotation.
(4)MommyWarbucks and TheLeftoverKid o.
Deee-luscious! Everything was perfect. The restaurant concept and atmosphere are amazing and makes it so much fun to sit and eat here. (We ate dinner on a park bench under a street lamp). Even better was that the owner, Aaron, was our waiter for the evening... and his wife is the interior decorator and created all of the dishes. (I can't wait to meet her on my next visit!) Charcuterie plate- delicious and the liver pâté was my favorite Cheese plate- OMG......yum! The waiter told us you can't go wrong with the soups, so we had a sampling...and he was right, all the soups are wonderful! We also had the Brussels sprouts and bacon lardons which were fresh, crisp and perfectly cooked. If you like mashed potatoes you MUST have the mashed potatoes with truffle oil, they are super creamy and flavorful. The pork loin skewers were juicy and came with this amazing cherry confetti. Kudos to the chef- our meal was excellent! I love supporting places where the owners not only are passionate about their business, they are actually there and available, and make a point that ensuring each and every customer leaves satisfied. I love this place- you'll see us here every time we are in town.
(5)Jodi L.
Found this gem on Yelp and brought the family here for dinner after wine tasting on a Friday night. We were seated right away with no reservation for a party of 6 which was very appreciated! We ordered the grilled cheese, Reuben sandwich and sides of soup (some had tomato while others had the wild mushroom). The grilled cheese was PERFECT! Crunchy yet soft bread, ricotta, goat cheese and cheddar grilled to perfection (meaning crispy but won't hurt your mouth when you eat it). The tomato soup was also lovely and accompanied by a generous salad. We also ordered Brussels but they forgot to bring them and they didn't end up on the bill so it was fine and the unexpected salad was a perfect substitute. If I lived in Portland this would be a regular spot for me. Fast service with a smile. Oh and nice drinks too - I had the nymph.
(4)James L.
I'm tempted to give this place 5 stars, but I'm reserving that for places that I've been to several times and am consistently amazed. We dropped by for happy hour and were really happy with the quality of the food and service. The menu speaks directly to me -- if I were to write my own menu it would probably be something like this. Cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, Reuben, dip and chips....sweetness - comfort food with a bit of a twist - it reminds me a bit of the Tasty N' Sons menu. The service was top notch - our waitress was on point for everything, loading us up with wine and cheese at a pace that was just right. She was very friendly as well. Bonus points for the fellow working at the coffee bar who came over with a friendly reminder that our meter was running out (he parked right next to us), saving us a ticket. That kind of thoughtfulness is something you just don't get everyday - I wish we had noted his name to mention him to management. We'll be back next time we are in the area for sure.
(4)Jacob M.
Faaannnnnnnntastic!! Great flavor, great presentation, staff was wonderful; this is a must try!
(5)Lacy C.
The food was DELICIOUS! Very unique and fun menu. Service was not fantastic, waited quite a while for order to be taken, then wasn't checked on. As important as I think customer service is, the food made it worth the crappy waitress!
(4)Jeanne Z.
Loved this place! I was amazed and relieved that it was everything I expected and more. We came here for lunch with my parents and my in-laws and everyone has different taste preferences and dietary restrictions, but everyone was more than pleased. THey had a little bit of everything on the menu, and it was put together very well. I think almost all of us ordered the half sandwich (or half salad) and cup of soup special, some people did get all 3. But, there was no food left on the table when we left, it was amazing! I highly recommend the soups, I had the tomato one and it was very good, but I heard a lot of compliments at my table over the butternut squash soup. Our waiter was amazing, as well as all the staff I contacted today. Like most places in Portland, there seems to be less tables than there are people that want to sit there, but still I was very impressed that they took reservations and honored them. It was nice not to have to worry about finding a seat, especially when you are with people that are 50+, 70+ etc., it is very reassuring to know that you have a table and so you don't have to worry about it. THe ambiance was great here, I loved all the decorations, we will definitely be back. My take away message: make sure to call and make reservations first! (It's counter-intuitive for Portland, I know, but just do it.)
(5)Shannon H.
My favorite spot in Portland. Everything I had was AMAZING. Started off with some warm caramelized onion dip - I mean, that just sounds great. It was. I had the fish. It came with this fruity relish that was so good I literally ate it by the forkful. The #1 stunner in this place though was the dessert. My friend and I split the grilled poundcake. Best. Decision. Ever. So good in fact, that we stopped by the next night after eating dinner at another place just to get the grilled poundcake to go. Yes. We did. Also, the decor is THE CUTEST decor ever. I mean, it's magical. Seriously. Do yourself a favor and go for the poundcake if nothing else.
(5)Eric B.
An excellent place for dinner. Delicious food with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, a quintessentially portland atmosphere (The lobby of the Heathman hotel's 1920's location with a steampunk monocle on a bear's head on the wall), and a serving staff that are incredibly proficient and very friendly.
(5)Jenn S.
Yummy! The space is amazing and the food came out fast and was deeeelicious! The only reason I didn't give them that last star is because of the hot dog. It was good, but not worth $12. It was still REALLY good. I had the lunch combo of a salad and the buffalo salad sandwich and it was awesome. The value was great and I don't know where they get their bread, but it's goooooood. I don't eat bread often, but when I do it will be here!
(4)Carolyn R.
Charming 1924 building with many original features, like dining indoors under a vintage street lamp. The food is superb and the service excellent. You have to check this place out when you are downtown. Oh, and order the corn appetizer. Amazing! Save room for dessert, too.
(5)Cait S.
For lunch, this is right near the top of my list next to the VQ. I think it actually has more variety, of at least things I like. If it wasn't competing with Little Bird, I'd give it 5 stars. And for happy hour, I'd give it 5 stars. Sometimes the service is a little slow, but I like having the relaxed feeling that I get inside this place. The bread is always fresh and the ricotta cheese is to die for. I'd have them put it on everything if I could, and I usually try. They're open to it though! I've had better luck with lunch than dinner but maybe I need to try more of the dinner options before I come to a quick judgment. For lunch, I can't resist a soup and sandwich combo. There are too many good ones to pick from! I'm an especially big fan of the cheese crostini with toasted honey almonds for HH. Even though it says almonds in the name, I didn't get past cheese so I thought they were pecans or walnuts but after the waitress asked if I didn't like almonds, I ate every single one! I personally like the grilled cheese at lunch, my friend who isn't a fan of all the cheeses didn't like it as much but she loved the bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich.
(4)John E.
Very nice ambiance and tasty, tasty food. Plenty of gluten-free options, which is always nice. Full bar with fancy cocktails. The menu listed something about 7up and Coke from scratch; I pictured a 90 yo soda shoppe veteran hiding out in back cranking this out, but I am sure it's just a dude with impressive facial hair like everywhere else. Closing at 9pm? I don't get that because this is the sort of place to head to after a show.
(5)Tam V.
After gorging on delicious food cart meals all day, we decided we needed some roughage. Yelp came through recommending this place which was a stone's throw from our hotel and not very full on a Monday night. We really enjoyed the berry salad, crostini with ricotta cheese, the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup, as well as some brussel sprouts and cauliflower sides. Too full to have dessert at the restaurant, we took a delicious sour cream chocolate bundt cake to go. Everything was generously sized, the cozy period atmosphere was fun, and the service was fantastic.
(4)Ben J.
Really cool newer little spot just in the SW area of downtown. Both their food and their appearance is interesting and a bit quirky. I thought it was delicious and fun. The idea is to have gourmet style picnic food and it's an idea they succeed at quite well. I highly suggest this as just a fun little outing for lunch or dinner or even as a date.
(5)Pat C.
Great lunch. Locally sourced food with a very affordable combination sand/salad/soup option. A little noisy right at the noon hour but quiets down after 1.
(5)Pierce K.
Solid all around. Great service, great food, great drinks. And the entrée prices are fantastic considering the quality and location.
(5)Eston M.
Nice ambiance. I wasn't there for long: just enough time to snag an IPA, grilled cheese and soup from the bar. Service was great, though, and so was the food.
(4)Leo C.
It was a late night and didn't want anything heavy, so I settled on two sides: brussel sprouts & cauliflower soup. The brussel sprouts were roasted perfectly with just the right amount of char and bits of lardon (bacon) for that added smokey flavor. Along with my nice heaping plate of sprouts, I received a nice cup (bigger than a cup, but not quite a bowl) of roasted cauliflower soup. The soup was silky with hints of brown butter and sage. It came with a crunchy piece of toast. Simple food done correctly. The perfect late night dinner. This is a classy place without being overly pretentious or trendy. Service and prices are great as well.
(4)Becky S.
this place has GREAT food! I could eat the fresh berry salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
(5)Stephanie W.
Had dinner here for a friend's birthday. Nothing outstanding here folks, except the building itself. Service was slow (Saturday night, many empty tables) and lackluster. More than one server brought our food out and each one had to ask who ordered what. Cocktails were on the boring side. Their names were much more interesting. Food. Um. It was food. Nothing outstanding. Now, the building itself. Amazing space. They aren't doing nearly enough with it!! I say go ahead and skip this place.
(3)Erik W.
I never give 5 stars for places I've only been once, but the people here were so nice, the space is so fantastic, the drinks were so well crafted and delicious, and the desert I had was so scrumptious that I'm breaking my own rule. I had 4 hours to kill after coming back from a conference on the Oregon coast before my red eye left PDX. After cramming down some delicious vegetarian food at Prasad ( yelp.com/biz/prasad-port… ), I was in search of drinks and desert somewhere near a Red Line MAX station to get to the airport. I came across Picnic House on Yelp because of its stellar review average. Boy was I shocked to find out from the friendly bartendress that they'd only been open for a month. That says a lot. She whipped me up a Fleur de Lis first (blood orange vodka, house-made lemon-lime soda and thyme), while I pondered the desert menu. I settled for the grilled pound cake with lemon curd, strawberries and whipped cream. Oh man. I'm a sucker for lemon curd. And the pound cake was so nice and moist, with nice crispy edges from the grill. One of the best things about Picnic House is the gorgeous space: the restaurant sits inside the original Grand Lobby of the Heathman Hotel, built in the 1920s. The hotel relocated around the corner and the rest of the building was demolished some time later. The lobby remained unused until it was renovated by the Picnic House owners. Truly a glorious place!
(5)Afton B.
I hate to be negative about a place where the food is so good, but this is a time when actions speak louder than taste. We would have had a perfect evening had it not been for such subpar service. Made a reservation, no note was made as the waitress felt the need to point out several times, leaving us feeling like we were majorly inconveniencing her on her very busy night, might I point out the restaurant was half full at most and it was 7:00. In the middle of our dinner our waitresses switched, without any warning to us, this second waitress even more uninterested than the first, to the point where we waited 20 minutes to ask for the check, finally going to the bar, where she so quickly swiped my card that I almost didn't realize I had been over charged on drinks! 20 minutes after finishing my meal and I don't even remember what I ate because I'm now too concerned about the money that is tied up from her voiding out my first bill.
(2)Rick K.
We came here about 6mos ago and really liked it, they had the soup/salad/sandwhich for $10 which was an incredible good deal. We were running errands in Portland last week and decided this would be a good place to get some lunch. Much to my surprise they had raised there prices from $10 to $15...that's a 50% rise! And it is now $10 is you only want 2 of the 3 items! The food was still really good w/ the exception of my ceasar salad lettuce being red/old, however i find this kind of price hike to be a little unreasonable! If they had went from $10 to $12 i would have been cool but a 50% hike...there are enough other good places to eat in Portland that i probably wont be back anytime soon.
(3)Lauren G.
Came here for a quick bite to eat before an author talk at PCPA. The only open seats were at the bar, but that was fine. The guy working was really friendly and pointed us to some menu items that would get us out the door quicker. We got the bruschetta (so so SO delicious), cauliflower (with golden raisins in there - brilliant), mushroom soup (pretty good), and steak salad (also pretty good). We will be back another time when we can try entrees.
(4)Sally S.
Don't come hungry. No, it's not their fault, it will be your fault for not looking at the menu. You'll be too busy drinking in the fantastic atmosphere. It is absolutely gorgeous in here. Every direction you look has a perfectly placed decoration. I think goldilocks did the design. It's *just* right. Pull your eyes off the wall or floor or ceiling or where ever they may have fallen and take a moment to order one of their delicious cocktails. The fleur de lis was really yummy. I also had the gin cocktail, but can't remember it's name. Possibly because I'm still drunk. Momma had a salad that was massive and perfectly dressed. Instead of croutons it had little sweet potato cubes. How cute! I ate the happy hour grilled cheese and spiced potato soup. I wish I had ordered the full size soup, it was so warming and full tasting with out being heavy. Every time I get a grilled type sandwich at a restaurant the inside of my mouth gets ripped up. That did not happen here! The bread was toasted to the perfect level of crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. Now, I shall sing the praises of caramelized onions on a grilled cheese sandwich. laaaaaaa. Mom, why did you not do this for me as a child?! We got dessert. You should too. Pumpkin rice pudding! Warm chocolate cake! Oh, and the service! It was lovely. Friendly and attentive without being annoying. Picnic House, I love you!
(5)M K J.
Don't fear the pickled blueberrires! They don't taste like pickles, it just gives them a little tartness to balance the sweet. Having now eaten here two days in a row for lunch, I can say that this place is excellent. We have had between us the caprese style sandwich, proscuitto sandwich, grilled cheese, mushroom and spring veg soups and the grilled pound cake. All are excellent. The toasted bread on the sandwiches is a nice touch. Service was a liitle confused the first day but as long as you're not in a super hurry it's okay. We would love to try dinner!
(5)Jon T.
Very nice- lots of options in downtown- especially if you want variety and I will probably be back, it is hard though because there are so many amazing places to eat- decor is fun and a bit funky- food was great, service was a tiny bit slow but overall very nicely done
(4)Byron H.
Very nice. Original, tasty and classy. Reasonably priced. Nice ambiance but a little loud. I would come back.
(4)Carmel U.
My husband and I love this place. - beautiful decor (complete with painted ceilings and deer doorhangers drilled into tree stumps!) - delicious food (pork loins that weren't dry and cheese plates that weren't boring!!!) - Yummy (and strong) cocktails This is the type of place that I would eat at often (if there was such a place in Boulder). The waitstaff is very friendly. It did have more of a cafe-feel to it than a restaurant. I did notice that you can rent a picnic basket full of picnic implements for $20/day, which I thought was brilliant. Lovely place for early dinner and brunch!
(5)Jamie F.
We arrived at 8:30pm on a friday night and there was not a server in sight, but the front half of the restaurant was empty. We ended up waiting close to 10 minutes before anyone took the time to notice us standing there and ask if we had been help yet. We were not off to a good start. Once we finally were seated, I had mushroom soup to start and it was amazing. My friend had some tomato jam goat cheese dip that she also said was fantastic. I had the lemon roast chicken as a main, which was also awesome. My friend ordered some kind of pasta dish that she ended up sending back because it was too salty. (I tasted it and it was insanely salty!) We each ordered creme brulee for dessert and it was.. weird. I've rarely had BAD creme brulee so this one definitely takes the cake as the worst. (Or takes the custard, har har.) It tasted super eggy and tasted like it might have had clove in it? Either that or the vanilla beans were really off. I only ended up eating a few bites. I would definitely give this place another try because my first to dishes were so great, but be prepared to not be greeted at the door, and stay away from the creme brulee!
(3)Cory P.
Good place, good service.
(3)Splandie J.
The best thing about this place is the exit. The second best would be a server named Joshua, who tried in good faith to fix all the heinous errors that had gone on before, but at that point there was just too much that had been wrong. We arrived at 6 on a Friday evening. We had a party of six. We stood in the empty entry for almost 10 minutes before the hostess came to say we would have to wait.... the place was about a third full. So we got seated, and waited almost 20 minutes for a server to bring water. Didn't ask if we wanted anything else. We asked a server Bethany about getting some drinks, and she said in the vernacular of shitty servers everywhere 'I am not your server. I will let him know.' Ok, eventually got some drinks. Our server took our order, then at the end of all of us ordering, he said "I think I will use my phone to write down your orders. Just so that I get them right." So we had to repeat the whole ordering thing. It took one hour and twenty minutes to get food. On a Friday night in a mostly empty place. Half of us got our food. The others sat for another ten minutes! What, the cook's joint went out and he had to run home and get another?!? And the food, dear god the food. If it was edible at all, it was bland and tasteless. Did I mention bland? My friend ordered the tenderloin. It was burnt on the outside to a crisp. But damp. Like they knew they had cooked the living shit out of it and then spritzed it to make it look like it was remotely edible. Amazing. Another friend ordered plain salad with some chicken. Basic food, right? It came as a plate of lettuce. No chicken or the salt and pepper that she had asked for. The list goes on, I won't bore you with the rest of the debacle other than to say Joshua was really great, tried to fix all the crappy food and previous shitty service, but at that point it had become a tragic comedy and we just wanted the hell out of there.
(1)Haroun K.
The happy hour brought me in. And I almost melted when I saw "grilled watermelon with feta." I've heard amazing things about the combination of watermelon and feta from my usual co-eater, so I ordered one up right away. The watermelon was nicely grilled (strange, but meaty in a good, watermelony way), but the feta was completely lacking. I'm curious as to what kind of feta it was, because it was super crumbly, and almost devoid of the strong flavor you need in a feta (be it American, French, Greek, or the best Bulgarian). The grilled cheese and tomato soup is a fine option, except the grilled cheese is super minuscule, and it is just a half a (petite) sandwich. The potato chips and cheese dip with onions was tasty, and the portion is pretty huge. The draft beer list is brief, but well thought out. And service was pretty nice. The bathroom, however, was a bit of a trainwreck. I came at an off hour, sure, but it was a mess in there. The manager was sitting at the bar the whole while on his laptop working, but the bathroom should be a primary priority.
(3)Imelda K.
I met someone on a plane who recommended The Picnic House! I'm so glad I checked this place out. Love the decor and all the little personal touches (like bringing your bill to you in a book). The food is also very good. I've tried the soups, the nutty brown rice salad and the grilled cheese sandwich, and all were delicious. This may just be one of my new favorite eating places in Portland.
(4)Catriona B.
I've been to Picnic House for dinner twice, and had a great experience both times. For the first dinner, I had a delicious salad (can't remember which one). The rest of the group ordered a variety of dishes, and they were all lovely. The bundt cake for dessert was exactly what I like -- warm and delicious without being too sweet. Most recently, I came back with my parents on a Saturday evening, and we all had great meals as well. I had the mushroom soup, which was lovely with their tasty bread. I like less salt, so was perfect for me. The beets were great with light flavors and not overcooked, and the brussel sprouts were even better with some bacon (or fancy equivalent). Had to have a the bundt cake again. Again amazing. There was live jazz music on Saturday, but was a) nice to listen too and b) didn't overpower conversation. I always feel like a bit of a jerk talking through someone performing, but the sound level made it pretty enjoyable. The service is great, and we had a lovely conversation with the owners. The physical space itself is super cool -- can get a bit loud when everyone is having fun, so set expectations accordingly. Be sure to inspect the bear over the bar. Is he a steampunk bear? I think so. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Jason D.
Randomly looked this place up trying to find a place to have a late lunch on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Wasn't a far walk from my hotel so I thought why not? After I walked in, like many reviewers before me, I couldn't peel my eyes off the decor of this place. I must have spent a full 10 mins snapping photos of the interior design before sitting down to order food. I'm surprised I wasn't escorted out. This place is beautifully designed and restored to (I'd say) a 1920-1940's style saloon. The staff even dress the part! The space itself is massive and I could definitely see it being rented out for private events. I'm told it's a restored hotel lobby with the original floors. It's got very high ceilings and great exposed wooden beams along the ceiling. It was a slow afternoon so me and my party of 4 had the place to ourselves. We sat at a huge, beautiful wooden picnic table. I could see this being a great communal eating table (a tactic that needs to used more often in restaurants IMO) when the place is buzzing. The food was fantastic and so reasonably priced. I had the roasted turkey sandwich with blueberry glaze, aged white cheddar, tart apple, & fig butter. It was served on an incredibly fresh baguette and the sweetness of the glaze brought out the flavor in the turkey was also a nice contrast with the tart granny apple slices. The bartender was super professional and explained all the ingredients of the drinks that he served to us. Overall, a great place to grab a bite before or after a show or if you're a worker bee in downtown Portland. Before taking your first sip/bite and take a couple minutes to soak in the decor. You shant be disappointed.
(4)Banks E.
Good food but not enough to justify 5 stars. I went here with my wife and she loved it and thought it would be an ideal place to eat with a group of friends for a girls-night-out. It is not a place I would ever recommend to take a group of guys.
(4)Lori U.
This place has the most amazing VIBE! You feel it the moment you walk in! I was super impressed with the decor....that massive tree community table WOW! The specialty drinks are ingenious! I recommend The Sharab...No details missed...it comes with a spring of rosemary and cool square ice cubes. Its a feast for the eyes, taste buds and then scent of rosemary with each sip.....I put away three of these yummy cocktails! The food is top notch and sooooo flavorful. The presentation is fabulous, art on a plate! Kuddos to the Kitchen Staff...Amazing freaking food! The wait staff is super attentive, fun and professional. They want you to enjoy your experience, its important to them. Love that!! You don't want to miss out on this experience! I hightly recommend it! You won't be disappointed! Its close to the Arlene Schnitzer! This is our GO TO place when we are downtown seeing a concert!! I give it 10 stars!!!
(5)Jason G.
Great service, and a really cool atmosphere. There is all sorts of variety in the place, different levels, things to look at, cool seating arrangements, delicious drinks, and an equally tasty menu. This would be a pretty great place to start off an evening pretty much anywhere. It's casual, but it wouldn't be out of place to be dressed nicely going to the symphony and show up here at all. I would absolutely recommend the place as an appetizer to the rest of your evening.
(5)Marie P.
Awesome !! This place is off the hook !!
(5)Mike G.
Decent beer selection, excited to drink a Workhorse IPA somewhere other than Laurelwood. The bar, high ceilings, window table and huge knotty picnic table are great. The remainder of the seating does not fit the decor and is quite awkward.
(3)Library D.
Charming atmosphere, gracious servers. Had dinner here, indulged in some of the happy hour appetizers. Happy hour snacks were small, but good. Chicken dinner was adequate but not exceptional.
(3)Maddy A.
This was such a great and unexpected find! We just happened to parked in front of The Picnic House and were hoping to grab some food and drinks before our concert at the Schnitzer. It looked charming from the outside so we went in, and everything just continued to fall into place after that. We were enthusiastically greeted by the servers and that quality of service continued throughout our dinner. We ordered some drinks, sandwiches and soups, and we couldn't help but nod in delightful approval with each first sip and bite of what we ordered. I'm not a big fan of sandwiches so I'm always pleasantly surprised when I find myself enjoying a sandwich. I had the grilled Italian cured meats sandwich and that was pretty fantastic. Really fantastic. The olive tapenade and chili aioli is what sealed the deal; the two sauces really brought together melt-in-your-mouth flavors of the sandwich. I got a couple bites of the grilled roast beef sandwich and that was almost as good. You can also get a shared plate where you can mix and match your choice of salads, soups and sandwiches, and you'll get half portions of each. Our server did inform us that they change up their menus every once in a while, which makes me want to go back to The Picnic House soon just in case they remove the Italian cured meats sandwich from their menu. Their menu isn't lying when they say they have "tasty sandwiches" and "savory soups." Overall, the food is great. There's also so much charm and history to their location. The Picnic House is located in the lobby of the original Heathman location, and they set up the restaurant just so it almost feels like you're having a picnic. You can even rent a picnic basket and get food to go!
(4)Lisa W.
On a recent lunch visit we had reservations for a group of eight and they accommodated perfectly. Our (gorgeous, solid wood, rustic and beautiful) table was set up when we arrived and we were seated immediately. The pace of the meal was perfect for a relaxed lunch, and all of our orders came out exactly as we had placed them. Everyone said their food was great. I had half a Thick Bacon with avocado and Gorgonzola sandwich with a cup of the sweet pea soup and they were both simply delicious. The portion was plenty big but because it was so good I could have easily eaten twice as much. I didn't have a salad, but my colleagues did and raved about them. They looked fabulous. I've also visited for happy hour. The menu is somewhat limited, but what I ordered, fresh cheese on crostini and a cocktail, were great. The atmosphere is cool - lots of fun stuff to look at on the walls and stuff - and the service is really good, like the people who work there actually enjoy their jobs. Also, the tables have a lot of space around them, so diners aren't crammed together and shouting to be heard over all the other conversations. It seems like a lot of thought was put into this place and I would highly recommend it all the way around.
(5)Lauren K.
*Ambrosial* - that really says it all. This place is classy, delightful, and romantic. The menu on their website boasts some small plates and entrees but they've since converted over to all small plates. Thank the food gods that they kept the pork loin; it was succulent, well seasoned and simply perfect. We also had the bavette skewers, fish (can't remember what it was) and roasted cauliflower. I though the bavette skewers were amazing (until I tried the pork loin). The roasted cauliflower was perfectly done and garnished with raisins (interesting choice). The fish was a bit bland but the mango salsa topping helped. We also got the two mixed greens salads. Very pleased with both. Finally, because everyone on yelp said to do it, we ordered dessert. This truly made the experience; we ordered the grilled pound cake and vanilla rice pudding. Both were PERFECT. My favorite meal thus far in my quest to conquer Portland's good eats.
(5)Susan P.
Excellent food - I really enjoyed the stuffed portabella and I'm not vegetarian! Awesome location especially on nights when you have tickets at the Schnitz. Wait staff was very attentive. So nice to be able to make a reservation.
(5)Mark L.
Ordered the grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup for my wife and I to split. The food came and the soup bowl was half full and the sandwich was really small with just a few bits of cheese. I thought our waiter got us the 1/2 and 1/2. Bill came nope. Think I will pass. Oh, I also got a glass of the house wine, small pour as well.
(2)Jessica P.
Cute atmosphere and a creative menu. The chairs could be more comfortable, especially for the price. Service wasn't great. No one ever asked how our dinner was. (It was good, but most servers come by and make sure it's good and that you don't want or need anything else)
(4)Holly C.
Went here for lunch with people from the office on Friday. The atmosphere is really nice and aptly suited for the name. Moss hanging on the walls and a bear with a bowler hat are just two things to look for when dining here. I ordered half a prosciutto sandwich with the tomato soup. For dessert I ordered the rice pudding. My sandwich was made with great crunchy but not too crunchy bread. It could have used more meat, but was good over all. The sandwich had fig butter, cheese, and prosciutto. The soup had a basil based cream added to it. Dessert was very tasty, It was a cinnamon and golden raisin rice pudding. Other people at my table were equally pleased with their lunch. I heard great reviews about the grilled cheese, the blueberry turkey sandwich, and the berry salad. Also the chocolate cake, looked very decadent. They also mix their own soda. What I didn't like: Granted there were six of us, but the food took a while to come. Not terribly long, but it was good that I didn't have somewhere I needed to be. Also the table we were seated at was very uncomfortable. It was in the front window and it had benches. I like my space and I had to sit very close to my co- worker. Also the bench didn't have a back (obviously) and my back had been hurting earlier. Overall, I do plan on returning. Possibly for dinner with my fiancé.
(4)Sara M.
The husband and I decided to have a date night tonight (Saturday) and thought we'd try a new place. I searched Yelp and found The Picnic House, and it looked decent. Of course it's Saturday night and we were headed downtown, so my husband dropped me off while he looked for parking. When I walked in, there was no discernible place to wait to be seated, so I waited by a counter that seems like it might be a to-go counter during lunch time. I was seated pretty quickly as they weren't super busy and the staff was very polite. The first person to serve us was a waitress. Again, very polite and pleasant; I was able to order a drink that was pretty tasty. When my poor, soaking wet husband finally found a parking spot and came in he ordered a soda. I asked what kind of cheese was in one of the appetizers; the waitress said, "I don't know" in a really pleasant but not thinking to say she'd find out way, so we ordered beef skewers for an appetizer. A minute later we were told that the waitress was gone and a waiter was taking over (no big deal). When our appetizer came out, he didn't bring us plates or steak knives, so using butter knives we hunched over the table to eat the appetizer. The food was decent but nothing to write home about. It was supposed to have blueberries in it somehow, but the only blueberries we could find were 3 little shriveled ones on the plate. So we had finished our drinks and appetizer and were waiting to order our entrées. We waited...and waited...finally the waiter came back over and asked how our appetizer was. We said it was fine, and he asked if we'd like to order dessert or just have the check. It was only about 7:30 at this point, so I didn't think they were closing (and they weren't). I asked if we could order entrees, and the waiter looked surprised and said, "sure!". I ordered some soup and asked where the bathroom was; my husband, reading my cue, told the waiter to skip the soup and just bring us a check. Then we went to Sizzle Pie and had some slices. Short of the long: nice décor, pleasant staff, but the place could use some servers who know how to be servers, especially on a Saturday night.
(1)Coral H.
In a former historic hotel. Fun atmosphere. They do baskets for picnics to go. Came here on a walking tour of PDX. It was our first stop. Really lovely picnic table and benches.
(4)Marybeth S.
Loved this place! Went with another couple for a night out in Portland. Loved the interior and return to the original design of the 40s. Super cool space. Food was awesome, great sized portions for the price. I had the chicken which was fantastic (I rarely order chicken out but saw on another table and it looked great) and the grilled poundcake - don't miss it!
(4)rich j.
The service wasn't flawless--our server was training, but more generally it still feels like they don't have the flow down. I'm putting that aside. If people experience this in 2013 there's a problem. Charming, quaint, adorable, etc. They have an interesting menu, some thoughtfully prepared dishes, an adorable atmosphere (let's call it French provincial/shabby chic/bohemian). I am optimistic but not sure they earned 4-stars yet. But I will go back and I will recommend to others. 3 stars isn't horrible. Beef skewers were done to varying degrees of, um, done-ness, but the grilled watermelon was delicious. Favorite item: the pavlova. My group enjoyed the infused artisan IMAX free-range cruelty-free shade-gown rustic liquors (in other words, they were fancy), but that's probably because they were liquor. We are cheap drunks. Still, yum! Try it. You've had worse.
(3)Happy T.
Great eclectic setting for a classy Friday date night or a fun dinner with friends. Perfect ambience for all moods, but a tad expensive.
(4)Nick N.
We had a really nice dinner here with another couple. Great service and very neat original features in the restaurant. Everything we ordered was just top notch. Very reasonably priced. We'll be back when we're in town again. We ordered: Mixed green salad with roasted chicken Sweet pea soup Grilled pound cake for dessert
(5)Valerie L.
Okay, I read about this place in a lot of magazines and saw it on Yelp, all glowing reviews. I went here with high expectations and let me just say, they met them all! I had a party of six ladies and we are really into food and drinks, maybe the drinks a little too much, but when in Rome... The owner is so nice, he was very helpful on the phone with making the reservation, he actually answers the phone, getting us a nice table, working with us when we wanted to come in a half an hour early because we were getting too buzzed at Portland City Grill's Happy Hour, he seated us and made sure everything started off without a hitch. We all ordered different things off the menu, shared all of our meals with one another and had the signature cocktails. Okay, for 6 people, all having 2 courses, multiple drinks and wine the bill came to $160, $200 with tip. Where can you go for that? Seriously? Fun atmosphere, great food and drinks, nice owner, reasonably priced. Best food on the menu: Pear salad, mushroom soup, chorizo/prawn/polenta entree Best drink on the menu: The Spaniard (for dessert) My only complaint is the wine menu and wine by the glass selection, leaves a little to be desired.
(5)Sara J.
Food here was sooo good. The menu is fairly short, but that's fine because what they do, they do well. Soups were perfectly seasoned and I liked the selection they offered, and all the entrees sounded great. Their grilled cheese had a couple of different "gourmet" cheese on it and was one of the better grilled cheese I've had, period. It was grilled just the right amount and absolutely perfect for dipping into a delicious soup. I also tried their stuffed portobello mushroom, which was amazing. It was stuffed with so many different veggies and piled so high (a welcome change from other places that put a little filling in the cap and call it "stuffed") that it was almost hard to eat. The grilled vegetables inside were amazing, especially the little bites of Brussels sprouts. YUM. But the highlight of what I tried there was, without a doubt, their curried roasted cauliflower with golden raisins. Sounds awful, I know.... but it was amazing. The curry was not overwhelming in the slightest, and the raisins gave the dish just a hint of sweetness that complemented it perfectly. I've been thinking about the cauliflower for weeks now and am excited to go back and try it again because wow. THAT is how cauliflower is supposed to be done! The atmosphere of the restaurant is pretty cool too. I liked the decorations and how old-school everything looked. The bar, at the very back of the place, was exceptionally small, with only maybe 6 seats (...why?), but the tables themselves were spaced out okay. The only thing that is keeping me from giving this place five stars is the service. Once you're seated, it's fine, but the service up front was VERY odd. I definitely recommend a reservation so you'll be seated quickly (advice I am going to take myself next time I want to go there!). My date and I showed up without a reservation but assumed it's be fine because probably half the tables in there were empty. When we told the hostess we didn't have a reservation, she told us there were no free tables to seat us. We asked about seating at the bar, and she said that might work but we needed to wait so she could take care of other arriving guests. Ten minutes later (when we were about to just leave), she returned and told us a table had just opened up for us. When we were brought to the table, we discovered even more empty tables. Some never even filled up the entire time we were there, making me wonder why we couldn't have been seated immediately. It was all very odd. The food, and table service, eventually made up for the strangeness with the hostess. But it was an odd way to start the evening. I definitely plan on going back, but I will do so with a reservation!
(4)Jill S.
Best lunch I've had in a while. Delicious. Very friendly and helpful staff. Def a favorite lunch spot.
(5)Jessica D.
This was a great lunch spot during my work day. My husband and I had the opportunity to meet and we decided to give Picnic House a try. We both had a delicious meal, in a delightful atmosphere and had great service. The soups that we had were phenomenal. I am looking forward to taking colleagues and friends there for another excuse to go.
(5)Laura S.
Great food selection with unique menu items. A rich welcoming atmosphere although the building exterior was going through a facelift. Waitstaff was knowledgable and friendly. Greatly enjoyed and can't wait for our next visit.
(5)Katie B.
This place is amazing. Delicious food. Great atmosphere. Impeccable customer service. The waiter made a mistake and put my order in wrong and they gave us a free appetizer, gave me my meal free AND gave us two free desserts! Seriously, amazing restaurant. I would highly, highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
(5)Jen M.
Really neat place in the former location of a hotel. Very big space for the amount of seating so I can imagine the wait times get astronomical. And the noise level must get deafening with the high ceilings. Service was a little absent-minded. Our server forgot to bring an iced tea and it took a long time to receive extra salad dressing. And it was dead the night we went. I ordered the mixed greens with chicken and substituted for the fig butter vinaigrette. The lardons (fancy word for bacon pieces in butter) were delicious. My friend got the roasted chicken and said it was excellent. We shared the crostini appetizer which I thought was disappointing. Nothing really great about it and the cheese spread was actually too cold. Had it been served at room temperature the flavor would have been much better,
(4)Lisa G.
Picnics in Portland have about a three month potential. Let's face it, summer has shrunk and even on sunny days, grass often glistens with the days moisture, making a tarp the only sensible blanket option. So is Picnic House a real substitute for an outdoor picnic? No, but it's a clever premise, a picnic box purveyor for lunch meetings or ready-made sustenance for a wine tasting adventure in the valley. I've never actually had their picnic boxes and while $12 seems a bit pricey for a box lunch, the quality of their food makes the price seem like a steal. More on price: My perfect lunch price is $5 because it's a meal that one does not typically devote much time to beyond sitting at ones desk or a quick jaunt to a nearby food cart. However, for a longer, lingering lunch either on a weekday or weekend, the offerings at Picnic House are well priced and well positioned, as there are several combos (sandwich, soup, salad) that give any clock puncher a sense of choice in an otherwise mind numbing day. The portions are also incredibly generous, providing additional rationale for a spendier lunch. Onto the offerings: From the bavette (beef) skewers to the pickled shrimp, PH knows meat. And unlike the 'bacon with a side of bacon' craze dominating Portland, the vegetarian options are bountiful and delicious. My current veggie faves are the mushroom soup and nutty brown rice salad. The soup is not cream with a side of shrooms, rather it is the exact opposite, allowing the mushroom flavor to shine through. And the salad could be the requisite homage to the city's many vegans and frankly a pile of tasteless veggies on a bag of steamed brown rice. Instead, fresh veggies abound, making this one of the most unique salads I've ever tasted. As a carnivore, I'm hard pressed to fill up on a veggie meal, but whether it's the grilled cheese sandwich or a soup/salad duo, I always walk away full. You know, after a helping of Picnic House's signature rice pudding. The owners of PH also own Puddin' on the Rice, a well, rice pudding restaurant, which has only until this point, existed in my darkest food fantasies. Kudos to one of the owner's grandmothers because as I understand it, her recipe inspired the rice pudding that is the foundation of every creative flavor of this age-old dessert served at both Puddin' on the Rice, as well as Picnic House. My girlfriend claims to hate rice pudding and after agreeing to try a bite (of both coconut and pistachio), has now taken it upon herself to perfect her own home grown recipe of the stuff. And how 'bout that space: One can't help but wonder if Picnic House would stand on its menu alone (and I believe it could) because it's difficult to separate the food from the space. Living in a cavernous setting, the space recalls that of a bank at the early 20th century. One expects Mr. Drysdale and Ms. Hathaway to saunter down the stairs that extend into a mysterious second floor, right off the main dining space. It turns out the space is the old lobby of the original Heathman Hotel and I think about what a treasure it must have been to discover the walls and floor and other remnants of a simpler time and more intricate architecture. This is a perfect space for getting lost in hours of conversation, as you sit in a low lit room, with generous space between tables. The seats are not incredibly comfortable and noise does travel, but if you can't beat 'em, join 'em--I've started bringing larger parties and it's a perfect place for happy hour and meal sharing. Picnic House has quickly become our post-Fox Tower movie dinner go-to spot and really the place we find an excuse to go to whenever we find ourselves downtown. After a show at the Keller, we were delighted to bring friends there because upon entering the space and cracking open the menu it's obvious that this isn't just another Portland dining establishment--it's a labor of love, with creative cuisine, inviting ambiance and if I can't have a picnic, at least I can have Picnic House.
(5)Tron B.
Reasonable prices, good food, very unique/hip decor in an awesome old hotel lobby. Beets, Pork, and Rockfish were solid. Great service.
(4)Amanda W.
Delicious seasonal menu, attentive service, powerful air-conditioning (it was in the mid 90's when I last visited). Go, eat, be happy. And the happy hour deals are amazing.
(4)Chase L.
Well... I had really high expectations for this place based on the reviews but I was pretty disappointed. The ambience was great, the hipster wait staff was pretty funny and not terrible, but after waiting 45 minutes for our food and finding the short rib to be about the serving size of a tapas plate, the whole experience really fell short. Every entree we got was overcooked and and while the prices are fair, a 4.5 star rating is definitely not deserved in a place with as good of cuisine as Portland. Too bad.
(2)Lori H.
really enjoyed this place. excellent salmon, pork chop delicious, great brussel sprouts, salads, nice wine list. awesome desserts. really friendly service.
(4)Sandra M.
Ate here with 5 colleagues. It was fantastic! Interesting wine and cocktail menu. I had 2 glasses of the Willamette pinot (think it was about $9 each). One of my colleagues orderd the apple and cherry cider. Said it was very good. The others ordered white wine or beers on tap. Shared an order of roasted cauliflower (it had a great indian spices coating on it) and roasted brussel sprouts. Some restaurants make them too greasy. This was just perfect. I had the salmon for the entry. It was a very large portion, but was farmed and not wild caught. This is disappointing because it IS the season for wild salmon. The waiter did tell me it was farmed but that it had an interesting strawberry sauce. The sauce was good and an excellent pairing with the mild fish. I did not finish the fish because it was big and I am just not a fan of farmed (not enough flavor). We split 2 desserts - the fried pound cake (we had wanted something else - cannot remember what - but they were out of it). We also shared the Pavlova and it was big and with great whipped cream. I would come here again - definitely NOT order the salmon. There are so many interesting things on the menu. They take reservations on OpenTable. The bill was very reasonable (my colleague picked it up and he exclaimed twice that it was "so cheap!").
(4)Karna G.
Loved this place! Accommodated my party of 10 on super short notice.... The decor is amazing....vintage printer's blocks everywhere and a huge, huge picnic 'bench' made from a tree 100s of years old (that had already fallen when it was utilized to build it). Beautiful. The food is even better than the decor! So fresh and delicious. Can't wait to visit Portland again soon just so I an eat here.
(5)Kerri L.
Update: I brought several friends with me this time for a festive lunch. We were really thrilled to get the big picnic table in the front of the restaurant, and it was really great because it was one of our last sunny days, so it did feel like a real picnic. We had a gentleman with us who has some gait problems, so it was difficult for him to get seated at this particular table, so I think in the future when we come back that we will reserve a regular table with stand-alone chairs (no matter, it will still be great fun). Once this gentleman got seated, he thought it was a great place to sit. I loved that the food was just as wonderful as I described to my friends and that they enjoyed their meals as much as I have on both of my visits. Service is still top notch. My friends loved the decor. All in all, our visit and meal made our day, and it was hard to focus on work the rest of the day after having so much fun and wonderful meals.
(5)Ben C.
One word, amazing! From appetizers to dessert, each course was stellar. The ambience and sheer beauty of the restaurant just adds to the whole experience. Highly recommend the lemon chicken.
(5)Cheri H.
A charming little restaurant with a romantic atmosphere and delicious food. The service was friendly but incredibly slow and that is why they are receiving 4 stars and not 5.
(4)Mare R.
Delicious! Loved the Moulin Rouge cocktail... Packed quite a punch! Brussel sprouts were so yummy, as was the cast iron half-chicken; very moist and flavorful. Warm olives were pitted, which is a nice touch. Service was friendly and courteous.
(5)David C.
I am leaving my original review below because I think it's important for people to see it, but I want to say that I've brought this rating up significantly because of the incredibly personal and warm email from Aaron Grimmer, owner of The Picnic House. He discussed my individual points and personally invited me back to the restaurant. He also took the concerns seriously. In my book, a positive response to said original mediocre customer service is better than exceptional service to begin with. So kudos to the Picnic House, and perhaps instead of doing anything negative to the server (he evidently is very new), this can be used as a learning experience. Cheers! PS. And next time I'm in Portland, I WILL be back! **Original Review*** What a very odd experience. I really, really wanted to like this place. After two very small snafus upon arriving (sign said to seat myself so when I did I got scolded and told that the host would seat me, and then there was a good deal of lipstick on my water glass once seated), I was still excited. I ordered half of a salad and half a turkey sandwich. Food was fine; not extraordinary, but not bad. Food is the reason for not giving this place one star (along with a funky ambiance). Everything went downhill from here: -Was excited to order one of their 'fun, exciting' colas and upon asking I was told they add flavored syrup to my Diet Coke. Ok, so not fun and exciting but sure I'll take one. Received my DC with no syrup (sorry, we're out), yet still got charged for that 'fun, exciting' cola. -Server was aloof and odd. It seemed as though everything I asked or said was entirely foreign to him. When my meal was finished, the server immediately brought my check. I said "Oh, sorry, I was thinking of ordering dessert and a coffee." He looked at me quizzically and said, "Oh, um, well, ok." I said "I'll have a warm cookie and a decaf coffee with milk and sugar." He disappeared. Upon return, he brought me a black coffee so again I asked for milk and sugar. Puzzled, he walked away. He returned with a hard, cold cookie in a bag (no plate?) and I said, "Oh you don't warm this?" Again, puzzled, "No, I am not sure what you're talking about." (On my way out I reread the menu to make sure I wasn't going nuts. Sure enough, warm chocolate chip cookie appears on the menu.) Again, (a third time), I reminded him of milk and sugar. Coffee now cold, he returns with milk and sugar. I should add that the restaurant was not crowded. -Cookie from above appeared in a brown paper bag. I know I mentioned that above, but I really feel it needs mentioning again. Coffee in a nice mug at an in-service, sti-down restaurant and dessert in a bag. -Lots of folks were coming in as I sat there looking at the seat yourself sign and (gasp) began seating themselves. One lady even pointed out the sign to the host who explained to her that he would seat her. That's fine, but take the sign down! -Another reviewer said that this place was experiencing the pains of being new. I hope that's all this was, but I am afraid it wasn't. All in all, I won't be back when I return to Portland next.
(4)Valkyrie F.
Oh my, what a quaint lovely place! Great decor -ask about the printer plates, delicious food with adequate prices, enjoyable music ranging from roaring 20s era to Frank Sinatra, and excellent service - thank you Phillip, you were absolutely divine. Had the ratatouille sandwich - to die for. And if you like tequila, the Quixote is a must - tequila, raspberry liqueur, lime juice & ginger beer - yes! Husband had the tomatoe soup drizzled with basil cream - yummy. Desserts and happy hour menu look very inticing as well. Will definitely be back!
(5)D K.
This was my favorite restaurant in Portland! The food was excellent, as were the beers. The service was great and both ladies were very helpful. The restaurant is really cute and has a great atmosphere. We ordered the charcuterie board, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, salmon entree, beef bourguignon entree, and a couple beers. Everything was AMAZING and I even ordered a Brussels sprouts to go because I loved them so much. This would be my top recommendation for a healthy, substantial, fun, and fairly priced meal in Portland.
(5)Beau T.
I went here last night and it was amazing. The service was fantastic. Our waiter's name was Aaron W. If you get his service be very excited, my date and I were given great recommendations for food and really the only time we waited was for our food to cook. The portions were very well sized and everything was delicious. Not only did my date go incredibly well but I am definitely going to go back and soon.
(5)J P.
I'm giving this place a 5th star for the service. Aaron was terrific! Friendly, quick, he knew the menu well and wasn't afraid to make suggestions - all of which were delicious. Another thing, we were here at around 630 on a Fri night. This place should be packed, but the were only a few other patrons. I assume the construction is part of the problem,but don't be deterred. It's good! The building is really interesting, too. Unlike any restaurant. Apparently it is the location of the original Heathman Hotel. Now the food. Wow. I don't eat meat, so I ordered a roasted veggie stuffed portobello. It was so filling and tasty. In fact, my meat-loving husband even asked for a few bites, which never happens! He had the pork (another shocker, the man was full of surprises). Usually, I want bread pudding for dessert, but the savory bread pudding was so yummy! Let me warn you, their food philosophy is to let the ingredients shine, so not tons of sauces and butter and over seasoning. I love this, but some may not. Sadly. We didn't save room for dessert, but we will be back.
(5)Jessica D.
I crave their food. I highly recommend trying a 1/2 salad, 1/2 sandwich and cup of soup combo. That way you can try a little of everything!
(4)Laura S.
We had a great dinner here. The mushroom soup and the tomato soup were two of the best soups I've ever had! The chocolate bundt cake dessert was also amazing. Great decor, great service, great restaurant.
(5)David P.
Had the buffalo chicken sandwich and tomato soup. Would definitely go back.
(5)Luke B.
My girlfriend and I braved going to this new spot on a Monday around 1pm. It was a tough place to find with a whole host of construction scaffolds that were camouflaging the entrance but once inside we fell in love with the charm of the place. Upon walking inside we notice there were only a few tables filled with people (3 or 4) and after 5 minutes of waiting (with no one in front of us) we were finally sat at a small table in the back. The menu was quite different from anything else I've ever seen but the food spoke for itself. The bread on the sandwich was toasted perfectly to where only the most outer layer of bread was baked to a flaky crunchy crust that harbors a fluffy moist interior. The mushroom soup was notably good. My only other gripe was it took 25 minutes for a sand/salad & sand/soup combo bringing our total visit to an hour. I would give this place 2 more stars had the service been quicker and the phone that was ringing off the hook in the background been answered.
(3)Brian O.
The happy hour was great! Definitely recommend the homemade ricotta on crostini, and the service was excellent. Great place for a happy hour.
(4)Benjamin H.
Very cool environment and excellent food with great service. Sampled from the appetizers, mains, and desserts...all five stars!
(5)Kahai D.
Went there after we couldn't get into one of the citys brew houses on a Sat. night....nice find...wife had the stuffed portabello, son had the lemon roasted chicken and I got the spicy shrimp with chorizo and polenta and a couple of beers...also shared the grilled pound cake...all this for less than $60 and very tasty and filling.
(4)Sarah L.
One of my favorite restaurants in Portland. It was so good, we went here twice within a 6-day trip to Portland. The decorations are so cute and unique, and the food is amazing. Loved the Ricotta cheese with rosemary honey starter plate, the creamy tomato soup, the nutty brown rice salad, and the berry salad. The grilled poundcake was also delicious. A must-try restaurant!
(5)Lauren S.
Our first meal in Portland hit all the right spots. The combo selection was very satisfying, allowing us to take advantage of squash and mushroom soups, pesto farfalle, and chicken sandwich. The bread on the sandwich was fresh, but a little large. Service was kind, but extremely slow. It was over 10 minutes before we were greeted by our server and in the meantime other servers and the hostess pointedly ignored us.
(4)John L.
Nice little quaint place. Not a place I'd go back to with so many small establishments to choose from. Had the toasted cheese sandwich with wild mushroom soup. Sandwich was good but small. Soup was just ok and just a bit above room temp when served. Nice atmosphere here but that's where it stops.
(2)Marty J.
Excellent lunch option. Turkey sandwich (always have them grill it, the bread is lightly toasted and they don't use oils), green leaf salad with chicken, and all the soups (currently tomato, mushroom, and pumpkin) are excellent. I've gone several times now mostly for lunch and once for dinner. It has quickly become one of my favorites.
(5)Julie R.
I loved this place for lunch. Cozy and fun, the food was very flavorful and healthy in its' selection. It is a tight menu with seasonal items, so don' expect a huge selection...the pumpkin soup was to die for on a very cold day. I would totally go back!
(4)Marty O.
Outstanding! The brown rice salad was super bomb and the roasted chicken breast was cooked perfectly. Very flavurful and the presentation was beautiful. The decor was also very cool. Service was spot on as well. I really didn't find one thing wrong with the entire experience. I was super full, so I didn't get desert, but they have a very original assortment. I will be back for more and save room for desert this time.
(5)Len L.
Love this spot- the ambiance is unlike anything else in Portland! Its beautifully decorated with fresh and enticing menu options. The artisan grilled cheese panini and tomato soup was incredible. Our sever, Aaron, was very attentive and made some excellent drink recommendations (If you like gin, try the French gimlet).
(5)Mike M.
Terrible terrible service food and drinks. Do not go here!!! I had two different cocktails that tasted as if the bartender poured corn syrup into them. When I complained the server was incredibly rude and refused to change my order. Really over priced and awful decorating in the interior. Plenty of other great places in the area so hopefully this one will be gone soon
(1)Mary M.
Last minute reservations.....cheerfully accepted....late to the restaurant by 15 +minutes....this faux pas on our part cheerfully dismissed by our hostess. Our table was ready...the decor was very Portland ...eclectic and almost pop-up ish. Gave my husband pause, but as he says the food makes the restaurant. Our lovely waitress breezed over and apologized for not getting to us quicker. I explained we had tickets to a show. She artfully steered us to items that would be out quickly. My husband took her suggestion of the Boar Bourguignon, though he was leery as boar can be gamey. I went for a small plate, Beef Tenderloins and we shared the roasted brussels sprouts. Hubby drank a whit beer me the Mcmule. Everything was amazing...every bite ecstasy. Not a molecule was left on our plates. The portions were just right for us, we ate to satisfaction. No room for dessert, but that will be for next time. Our check arrived without prompting ..oh and she checked in on us three times during the meal to make sure everything was going well and that we had everything we desired! This will be our new go to place for downtown dining. So happy we found you!
(5)Sarah Grace M.
Accidentally stumbled across this place yesterday while in search of a late lunch. Absolutely fantastic - cocktails, food, ambiance, service. A hidden gem!
(5)Jodi J.
I have to say that The Picnic House exceeded my expectations, the food was absolutely incredible!
(5)Don B.
Very nice place to grab a beer or cocktail. Don't be afraid of the scaffolding on the outside; it's nice and safe on the inside.
(5)Lucy J.
My husband and I came here for dinner on a Saturday. The hostess was so nice and accommodating, and we had friendly service from beginning to end. The decor is a mix of steampunk and roaring twenties-- the music is classic ragtime/20s jazz, it's dimly lit by Schoolhouse Electric-type lighting, there are wall decals depicting hot air balloons, etc. It looks like it used to be the lobby of a very old hotel. The drinks alone are worth the visit. The extremely talented (if hipsterishly attired) bartender created all of the seasonal drinks himself. The Smashing Pumpkin (Thanksgiving in your mouth) and Persephone's Palm were our favorites. I ordered absinthe ("served the traditional way") since it was on the menu and I'm an absinthe fan, but I was surprised to find it disappointing: the waiter brought a proper glass of Lucid absinthe, an absinthe spoon, a sugar cube, and a tiny silver tea pot (the single-serve kind you find in restaurants) of lukewarm water. He proceeded to spill everywhere, including on me, as he dumped the water quickly over the sugar cube. It had only partially dissolved when he tipped it into the glass and mashed it down with the spoon, then told me to do the rest. If they have "traditional" absinthe on the menu, they should know that the water needs to be ice cold (so that the louche develops properly), and they should let the customer handle the water (which should be dripped onto the sugar slowly, again, so that the sugar dissolves properly and the louche develops). I know it's extremely nit-picky to take issue with this, but if it's the kind of place that takes pride in serving absinthe, they should do it right. On to the food. The food pretty much knocked our socks off. We shared the Charcuterie to start (very fancy-pants picnic food), and for our entrées we had the pumpkin gnocchi tossed in a hazelnut butter reduction and the boar bourguignon. All of it was gorgeous to look at and delicious to eat. The portions were exactly right for both food and drink. Overall, I wish I lived in this city so we could try everything on the menu!
(4)Shelley O.
With friends for happy hour - sometimes it is hard to find a place where 6 or 8 people can meet and still hear each other in downtown. Nice big tables, fun decor, good small plates for sharing or for dinner, inventive cocktail list.
(5)foodfoodfood f.
Maple duck leg, OMG. The salads here (although not cheap) are unreal - you can top them with a farm-fresh poached egg, a citrus chicken breast, or a maple duck leg. Owned by the same people that own Pudding on the Rice. The soups are great, too.
(5)Brian F.
I stumbled across this lovely place with a friend a few days after it opened. My experience began with intrigue, transitioned into awe and then--after chatting it up with the owners, (an adorable young couple), I experienced THE BEST DRINK of my life. Beautiful and just a block away from the Schnitz, this place cannot be missed!
(5)Justin B.
Went here for a low key end to a batchelor party week long trip. The service was great and the food was fantastic. Crunchy bread great bacon and an amazing atmosphere. If I lived in Portland I would eat here every day. Oh yeah and the mushroom soup was incredible.
(5)Melissa G.
I took a big group of co-workers over to try their Happy Hour on a recent Friday night. The food was scrumptious, and the servers friendly, timely, and patient with our varied group personalities. We all came away with the conviction that we'd be coming back soon.
(4)Bell K.
Such a cute place to meet up for conversation, drink and food. Both dinner and lunch time have great choices and I've never seen it overcrowded. A new regular place for me.
(5)Johnny V.
I dont give out too many 5s but this place deserves it. We just came in to the city for a visit and this was our first stop. We were promptly greeted and the great service continued throughout. We got to meet the owner and were given some background to how they came up with their unique design. The food was amazing, the service was great and the happy hour prices brought it all together. 5s!
(5)Erin W.
Was downtown looking for somewhere to eat since the food carts were closed for dinner and we came across Picnic House on Yelp. Since it was nearby and had good reviews we decided to try it. I was immediately excited by the unique atmosphere, and we were promptly greeted and taken to our seats. The food was good (soup + sandwiches) although slightly overpriced (not surprising given the type of place it was) and a bit small. I would have given this place 4 stars due to its uniqueness and good tasting food (albeit a bit small and pricey as I mentioned) except that the second half of our visit the service went from good to TERRIBLE. We had to ask numerous times for water refills, it took forever to get our check, and there was a line of people at the door waiting to be seated with NO ONE there to greet them for nearly 10 minutes! One couple left, the others stuck it out, but didn't look happy. Not a good thing for a new place downtown... So needless to say, the tip we left wasn't great due to the service. I'd probably eat there again although it wouldn't be my first choice. I would likely go back to get a grab n' go lunch or rent a picnic basket though. The food was good enough that if I didn't have to deal with the service issues and could just take it to go I'd be more likely to do it. :)
(3)Keith K.
Great place with exceptional service and high quality food. The bratwurst was probably the best I've ever had and I spent four years living in Wisconsin! The grilled pound cake was also amazing and certainly a first for me.
(5)Alison M.
I went for lunch and it was awesome! All the entrees sounded so good and it was hard to pick. My friend and I both chose the half and half which was perfect for the price and serving size. The service was excellent and chefs actually know how to season the food perfectly. The rosemary-infused iced tea was a pleasant surprise. I will definitely go back to try their other tasty items. The decor is also amazing. I want that long wood-slab table in the front!
(5)Alexander F.
I walked into the door a bit skeptical because of the lack of patrons, but I was reassured of the quality of the place because of the warm welcome and fantastic service. That surprisingly isn't the best part! The entire building was gorgeous with a taste of class that often eludes many other restaurants. Although the menu is small the wide array of flavors and textural combinations makes up for it.
(5)Katie H.
I picked this place via yelp, and I'm so glad I went. I gotta say I almost shied away from the chicken because almost every time I go out, I get dry chicken. but our waiter (who was amazing, attentive, and really fun) suggested the chicken, so I got it. I gotta say, it amazed me. oh and the asparagus? to die for! I swear nowhere ever cooks it right. even fine dining at times fails. all around amazing experience. oh and the music was nice, jazz and such. lost one star because of a sloppy look in spots tho. wallpaper was torn and smudges all over te walls. but if I could give 4.5 I would. definitely check it out.
(4)Lindsay D.
This place is seriously awesome. In fact, I hesitate to write a review because as soon as people get the word that this place rules, it will be hard to get a table. The atmosphere can't be beat. It really feels like you're on a vintage picnic; open airy space rustic tables, picnic baskets as centerpieces, and greenery as decor. I had the chance to try many different dishes with a group of friends. Service was fast, friendly, and she had lots of good recommendations. We tried lots of small plates and a couple desserts and everything was super tasty. Keep in mind it's fancy picnic style, so no big dinner foods but more lots of smaller gourmet bites to try. I could see how it might seem a little pricey for some since the plates are small, but we had happy hour that was pretty reasonable. You can also people watch out the giant windows that face the Schitzner. I heard you can also order picnic baskets to-go and eat in the park. I can't wait to go back!
(5)A A.
We are from out of town and wanted a unique place to eat dinner. The hotel recommended here and we were not disappointed. The menu is great. I had the grilled cheese and mushroom soup. Delighted when it arrived with a delicious salad. Portions in general are not huge but my entree was filling and very satisfying for me. One funny part of the meal - we asked the waiter to recommend a good local red wine. He said the house wine was great so we ordered 2 bottles (party of 6). The wine was wonderful but we didn't notice until half way thru the bottle it was made in Argentina and not Oregon. Oh well, still a great meal.
(5)Ann S.
Only read this if you have young kids and are considering bringing them along. Otherwise the previous reviews are probably spot on! I hate to break the streak of excellent reviews because this really is an awesome place! I have NEVER written a review for anything before and I am only compelled to write this one hoping the owners will consider making some small changes so that I will feel comfortable coming back. My family and I, including 2 young kids, had lunch here during the lunch hour. Our greeter and server was super friendly. The dining area easily accommodated our group and big stroller. A high chair was provided. Upon arrival it seemed perfect! However, his is NOT a kid friendly place to eat unless you are grabbing take out. Maybe that is intentional but in my opinion any place that supplies a high chair should also supply something that a child of high chair age might eat... I admit I should have taken a closer look at the menu before we were seated. My first clue should have been the fact that both my 2 year old AND 1 year old were served water in delicate-looking glass glasses. I had to ask for plastic then only got one and without a lid. The best bet for them seemed like the grilled cheese hold the onions and grilled watermelon. No go. They wouldn't have anything to do with the grilled cheese. When the server asked I was honest and told him neither of them would eat it. He didn't offer another suggestion ... crackers, a slice of UNgrilled watermelon, bread. My salad, the mixed greens with berries was super good but I had to give all the berries to my kids because they were starving and then had to scarf it down because they were getting unruly by this point with nothing but berries to eat. Maybe I am being unreasonable but the name Picnic House gives a family friendly feeling. I think kids, kites, fresh watermelon, corn on the cob, simple sandwiches, cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, yogurt. But this is really more of a romantic picnic for 2 kind of a place. Another thing, totally gross (I am embarrassed to admit this) but I had to change the 1 year olds diaper on the floor in the bathroom because there wasn't a changing table provided in either of their 2 otherwise very nice and clean bathrooms. Thank goodness it was clean! Maybe this is my fault for staying but in my experience a high chair available = at the very least a kid friendly beverage and container, a kid friendly menu item and a safe place for diaper changing. We have been to plenty of places that don't offer high chairs and that is totally their right but it alerts us to the fact that it is not a good place for us and we go somewhere else. My hope is that this review will prompt the owners to consider making some additions and not the opposite by encouraging them to get rid of the high chairs.
(3)Randy W.
I highly recommend this restaurant! The staff was friendly, the food was amazing, and the price was right! My soup was so good.
(5)Katherine R.
Bestest yummiest food ever!!! Great service and fun atmosphere! Love the bear! We will be back,
(5)Arun R.
Liked their small plates. Tried the roasted cauliflower. The cauliflower soup was good too. However was disappointed with the stuffed mushroom entree.
(3)CC G.
This place is simply amazing. Due to the construction going on outside, it is easy to walk right past, but I highly recommend going in and getting one of their sandwiches. One thing that I absolutely love is that you can do a combo plate of any variation of soups, sandwiches, and salads, even two sandwiches if you want. I couldn't decide what I wanted the other day so that fit the bill perfectly! The server was great too - very attentive and full of good recommendations. I highly recommend this place - do yourself a favor and eat here!
(5)Mike J.
Talk about the perfect pre-theater spot! We were on our way to a concert at the Schnitz, and got there a couple of hours early. OK, we thought, time to find some food. Walked about a block, and there was this promising looking place with a beautiful wooden table inside -- well "picnic table" doesn't do it justice. The desert listings looked good, so we thought we'd give it a try. The athmosphere looked like a scene from Paris in the '20s. They had Edith Piaf music in the background. And the food was great -- we did small plates. The cheese plate was exquisite. The aioli on the roasted vegetable place was wonderous. The salad included the perfect balance of balsamic and berries. And the bundt cake was filled with a complex array of chocolates. We'll be back!
(5)Laura G.
The atmosphere is amazing with all the old time printing blocks on the wall and the magnificent wood picnic table in the front. The whole picnic idea is pretty cool and the food is amazing -- local and fresh. I have to echo Elle C.'s review for sure. Can't wait to get back to PDX and sit around that table with my family again.
(5)Carole S.
What an unexpected delight!! Now I admit, when my husband suggested this place for dinner, the name had me envisioning barbecue and cole slaw of sorts--not really my thing. But WOW, I was really impressed with the fantastic food featuring seasonal ingredients. Started with the beets, oh MY they were good! My maple salmon was PERFECT, kale and quinoa salad delicious, my husband's chops and potatoes homemade-good; great bar menu (local porter and pumpkin cocktail fabulous!), and truly first class service. Our server Ashley was just wonderful--thoughtful, smart, really knew her menu, and just plain kind--a great experience. Cool setting in the original (not current) Heathman hotel, with a spacious mix of seating, good music, a few huge artisnal wood tables, outdoor street lamps indoors, giving it a perfectly Portland funky indoor-outdoor feel. Really terrific for us locals and for bringing guests. This place is a keeper!
(5)Christy R.
This place is amazing!! Food is scrumptious, atmosphere is amazing and you can really tell that the owners put love and care into every detail of this place. I wished I lived closer so I could come more often.
(5)Elaine M.
Really great food at a pretty reasonable price. Gorgeous old building and very Portland from the super skinny hipster in a bow tie seating us to the quirky details, like the check comes to the table in an old book.
(5)Barbara p.
We came with a birthday group for dinner and what a pleasant experience. The interior has very cute decor with tall ceilings. The service was excellent and the food was good too. Try the Stuffed Portebello Mushroom, soooo good!
(4)C H.
Updated from 1 to 2 stars based on the owners responsiveness and sincerity in trying to make it better. Hopefuly can give a full 5 next time we go!
(2)Jennifer C.
Fabulous food -- inventive, thoughtful flavor combinations that constantly surprise the palate. Interior is a former hotel lobby that makes for an entertaining ambiance. Convenient location across from symphony hall.
(5)Susan H.
What a sweet little find in downtown. Easy atmosphere. Attentive service. Nice veggie-friendly menu. Yummy cocktails. All that and a jazzy duo playing for us all. Who knew?!
(4)Alexandra S.
The atmosphere is unique as it was part of the original Heathman Hotel (that's what the waiter told us). I had the nutty brown rice salad with sweet potatoes, turnips and hazelnut vinaigrette. Think almost fried rice except much healthier. It was really tasty, but I wouldn't call it a salad as it is mostly brown rice with a little bit of veggies. My husband had the pork shoulder sandwich. Both were fantastic! I also like that I can order online for pick up! I'd say the Picnic House is definitely worth trying if you haven't already..... we'll for sure be going back!
(4)Laura Q.
I loved this place! Never heard of it before today so there were no preconceived notions of what to expect. What pleasant surprise. I ordered 1/2 roasted pear salad and 1/2 roast beef sandwich and found the lunch to be delicious and filling. I will definitively be going back again. Yumm!
(5)Jj I.
Awesome food and service. The roasted turkey sandwich was great!
(5)Sam A.
Today I had lunch at the Picnic House. The design of the restaurant is warm, creative and fun. The food is tasty and the staff pleasant. This was my third visit to the restaurant. It is easy to see the Picnic House becoming a downtown lunch standard that everyone will enjoy.
(4)Kristen C.
Oh my goodness this was an AMAZING lunch. I had looked over the menu beforehand, and was glad I did because it all sounded so good! I ended up getting a 1/2 sandwich and salad plate. I had the Blueberry Glazed Roasted Turkey sandwich, which was incredible. The bread...oh the bread!! It was so flavorful in itself without having any particularly strong flavor to it. I chose the green salad with berries, cinnamon almonds, house made ricotta, and a pickled blueberry vinaigrette. It was the best salad I've ever had. For dessert, I split a piece of the Sour Cream Chocolate Bundt cake with my friend. SO good.Oh, I also had the best ginger ale I've ever experienced. They even MADE the coke my friend had. You KNOW you want to try it all!!!
(5)Kristin K.
We enjoyed a great lunch at The Picnic House - good food, fresh ingredients, thoughtfully prepared. I very much like the brown rice salad with roasted veggie, dressed with hazelnut vinaigrette - delish! The prices are what I would consider reasonable (this said by a frugal gal raised in the great mid-west:-)
(4)Renae P.
Amazing ambiance and fresh, delicious, lovely food! We will definitely be back often.
(5)Jaimie K.
Great food! I can't wait to go back and try something different. And you MUST get dessert!
(5)Elle C.
This may be my new favorite restaurant. The atmosphere just makes you feel good. I mean the place is REALLY lovely. I had the fresh berry salad with gorgonzola and added roast chicken breast. The berries looked perfect and tasted farm fresh. Made me savor every bite. The chicken was moist and flavorful. First time I've had a salad that made me think I was eatting dessert! They were very busy at lunch today, but Aaron, one of the owners, was running around making sure everyone was kept happy.
(5)Gillian T.
I stumbled on this place on my way to a show a the Schnitz one night and was very pleasantly surprised. The menu offerings all sounded delicious and everything my group ordered was flavorful and expertly prepared. The service was really great as well. We had a very friendly server who didn't hover too much, but paid enough attention to know when/if we needed something. I can't remember which drinks we all ordered, but I remember everyone in the group enjoying them. I had no idea how big of a place it was until I walked in and saw that the space kept going and going. When we were there, there wasn't a host or any sign indicating whether we should seat ourselves or wait, so I think that could be a spot to improve upon because I felt a little lost at first. But the experience was a very positive one and I am definitely planning on trying it again for lunch or their happy hour because both look like they have good prices and I'm going to assume large portions based on my experience ordering dinner. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious food in a no fuss atmosphere.
(4)