I have been coming here for3+ years and have never written a review. Tonight, I experienced one of the most memorable dishes ever... the Chicken Pot Pie.. this is not the "typical" pot pie, but an amazing medley of vegetables/broth, with a small amount of crust and tender chicken.. truly exceptional... REALLY! The service was outstanding, Marisa was so accommodating and "spot on." What a treat! The "whisper" salad was fresh and the dressing was perfect. We finished the evening with a piece of Chocolate cake, sorry to miss the key lime pie... apparently all made by a close friend and local baker. Will be returning Sunday for brunch. Really outstanding... thanks again. A+++++
(5)
Joel T.
West Cafe is located at the end of a series of storefronts next to the 405 downtown that mostly contain Asian restaurants. It has a nice interior and a friendly staff. They'll take your coat for you when you walk in and put it right back on your body when you leave. That's something I'm not always prepared for and often make a fool of myself by the time I realize what's happening. I've gotten salads, sandwiches, and plates of vegetables and rice. I've finished my food each time but never really loved what I ate. I mostly only come here when I'm looking for a close sit down restaurant when at work. I've heard their cake is delicious and made from scratch by one of the owners. I haven't tried for myself but keep meaning to go back and have a slice.
(3)
Tamara H.
This place is a good stand by for when you need to have a business lunch. I'm not blown away by the food but it's decent. The last time I was there I ordered the BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado and lettuce sandwich). They were happy to replace the lettuce with spinach. Honestly, I could have made one just as good at home. I also ordered the mushroom soup which I did not care for at all but that could be my own palate as others enjoyed it. The service is fine. This place is just ok.
(3)
Brittany S.
Ended up here because Loving Hut next door was closed. Decided to give it a try because we were starving. The lentil soup was really good. Bread was fresh. My husband had the grilled cheese sandwich and he loved it. We came around lunch time and it was nice and quiet. Great service. I would definitely come back.
(5)
Lisa S.
Again......why isn't there a line out the door for this place? The menu is so expansive and amazing, I always have a very hard time deciding what to get! Tender, flavorful meats and fish, delicious well prepared seasonal veggies, tons of vegetarian and gluten free options, well crafted cocktails, fireplace and occasional live music. From the African spiced lamb salad to the balsamic roasted portobello, there is something here for absolutely everyone. PLUS a happy hour menu every day from 4:30 to close. The $3 sweet potato, spinach and goat cheese crepes are a mandatory appetizer for me. Long live West Cafe!
(5)
Ryo K.
I had a difficult time rating this place. I've been there many times. The first time I went there was probably 5 years ago. Sometimes it's close to 4 stars and sometimes it's close to 2 stars. Okay, the servers know me as a regular, so my rating for their service might be biased. I think the service is pretty good. However, I must say it really depends on how crowded it is. To be honest, food is more misses than hits. Some dishes are way overpriced. The best way to enjoy this place is to have some drinks and light meal (e.g. soup, appetizers, etc.) listening to the music (they have live music on certain days).
(3)
Kerri L.
My friend, Dean, is leaving Portland to head back home to Hawaii this coming week. I wanted to give him some sort of farewell, but time is limited for him at the moment with all the usual stress and pressure of moving, and it was difficult for me because I worked today. We wanted to do brunch, but none of us were sure it would work out on our schedules. Then I remembered West Cafe did brunch, it's right across the street from my weekend job, and the parking in this part of Portland is easy to find. Hooray! Our mutual friend, Jamie, came along for brunch and good-bye (don't like that word at the moment) and met us at West Cafe. It's nicely decorated (contemporary and clean style) with a great fireplace at one end. Our server took us to our table immediately. The menus are very detailed (but surprisingly small, a victory for "good things come in small packages."). It did take us some time to go through the menu, but our personable server just checked with us a few times with patience and a smile until we made our choices out of an equal amount of lunch/brunch items with emphasis on both vegetarian and other options. The three of us chose a skillet scramble with choice of lots of items to put in the scrambled eggs. Our plates came out so quickly that it was a bit startling, but we soon found out why. The scrambled eggs were under-done if not runny, and the underlying cubed potatoes (home fries) were almost raw in a few places. Dean asked for his eggs to be put back over the fire and firmed up. The three of us enjoyed our meal together. Although the food was very tasty, I have to take one star away for the underdone food. I don't mind waiting for food a couple of minutes longer in order to get it fully cooked. I'm also going to take a star away for having to wait awhile for our check. Once we got it, we finally had to take it up to the register to get checked out. The three stars I have awarded are for an attractive restaurant that obviously takes service to heart, has a great menu and tasty food, and follows through. As some reviewers say on Yelp, three stars does not constitute a bad review. For me it means I would like to come back another day (especially since it's so close to work) and give West Cafe a chance to earn some more stars because I know they're altogether on top of things and our brunch experience there yesterday may have been off because they were slammed with customers.
(3)
Ophelia Y.
This place is a decent spot to come for lunch. They have happy hour from 4-close, which is pretty awesome. My friend and I got the soup, sweet potato crepes, and the quesadilla. The mushroom soup was decent, the crepes we just meh, and the quesadilla was just okay. I probably wouldn't order any of those options again. I've been here for lunch before, though, and it's pretty solid. I've typically enjoyed their salads. We ended our meal with the banana split dessert, which I loved. The environment is nice and clean, especially compared to what you'll get in the area. It has an upscale feel to it, and the service is fantastic.
(3)
Chris R.
We tried West Cafe for the first time yesterday and it was delightful. There was only one server working the dining room but she did a great job at tending the 4 or 5 tables that were seated on this Wednesday evening. I had the braised 1/4 chicken with cherry tomatoes and a side of mashed potatoes and a spinach salad with beets and goat cheese to start. The bread basket had both amazing olive bread and chickpea/cumin seed crisps which I mostly ignored but were fine. My partner had banana wrapped pork with brown rice which was absolutely amazing and packed with flavor. Neither of us love broccolini which was the vegetable of the day but our server was able to sub asparagus which was lovely. The food seemed very thoughtfully prepared and the menu leans towards healthy but still had some indulgent sounding items on it. The dining room is quiet and sophisticated feeling with a large bar area which was empty when we were there. We will go back.
(4)
Mark P.
Excellent food with generous portions. This place is a gem with outstanding wait staff who are non obtrusive. Good jazz combo...noise level is a bit high but tolerable. Dinner prices are comparable to other places of this caliber. Definitely will try brunch next time.
(4)
Debbie H.
If you need a place for a larger group to meet for a casual happy hour, this is the spot! We had a group of almost 20 going to a concert at the Old Church a few blocks away. I called ahead to let them know that there might be a lot of us streaming in over the happy hour. When we arrived, he had set up a large portion of the bar for us, arranged the seating so it was very comfortable. The staff was really nice, and the whole place was accommodating. Great spot!
(4)
Chelsea B.
Very disappointed with the service.
(1)
Emily H.
Very good, quiet atmosphere. Good wine list
(4)
Lori K.
Our first time here before the concert- my husband had perfectly cooked skirt steak and I had pasta Alfredo with shrimp on top(added). The presentation was beautiful and service was excellent!
(5)
K R.
A nice little place. The food was tasted great and the servers were very friendly. There were so many delicious options on the menu, I had a had time choosing what to eat. Would definitely love to come back.
(4)
Breylan D.
You couldn't ask for a more perfect environment - Thanks to the owners! Their true dedication shows. I love that every time I'm here, one, if not both owners are there. The food is high quality, they're quick at lunch time, happy hour is great, too. Definitely a staple for the West Side. Plenty of affordable lunch options that will hit the spot.
(5)
Violet B.
Service without a smile. Host was nice, tho. Food is nothing to write home about. Kind of strange offerings that are overpriced. Lamb kabobs were pretty good. But nothing I'd return for.
(3)
Jenni D.
My fellow Yelpers - I trusted you... but four stars? I have to admit I am a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, the service was fine. I was greeted immediately upon entering, and they gave me the pick of the place (as it was a little sparse during the lunch hour on a Tuesday at noon). Their friendly demeanor definitely earns them extra points. However, my taste buds led this review in a different direction... I sat down, and was prepared to feast my eyes on something tasty. They had an impressive list of options, and had daily specials that looked appealing. I chose the seat next to the woman who appeared to be noshing on a scrumptious bowl of stew. I ordered the B.L.A.T.T. (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado spread, Turkey, and Tomato). Upon receiving the plate, I immediately noticed that the whole wheat bread was of the 99 cents a loaf kind. The turkey also smelled a little weird... like it had been stored next to fish. And... BACON! How can you go wrong with bacon, you ask?! The bacon was barely warm, and it was hard as a rock (and not the burnt style). It was almost as if it was meant to be bacon jerky... guess I didn't get that memo from the menu.
(2)
Brett F.
Nice place, always good food. Good drinks and high quality happy hour daily in the lounge. This trip, excellent seafood tostadas, meatloaf sandwich, and sweet potato fries.
(4)
Melyssa B.
I'm still recovering from the verbal rapage I experienced from our server last night. At least we were entertained, given the performance we witnessed. We arrived no later than 9:15pm (it closes at 10). He sighed and said he would try to catch the kitchen staff before they ran out. Then we made the mistake of only ordering dessert and coffee, another scoff and underhanded comment followed. It took 20 minutes for the underwhelming pre-made chocolate cake. For $8, I expected something at least on par with a Trader Joe's $2 lava cake. As we finished up we were ecstatic to be leaving the most awkward food experience behind us. The waiter walked past our table, check in hand, to mysteriously talk outside for 5 minutes. We each scooped up a few mints on the way out, doing the best to cut our losses for choosing such an awful place to eat.
(1)
Laurie A.
Food is good, but nothing spectacular. I was slightly disappointed that anything more then 3 ingredients in the omelette and scramble costs an additional $0.50 per item. The service was great! From the moment we walked in to the moment we stepped out the door the staff was very friendly and attentive. This place is within walking distance of my home, so ill go again. They also have some interesting menu items that I would like to try. Hopefully next time the food has a little more "pizazz", as this time was just so-so and a bit bland. It is also a tad expensive. If the food was just a little better, I could totally overlook the higher prices.
(3)
Carrie S.
My parents wanted to eat here for breakfast on the day of their 46th anniversary. So, I made reservations, which really were not needed, but made my parents feel better about having a place to sit. Unfortunately, my Dad was not feeling well, so my Mom and I enjoyed breakfast. It was very good. I had the 2 eggs made of eggs whites with the potatoes. I loved the potatoes, because they came with big yummy chunks of onions. Yes!! My mother enjoyed her breakfast as well. We ordered a fruit plate to go to take back to Dad, and the service was really great. I loved the ambiance of this restaurant. I just feel kinda stupid, because I live a block away from this place and have never been in it. I plan on fixing my laziness problem and get here for dinner.
(4)
Alaina W.
Three of us came here on a whim, looking for some breakfast in Portland on our way back to Seattle. The decor was nice and it had a warm, somewhat modern feel to it... but we seemed to be the odd demographic out. I SWEAR we, at 28, 29, and 36, were the youngest folks in there. Anyway, on to the food... Feeding my infatuation with beets, I got the Beet salad. Unfortunately, the beets weren't as flavorful as I'd liked them to have been. And the goat cheese was a little dry. The sweet potato fries were nice but I didn't care for the curry powder. Their breakfast sounded good, but my friend didn't like the the potatoes. Their potato salad (served with a chicken sandwich) was excellent. I'd come back... in 25 years.
(3)
Bill M.
This is a nice little restaurant. When we came in, the hostess (and our waitress) asked if we were going to a show, which in fact we were. She asked when and where and assured us she would make sure we didn't have to hurry through our meal (we had 1.5 hours, but time flies). They came through for us. The food was excellent, large enough portions that my wife and I split a salad and entree (and they didn't charge a plate fee since we split two "main" dishes.) Wine and cocktail selection was adequate but they only had three beers listed. We will come back again.
(4)
Josh J.
I have been here a couple times for business lunch meetings. The food is high quality and exceeded my expectations both times. The service is impeccable! They obviously run a tight ship!! It's a bit loud during the lunch hour when busy, but not too bad. On street parking was easy mid day.
(4)
Mike M.
Incredibly rude and snobby service; the waiter gave our table no mind, and scoffed at the fact we were only having dessert and coffee -- which was actually $8-10 each for three people. I wasn't aware there was a purchase minimum. worse, the fee for not exceeding it was a melodramatic performance from the waiter. one of the most awkward dining experiences of my life, for sure. if the food was actually good I would throw in a few stars, but the $7-8 desserts were no better than $2-3 Starbucks fare.
(1)
Leann A.
Super delicious, unique menu items! A lot of the food is actually quite healthy, which I love -- I really liked that I left feeling like I had eaten something healthy (AND delicious!) as opposed to totally stuffed and disgusting after most nights dining out. The service is great, too. Try the quinoa salad, you won't regret it. I highly recommend checking West Cafe out!
(4)
C. P.
Young children apparently not welcome here. We decided to try this place for brunch before heading to the art museum nearby. When we asked for a high chair for our 14 month old, we were told by the manager that they had made a "management decision to not offer high chairs". Translation: "we don't want little kids here messing up our atmosphere." This place is trying to pass itself off as fine dining, but missing the mark in a big way. I decided to call the manager out on his ludicrous remark and asked him if our baby was welcome there, to which he replied, "Of course. But she will have to sit next to you." Obviously this guy doesn't have kids. If we hadn't already paid for street parking and weren't such a close walk from the museum, we would've left right then. We were offered a booster seat and wedged it between the two of us at a booth. The food isn't really even worth mentioning in this review, as it was bland and over priced. Our server was the only positive: friendly, attentive and went out of his way to accommodate our little one. The management would do well to rethink their intended image of "fine dining", get the stick out (so to speak) and get a freaking clue when it comes to being welcoming of families with small children.
(1)
Elaine P.
If you have cheapo friends, then this is the place to go. Especially if they are on fixed incomes. There is nothing here that will dazzle. The wait staff interrupts you in mid-sentence throughout your dining experience. It's a Chinese menu of sorts -- everything in the world, yet nothing in particular. You spin your index finger around and pick! And it's not a horrible choice either. Just not spectacular. Reasonable prices. Bring your retired friends here, they will be relieved that the prices are relatively low for so-called "fine" dining.
(3)
Christina B.
The goat cheese and spinach crepes are incredible! I loved the Excelisior South African wine. It was so unique. Their happy hour is a good way to try a lot of different things.
(4)
Alex R.
We were looking for something new to try for lunch, and we had not explored all the options near our office in downtown. I want to say that having menus, hours, and location on your restaurant's website is such a basic thing that most restaurants miss, or make difficult to find. West Cafe succeeds - they have PDF versions of all of their menus, though the flash navigation is a big dodgy. The lunch menu was why we decided on coming here .. it has a reasonable selection of food items, and the pricing seemed ok for downtown. The decor is inoffensive - bland, but nice. From the look of the place, they are aiming at the business lunch crowd, and I'll admit that we felt a little unwelcome at the start in our typical Portland software engineer attire, complete with hoodies (Clean, unmarked black ones.. It's a cold August. Especially in our office) It took a considerable amount of time to place our orders (15-20 min) and another 20 or so to get our food. I ordered the quesadilla salad (... does what it says on the tin, it's a quesadilla.. on top of a salad), my coworker had the turkey reuben. (With the default "whisper" of a salad that you've seen other commenters remark on) My meal could have had some zing, some pizzazz, some flavor.. It was nicely presented, but bland. My coworker remarked that he expected his reuben on rye or pumpernickel, and that it was overdressed, but okay. And on leaving, the host told us to "Be well". Fortunately, I'm a fan of Demolition Man, so that wins at least a half star. :) Anyhow. Aiming for the business lunch crowd, I expected it to be fast, and not too embarrassing of a choice to take clients to. I'd say walk the other direction to Henry's or The Original instead for better, less bland food and atmosphere.
(3)
Tammey Z.
I am completely horrified by the service we received at this so called fine dining establishment. If you are going to try to pass yourselves off as fine dining you may want to have a server that has some skills. We never even got to the food as the service was so bad we had our drinks and left. When we walked in we felt like we were the only ones under seventy dining there and for prime dinner time there were only three other tables taken. The service was so slow and every time the server (never got her name as she never offered it) would make it to our table she would have some lame excuse as to why it had been so long. She was abrasive and had no knowledge of the menu. When we asked what beers they had she couldn't remember the three beers they carry and had to look on the menu. She was irritated that WE didn't notice the beer list and seemed put out to even be standing there. When the bartender delivered our drinks we asked what the pizza of the day was as we had not been told the specials. She actually yelled across the room to our server to see what it was and of course she had no idea. Minutes later we get some terrible photo copy that was barely readable of the specials thrown on our table. When she showed up to take our food order and we didn't want to order anything for several different reasons she implied we couldn't afford the food and told us this probably wasn't our kind of place. Yes this isn't our kind of place, we like a server who is personable, knowledgeable and somewhat friendly. We like a environment that is comfortable and relaxing. We like food that sounds like it makes sense not something that sounds so complicated you don't even want to order it. On our way out the server was standing outside screaming down the street at a homeless man, what an appropriate ending to this lame experience. Since people don't seem to be lining up to eat here you would think they could get it together and hire someone who can be nice to the customers.
(1)
Darin C.
This restaurant is great and the owners have a deep concern for food quality, product and presentation. Ive been coming here for years and the staff has never been rude or disrespectful only some of the customers, great place to go and unwind by the fireplace, listen to live music on saturday or have a great Eggs Benedict on sunday.
(5)
Bob S.
This is a review for the live music on a Saturday night. I'm a guitar player (fingerpicking, swing, be-bop) and S.U. and I were lured by a post from Greg W. for David Brothers and Terry Robb, playing with bassist Dave Kahl, no cover. A very cozy venue. Up close and personal. It was like being in someone's living room. We called in advance to make sure there was no dining requirement. We just wanted to sit, have a drink and listen to it live. They were friendly on the phone (No Problem!). They were friendly when we arrived. A completely low key, nice atmosphere. S.U. drank some white wine, I had a couple of pints of Ninkasi IPA on tap. Others seemed to be enjoying their dinners and they all stuck around, impressed by the band. We totally enjoyed the skilled musicianship and fine technical skills of all the players. I'll be checking WestCafe's music listings. Live Music is where it's at!! Tip the waiters and the Band!
(4)
Bryon W.
Great American food, quality ingredients prepared well. A very tasty and affordable lunch!
(5)
Kate T.
We walked in here, just after they opened for lunch, and stared at the empty dining room for minutes while the staff attended to things in the back room. When the host did eventually appear, he asked us to wait a moment while he checked the reservations book to make sure he could seat us. Again, the room was deserted. The reservations book is just a lined journal that they scrawl stuff into, and of the pages he leafed through, none had more than a few entries. And if they had a reservation substantial enough to require turning away a party of three when the restaurant was empty, shouldn't they have already set up a large table for that party? Anyway, the food was ok, the service erred on the side of slow, and i think we were the only people in there under 50 years old. Three different people tried to refill my dining companion's empty glass of soda in the span of one minute (saying 'no, thank you' that frequently was strange), but it took us five minutes to flag someone down for our check. I'm sure there are places with better food, better service, and less pretension. I'll go find those instead of coming back here.
(2)
Chris M.
Nice enough, and in the area, the best I could find. Food was OK, sterile atmosphere. It was not bad, but definitely nothing special either. Would not go out of my way to go there.
(2)
SW B.
Great ambiance and delicious food!
(5)
Lisa P.
Amazing atmosphere and great food! I chose to take my partner to this cozy, upscale eatery in downtown for our 10 year anniversary. We were seated at a quiet, comfortable table looking out over downtown Portland. The atmosphere was lovely and very romantic. The wine list was amazing and they even had a rare sparkling varietal that was perfect for my anniversary dinner. We started with the chicken skewers and the wild mushroom and goat cheese tart. The tart was a perfect blend of savory wild mushrooms and tangy goat cheese all heaped on a lovely, buttery crust. I loved it! The skewers were moist and spicy, just perfect. For our entrees we enjoyed the culotte steak served over blue cheese mashed potatoes and the pulled pork. Both of our meals were out of this world, perfectly seasoned and made with the freshest ingredients. Dessert was the most amazing apple pie I have ever had with a crispy, crumble topping and full-fat vanilla ice cream. I will go back to West Cafe again and again for great food, good service and amazing atmosphere!
(5)
cory h.
My wife and I went here for a romantic date night, and it worked out pretty well. I had the roast pork wrapped in a banana leaf, cooked with a a red curry sauce and brown rice. I am partial to curry, so this dish was great for me. My mouth is actually watering while I'm thinking about it. Also, I don't usually like brown rice, but in this case it was done well enough to be firm, but not gummy like brown rice often is. The pork was flavorful and juicy. My wife had fish, which she said was okay. The waitress was very warm and friendly. She actually reminded me of my mom a little bit, which was weird. She was one of those waitresses that touches you a lot. I don't mind, but some people feel uncomfortable with that level of intimacy. We enjoyed the experience there. We would probably go back again if some friends wanted to try it, but with so many interesting restaurants in Portland, this place doesn't stand out as a must go back.
(4)
Paul S.
I've had lunch and dinner here about 5 times. Every meal has been wonderful and the service top notch. The menu is varied and affordable. I've never had a problem with parking here. Whether it was sandwiches or steak, the offerings were unique and scrumptous. Love the big windows for people watching.
(5)
Ken Z.
Went here for Sunday Brunch/Breakfast a couple days ago for Mother's Day. Good service - friendly staff. Excellent breakfast selection including delicious homemade warm scones and turkey bacon! Good selection of entrees and sides at a very reasonable price.
(4)
Sara L.
I really like West Cafe for business lunches. The staff is very attentive and helpful. Today, while the staff was their usual greatness, the food was a disappointment. I ordered the special which was supposed to be wilted kale, white bean salad and tuna. The waitstaff was very accommodating with my ordering without the tuna and even offered a chicken substitute. But when I got the food it was raw spinach.... NOT the wilted kale that I really wanted. Since I was meeting with prospective clients I was not about to send it back. I will return to West Cafe since it is excellent for lunches, but I am disappointed about the mix-up with the greens.
(4)
Paul R.
I'm local to this place and have given it several shots. There aren't many decent foodie-oriented eateries close by (as opposed to being in the Pearl) so I was hoping for the best. The food is OK for the money but not great (e.g. the corn and crab cakes are light on anything other than corn and filler). The service can be labeled as ambivalent. The worst thing is that the wine pours are pathetic. A pour should be 6 ounces, not 4, not 5. The wine is already over marked-up (come on, I can buy many of them at Safeway a block away), so to add insult to injury with poor pours is enough to keep us away. Too bad. There's potential here that's not being met.
(2)
Kody L.
My opinions of this place are about as consolidated as their menu, so let's go with stream of consciousness: Good: The food does taste good (wouldn't quite say amazing). Bad: Why wasn't my banana leaf-wrapped pork actually cooked in a banana leaf? It was just wrapped in one afterward. Good: A "whisper" of salad (I think it's a silly use of the word) wasn't as small as I was fearing. Very appropriate. Good: Corn and crab cakes were awesome! Bad: See above. They came with an odd mango sauce -- just the wrong pairing, which kind of sums up this place. They are creative, but they need to run it through taste tests before putting it on the menu. Bad: A tad overpriced. Good: Our server was great and very knowledgeable about the menu, especially for normally working as the bartender. Good: They participated in Bites for Rights, our reason for dining here.
(3)
Shana N.
Went for lunch on a Sunday. Beautifully decorated, clean, good service, and delicious food. I had the poached eggs on english muffin w/ crab & aioli sauce. SO GOOD!
(5)
Petra L.
Never, ever again. During the commercial breaks from election coverage, I spent all my time here telling my dining companion every time the Yelp review I would write lost another star. By the end of the night it was down to one. The food: fairly tasty, but incredibly expensive for such tiny portions and a pitiful lack of vegan options. The squash was tasty, but it was $10 for maybe a quarter of a squash. I'm spoiled by food carts, I know, but I was pretty bitter. Also, their potato wedges were, in a word, flaccid. Soft, gross, and totally unacceptable. The drinks: the beer was fine (how hard would it be to fuck up a beer?) but my basil pear martini tasted like anise. I mean, fully. And I hate the taste of anise. The service: terrible. Slow, orders were mixed up, other orders were never placed. And we watched our waitress nearly blow up at a couple who'd just walked in the door. All in all, a terrible vibe. I'll never step foot in this place again. $25 for a terrible experience.
(1)
O D.
I had lunch at West Cafe a few days ago with a good friend of mine. She frequents this establishment as it is very close to where she works. Normally very busy for lunch, this particular afternoon was the complete opposite. We had the entire restaurant to our self which was nice, but also disturbing in a way. We were either very early for lunch, or maybe it's not as good as my friend thought. I ordered the B.L.A.T.T with whole wheat bread. Our waitress was attentive and very friendly. My friend ordered some kind of salad; however when it arrived it was the wrong order which the waitress didn't realize until it was brought out. It turned out for the best as it was still very good. The only thing I suggest is for you to bring your fly swatter as there wason pesky fly that would not leave us alone. This is not a negative reflection on the restaurant, but just something to keep in mind. Good service, good food, good location as I could easily walk to work and shopping right afterwards.
(3)
Terry S.
Hit it today @ 12:00 I can't put it on my top 10 list at this time. Great service from Rachel (very cute and tall with a natural beautiful face!) Bacon wasn't hot enough. I apreciated the hot Asain girl w/the short white skirt that was sitting by the window made my coffee taste weak;) But do give a try.
(3)
Swordfish X.
terrific service above and beyond the call. We had a performance and the staff went out of their way to accommodate us, in addition to checking in on our meal and our time. I HIGHLY recommend the service and the food was delicious.
(4)
Erin K.
Good food. Really good, unique cocktails. Salads with just the right amount of dressing. Would go again.
(3)
Chad M.
I liked the West Cafe. My wife and I went there on a date and had dinner. It is a comfy space, a bit loud, but nice. We sat near the windows. Service was a bit slow, but they were fairly slammed as well. However we had to warn our server we were trying to catch a movie too, and I shouldn't have had to do that. Had an iceberg wedge starter salad which was crisp and good with plenty of blue cheese and extras. Dinner had the morrocan chicken with mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts while the the wife had seared salmon with dungeness crab on top (it was a special) over brown rice. The chicken was tender and fell of th bone and the dates and apricots the menu said were used in its cooking could be tasted in the meat. Was disappointed they weren't included on the side though. Mashed taters were just OK. Brussel sprouts were grilled just right. Wife liked salmon, although since it had just been lightly seared it was partially raw which isn't her thing, but that wasn't the fault of the restaurant. Food over all was very good, but no excellent. Quantities were a bit sparse for the price, but we were full, so what am i complaining about?? Didn't have dessert as we were off to a movie. Dinner was about 20 bucks each.
(4)
Gordon M.
The menu stated that main courses came with a "Whisper of Salad" - not a side salad - but just a whisper. We thought this was hilarious. Do they employ a salad whisperer? Service was courteous, but slow and amateur. The waitress was not familiar with the menu and kept having to excuse herself to ask someone in the kitchen when questions arose. When one member of my party asked her about the Caesar dressing, instead of answering her question she returned with about a third of a cup of the dressing in a small bowl with a spoon so that we could sample it. When asked about whether the salads contained swiss chard, we were told they weren't - but then the salads were served with it. When I asked for my Caesar salad to be served with the main course, it was served before anyway. My partner and I shared the Caesar (which was very ordinary and the dressing was like mayonnaise) and the vegetarian lasagna. We enjoyed the french 57 cocktails, but otherwise the food was overpriced and portions were small. I wouldn't go back for dinner, but maybe for happy hour (if they had one).
(2)
Michelle H.
UPDATE: Five words: Coconut. Sorbet. In. A. Coconut. ---------- Why has no one reviewed this? Is it because it's off the beaten path a bit? Well I don't care what the excuse is because this place rocks. I've driven past it 382091829321 times on my way home from work and it called to me every single time, and I finally answered its call. Can I get an oh-my-god-what-the-hell-have-I-been-waiting-for? Delicious! Flavorful! Simple, yet incredible! I've only been for lunch but there were so many amazing options. How is a girl to choose? The decor is simplistic and classy. I really enjoy it. You've got the classic dining on the right, lounge-esque chairs and bar on the left. There is no barrier between them and it's just an open flow, but I think it really works. I've driven past on nice days and seen the windows in front of the lounge open up to let in that fresh air. Brilliant! Speaking of the lounge, they do have a happy hour that's $1 off drinks and food twice a night (4-6 and 9-close). Nothing spectacular, but I still want to check it out. Have you seen that drink list? Inventive! (Shane E. they have a French 57, isn't that like your 75??) The service was slowish, but incredible. That probably makes no sense. We hit the last table in the lunch rush, and they were slammed. One server for all of the tables, the poor girl! She worked her butt off and it showed. She kept up with everyone and everything with a SMILE. If it were me, I'd be in the back curled up in the fetal position and sobbing. We understood completely and she deserved a great tip. At one point even the chef came out to help bus a few tables. That's incredible. Maybe people don't get up here because you pass Higgins on the way, but I think you should take the extra walk up a couple blocks and check it out. Yum!
(5)
Bob B.
Really good food here but the service can be a little slow. Had a half of tuna sandwich on a crousant, salad, and curry chicken soup... all for $10 for lunch.. and it was gourmet! The salad dressing is the best house dressing I have ever tasted... kind of an oriental dressing. Nice bar and wine list too! Will come back again... this is a gem of a place... when I drove by thought it was kind of a diner type place but this is gourmet food at a reasonable price and the presentation is as good as the finest restaurants in Portland. Don't get angry at the slow service, the wait is worth it once the food arrives. There were 14 people in the place when we arrived and it took 20 minutes to get our food after we ordered. Next time will order a glass of wine and relax.
(5)
Sam A.
The windows open; the staff is great; food is wonderful! The crab and mango salad has to rank as one of the best dishes in Oregon.
(5)
Mallorie H.
i went here last summer with a group... we showed up on a whim with about 8 or 9 people, and they were very nice about accommodating us by moving tables and pushing chairs together in the cocktail area. we ordered lots of drinks and small plates, and the service was prompt and attentive. we made a reservation for a group recently, and they gave us a long table in the front corner. the waiter was very attentive; even tho i arrived late, he was prompt in bringing me a menu and taking my drink order, then taking my food order. that's a good sign, as late arrivals are easy to overlook. the food is good; tho it isn't inexpensive, it's comparable to similar places. the service is the standout for me, as indifferent service can ruin even great food and excellent service can elevate (almost) any meal.
(4)
Sara O.
Have eaten here several times, always for lunch. Each time, I've had a great experience, friendly service and yummy food. I thoroughly enjoy their standard menu as well as the always-interesting specials. Just the kind of food and environment that I like -- healthy but interesting dishes, a casual enough atmosphere for a long chat, and a full bar. What more could I want?
(5)
Tricia L.
Doug and his staff are amazing! My girlfriend and I had a fabulous lunch-- great food and service. I recommend it for a quick business lunch or a long chat with a girlfriend. Love the classic warm, but modern ambience.
(5)
Kim V.
food was okay. host was a snob and rude
(2)
Drunk M.
I've been going there on and off since I discovered the place back in November. If you're looking for a casual yet classy place to take a date, this is it. Especially on a Saturday night, because there's live jazz (typically 4 musicians rotate through each month, some are better than others). The place is quite frequently not crowded in the summer, which has to be a symptom of their location because the food is delicious, the drinks are tasty and the desserts are superb. The staff can be a little quirky sometimes, but they're good people and genuinely eager to do what it takes to make you happy. And one bonus to the location is that there's puh-lenty of street parking all around! This is one of my downtown favorites but I don't get over there often enough, and that's a bad Drunk Monkey! You should give them a shot. And for that date, pick a Saturday night when Mary Kadderly is playing. Drunk Monkey is pleased!
(5)
Amy W.
I've been to West Cafe several times for lunch and dinner and have always had a wonderful meal. It's just a block up from the streetcar stop at SW 11th & Jefferson, and is a great spot for American food done right with local, seasonal ingredients and a gourmet touch. I also love the cocktails and find the atmosphere to be warm and friendly. Their salads are very good (the cobb & beet salads are favorites), and the Columbia River salmon I had recently was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Recommended!
(5)
marc l.
i had the plesant oppurtunity for my girlfriend and i to attend a wine dinner as a guests of the owner. i have to say the experiance was amazing to say the least. the decor and environment is casual and tasteful it is not overdone or trying to hard. the service was great, never was my glass empty or a plate left behind. At this dinner the wine producers actually served the wine themselves as they gave you a description of what you were drinking, not only was the wine tasty but each different choice compliment each indiviual dish of the delicious five course meal. diverse flavors of different wines and a delicious food complimented by excellent service earns the West Cafe's well deserved five starts.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate, Classy Noise Level : Quiet Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Tom D.
I have been coming here for3+ years and have never written a review. Tonight, I experienced one of the most memorable dishes ever... the Chicken Pot Pie.. this is not the "typical" pot pie, but an amazing medley of vegetables/broth, with a small amount of crust and tender chicken.. truly exceptional... REALLY! The service was outstanding, Marisa was so accommodating and "spot on." What a treat! The "whisper" salad was fresh and the dressing was perfect. We finished the evening with a piece of Chocolate cake, sorry to miss the key lime pie... apparently all made by a close friend and local baker. Will be returning Sunday for brunch. Really outstanding... thanks again. A+++++
(5)Joel T.
West Cafe is located at the end of a series of storefronts next to the 405 downtown that mostly contain Asian restaurants. It has a nice interior and a friendly staff. They'll take your coat for you when you walk in and put it right back on your body when you leave. That's something I'm not always prepared for and often make a fool of myself by the time I realize what's happening. I've gotten salads, sandwiches, and plates of vegetables and rice. I've finished my food each time but never really loved what I ate. I mostly only come here when I'm looking for a close sit down restaurant when at work. I've heard their cake is delicious and made from scratch by one of the owners. I haven't tried for myself but keep meaning to go back and have a slice.
(3)Tamara H.
This place is a good stand by for when you need to have a business lunch. I'm not blown away by the food but it's decent. The last time I was there I ordered the BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado and lettuce sandwich). They were happy to replace the lettuce with spinach. Honestly, I could have made one just as good at home. I also ordered the mushroom soup which I did not care for at all but that could be my own palate as others enjoyed it. The service is fine. This place is just ok.
(3)Brittany S.
Ended up here because Loving Hut next door was closed. Decided to give it a try because we were starving. The lentil soup was really good. Bread was fresh. My husband had the grilled cheese sandwich and he loved it. We came around lunch time and it was nice and quiet. Great service. I would definitely come back.
(5)Lisa S.
Again......why isn't there a line out the door for this place? The menu is so expansive and amazing, I always have a very hard time deciding what to get! Tender, flavorful meats and fish, delicious well prepared seasonal veggies, tons of vegetarian and gluten free options, well crafted cocktails, fireplace and occasional live music. From the African spiced lamb salad to the balsamic roasted portobello, there is something here for absolutely everyone. PLUS a happy hour menu every day from 4:30 to close. The $3 sweet potato, spinach and goat cheese crepes are a mandatory appetizer for me. Long live West Cafe!
(5)Ryo K.
I had a difficult time rating this place. I've been there many times. The first time I went there was probably 5 years ago. Sometimes it's close to 4 stars and sometimes it's close to 2 stars. Okay, the servers know me as a regular, so my rating for their service might be biased. I think the service is pretty good. However, I must say it really depends on how crowded it is. To be honest, food is more misses than hits. Some dishes are way overpriced. The best way to enjoy this place is to have some drinks and light meal (e.g. soup, appetizers, etc.) listening to the music (they have live music on certain days).
(3)Kerri L.
My friend, Dean, is leaving Portland to head back home to Hawaii this coming week. I wanted to give him some sort of farewell, but time is limited for him at the moment with all the usual stress and pressure of moving, and it was difficult for me because I worked today. We wanted to do brunch, but none of us were sure it would work out on our schedules. Then I remembered West Cafe did brunch, it's right across the street from my weekend job, and the parking in this part of Portland is easy to find. Hooray! Our mutual friend, Jamie, came along for brunch and good-bye (don't like that word at the moment) and met us at West Cafe. It's nicely decorated (contemporary and clean style) with a great fireplace at one end. Our server took us to our table immediately. The menus are very detailed (but surprisingly small, a victory for "good things come in small packages."). It did take us some time to go through the menu, but our personable server just checked with us a few times with patience and a smile until we made our choices out of an equal amount of lunch/brunch items with emphasis on both vegetarian and other options. The three of us chose a skillet scramble with choice of lots of items to put in the scrambled eggs. Our plates came out so quickly that it was a bit startling, but we soon found out why. The scrambled eggs were under-done if not runny, and the underlying cubed potatoes (home fries) were almost raw in a few places. Dean asked for his eggs to be put back over the fire and firmed up. The three of us enjoyed our meal together. Although the food was very tasty, I have to take one star away for the underdone food. I don't mind waiting for food a couple of minutes longer in order to get it fully cooked. I'm also going to take a star away for having to wait awhile for our check. Once we got it, we finally had to take it up to the register to get checked out. The three stars I have awarded are for an attractive restaurant that obviously takes service to heart, has a great menu and tasty food, and follows through. As some reviewers say on Yelp, three stars does not constitute a bad review. For me it means I would like to come back another day (especially since it's so close to work) and give West Cafe a chance to earn some more stars because I know they're altogether on top of things and our brunch experience there yesterday may have been off because they were slammed with customers.
(3)Ophelia Y.
This place is a decent spot to come for lunch. They have happy hour from 4-close, which is pretty awesome. My friend and I got the soup, sweet potato crepes, and the quesadilla. The mushroom soup was decent, the crepes we just meh, and the quesadilla was just okay. I probably wouldn't order any of those options again. I've been here for lunch before, though, and it's pretty solid. I've typically enjoyed their salads. We ended our meal with the banana split dessert, which I loved. The environment is nice and clean, especially compared to what you'll get in the area. It has an upscale feel to it, and the service is fantastic.
(3)Chris R.
We tried West Cafe for the first time yesterday and it was delightful. There was only one server working the dining room but she did a great job at tending the 4 or 5 tables that were seated on this Wednesday evening. I had the braised 1/4 chicken with cherry tomatoes and a side of mashed potatoes and a spinach salad with beets and goat cheese to start. The bread basket had both amazing olive bread and chickpea/cumin seed crisps which I mostly ignored but were fine. My partner had banana wrapped pork with brown rice which was absolutely amazing and packed with flavor. Neither of us love broccolini which was the vegetable of the day but our server was able to sub asparagus which was lovely. The food seemed very thoughtfully prepared and the menu leans towards healthy but still had some indulgent sounding items on it. The dining room is quiet and sophisticated feeling with a large bar area which was empty when we were there. We will go back.
(4)Mark P.
Excellent food with generous portions. This place is a gem with outstanding wait staff who are non obtrusive. Good jazz combo...noise level is a bit high but tolerable. Dinner prices are comparable to other places of this caliber. Definitely will try brunch next time.
(4)Debbie H.
If you need a place for a larger group to meet for a casual happy hour, this is the spot! We had a group of almost 20 going to a concert at the Old Church a few blocks away. I called ahead to let them know that there might be a lot of us streaming in over the happy hour. When we arrived, he had set up a large portion of the bar for us, arranged the seating so it was very comfortable. The staff was really nice, and the whole place was accommodating. Great spot!
(4)Chelsea B.
Very disappointed with the service.
(1)Emily H.
Very good, quiet atmosphere. Good wine list
(4)Lori K.
Our first time here before the concert- my husband had perfectly cooked skirt steak and I had pasta Alfredo with shrimp on top(added). The presentation was beautiful and service was excellent!
(5)K R.
A nice little place. The food was tasted great and the servers were very friendly. There were so many delicious options on the menu, I had a had time choosing what to eat. Would definitely love to come back.
(4)Breylan D.
You couldn't ask for a more perfect environment - Thanks to the owners! Their true dedication shows. I love that every time I'm here, one, if not both owners are there. The food is high quality, they're quick at lunch time, happy hour is great, too. Definitely a staple for the West Side. Plenty of affordable lunch options that will hit the spot.
(5)Violet B.
Service without a smile. Host was nice, tho. Food is nothing to write home about. Kind of strange offerings that are overpriced. Lamb kabobs were pretty good. But nothing I'd return for.
(3)Jenni D.
My fellow Yelpers - I trusted you... but four stars? I have to admit I am a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, the service was fine. I was greeted immediately upon entering, and they gave me the pick of the place (as it was a little sparse during the lunch hour on a Tuesday at noon). Their friendly demeanor definitely earns them extra points. However, my taste buds led this review in a different direction... I sat down, and was prepared to feast my eyes on something tasty. They had an impressive list of options, and had daily specials that looked appealing. I chose the seat next to the woman who appeared to be noshing on a scrumptious bowl of stew. I ordered the B.L.A.T.T. (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado spread, Turkey, and Tomato). Upon receiving the plate, I immediately noticed that the whole wheat bread was of the 99 cents a loaf kind. The turkey also smelled a little weird... like it had been stored next to fish. And... BACON! How can you go wrong with bacon, you ask?! The bacon was barely warm, and it was hard as a rock (and not the burnt style). It was almost as if it was meant to be bacon jerky... guess I didn't get that memo from the menu.
(2)Brett F.
Nice place, always good food. Good drinks and high quality happy hour daily in the lounge. This trip, excellent seafood tostadas, meatloaf sandwich, and sweet potato fries.
(4)Melyssa B.
I'm still recovering from the verbal rapage I experienced from our server last night. At least we were entertained, given the performance we witnessed. We arrived no later than 9:15pm (it closes at 10). He sighed and said he would try to catch the kitchen staff before they ran out. Then we made the mistake of only ordering dessert and coffee, another scoff and underhanded comment followed. It took 20 minutes for the underwhelming pre-made chocolate cake. For $8, I expected something at least on par with a Trader Joe's $2 lava cake. As we finished up we were ecstatic to be leaving the most awkward food experience behind us. The waiter walked past our table, check in hand, to mysteriously talk outside for 5 minutes. We each scooped up a few mints on the way out, doing the best to cut our losses for choosing such an awful place to eat.
(1)Laurie A.
Food is good, but nothing spectacular. I was slightly disappointed that anything more then 3 ingredients in the omelette and scramble costs an additional $0.50 per item. The service was great! From the moment we walked in to the moment we stepped out the door the staff was very friendly and attentive. This place is within walking distance of my home, so ill go again. They also have some interesting menu items that I would like to try. Hopefully next time the food has a little more "pizazz", as this time was just so-so and a bit bland. It is also a tad expensive. If the food was just a little better, I could totally overlook the higher prices.
(3)Carrie S.
My parents wanted to eat here for breakfast on the day of their 46th anniversary. So, I made reservations, which really were not needed, but made my parents feel better about having a place to sit. Unfortunately, my Dad was not feeling well, so my Mom and I enjoyed breakfast. It was very good. I had the 2 eggs made of eggs whites with the potatoes. I loved the potatoes, because they came with big yummy chunks of onions. Yes!! My mother enjoyed her breakfast as well. We ordered a fruit plate to go to take back to Dad, and the service was really great. I loved the ambiance of this restaurant. I just feel kinda stupid, because I live a block away from this place and have never been in it. I plan on fixing my laziness problem and get here for dinner.
(4)Alaina W.
Three of us came here on a whim, looking for some breakfast in Portland on our way back to Seattle. The decor was nice and it had a warm, somewhat modern feel to it... but we seemed to be the odd demographic out. I SWEAR we, at 28, 29, and 36, were the youngest folks in there. Anyway, on to the food... Feeding my infatuation with beets, I got the Beet salad. Unfortunately, the beets weren't as flavorful as I'd liked them to have been. And the goat cheese was a little dry. The sweet potato fries were nice but I didn't care for the curry powder. Their breakfast sounded good, but my friend didn't like the the potatoes. Their potato salad (served with a chicken sandwich) was excellent. I'd come back... in 25 years.
(3)Bill M.
This is a nice little restaurant. When we came in, the hostess (and our waitress) asked if we were going to a show, which in fact we were. She asked when and where and assured us she would make sure we didn't have to hurry through our meal (we had 1.5 hours, but time flies). They came through for us. The food was excellent, large enough portions that my wife and I split a salad and entree (and they didn't charge a plate fee since we split two "main" dishes.) Wine and cocktail selection was adequate but they only had three beers listed. We will come back again.
(4)Josh J.
I have been here a couple times for business lunch meetings. The food is high quality and exceeded my expectations both times. The service is impeccable! They obviously run a tight ship!! It's a bit loud during the lunch hour when busy, but not too bad. On street parking was easy mid day.
(4)Mike M.
Incredibly rude and snobby service; the waiter gave our table no mind, and scoffed at the fact we were only having dessert and coffee -- which was actually $8-10 each for three people. I wasn't aware there was a purchase minimum. worse, the fee for not exceeding it was a melodramatic performance from the waiter. one of the most awkward dining experiences of my life, for sure. if the food was actually good I would throw in a few stars, but the $7-8 desserts were no better than $2-3 Starbucks fare.
(1)Leann A.
Super delicious, unique menu items! A lot of the food is actually quite healthy, which I love -- I really liked that I left feeling like I had eaten something healthy (AND delicious!) as opposed to totally stuffed and disgusting after most nights dining out. The service is great, too. Try the quinoa salad, you won't regret it. I highly recommend checking West Cafe out!
(4)C. P.
Young children apparently not welcome here. We decided to try this place for brunch before heading to the art museum nearby. When we asked for a high chair for our 14 month old, we were told by the manager that they had made a "management decision to not offer high chairs". Translation: "we don't want little kids here messing up our atmosphere." This place is trying to pass itself off as fine dining, but missing the mark in a big way. I decided to call the manager out on his ludicrous remark and asked him if our baby was welcome there, to which he replied, "Of course. But she will have to sit next to you." Obviously this guy doesn't have kids. If we hadn't already paid for street parking and weren't such a close walk from the museum, we would've left right then. We were offered a booster seat and wedged it between the two of us at a booth. The food isn't really even worth mentioning in this review, as it was bland and over priced. Our server was the only positive: friendly, attentive and went out of his way to accommodate our little one. The management would do well to rethink their intended image of "fine dining", get the stick out (so to speak) and get a freaking clue when it comes to being welcoming of families with small children.
(1)Elaine P.
If you have cheapo friends, then this is the place to go. Especially if they are on fixed incomes. There is nothing here that will dazzle. The wait staff interrupts you in mid-sentence throughout your dining experience. It's a Chinese menu of sorts -- everything in the world, yet nothing in particular. You spin your index finger around and pick! And it's not a horrible choice either. Just not spectacular. Reasonable prices. Bring your retired friends here, they will be relieved that the prices are relatively low for so-called "fine" dining.
(3)Christina B.
The goat cheese and spinach crepes are incredible! I loved the Excelisior South African wine. It was so unique. Their happy hour is a good way to try a lot of different things.
(4)Alex R.
We were looking for something new to try for lunch, and we had not explored all the options near our office in downtown. I want to say that having menus, hours, and location on your restaurant's website is such a basic thing that most restaurants miss, or make difficult to find. West Cafe succeeds - they have PDF versions of all of their menus, though the flash navigation is a big dodgy. The lunch menu was why we decided on coming here .. it has a reasonable selection of food items, and the pricing seemed ok for downtown. The decor is inoffensive - bland, but nice. From the look of the place, they are aiming at the business lunch crowd, and I'll admit that we felt a little unwelcome at the start in our typical Portland software engineer attire, complete with hoodies (Clean, unmarked black ones.. It's a cold August. Especially in our office) It took a considerable amount of time to place our orders (15-20 min) and another 20 or so to get our food. I ordered the quesadilla salad (... does what it says on the tin, it's a quesadilla.. on top of a salad), my coworker had the turkey reuben. (With the default "whisper" of a salad that you've seen other commenters remark on) My meal could have had some zing, some pizzazz, some flavor.. It was nicely presented, but bland. My coworker remarked that he expected his reuben on rye or pumpernickel, and that it was overdressed, but okay. And on leaving, the host told us to "Be well". Fortunately, I'm a fan of Demolition Man, so that wins at least a half star. :) Anyhow. Aiming for the business lunch crowd, I expected it to be fast, and not too embarrassing of a choice to take clients to. I'd say walk the other direction to Henry's or The Original instead for better, less bland food and atmosphere.
(3)Tammey Z.
I am completely horrified by the service we received at this so called fine dining establishment. If you are going to try to pass yourselves off as fine dining you may want to have a server that has some skills. We never even got to the food as the service was so bad we had our drinks and left. When we walked in we felt like we were the only ones under seventy dining there and for prime dinner time there were only three other tables taken. The service was so slow and every time the server (never got her name as she never offered it) would make it to our table she would have some lame excuse as to why it had been so long. She was abrasive and had no knowledge of the menu. When we asked what beers they had she couldn't remember the three beers they carry and had to look on the menu. She was irritated that WE didn't notice the beer list and seemed put out to even be standing there. When the bartender delivered our drinks we asked what the pizza of the day was as we had not been told the specials. She actually yelled across the room to our server to see what it was and of course she had no idea. Minutes later we get some terrible photo copy that was barely readable of the specials thrown on our table. When she showed up to take our food order and we didn't want to order anything for several different reasons she implied we couldn't afford the food and told us this probably wasn't our kind of place. Yes this isn't our kind of place, we like a server who is personable, knowledgeable and somewhat friendly. We like a environment that is comfortable and relaxing. We like food that sounds like it makes sense not something that sounds so complicated you don't even want to order it. On our way out the server was standing outside screaming down the street at a homeless man, what an appropriate ending to this lame experience. Since people don't seem to be lining up to eat here you would think they could get it together and hire someone who can be nice to the customers.
(1)Darin C.
This restaurant is great and the owners have a deep concern for food quality, product and presentation. Ive been coming here for years and the staff has never been rude or disrespectful only some of the customers, great place to go and unwind by the fireplace, listen to live music on saturday or have a great Eggs Benedict on sunday.
(5)Bob S.
This is a review for the live music on a Saturday night. I'm a guitar player (fingerpicking, swing, be-bop) and S.U. and I were lured by a post from Greg W. for David Brothers and Terry Robb, playing with bassist Dave Kahl, no cover. A very cozy venue. Up close and personal. It was like being in someone's living room. We called in advance to make sure there was no dining requirement. We just wanted to sit, have a drink and listen to it live. They were friendly on the phone (No Problem!). They were friendly when we arrived. A completely low key, nice atmosphere. S.U. drank some white wine, I had a couple of pints of Ninkasi IPA on tap. Others seemed to be enjoying their dinners and they all stuck around, impressed by the band. We totally enjoyed the skilled musicianship and fine technical skills of all the players. I'll be checking WestCafe's music listings. Live Music is where it's at!! Tip the waiters and the Band!
(4)Bryon W.
Great American food, quality ingredients prepared well. A very tasty and affordable lunch!
(5)Kate T.
We walked in here, just after they opened for lunch, and stared at the empty dining room for minutes while the staff attended to things in the back room. When the host did eventually appear, he asked us to wait a moment while he checked the reservations book to make sure he could seat us. Again, the room was deserted. The reservations book is just a lined journal that they scrawl stuff into, and of the pages he leafed through, none had more than a few entries. And if they had a reservation substantial enough to require turning away a party of three when the restaurant was empty, shouldn't they have already set up a large table for that party? Anyway, the food was ok, the service erred on the side of slow, and i think we were the only people in there under 50 years old. Three different people tried to refill my dining companion's empty glass of soda in the span of one minute (saying 'no, thank you' that frequently was strange), but it took us five minutes to flag someone down for our check. I'm sure there are places with better food, better service, and less pretension. I'll go find those instead of coming back here.
(2)Chris M.
Nice enough, and in the area, the best I could find. Food was OK, sterile atmosphere. It was not bad, but definitely nothing special either. Would not go out of my way to go there.
(2)SW B.
Great ambiance and delicious food!
(5)Lisa P.
Amazing atmosphere and great food! I chose to take my partner to this cozy, upscale eatery in downtown for our 10 year anniversary. We were seated at a quiet, comfortable table looking out over downtown Portland. The atmosphere was lovely and very romantic. The wine list was amazing and they even had a rare sparkling varietal that was perfect for my anniversary dinner. We started with the chicken skewers and the wild mushroom and goat cheese tart. The tart was a perfect blend of savory wild mushrooms and tangy goat cheese all heaped on a lovely, buttery crust. I loved it! The skewers were moist and spicy, just perfect. For our entrees we enjoyed the culotte steak served over blue cheese mashed potatoes and the pulled pork. Both of our meals were out of this world, perfectly seasoned and made with the freshest ingredients. Dessert was the most amazing apple pie I have ever had with a crispy, crumble topping and full-fat vanilla ice cream. I will go back to West Cafe again and again for great food, good service and amazing atmosphere!
(5)cory h.
My wife and I went here for a romantic date night, and it worked out pretty well. I had the roast pork wrapped in a banana leaf, cooked with a a red curry sauce and brown rice. I am partial to curry, so this dish was great for me. My mouth is actually watering while I'm thinking about it. Also, I don't usually like brown rice, but in this case it was done well enough to be firm, but not gummy like brown rice often is. The pork was flavorful and juicy. My wife had fish, which she said was okay. The waitress was very warm and friendly. She actually reminded me of my mom a little bit, which was weird. She was one of those waitresses that touches you a lot. I don't mind, but some people feel uncomfortable with that level of intimacy. We enjoyed the experience there. We would probably go back again if some friends wanted to try it, but with so many interesting restaurants in Portland, this place doesn't stand out as a must go back.
(4)Paul S.
I've had lunch and dinner here about 5 times. Every meal has been wonderful and the service top notch. The menu is varied and affordable. I've never had a problem with parking here. Whether it was sandwiches or steak, the offerings were unique and scrumptous. Love the big windows for people watching.
(5)Ken Z.
Went here for Sunday Brunch/Breakfast a couple days ago for Mother's Day. Good service - friendly staff. Excellent breakfast selection including delicious homemade warm scones and turkey bacon! Good selection of entrees and sides at a very reasonable price.
(4)Sara L.
I really like West Cafe for business lunches. The staff is very attentive and helpful. Today, while the staff was their usual greatness, the food was a disappointment. I ordered the special which was supposed to be wilted kale, white bean salad and tuna. The waitstaff was very accommodating with my ordering without the tuna and even offered a chicken substitute. But when I got the food it was raw spinach.... NOT the wilted kale that I really wanted. Since I was meeting with prospective clients I was not about to send it back. I will return to West Cafe since it is excellent for lunches, but I am disappointed about the mix-up with the greens.
(4)Paul R.
I'm local to this place and have given it several shots. There aren't many decent foodie-oriented eateries close by (as opposed to being in the Pearl) so I was hoping for the best. The food is OK for the money but not great (e.g. the corn and crab cakes are light on anything other than corn and filler). The service can be labeled as ambivalent. The worst thing is that the wine pours are pathetic. A pour should be 6 ounces, not 4, not 5. The wine is already over marked-up (come on, I can buy many of them at Safeway a block away), so to add insult to injury with poor pours is enough to keep us away. Too bad. There's potential here that's not being met.
(2)Kody L.
My opinions of this place are about as consolidated as their menu, so let's go with stream of consciousness: Good: The food does taste good (wouldn't quite say amazing). Bad: Why wasn't my banana leaf-wrapped pork actually cooked in a banana leaf? It was just wrapped in one afterward. Good: A "whisper" of salad (I think it's a silly use of the word) wasn't as small as I was fearing. Very appropriate. Good: Corn and crab cakes were awesome! Bad: See above. They came with an odd mango sauce -- just the wrong pairing, which kind of sums up this place. They are creative, but they need to run it through taste tests before putting it on the menu. Bad: A tad overpriced. Good: Our server was great and very knowledgeable about the menu, especially for normally working as the bartender. Good: They participated in Bites for Rights, our reason for dining here.
(3)Shana N.
Went for lunch on a Sunday. Beautifully decorated, clean, good service, and delicious food. I had the poached eggs on english muffin w/ crab & aioli sauce. SO GOOD!
(5)Petra L.
Never, ever again. During the commercial breaks from election coverage, I spent all my time here telling my dining companion every time the Yelp review I would write lost another star. By the end of the night it was down to one. The food: fairly tasty, but incredibly expensive for such tiny portions and a pitiful lack of vegan options. The squash was tasty, but it was $10 for maybe a quarter of a squash. I'm spoiled by food carts, I know, but I was pretty bitter. Also, their potato wedges were, in a word, flaccid. Soft, gross, and totally unacceptable. The drinks: the beer was fine (how hard would it be to fuck up a beer?) but my basil pear martini tasted like anise. I mean, fully. And I hate the taste of anise. The service: terrible. Slow, orders were mixed up, other orders were never placed. And we watched our waitress nearly blow up at a couple who'd just walked in the door. All in all, a terrible vibe. I'll never step foot in this place again. $25 for a terrible experience.
(1)O D.
I had lunch at West Cafe a few days ago with a good friend of mine. She frequents this establishment as it is very close to where she works. Normally very busy for lunch, this particular afternoon was the complete opposite. We had the entire restaurant to our self which was nice, but also disturbing in a way. We were either very early for lunch, or maybe it's not as good as my friend thought. I ordered the B.L.A.T.T with whole wheat bread. Our waitress was attentive and very friendly. My friend ordered some kind of salad; however when it arrived it was the wrong order which the waitress didn't realize until it was brought out. It turned out for the best as it was still very good. The only thing I suggest is for you to bring your fly swatter as there wason pesky fly that would not leave us alone. This is not a negative reflection on the restaurant, but just something to keep in mind. Good service, good food, good location as I could easily walk to work and shopping right afterwards.
(3)Terry S.
Hit it today @ 12:00 I can't put it on my top 10 list at this time. Great service from Rachel (very cute and tall with a natural beautiful face!) Bacon wasn't hot enough. I apreciated the hot Asain girl w/the short white skirt that was sitting by the window made my coffee taste weak;) But do give a try.
(3)Swordfish X.
terrific service above and beyond the call. We had a performance and the staff went out of their way to accommodate us, in addition to checking in on our meal and our time. I HIGHLY recommend the service and the food was delicious.
(4)Erin K.
Good food. Really good, unique cocktails. Salads with just the right amount of dressing. Would go again.
(3)Chad M.
I liked the West Cafe. My wife and I went there on a date and had dinner. It is a comfy space, a bit loud, but nice. We sat near the windows. Service was a bit slow, but they were fairly slammed as well. However we had to warn our server we were trying to catch a movie too, and I shouldn't have had to do that. Had an iceberg wedge starter salad which was crisp and good with plenty of blue cheese and extras. Dinner had the morrocan chicken with mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts while the the wife had seared salmon with dungeness crab on top (it was a special) over brown rice. The chicken was tender and fell of th bone and the dates and apricots the menu said were used in its cooking could be tasted in the meat. Was disappointed they weren't included on the side though. Mashed taters were just OK. Brussel sprouts were grilled just right. Wife liked salmon, although since it had just been lightly seared it was partially raw which isn't her thing, but that wasn't the fault of the restaurant. Food over all was very good, but no excellent. Quantities were a bit sparse for the price, but we were full, so what am i complaining about?? Didn't have dessert as we were off to a movie. Dinner was about 20 bucks each.
(4)Gordon M.
The menu stated that main courses came with a "Whisper of Salad" - not a side salad - but just a whisper. We thought this was hilarious. Do they employ a salad whisperer? Service was courteous, but slow and amateur. The waitress was not familiar with the menu and kept having to excuse herself to ask someone in the kitchen when questions arose. When one member of my party asked her about the Caesar dressing, instead of answering her question she returned with about a third of a cup of the dressing in a small bowl with a spoon so that we could sample it. When asked about whether the salads contained swiss chard, we were told they weren't - but then the salads were served with it. When I asked for my Caesar salad to be served with the main course, it was served before anyway. My partner and I shared the Caesar (which was very ordinary and the dressing was like mayonnaise) and the vegetarian lasagna. We enjoyed the french 57 cocktails, but otherwise the food was overpriced and portions were small. I wouldn't go back for dinner, but maybe for happy hour (if they had one).
(2)Michelle H.
UPDATE: Five words: Coconut. Sorbet. In. A. Coconut. ---------- Why has no one reviewed this? Is it because it's off the beaten path a bit? Well I don't care what the excuse is because this place rocks. I've driven past it 382091829321 times on my way home from work and it called to me every single time, and I finally answered its call. Can I get an oh-my-god-what-the-hell-have-I-been-waiting-for? Delicious! Flavorful! Simple, yet incredible! I've only been for lunch but there were so many amazing options. How is a girl to choose? The decor is simplistic and classy. I really enjoy it. You've got the classic dining on the right, lounge-esque chairs and bar on the left. There is no barrier between them and it's just an open flow, but I think it really works. I've driven past on nice days and seen the windows in front of the lounge open up to let in that fresh air. Brilliant! Speaking of the lounge, they do have a happy hour that's $1 off drinks and food twice a night (4-6 and 9-close). Nothing spectacular, but I still want to check it out. Have you seen that drink list? Inventive! (Shane E. they have a French 57, isn't that like your 75??) The service was slowish, but incredible. That probably makes no sense. We hit the last table in the lunch rush, and they were slammed. One server for all of the tables, the poor girl! She worked her butt off and it showed. She kept up with everyone and everything with a SMILE. If it were me, I'd be in the back curled up in the fetal position and sobbing. We understood completely and she deserved a great tip. At one point even the chef came out to help bus a few tables. That's incredible. Maybe people don't get up here because you pass Higgins on the way, but I think you should take the extra walk up a couple blocks and check it out. Yum!
(5)Bob B.
Really good food here but the service can be a little slow. Had a half of tuna sandwich on a crousant, salad, and curry chicken soup... all for $10 for lunch.. and it was gourmet! The salad dressing is the best house dressing I have ever tasted... kind of an oriental dressing. Nice bar and wine list too! Will come back again... this is a gem of a place... when I drove by thought it was kind of a diner type place but this is gourmet food at a reasonable price and the presentation is as good as the finest restaurants in Portland. Don't get angry at the slow service, the wait is worth it once the food arrives. There were 14 people in the place when we arrived and it took 20 minutes to get our food after we ordered. Next time will order a glass of wine and relax.
(5)Sam A.
The windows open; the staff is great; food is wonderful! The crab and mango salad has to rank as one of the best dishes in Oregon.
(5)Mallorie H.
i went here last summer with a group... we showed up on a whim with about 8 or 9 people, and they were very nice about accommodating us by moving tables and pushing chairs together in the cocktail area. we ordered lots of drinks and small plates, and the service was prompt and attentive. we made a reservation for a group recently, and they gave us a long table in the front corner. the waiter was very attentive; even tho i arrived late, he was prompt in bringing me a menu and taking my drink order, then taking my food order. that's a good sign, as late arrivals are easy to overlook. the food is good; tho it isn't inexpensive, it's comparable to similar places. the service is the standout for me, as indifferent service can ruin even great food and excellent service can elevate (almost) any meal.
(4)Sara O.
Have eaten here several times, always for lunch. Each time, I've had a great experience, friendly service and yummy food. I thoroughly enjoy their standard menu as well as the always-interesting specials. Just the kind of food and environment that I like -- healthy but interesting dishes, a casual enough atmosphere for a long chat, and a full bar. What more could I want?
(5)Tricia L.
Doug and his staff are amazing! My girlfriend and I had a fabulous lunch-- great food and service. I recommend it for a quick business lunch or a long chat with a girlfriend. Love the classic warm, but modern ambience.
(5)Kim V.
food was okay. host was a snob and rude
(2)Drunk M.
I've been going there on and off since I discovered the place back in November. If you're looking for a casual yet classy place to take a date, this is it. Especially on a Saturday night, because there's live jazz (typically 4 musicians rotate through each month, some are better than others). The place is quite frequently not crowded in the summer, which has to be a symptom of their location because the food is delicious, the drinks are tasty and the desserts are superb. The staff can be a little quirky sometimes, but they're good people and genuinely eager to do what it takes to make you happy. And one bonus to the location is that there's puh-lenty of street parking all around! This is one of my downtown favorites but I don't get over there often enough, and that's a bad Drunk Monkey! You should give them a shot. And for that date, pick a Saturday night when Mary Kadderly is playing. Drunk Monkey is pleased!
(5)Amy W.
I've been to West Cafe several times for lunch and dinner and have always had a wonderful meal. It's just a block up from the streetcar stop at SW 11th & Jefferson, and is a great spot for American food done right with local, seasonal ingredients and a gourmet touch. I also love the cocktails and find the atmosphere to be warm and friendly. Their salads are very good (the cobb & beet salads are favorites), and the Columbia River salmon I had recently was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Recommended!
(5)marc l.
i had the plesant oppurtunity for my girlfriend and i to attend a wine dinner as a guests of the owner. i have to say the experiance was amazing to say the least. the decor and environment is casual and tasteful it is not overdone or trying to hard. the service was great, never was my glass empty or a plate left behind. At this dinner the wine producers actually served the wine themselves as they gave you a description of what you were drinking, not only was the wine tasty but each different choice compliment each indiviual dish of the delicious five course meal. diverse flavors of different wines and a delicious food complimented by excellent service earns the West Cafe's well deserved five starts.
(5)