Reviews of The Observatory. (Restaurant) in Portland (Oregon).

The Observatory

0 Reviews

385 Comments

Restaurant

American restaurant

8115 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215, United States

Description

Information of The Observatory, Restaurant in Portland (Oregon)

Discover the opening times, the location, contact, popular times, photos and real reviews by internet users.

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Open hours of The Observatory

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Reviews of The Observatory

Josh Brewster

As usual, The Observatory does not disappoint. Amazing food, great atmosphere and some of the best drinks in Portland. Had the Reuben, Lamb Burger and Garlic Parmesan Rosemary Fries as well as their Happy Hour drink (Vanilla Jim Beam Kentucky Mule), The Capricorn and Prickly Pear Pineapple Margarita. Everything was fantastic, our server (Julia) was absolutely amazing. If you're looking for a great place for some fantastic food and drinks, definitely stop here. You won't regret it!

Justin Go

Delicious food in a cozy atmosphere! Drinks were OK. They do say they're spicy, but would have liked to taste something other than spice. The food was great. Meatloaf was okay, mashed potatoes were amazing. The steak was the star of the show -- I wish I would have gotten that, but I stole a few bites.

Daniel Gerland

Met some friends for lunch here and there was no wait for a table. All the food options looked amazing and the fries were out of this world! We sat in the back room area which was quiet and cool. The mimosas were a great choice! All in all is was a really cute spot with really great food

Adam Bliven

Nice place for dinner. We got there just before 5 and didn't have to wait for a table. At 6:30, when we left, there was a small line. The macaroni and cheese was good, the lamb burger was good, the wings were outstanding, and the drinks were great. I really liked the vibe with the art for sale in the hall, the back room and mixture of booth and tables.

Kelli Barkley

The food and drinks are amazing. We started with fry bread (must have) and had the elk burger and Brie grilled cheese for our main course. The lavender creme brulee was delicately balanced in flavor. The meal was perfect in every way. Our first time here, we will be back!!!

Ashley

My friend took me here for happy hour. I was extremely impressed! Not only were the prices incredibly affordable, but the food was sooooo good! And the drinks were fabulous 👌 👏 The aesthetic was wonderful and the servers were outgoing and friendly. This is one of those hidden gems you want to keep coming back too 😊

Wut Ido

We had about a 15 minute wait.. no biggie. The team here was great . It's nice to see everyone working together. Makes for smooth shifts. The food was absolutely delicious. The wings sat on a bed of coleslaw. The coleslaw was different from any other that I have had. In a good way, very crisp and fresh. I will bump this one to one of the top 2 best coleslaw that I have had. The art on the wall are from local artists. Fun to look at.

Zach Gardner

This place is great! Very friendly and attentive staff with delicious food and a good atmosphere. The lamb burger was juicy and topped with a savory bun. Side salad was well made too. Also food came out quick. Overall great job!

Natalya Okello

Absolutely speechless 🤤 The Elk Burger and the Catch of the Day were top notch - the Salmon melted in your mouth like butter 🤤🤤 We ordered 5 total dishes and each one that arrived was perfection. This was the first time that we have ever finished every single bite of food at a restaurant and also it's rare that I actually complete a meal without feeling gross afterwards. This meal was the optimal balance of healthy, filling, good portions and delicious!! 😁😃😊 Now onto the boring stuff. We came around 7PM on a Thursday night and were seated in a booth like requested, within 5 mins. When we left, there were a few open tables. Parking was quick but also could have been luck. This is not a place for a quiet date night though. It was loud from all the talking but also quiet enough to where you can hear your party just fine (most of the time haha). We were there yesterday and already craving to go back 😌❤️

michael hiransomboon (mikehiranphotography)

Good service, good food. Nice place to eat. Looked like they take their cocktails seriously but since I was driving, I had to pass. I ordered the wrap and it was excellent.

Julia DeBari

Mussels and apple beet salad were great. The cocktails were fantastic. The Ruben sandwich was bland and the Oregano fry bread was not all that great. Service was nice and efficient.

Samlee Helen Grissom Minor

I don't frequent this place too often but when I do, I am happy with all my choices. Tasty cocktails & yummy food. I wish there was a little bit more light to read the menu once the sun goes down though. Good happy hour.

demi tzanis

Just moved to the neighborhood and stumbled upon this cute little strip of Stark st. I’ve known of the Observatory for a while but didn’t realize this is where it was and had never been. We sat at the bar and ordered a couple drinks (I quite enjoyed my Bloody Mary..) while looking around at the eclectic decor. I got the lamb burger which has roasted red peppers and a goat cheese spread, it was delicious. My bf got the panko fish and chips which he also enjoyed. Both their regular and sweet potato fries were yummy as well. Service was good and staff were friendly. All in all a great little spot.

Joshua Larkin

Omgosh these burgers were awesome! I believe the atmosphere was great to. Small little burgershop I never knew about just took my tastebuds on a trip to tastey land. Fries were great and loved that they gave you the stuff to put on your burger instead of already being on there. That's considerate on their part lol. Love the good food and virgin pina colada.

Joanne Ciasulli

Veggie burger was good with sweet potato fries. They served it with mayo on the side. Really no other vegan options. Okay if you’re a very hungry vegan.

M N

The observatory is an amazing restaurant that is open later than many of the restaurants in Portland. I don't know why restaurants in Portland close so early but this one does not. I have been here a multitude of times maybe 20 times. It's also in a really cool neighborhood you can go to Roscoe's next door, after you eat your dinner at The Observatory. The oysters are fantastic the mussles are fantastic. They often have a steak special which is very good as well. They are very attentive to the customer and once comped my steak because it was overcooked. The mixed drinks are fantastic as well, I really like the cumin centipede it has a very nice cumin flavor although that may not be for everyone, just my taste I love it. Don't like cumin there is probably another mixed drink on their menu that you would love.

Matthew Brauer-Marzio

Elk burger and drinks were delicious! The wings though did me in a bit as the mustard was really intense for me. When it's full it's a pretty loud environment, and it's a popular place!

Brandi Archibald

Super delicious food and drinks! We got the chicken patte, pulled pork sandwiche and the macaroni and cheese! Definitely recommend.

Deejay C

When your food is good.. no need for all that flair and over the top decors, you will win them with the flavor of your dishes. My first initial reaction of their lunch menu was that it was a bit mediocre. Nothing different that may stay out to other places. I opted for the veggie burger and the rest of my party for the regular burger and pulled pork sandwich. All were phenomenal!

Taylor Nieman (Taylor Roze Nieman)

Best prices, top-notch food, amazing cocktails. Faithful Portland restaurant and bar. One of the best. Has been around for awhile with good reason.

Trent Niarkos

The experience was good, the food was great. We sat at the bar and the bartender was very attentive. We love good cocktails and they have an extensive menu with lots of value for the execution. The cocktails hit the sweet spot for inventive riffs on major classics, but all still crowd pleasers and very accessible. This is not the best place around for top-end cocktails, but you won't pay top dollar either. The fun atmosphere and great dinner options (especially unique twists on burgers and fish) paired with good affordable drinks makes it worth a try for any occasion.

Taylor Jacobberger

I went with my wife, 3 kids and mother-in-law on a Thursday night. It was fairly busy and we had no wait to be seated. We ordered 5 or 6 different entrees and I was able to try each one. I would order any of those dishes all over again. After ordering, our food was ready in maybe 10 minutes. The waiter had great suggestions and information on all the dishes. It was very family friendly as they gave my kids crayons and pictures to color. I’d go there again in a heartbeat!

Christina Provencio

Love the oysters they came with a delicious grapefruit purée. They also let me put a veggie patty on my salad. Great happy hour as well

Sining Wang

I love the decor and vibe of this place. It’s dark and romantic. The cocktails are stellar, food is great too.

Sierra R.

Very cozy spot for a nice dinner. We sat in the back since the front was full and it still had the same comfortable atmosphere. We got the macaroni and cheese, oregano fry bread, a bowl of the soup of the day, and a cup of coffee. Our total was 35$ which we think is a very good price for the amount of food and nice atmosphere. We will dine here again for sure.

Milissa Mcclane

Staff was very attentive and friendly! Food was very tasty! Unique drink options and infused liquors! Prices were very reasonable! Over all very nice experience!

Vi Huynh

This place. Ooh boy if you've got a serious hankering for piping hot fry bread with nice in house sauces this is your jam. I go to this place just for their fry bread and a cocktail. Let me tell you about their cocktails. There are so many good ones to try. It's worth it to just drop in, choose an appetizer and a cocktail. They are all so good. Their spicy cocktail is legit spicy, not fake spicy. They also have an amazing elk burger on their menu in case you are hungry. It's huge and tender too not gamey at all like other places.

Brett Schneider

Excellent service. Good atmosphere that is low-key. Bar on one side table seating in the other areas. Cocktails weren't exactly what I expected based off the menu, but were good overall. Portions of food were great managed to share a couple plates. Servers were attentive and considerate. I would go back again!

Kaitlyn Peterson

Did incredible with our large party on a busy Saturday night. All dishes were brilliant; drinks as well. Reasonable pricing for what is received. We enjoyed it so much we dove in before pictures.

Josh W

The food is delicious and the back bar makes great cocktails. Good place to take a small group of friends or a date. Beer list is solid and rotates and the bar in the back (Over and Out) also has a pool table if you’re into that.

MX Boulos

The staff is great and the food shows it. It always has some vegetarian friendly dishes for my friends and the wine list never disappoints. Cheers to the team!

Lisa

I can say enough great things about this place. Intimate setting and delicious food. I had a craving for fry bread and found it in Portland. Theirs is a oregano filled version with a little salt finish. Perfect! We overindulged with a beet salad with both red and golden beets, a charcuterie board and some grilled shrimp. Servings were huge. Service excellent. The area has some cute shops. We will be back!

tina kibbey

The cocktails are well balanced, kudos to the bartender that came up with this list. The food is equally good and the servings are generous. If you have a date or just need to hang with the girls after work it's the perfect spot

Christa Voytilla

Brought some family here for dinner tonight and everything was wonderful! The service we received was fantastic, the timing of courses being served was spot on and the food was delicious, as always. Just a lovely experience all around. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Masha Y

Came here late on a Sunday night for date night. It was such a great vibe. The lights are dim, the decor is cool, and the food was delicious. We really liked the mussels appetizer!

Mayra

Every time I come here the service is amazing and the food is delicious. It’s the perfect cozy restaurant with a full bar for my margarita fix. Dinner is my favorite, but it’s also really nice for lunch!

Stephen Krajewski

The food and service at Observatory are quite good. The menu focuses on basic staples, but also elevates them quite a bit. Observatory is a good place to come with a friend, or a few friends, and share things that you order since their take on things is quite good and quite unique What isn't quite as good is the lack of parking, and the atmosphere. There is a long hallway with local art for sale by local artists. Let's just say that some of this art can verge on offensive or objectionable, and does absolutely nothing to contribute to a positive experience.

Jason

Enjoyed happy hour with my wife! This place rules. Staff was extremely friendly. We had their happy hour wings, Caesar, rosemary fries, and their chicken siders. Every.thing.was.amazing

Abbie Lu

Very good food and fun drinks. They are very expensive for what you get though. I do think it is an enjoyable place to hang out for a quick bite and drinks. It also can get a bit loud and crowded. Some people dig that though, just now me.

Jenarndt2

We ate here with a group of 4. Each entree was well prepared and very tasty.

Romeo

At first it doesn't seem like much but the food was damn good. I'd go again.

Lindsey Dominguez

We had never been before and thought it was a bar and when we got there we were sad that we’d already had dinner! The menu looked amazing and the smells coming from the kitchen were enticing. We had a nightcap and they were wonderful! Not your run of the mill cocktail list, truly crafted with care and thought for a diverse palette. Next time we will go for dinner as well! I also appreciated the seriousness the staff gave to keeping customers and employees safe and following Covid protocol. Very impressed.

Alexander Vasel

Had the lamburger. Really good. The sweet potato fries were solid too!

Christopher Gillespie

Great Covid protocols, ate inside, great service! The oysters here are always amazing, great and unique sauces, blood orange shaved ice minonet. The fry bread might just change your life, the combo of the tomato dip with the cream sauce is heaven. The Salads here are always my wife's go to, never fail! The chicken fried steak using thighs and panko make them better than your average fried chicken. Brussel sprouts were done like greens back east, vinager based...mmm!

Russell Nagle

Fun place. Nice staff. Good food and drink. Try the fish and chips.

robert williams

Nice atmosphere, pleasant service , and delicious food. My wife had the fish tacos and loved then. I enjoyed the fish & chips. Will definitely come again when in town

Erica Pahua

Ordered the cheese board with pork belly bacon, Mac n cheese, and the 10oz steak. Cocktails ordered included the prickly pear - pineapple margarita and the meringue. All of it was delicious, but my favorite part was the cheese board.

Kitra Pardun

Lovely experience. Delicious food and we're very grateful they take Covid precautions so seriously. Dine in options are ideally spaced and masks are enforced. Staff is very pleasant as well.

LEGION ANDERS

The neighborhood may be a little rough around the edges, but this restaurant isn't. This was my first time in with an eye to experience The Observatory's happy hour provisions and cocktails. Five words: I was pleased and impressed. The menu options and food quality are a bargain at the prices charged. The "small" Caesar was quite substantial for three bucks and delicious; the included crispy wontons proving a nice crunchy twist. The chicken liver mousse pate was dense and full of flavor, easily beating out many other restaurants in town at twice the price. The quality of the fish in their blackened fish tacos were tender and full of (delicate) flavor. I would only suggest perhaps adding a dash of sweet corn relish to brighten it up a bit, as the squeeze of lime I engaged didn't quite do the trick. But again, at six dollars for two tasty tacos I'm nitpicking. Their oregano fry bread brought me back to my childhood enjoying "Indian fry bread" at the state fair. They delivered just the right amount of chew, and even though I didn't really taste much of the oregano, it wasn't missed. The only thing missing from the trip-down-memory-lane fry bread was a small side of savory pinto beans for me, and perhaps a dollop of honey and powdered sugar for those who prefer it sweet. The sesame-sweet chili glazed chicken wings were quite tasty, but again also rather delicately flavored. So don't expect a fiery riot in your mouth when eating them. Instead, you will actually be able to taste the chicken. On to the cocktails of which I tried four: lavender gin lemon drop, rosemary pear martini, re-fresh fashioned and a whiskey sour. All were impeccably prepared and tasty, especially the lemon drop. Next time I order the re-fresh fashioned I will ask them to leave off the soda splash and vigorously shake the concoction to better diffuse the flavor of the cherries; but order it again I shall. Unfortunately I was so full after eating (I left with more than just a little bit in a to-go box.) that I was unable to try their cinnamon-sugar bread pudding, again demonstrating their ability to touch the nerve of my favorite childhood treats - and damn their oily hides for destroying my ability to protect my waistline! I guess I will just have to plan a special visit soon just to give it a taste. Finally, I can't remember another restaurant who brought my food out any quicker, which was a welcome bonus given how hungry I was when I walked in. Cheers!

Brittany Valencia-Fritsch

The service was awesome. Got there at happy hour. Would not recommend the chicken sliders. Hummus muscles lamb burger and all the other things were awesome.

Phil Cleaveland

Good food, service and interior atmosphere. Unfortunately, like a lot of Portland, the neighborhood has definitely seen better days. Make sure to try one of their signature cocktails. Also, the salads, burgers and sandwiches are awesome.

V C

The food was tasty as hell. The service was quick. My only beef was that it was suuuuuper loud and that was due to the design of the place. Otherwise a fantastic local joint

Naomi Eckstine

The Tom Kha drink is spicier than you may expect, but it's delicious. The cheese plate is much better than you'd expect, and the muscles are delicious. Great atmosphere, ambience, and service!

Anthony Chiboucas

Fantastic food and service. So loud we couldn't hear eachother across the table. There wasn't music, it was just the din of the crowd and no noise dampening. Would go again, as the food is worth the yelling a conversation.

TJ Prohammer

Really consistent and every item on the menu has been great with loads of flavor! Highly recommend! The soups of the day are usually pretty tasty too. Enjoy!!

Scott Rousse

Could very well be one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. Great vibe & ambiance from the moment you walk in. Bar is delightful, and the bartender provided excellent service. Their seafood is on point - mussels diabla, trout piccata, coconut snapper were all stellar. Also pleasantly surprised how reasonable prices were, especially in 2022.

John Kutasz

This is my favorite place for drinks and side dishes, and a solid choice for dinner as well. The only downside is that parking can be tricky. But they are very good at warming of potential towing issues with the fast food lot next door. The mussels here are wonderful, and the bartenders never disappoint. The affiliated Over & Out bar in the back of the building serves some of the same menu items, so don't panic if seating is tight.

Eva Elliott

Fabulous experience. I expected to pay much more for the quality of food. Fun drinks, delicious menu, great atmosphere. Highly recommend.

Suzanne Kruse

In the past I have only been here for dinner today we tried the observatory for lunch and I was not surprised to discover that they deliver as well at lunchtime as they do in the evening!! We sat outside on the Stark Street When you sit outside you definitely get to experience the local residents. We are locals so would love that part of it. To us it added a beautiful element to our dining experience. My absolute favorite drink in the world is the Cumin Centipede (CC] !! The CC is delicate balance of spicy, tart with the hint of sweetness. I had the chicken bacon salad and my friend had the Apple Beet salad. Both salads have beautiful presentations and are quite yummy. The entire salads have very generous portions! The restaurant is huge and each offers a fabulous dining experience. The restaurant in the back called Over and Out and has more of a bar feel including a pool table.

Amy Velazquez

There's usually a wait for any night of the week, but if you don't mind sitting at the bar they can usually seat you faster. The food is exceptional and the cocktails are delicious as well.

Chase Haylee

Food,drinks, and service was fantastic. There was a serious problem with some food I brought home but the owner called me personally and did the most she could to right the situation which I liked a lot. Mistakes happen, the place was great though. I'll definitely be coming back.

Mourad Souag

Comfortable seating to comfort food. The bouillabaisse - this classic south of France dish - is really well done, as you can see in the last picture. Good choice of beer and wine too. They have a waiting area with a comfy sofa so don’t worry about waiting here.

Sirena Painter

Wonderful little restaurant and bar. Excellent craft drinks. Great light lunches, served with crearive flair with generous portions. Lovely artwork placed throughout We really enjoyed this new found restaurant.

Sam Bass

Best lamb burger I ever had. The fries are killer too! Nice vibe and delicious food.

Lynda Alvarez

This is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. The O has a relaxed vibe and a variety of food options. I am a creature of habit but I will try different things here as I have yet to be disappointed.I could't find any missing in the service, the staff was really good and nice to make you enjoy enough....

K. Ching

A little wait time is expected. My sister had the cheese plate, very good. I had the lamb meatloaf, it was ok-to-good. The lemon meringue drink was delicious as well as the dessert: a large brownie with ice cream. Visible from stark, street parking.

ROSIE IS BAKIN' AND B*TCHIN'

INCREDIBLE local food, delectable signature cocktails (that's the Stellar Mojito pictured) and friendly service! Prices are quite reasonable for the high quality ingredients and the large quantities. The other is a pic from their STARTER menu! I want to tell you it's awful just to be selfish and keep them to myself. But they deserve accolades and the business. Delicious!!

Abraham Han

Overall, a pleasant experience. Decent food, friendly service, and decent atmosphere. I came here for dinner on a Saturday evening. The place was busy, but I was able to get seated in the bar (towards the back area of the restaurant). The back area is cool in that there is a pool table there. I tried the Lamb Burger, Andouille Mac N' Cheese, and the house made double ginger beer. The Lamb Burger was good, and I'd consider it a relatively safe bet as far as what to choose to eat here. I was underwhelmed by the Andouille Mac N' Cheese. I ordered it because I had heard amazing things about the Tillamook cheddar cheese, but it just didn't have the "wow" factor in terms of a cheesy flavor. The house made double ginger beer was excellent, and it would appeal to anyone who has a fancy for the ginger flavor. Great casual atmosphere, and this would definitely be a place I'd bring people. I'd say it's a pretty good spot for 2-4 people to hang out and grub.

Elizabeth Whitlock

This place is adorable, the decor is fantastic! We had breakfast here and, hot diggity, it was delicious! We enjoyed the French toast, chocolate chip waffles, and the Italian sausage buscuits and gravy! Our server was wonderful; she gave us plenty of recommendations of things to check out while we were here. This was some of the best food we've had while we visited. I would highly recommend this place to anyone and everyone.

Rebecca Lawrence

Never disappoints. As usual the cheese plate was huge and pure perfection of flavors. And yes those are bacon skewers. Service was impeccable. Thank you for an incredible birthday dinner.

Thayer Goya

This is a definite visit every time we're in Portland the food is great service is awesome. They are community conscious and it's very nice and welcoming atmosphere. We usually get the lamb burger with the sweet potato fries, the apple and beet salad is terrific, and this time we went with the cheese platter. We needed more baggettes and the waiter gladly brought us more.

Steven Camfield

My wife and I tried the Observatory last week and will definitely return. Our food was delicious, prices were very reasonable, and my wife enjoyed her pear and rosemary martini immensely. Check out the collection of swag lamps in their lounge!

deb przepasniak

This is my favorite neighborhood go to place, good to go alone, with friends, out of town visitors, or on a date. I got the meatloaf with the house ginger beer and sat at the bar. The cocktail menu here is impressive if that is something that interests you.

Joseph Lee

The food was amazing - if you want a good eat, this place is really good! The blackened catfish was a good as I've had, and that's saying something as a southern boy! Now, at to the 3 stars: my oldest son is home from the Army and we came to Portland for some good food and fun. He, my other son, and their girlfriend chose this place as it seem quite nice. When we came in it was a bit busy and the hostest suggested we try a table in the back in the bar area, as we might find a seat faster. We did so and were seated promptly. We were bright menus and several minutes later the waitress came over and asked what we'd like to drink. We all said water. She THEN asked for ID, and since several folks were under 21 she told us we'd have to go back up front to be seated. Not happy, but with no other option we did so, and found it would be 20-30 minutes before we'd be seated. (we'd now been in the place for half an hour already.) The food looked good so we stayed. For came out promptly, and was indeed very good. My mouth and belly were happy. My wife had stayed at the hotel a bit down on the weather, and at 10:07 I asked for a to go order of the chicken pasta. The waitress left, then came right back and advised this was unavailable after 10:00, put a menu in front of me and said, "see, it says that right here." As there was nothing available that would fit the wants of my wife we simply got it check and split. I looked the food here a lot, but the overall service and complete lack of give a damn will probably have me looking elsewhere the next time I'm in town!

Aubrey Mellul

Will definitely be back, prices are so great! Came for happy hour and can’t wait to go back, the portions were really big for the price. I love that they infuse their own alcohol. My wife got the habanero rum painkiller and it was SO spicy but she loved it!

Amanda Terry

The staff and the food were amazing. I look forward to bringing friends here when they come to visit.

Sophia Sombounvong

You just can't go wrong with ordering the rosemary fry bread as a starter. Perfectly fried pillows of warm dough dipped into the sides of creme fresh or the tang warm tomato soup like sauces will get your tastebuds begging for more. The housemade ginger beer was refreshing yet had the perfect punch of warmth I love from a good mix of ginger and soda.

Steven Marron

Cool dark lighting. I had the burger with the goat cheese. Burger was good but i didnt like the goat cheese. It was in sauce form and had a weird zesty taste. I usually dont get cheese on a Burger but i wanted to try it. I

Burk Jackson

Great neighborhood spot for lunch or dinner. The food is always great and the service outstanding

Onessia Elliott

Wonderful atmosphere, delicious drinks and a great menu. I'll definitely be back!

Bernadette Hsu

The place was dimly lit but created a nice private-like atmosphere with my party group. Food didn't take long regardless how packed the place was! I had the lamb burger and it was so good! I devoured it quite quickly. The fries were delicious too! Crispy on the outsiee, soft on the inside! Definitely recommend going here for any occasion!

Charlotte Vandenburg

The fries are phenomenal! I had the burger burger and it was just a great, classic burger. Had a weekend lunch here and it wasn’t overcrowded or too noisy at all. Definitely want to go back.

IndianaJenz R

Very neat local bar and eatery. Street/side street parking only so can take a time or two around the block to find something. Kids allowed in non-bar area. Unique food and drinks. I had the Greek meatloaf and a ginger something or other mimosa and both were excellent. Friendly, attentive wait staff. Some sidewalk seating.

Cailin Mondo

We came here based entirely on the reviews and I must say, they did not steer us wrong! We both really enjoyed this place. We arrived around 9:45pm on a Friday and were seated immediately. The service was great and our waters remained filled constantly (huge plus for us since we both drank a lot of water that night and most places seem to tend to forget about drinks after maybe 1 refill). I was deciding between two meal options and ended up choosing based on the server's feedback about both - was not disappointed! The bf ordered a seafood plate and also enjoyed his meal. I wasn't able to finish the entire dish it was so filling! Before tip, for an appetizer and 2 meals it was only $44. That's a pretty darn good price for the food we got, the quality of the food, and the fact that we're in a big city! Environment was a tad dark for my personal visibility preferences but not the end of the world. I highly recommend visiting The Observatory next time you're in the area, very worth the time and money!

Jt Hilliard III

One thing I can’t deny about Observatory is that they make pretty darn good linguini. Highly recommend.

Johanna R

The service, food and drinks were excellent. The only reason I gave a 4/5 is that both seating sections had music playing very loudly. Otherwise, we had a wonderful time!

Daniel Carpenter

Great food and exceptional service. My family thoroughly enjoyed our Sunday brunch.

Dylan Leeman

You can't always go back or go home. It's often smaller or less than you remember. That's always my fear with an old favorite restaurant. I worry my tastes will have changed or the amazing chef will have passed daily operation off to less skilled apprentices. But you can go back to The Observatory. This stalwart since opening in 2008 continues to deliver amazing food and drink. During lockdown, they couldn't source fresh oysters but tonight three Washington State varietals graced my perfect dozen, along with a crisp local Old Tom martini with sweet vermouth. The fry bread is a guilty indulgence as is their amazing Caeser with big shaved sheets of parm. My daughter loves the gi-normous cheese plate. I found attentive, skilled, and prompt service. I actually love everything on the menu. The chicken fried chicken, the sauteed trout, the fish and chips, and the meatloaf will always be beloved friends. Delightful! Thank you.

Erika Elder

Creative and delicious menus, great service, fun and comfortable atmosphere!

Garrett Stone

The environment is very nice (we sat in the back which was peaceful and pleasant), the menu had more good things than we could try, and the specialty cocktail menu was varied and delicious. The staff handled our needs well, and it was a place I'll very much be returning to.

Judyann West

The food has been consistently fabulous the service is amazing they're very attentive and always there to answer any question or make any suggestions that you ask for I absolutely love it I've brought at least 10 new people there that have never heard of you and that's really fun and I have my baby brother coming up from Georgia Tuesday and we're going to come in Tuesday for a meal so thank you very much

Jennifer Hudyma

Some of the best cocktails in Portland, awesome staff, and a fun atmosphere. This has been one of my favorite Portland spots for over a decade, with consistently great food, drinks, and service. The fried chicken, lamb burger, and the CHEESE PLATE… so good. Definitely order the in-house infused cocktails, they’re all delicious.

Mia Soliven

The place looks nice. The food is good -American food. Nothing so spectacular about it but they still get a 4 star.

Cassandra Curtis

Eccentric place but overpriced. The food was mediocre at best. Service was great. Disappointing how much my bill was for one margarita (was too sour to drink) and a cup of canbells tomato soup.

Elizabeth Franz

Such good food & drinks. Service is always stellar....where do they find all the awesome staff?! Ruby Rye Manhattan is a favorite!

Jennifer Nickerson

Elk burger was good, the 6oz patty was a little small for the bun & was slightly overcooked, but still tasty. Our server handled all of our many substitutions with ease & was attentive with our refills. The carrot cake was dense & weird, but the creme brulee was friggin' delicious. The bench seats hurt my toosh.

drangus

Food was great! Highly recommend the elk burger. Fries were perfectly cripsy. Great service too

J J

Got Ruben sandwich, which was just ok. Corned beef was good , sauerkraut lacked flavour as well as dressing. The price seemed high for a just ok sandwich. French fries where great , light crispy and plenty full. Over all it was decent , but for the price of the sandwichs Id pick something else

Quinn Tarantino

Had the blood orange negroni cocktail nd charcuterie plate. Delicious, great service, nice atmosphere! Good for a nice lunch. Will return.

Nick Mira

Consistently awesome restaurant for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Fantastic and diverse selection of food from comfort to seafood and a great steak. Observatory is my absolute favorite spot in Montavilla.

Tiana McCormick

Originally came for some Oysters and cocktails. When we arrived decided to order the cheese board too and it was phenomenal!!

Andrew Ireland

Excellent happy hour menu. Great price for the quality and quantity. A no-brainer

Alissa Hite

The oregano frybread is amazing. I also have had what is probably the best pork chop in my life here.

Charles Johnson

A meal and night so flawless…spammed it up on my insta too, @siMChA503 plus so much help! 🧀 plate mussels veggie burger fish options loved by all eating at table …

Chris Kester

Food was FABULOUS! The ONLY downside was there was a little TOO much ambiance. Hard to read the menu. Would definitely go back again though.

Richard Hadeed

Cushy benches would be nice. Such a great place Food is great.. Service top notch!!

Brian Gutierrez

Been going through a lot emotionally and physically but this may have been the best meal I've ever had in my entire life! Thank you guys! 🙌🏼

Henry Sause

Great restaurant the drinks are awesome the food is great quality. A definite recommend for friends or a date

Helen Honse

We were delighted on our first visit to this neighborhood cafe both by the delicious food and the friendly staff. A real find!

mary marriott

So yummy but prepare to spend some $ to get the full experience. Their fish dishes are the best

Oighrig Liadan

Very prompt and friendly service. Delicious food and generous portions

Bill

I had a fish with coconut sauce that was excellent. Friendly, prompt service and a fun atmosphere.

Mary C.

The food was delicious and service was very good. The only thing I didn't like was the water didn't have ice and was room temperature.

Mike Newton

Very pleasant staff, good choice of meals but the neighborhood is no place I would visit after dark.

Kevin Hoover

Had dinner here with friends on a Tuesday evening. The place is extremely noisy! It was hard to have a conversation with the person across from me in a booth in the back side of the restaurant. The salads were healthy in size and were described as very good. Unfortunately my pulled pork sandwich was not very good. Pork was “mushy”, the bourbon bbq sauce was indistinguishable and the Cole slaw was Ho hum. The bun quickly turned to mush and I wound up just eating the meat with a fork. The fries, on the other hand, were very good. The service was quick as was the follow up. Overall a mixed experience and I would most likely not return. Parking in the neighborhood is a nightmare too!

Nathan Olvera

The drinks oh my gosh the drinks are so killer!!! The food is excellent too. Around Valentine's they'll have a couple's meal. Definitely worth scheduling some time I got the roasted duck it was probably the best duck I've ever eaten. One of my favorites is there Apple ,beat chicken salad. If you go here don't get the standard stuff like a burger. They have some good chefs in the back that can really cook things your way Don't be afraid to ask.

Molly Mama

Had an Amazing lunch with a girlfriend here today! The food was great and awesome staff.

Patti Degerness

The lamb burger is amazing good. It is what I get every time. It always taste the best when your craving it. Good beer selection. And one of the few places I really enjoy cocktails from. Love the vibe.

Bobby Davey

My husband and my very first time here. He had the turkey bacon club, and I had the burger burger. OMG, the absolute best burger I have ever eaten. We will definitely be back. The desserts we had was just grand. Thank you so much for the fantastic service and the amazing food.

Carl Coen

Update: came here a second time and ordered the fish and chips. Fish had an off flavor that reminded me of ammonia. Cole slaw lacked flavor. Fries were still good. Also ordered clam chowder that I enjoyed. Original: The food here was amazing! I ordered the cheese platter and the lamb burger. The cheese platter was thought out and everything paired well. The lamb burger was one of the best I've ever had. It wasn't overly greasy and all of the ingredients worked to balance the lamb. The fries were crispy and had a nice seasoning.

Corrina Glizin

The food here was delicious! I had the tomato bisque and a charcuterie board which were really tasty. It's a very popular restaurant so I would either make a reservation or be prepared to wait a little bit

Kelly Graham

I don't think I've ever written about a steak before but here goes. Yesterday this place served what I would have to say was one of the best I've ever had in my 64 years on this planet. It was a Coulette which is a cut of top sirloin. It was as tender as a filet, more flavorful than a rib-eye or a new york. Please, make this a regular menu item! Yummy!

Nicholas Calais

The happy hour at this place was amazing, our favorite by far was the French fries with Parmesan and rosemary! I cannot believe how fast everything was, we ordered and had food in what seemed like 5 minutes! Overall could not recommend more highly for HH!

Nicole Martin

Friendly neighborhood vibes. Good food and cocktails. Wonderful staff! We love coming here. It can be a little noisy on a Saturday evening so not the best for a quiet conversation but don't let that stop you from trying it out.

Janaki V

Food and ambience was great. Would definitely recommend if you are in Portland.

Tracey Mars

The food was excellent! We went during happy hour and had the Parmesan fries, Diablo chicken wings, pork tacos and a veggie burger. I wasn’t disappointed. Worth the 1hr to get there from Washington State.

T. Beaty

Great food, very nice range for all palates. Very interesting combos. And amazing service.

Vladimir Garbuzov

Great atmosphere. Food is excellent, very satisfied for the price.

Thomas Szymanski

The wait was not long and the staff was friendly and accommodating. Offering us a drink while we waited. The chipotle elk burger was amazing. The mimosas were wonderful. And while we were frequently checked on, I felt like my friend and I could catch up completely undisturbed. The perfect mix of attentiveness without being pushy. Will happily come back!

Sarah Ackerman

Great late night happy hour! The staff here is always so friendly and attentive! The menu is slightly different that the typical. Food is always great!

Bella Brown

This place is great. Cute little area. It shared a seating space with Over and Out. Seating was fast since we chose to sit at the bar. Cocktails while we waited were tasty. Service was prompt and friendly, despite a full house. We waited maybe 15 min for appetizers. Pricing on the food was surprisingly fair with large portions. Had plenty leftover. I will definitely return and bring out of town guests.

Miguel Cortes

My first time going in. I was craving a burger and it didn't disappoint. I liked the atmosphere and the service! Definitely going back in the future!

Aly Davis

Had dinner here and the staff are incredibly attentive to everyone. Servers from other sections were filling our waters and went out of their way to take care of us. I am extremely impressed with the quality of service here and will definitely be back. *food was excellent

Walt Moorhouse

Food arrived quickly, was very good, and the service was excellent. Definitely recommended for Brunch.

Michelle Griffin

I've been coming here for at least 10 years and they never, ever disappoint. Great food, cocktails, and "elevated casual" ambiance. The service is always fantastic, too. I love this little local gem!

Emily Kauffman

Enjoyable date atmosphere. Their meatloaf (a dish I normally would not order) pleasantly warmed my insides and evoked a feeling of "just maybe everything will be okay". Comfort food well done.

Chris Sullivan

We stopped here for a quick lunch on the way to the airport. Friendly staff, good comfort food. Slow dessert but the servers were apologetic and made good not it. I’d visit again without hesitation.

Gail Holt

This was my first time to this restaurant and I was very impressed with the freshness of the food. I had the salmon, which was cooked perfect, it was very moist and fresh. I will definitely be coming back for more.

Trish 'bidwepto mshkode' Osterhout

Had lunch there today. I had the elk burger. It was so good. Even the fries were fantastic. The servers were very nice. I was excited to finally eat somewhere that was on triple d.

Paris Keller

I am a fan of this place. Any of the food and drinks I have had there have been delicious. I have gone here on first dates, happy hour meet ups with friends and I have found it to be a great place to bring friends/family who are visiting from out of town. Great environment inside, but if you can manage a table outside in the front when it's nice out, that is the best! It's a little pricy, but not over the top and the quality is worth it. Never had any issues with their staff. The service here is exceptional. I have been there several times to catch up with old friends, and we end up talking/drinking/eating for hours and have never felt rushed.

Mandi Troiano

I am a regular patron here. I like the food, the drinks are really good! The short haired blond bartender that wears her hair in a bun.. works in the bar, is so ackwardly rude to the point where asking for something, you feel like you're a burden. As a paying guest.

Tom Martin

Everything is very good. Don't tell anyone but they could charge more for food this good. Well run. Great service.

David D

Awesome food, drinks, vibe and staff. Love their chicken friend chicken and always have fun there.

Aoife Mac Mahon

Great little brunch spot. I was warmly greeted and made aware of a small wait and placed on the list while the rest of our party arrived. We stopped into the pet store nextdoor during the wait. The wait quoted was accurate and my phone alerted me to when they were ready for us. We were seated in a lovely booth. The whole place had a nice chill feel. I had hot tea and a Lamb burger. Everything was delicious and the service was excellent. I will be back to take pics next time! I gobbled up everything before I could take a picture which is rare for me. I was ready for that burger and it didn't disappoint! Thanks so much. #Slainte

Taylor Stockdale

Loved it! Fried oregano bread was delicious, I ordered the pear and rosemary martini and it was delightful! I got the fish and chips and hubby got the lamb burger. We loved both! Fries are excellent, and the goat cheese on the lamb burger was rich and creamy. Definitely get the creme brulee for dessert!

Meg Snyder

The atmosphere of the observatory is great. I met a friend for dinner and we sat in the back section. The drinks are amazing! I had the hibiscus margarita. Our server was very friendly and efficient. Unfortunately the food just wasn't that great. I had the quinoa veggie burger and it was possibly the most boring flavorless burger I have ever had. The fries were really good though. I would go again and try something else from the menu. Definitely worth going for the drinks and atmosphere alone.

Sindy Westenfelt Bosch Easterly

The Observatory wasn't what was expected. In my opinion, it was better. A small, quirky, restaurant with separate bar and outside eating areas, it's atmosphere is inviting. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and down to earth. The food is amazing! Well worth the moderate price. I had the Lamb burger medium rare and my friend had the Elk burger also medium rare. We shared. Both were cooked to perfection and both were so good we could not stop eating! We also had ordered the Oregano fry bread which was superb. Another hole in the wall to add to my list of favorite places to eat.

Kelly Pederson

Good food. Love the rosemary bread. Also happy hour is great!! Amazing bread pudding. Only concern would be our bill didn't match the prices on the menu. But I realize it's a pandemic. They should update menu correctly. Steep prices for alcoholic drinks in regular menu. Nice staff.

Sarah S.

Have been coming here for years. The cocktails are good and the food is also delicious! The oregano fry bread is my favorite. Staff have always been courteous. Popped in earlier this week for the first time in awhile...the fish in the fish and chips was not that great, BUT, everything else I have had here before has been wonderful. I will be returning in the future!

Christy Bennett

Quick efficient waiter. Food was delicious. Fish taco's has seasoning not good choice for kids but adults may prefer.

Ashley Conley

Good food and drinks but our waiter had big “please finish fast so I can turn my table over” energy. Not what I’d expect for the price point. Also, we heard the hostess sending people to the back room bar continually knowing it was full and they couldn’t get in, she just obviously did not want to deal with them. There are lots of places in Portland doing this same concept but with better customer service.

D Lange

Service, atmosphere and food are really good. Chicken bacon salad is amazing.

Cale Lewis

I wish I could give a more thorough review, but I’ll just share our experience.. the very first time my wife and I went there we were in love with the energy of the place.. we were seated at the front bar (there’s one in the back of the house also) and read the menu.. we were both drawn to two dishes, the mussels diabla and the goat burger and fries.. so we ordered them both and shared.. they were so ridiculously amazing… I want to say we came back a dozen or so times in 3 years..never ordered anything else to eat. We tried different drinks from time to time but the Tom Ka was hands down our favorite.. sweet and spicy.. amazing. If you’re in the area, you have to go check it out. The staff is wonderful, the chefs are amazing.

Grae E

They were busy, but the servers were fantastic. Food and drinks were excellent. Try the trout with baby broccoli and potatoes! So delicious. You can't not go to The Observatory without getting the fry bread. The wait time was about 30 minutes. They would set you up with a text to watch the wait list move until it was your turn.

brinn janson

I just ate there and I have to say WOW! Amazing quality food and a great friendly staff! An awesome place that I'll happily return to! Thank you!

turtle Hernandez

Delicious 😋 highly recommend the double ginger house beer!! I tried the elk burger and their lamb burger. Delicious. Also their steak was bomb. And the catch of the day potato pancakes were everything!! …

Julie Golden

Very pleasant surroundings, good food, but rather noisy. Difficult to carry on a conversation.

Jenna Boettger Boring

I cannot say enough good things about this place, it is absolutely one of the best places in this city. It flawlessly rides that line between being fancy enough it feels like a night out without being pretentious... make it great for date night or meeting up with friends. Their apple salad is one of my favorite dishes and I'm not always a salad-for-dinner kind of person. Their happy hour also has some really great starter options, if you're a french fry fan they have some of the best garlic parm fries I've ever had. This place should not be missed.

Luna P

Very tasty food and drinks! I especially enjoyed the spicy cocktails. The cheese platter was fantastic 😊 …

Roxanne DuBois

Great service delicious food and drinks!

Jessica Kelley

The host working the front was my favorite, kind and eager to be helpful. We walked in late on a Sunday night and were seated promptly despite the full house. The menu is refreshingly simple and the food is very well made. My fiancé loved his burger with “proper” bacon, as he put it. My salad and quinoa burger were clean and fresh. I wish I had bottles of their vinaigrette. Please keep in mind that the fries are dangerous. You will not be able to stop yourself.

Demetre Janness (d.james.martin)

Awesome food its my first time here but I would come back for sure! Service was exceptional and I would like to thank them for keeping me hydrated well throughout my meal especially when having brunch with cocktails!

Heather Fitzgerald

The food here was so good. Definitely try the pulled pork tacos!

Kristen Miller

Atmosphere, food, drinks and most of all the service is the best! First stop in Portland every visit!

Flat Stanley

Food tasted tasty and the service was second to none.

J

Good food, staff acts like they could care less about you (typical Portland service) a little spendy. Had the Chicken fried steak and pulled pork sandwich.

Aaron Ulloa

Great place for food and drinks, very friendly service, good music

Conner Conaway

Went for the first time with a group of friends last night, and it was great! The atmosphere was nice and the service was pretty good. Drinks were great and the food was great as well! It wasn’t badly priced either. 4 people, with full entree’s and a few drinks was under $100. We’ll be back!

Deborah JA Miller

Food was outstanding. Do not leave without going the lavender creme brulee!

brian roberts

Delicious food, friendly staff, and great cocktails.

paul Goncharuk

This place is absolutely awesome. The interior design is done really interesting and unique. Their Chipotle Elks burger is something to die for. I’ve had it so many times and it never disappoints. Definitely will recommend it to anyone looking for a good place.

Russ Abstein

Went their first a quick lunch, given its cold outperform bowl of soup and grilled cheese sandwich. Nice little bistro with outstanding service. Not too lively for this time if day but could see a little bar atmosphere during the night.

Taisha Arnold

The food was amazing. My husband had the Elk Burger and said it was "the best burger he's ever had". We shared the apple and beet salad which we order at other restaurants but this one is top notch. I highly recommend this place for great service and great food.

JEANNE LAMONT

Great food in a relaxed atmosphere. Have never had a bad meal here. Staff is friendly and accommodating. This is my favorite Portland restaurant. If you're looking for a formal fancy atmosphere this is not the place. The mussels are wonderful, the smoked fish plate which was dropped from the menu during Covid is spectacular; let's hope is comes back soon. I had a special: Ahi tuna steak covered with black and white sesame seeds served with spicy asparagus and cilantro lime rice. What a great meal.

Lisa Hinckley

Excellent food, drinks were delicious. Service was pleasant. We ate at a place that did not make us feel like we were being rushed.

Dan Dehart

Staff is amazing! Seated. Ordered. Fed. Only thing for me is season the burger. Not a big deal but I think it would be nice. Very covid safe and really a gem of montavilla!

Tiea

My husband said The Observatory has "the best wings" he's ever had...twice. Everything was spot on!

Nicole Cole

We had a pretty long wait for our table, but the food was worth the wait! The margarita drink special of the day was tasty too

Phil Yien

15 minute wait even at 1:45 pm on a weekday, but friendly service and good food.

Gena Gastaldi

One of my favorite restaurants of all time. I’ve lived near the Observe for 10 years and have eaten here probably twice a month since they opened. I’ve never been disappointed. Great food, delicious drinks, friendly staff. It’s neighborhood spots like this that make Portland what it is. Go here, order everything, you won’t be disappointed. Lots of veg options and kid friendly too. Also great for a date night.

Brittany Launius

The atmosphere is delightful. The front and back room give different vibes but both still comfortable. The food was alright. I think I should've ordered a salad or a burger and I would've been more pleased. The service was good. Our waitress was friendly but I'm glad we weren't in a hurry. We didn't drink alcohol so I think we fell to the bottom of her important list. All together it was a great place to sit and catch up with an old friend.

René Canler

I truly enjoyed the time with my brother. It was a little uncomfortable to put my mask on, take it off, put it back on, take it off, etc. As, this was the first time I saw posted that I was required to put my mask on when talking to the server while sitting at the table. We had the elk burger and the burger burger. Delicious. They were cooked to our specifications and were delicious. And, the beer was cold. Other than the mask policy being reconsidered, the experience was wonderful- as expected. Well done, The Observatory.

Kathy Klarfeld

We had the cheese plate, an absolute must. I also had the chicken linguini and a cream sauce and it was so delicious! The service was fantastic definitely going back here.

Barbara Church

They make every customer feel very welcome and important.

Justin Bubenik

Best classed-up meatloaf in town, but I have a hard time turning down the lamb burger. Plus creative, delicious cocktails. Definitely recommend the Tom Kah.

Amy Bangsund

The oregano fry bread and the andouille mac and cheese were delicious. My husband and I split those along with the warm chocolate brownie which was also amazing. It was more than enough food.

Kristin Smith

The chicken n' waffle with butter and maple is so good! It's my go to when we come here. My partner gets the biscuits and gravy with the spicy Italian sausage and it's delicious as well! I always pair my food with their Saturday $5 mimosa. No complaints so far! We always sit in the bar portion and have friendly service and it never takes long to get our food. We have also come for dinner a couple of times, and it has been just as wonderful! I have had the lamb burger and the elk burger. Their fries are delicious and the drinks are great as well. Thanks for the wonderful food and drinks everyone!

Zach Howe

Even though menu item cost is a little high overall, due to the quantity, quality, and consistency of the items, the value is truly excellent. Also excellent atmosphere, staff, and speed. Probably in top 3 restaurants in the area, if not top 1.

Jenna Cripps

Its worth just stopping here for one of their cream sodas.

Chris Long

Great low key throwback diner. Service was outstanding. Food was great. I tried the alternate vegan burger an although not as tasty as beef, it was certainly good enough for the benefits to me and the environment. I like the old bar as well, from Western old days. Parking can be tricky, just a little walk though.

Christian James

Literally the 2nd best Hamburger in town. Ringside Steakhouse is better but come on Ringside is a steak house. The observatory is one of my favorite places and their bar tender Laura is literally one of the nicest people. This place is probably my #1 regular places I go to.

Patricia Edeal

We have eaten in a lot of expensive Portland restaurants but for my money the best salmon dinner was at The Observatory; salmon was perfect with lots of green beans and potato pancakes. And they pour a really nice size glass of vino as well. Super friendly staff with great service.

Ron Reeves

Montavilla hidden gem. Good lunches with great service staff. Full line of cocktails too.

Flavius Govindaraj

This place is fantastic! Everything was fresh and tasty. The spicy chicken wings with sweet chili oil and hot mustard was sweet and spicy. The bacon, chicken, blue cheese salad was delicious. Our server was prompt and attentive. The venue is clean with interesting accent lighting. The music and vibe of the restaurant was mellow. I will add this to my on going list of great restaurants.

Piper Landry

I've been here twice with my partner and this place has been fantastic. Smallish menu but anything you order is gonna be delicious. Huge portions, too. The fry bread and chicken wings are my favorite appetizers. Lovely atmosphere and friendly staff. People actually seem to enjoy working here which is always nice to see.

Stimpy R

Great food and service. Neighborhood is sketchy AF.

krs-T Bedford Studios

Ate here courtesy of Jesse, the kitchen manager at Kays Bar in Portland, and anywhere he recommends for food is ALWAYS going to be superb! Fantastic meal and staff, and reassuring covid regulations too...! Thanks all, and especially Jesse for a great lunch and even better company!

De'Jhan Holland

Solid experience. Didn't ask us if we wanted to see the bar outside which is why we came, but we didn't know we needed to ask. Sat in a booth and enjoyed some great cocktails and some decent happy hour eats.

Joshua Brown

Totally blown away by this place. Their food and presentation are both on point. Love it.

Nico Smith

Wow. That was the best beet salad I’ve ever had. Fan-tastic. We really appreciate the servers having no problem splitting checks for a party of 10. Definitely will return.

Angie Copple

Excellent service! Great food with lots of options for dietary concerns. Can't wait to go again. 💜 …

Eddie Buddy

The had great flavor and the portions are huge. It's a little difficult to find it if you use Google maps. Google will try and send you to the kitchen of the restaurant that's on the corner.

sandy sahr

Wanted something different for dinner but when going through menu's I noticed at the bottom they had 2 types of dessert and one was bread pudding. I have a fondness for bread pudding. So I went there to try it out and had the best salad ever. No bitterness in any bite of greens and so fresh. After having the delicious chicken and bacon salad I had the best bread pudding I have ever had at a restaurant.

maryana kots

Delicious food, very good quality and fresh. Staff are friendly. Will be back for sure!!

Amy May

The Lamb burger is tasty and my coffee beverage was on point

Sue Green

I had the chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes and Brussel sprouts. Normally I hate Brussel sprouts but I really liked these and ate them all. It was all good.

namhod

The fry bread was awesome! Delicious drinks, good food, staff was super friendly. COVID cleaning habits were on point. Outside seating was still fine at a little above 40° the heaters were between each table which was great.

Coneydub Creations (Coneydub)

This place is vibin'. Great vegetarian food, good drinks and starters, chill atmosphere and the staff pay attention. Our food came quickly and the drinks were on point. The bartender was friendly and cool

Scholar Write

My new favorite place. The fry bread with the white magic sauce alone is worth the trip. Very fresh veggies. The ceviche with melon was amazing a great summer dish. Great creative craft cocktails and not too sweet.

Dana S

The food and drinks have always been incredible. They really navigated the COVID restrictions and practiced to keep the staff and customers safe. Jillian was our server, and so friendly. She had great suggestions for food and drink choices. It was my first time out since March, and she made it a great and "normal" experience.

Juan Castillo

Great place for lunch with large group. I recommend sharing plates because they are pretty large portions.

Tekela Fisher

The Observatory is always a solid bet, whether you're looking for happy hour, dinner, or just snacks and cocktails. I often take visiting guests here, as they really have something for everyone!

Obed Martinez

Good food, good drinks, good service 👌 …

Robert Harden

Wow! Amazing food! The biscuits and gravy are awesome. So are the chicken and waffles. We had a few cocktails that were tasty. Highly recommend this place. I am sure it gets busy during normal breakfast, lunch, dinner hours so go a little early or late to get in earlier.

Tippy Cup Jones

We have wanted to try out The Observatory for a ling time and finally did with zero disappointments. Already knowing its a popular and busy place we expected a wait for a table and food but even that was fast. Under 10 minutes for a table, maybe we got lucky, and food was on the table in under 15 minutes. We would have gladly waited longer for what we ate. Wow was it great. The full order of biscuits and gravy with chicken was a massive portion. I had it leftovers for breakfast this morning and it was just as good. I didn't expect much from the burger but was I wrong. Something to be said about a basic burger that is done to perfection. Prices are excellent for the portion and quality of the food. Service is also fantastic. We never felt ignored or needing anything. Definitely a place we will revisit.

Nora Carpenter

Great vibe, Excellent service and great food. I got the lamb burger with garlic cheese fries. The buns were so fresh & fluffy, I ate the entire plate and was beyond full afterward. The staff & ambience is always pleasant too!

Chloe Villanueva

Amazing unique food, and great vibes! The staff is great, everyone was friendly and very helpful! Everything was priced great and tasted delicious. We got the cheese platter, the lamb burger, and the Mac N’ Cheese, as well as drinks and everything was amazing! The decor and atmosphere were nice as well. Honestly a must visit when in Portland! 5/5

Melissa Barker

Only been once but definitely a fan so far. Cool atmosphere, great drink selection, really good food. Happy hour prices are really low and the food isn't disappointing but spending the extra on the full menu is totally worth it. I unfortunately don't remember our server's name but she was friendly and really efficient. There every time we needed her and never lingered around when we didn't. Super disappointed I forgot her name because I she was honestly impressive. But I will definitely be back thanks to her stellar performance and the amazing food.

Anthony Shanks

Good food and atmosphere. Always pretty busy so prepare to wait about 10-15 minutes for a table.

Paul Conklin

Me and my wife went here for her 30th birthday. The food was amazing drinks were awesome and the service was best of all. The second we were done with our appetizer which we didn't finish because we wanted to save room for food. She got Fish and chips the fish was moist and flaky perfectly cooked. and I have the Chipotle Elk Burger which was amazing all the flavors blended perfectly. And best fries I have had in a long time. Thank you Observatory for a great birthday date night with my wife.

Kurt Williams

We went here for dinner Saturday evening. It took a while to get a table outside due to limited seating but it was worth the wait. We tried the mussels, the ceviche, the fish and chips and the lamb burger. It was all really good. The service was outstanding as well.

Doug Vodehnal

The food was fantastic. I had the Elk burger and my wife the lamb burger and both were melt in your mouth. The atmosphere is hip and inviting. We enjoyed the 80's rock, good stuff like Talking Heads. Service was great too. We will be back for sure.

Zachary Bentley

Went for happy hour, friends and I were planning on sharing a few happy hour items but we didn't expect such huge portions. The fried bread is amazing, the muscles sauce was very tasty. Only negative was the sliders/fish tacos were a bit bland and not as tasty as everything else.

Robyn Cerone

Meatloaf was awesome!!! So flavorful. A little sketchy area, but great food and service.

Casey Hamlett

Great food, great service, decent prices, awesome lighting. Lol!

Chantal Barton

All their salads are amazing combinations of ingredients. So delicious.

Joshua Welsh

Excellent food, and freindly efficient staff. There is art on the walls available for sale. A very Portland experience.

Sheryn Schwartzenhauer

I wish I'd thought to take a picture of this amazingly delicious Beet & Apple Salad ( with chicken) that I had at the Observatory tonight! It was really beautifully constructed; quite a culinary work of art! Many of their dishes looked tantalizing, but I can't wait to go back for another salad like the one I just finished!

sue clancy

Good happy hour food and drinks in fun atmosphere

Austin Bennington

Clean, fun, well run. My only ask would be to change up the menu every now and again. I would go more often, but the food selection doesn't change.

Casey Campbell

Thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. There were a lot of people inside, and I was worried there might be long waits. The wife and I wanted a quick meal while the baby was with her grandparents, and that is exactly what we got. Food was great, atmosphere was very nice, and prices were good. I got the pulled pork sandwich which was excellent. There were a number of items on the menu that looked great. I will be returning.

Tony Arsan

Caesar salad and New York strip steak were great. Even my arnold palmer tasted like it was made with fresh lemonade. Bread pudding was excellent. The presentation and service we're top notch. Always impressed by this place.

Elizabeth Kinney

Just had a fabulous Mother's Day Lunch here. Fresh chicken salad for me, amazing french toast for my grandniece and biscuits and gravy for my niece. We all raved about the quality. What was especially great was the home-brewed ginger beer. I even asked for a to go cup so I could take some home. I'll be back to that great establishment.

Audrey Neel

Great little place! We went for our anniversary- they do not take reservations- which was fine. We we're offered a seat at the bar pretty quickly, which we took. Fabulous drinks, great oregano fry bread, delicious Mac and cheese. I loved there diverse options on their menu! Can't wait to try their meat loaf, chicken fried chicken and jerk chicken!

Jesse Gantt

Really underwhelming. It was good, nothing special. Both service and food quality just very average. Restaurant is not special esthetically either. Just tables/chairs in a blank empty space. Very "just ok"

Gia D

Excellent food and drinks, friendly and efficient staff. Bartender was spot on awesome! Highly recommend

Rylan Branch

Some pretty amazing dishes, and everything on the menu is at least good so you can't really go wrong. Cocktails are great and the sweet potato fries are 11/10

Jordan Mehl

Great for outdoor drinks! Went with a friend for a birthday during Phase 1. Staff were super friendly and polite with reminders concerning masks and social distancing. Ordered the fish and chips and it was standard pub fare. Overall, I would go again for drinks but I'd order another menu option.

Justin Leverett

Genuinely, this is my very favorite dinner for an intimate night out. The food is perfect--it warms the soul, very filling, great healthy options, and tastes amazing. Great cocktails too. So many finer dining options in this city are wildly unaffordable but the Observatory provides a cool, personable atmosphere and top-quality options without doing unfixable damage to your wallet. Highly recommend.

Molly McWaters

The Observatory is like a good mullet: bougie in the front, party in the back. There's a delicate, petite restaurant in the front and a 'back bar' that is cozy if a bit loud. The food and drinks menu is the same for the front and back and it's fun to watch a game on the TV while eating gourmet choices. I had the Tom Kha cocktail and it was divine. The bartender was a cutie and that was a nice bonus.

Corey Esson

Food was great! But since Biden and Gov Brown ruled that no masks needed with vaccinated people they seemed annoyed that we were even there. Treated us as we were poison! I felt like a mechanical monkey putting my mask up and down constantly as they wouldnt come to our table unless we were masked. Won't be back.

Kenneth Gonzalez

I always enjoy the food, drinks, and service here. The back room can get a bit loud at times, but it's a great atmosphere. Definitely recommend

Janis Jepson

The Observatory is fabulous.. wonderful environment and people...good patrons....good food and drink....a regular place to relax and enjoy conversation and what surrounds you!!!♡~

Paul Knuth

Clean. Food was okay. Mac and cheese dish was enjoyable and the burger turned out as one of those places where they ask how you want it (medium rare) and it comes well done. Chicken liver pâté was enjoyable and I really liked the fry bread. The server was nice. Sat on the back patio.

Adrienne Smoot

Food was great. Two people in our party got salads and another got a biscuits and gravy type thing. I think they are better known for other dishes but still, what we had was good. Service was a little off though. The hostess asked us not once but a second time if we wanted to get drinks started while we were waiting for a table. I don't mind the first time but asking a second time just seems like you're trying to sell at that point. Ultimately that wasn't a huge deal. What did seem rude was when I asked my server if they had decaf coffee, instead of just replying "Yes we do" she said "Well, I can make a pot." I worked in customer service for 16 years and you should never reply with something that makes it sound like a chore to take care of your customer or to make them feel bad so that they might say "Oh, well, nevermind." If you have something, you just say yes. Then I had to wait forever for her to come back around so I could ask for a second cup, which I knew was there because I guess I was the only one drinking decaf out of the little silver pot she had to make for me. Obviously I still give this place a good review for food reasons & because I know sometimes service people might have an off day & not treat people as they should. She never smiled so maybe she was having a hard day she just couldn't get past.

M L

Came here specifically for dessert! Wow, did not disappoint. Delicious. Not your typical bar food. I got a berry and lemon curd parfait. It was divine. I didn't even share with my friends, it was that good. The staff were great as well. Next time, I will come and get the food too, seems like a great little spot!

O'Brien OB

Holy S*$T the tacos !!!!!!!!! And the best happy hours I've seen during my last 7 state tour . It was worth THE VISIT. Very happy with the food ,the flavors, the staff and atmosphere. After camping and on road for 1.5 months I needed a place to just chill n relax . This was the place. MAKE SURE TO TIP the staff :) I'm back in Miami and thinking about their Tacossssssssssss ☺️✌🏻

Anand Shah

Attentive service, good drinks. We got the fish and chips, and I'd say they were ok. Fries were excellent, but the fish was a little off on texture, both inside and out, especially considering how good it looked. On other trips the food has been very good so I'll give a pass this time.

Henry Hall

First time here. It was good. Nothing outstanding to where I have to go back but good. If friends were like let's go here I wouldn't say no at all. Very cool atmosphere and staff was great though

Mackenzie Miller

Seriously such yummy food and cocktails. I absolutely loved my experience here and had the best date night with my boyfriend here the other weekend. The cheese platter was so good and my veggie burger was amazing!

Samuel Burns

Food was good, appropriately priced. Cocktails were fantastic. Felt a little rushed but that's just the nature of limited covid capacity. Very friendly staff, overall a fantastic experience.

Dana Davidson

Great food and drinks. The drinks are strong, so watch out! We especially loved the bread pudding.

craig sackett

Comfortable pub type atmosphere with amazingly good, reasonably priced food. Always our place to go after a flight.

Julie Jones

Best cocktail in town, 10 years in a row - lavender lemondrop (in my opinion). Their food is wonderful and they have some delicious rare finds, like the elk burger and lamb burger. And their charcuterie is more plentiful than most other places.

Chris Bailey

Good food, delicious unique cocktails, friendly staff. I had the lamb burger, very soft and perfectly grilled bun. The banana habeniro cocktail had just the right amount of heat. My wife had the fish and chips which had the most delicious cocktail sauce I have ever tasted. A definite must of you are ever in the area.

N Sullivan

Yummy cocktails. I got the Happy Hour fries and salad. They are delicious and a good deal. I like sitting in a booth, which I don't usually get to do but I met a friend there and we arrived at about 4 p.m. so it wasn't crowded yet. Bring your own straw!

Andrew Elder

One of the best casual dining spots in Portland. Everything I've had is cooked to order and I've never been disappointed why the service or quality. Granted during expected peak times it does get busy but in general is worth the wait. In addition they have a real cool bar in the back there a great spot to grab a beer and play some games. On a personal note, they have in my opinion the best fish and chips in Portland.

Dana Reynolds

Just stopped in a for a quick beer and a snack and everything was wonderful

Mary Ann

Great atmosphere - perfect for a romantic date, but also welcoming for young kids. The house red wine and charcuterie plate were not bad, but also not the best I've had. The red pepper and tomato bisque is amazing. Also loved both the fried chicken sliders as well as the BBQ pulled pork sliders. Great service and friendly staff!

Cendy Prator

This is a great neighborhood eatry/pub. They have a huge menu and are open on Monday. We were going to try a new place but it was not open on Monday. We were very happy with the food and service and the happy hour menu was great. This is a place worth the visit and it is very large they even have a back room Inca the front is full. Good food and drink along with good prices and friendly wait staff is a winning combination.

Micah Smith

Great place to go now that restaurants are open again. Best elk burger in town. The staff was exceptionally helpful and patient with us. Apparently we forgot how to order food during the quarantine haha.

Elton Smith

The appetizer was great. Wonderful sauce on the shrimp and slaw. We had a Rubin sandwich and fish & chips for entrees. They were good but not wonderful.

Kaes Kniestedt

Stopped in for lunch on our way to downtown. The sausage gravy and biscuits with chicken fried chicken was probably the best I've had. Price for the food given was good and the ambiance was good. My date had the tillamook scramble and tater tots which she said was good, but not memorable. Service was great. Worth checking out.

Aimee Miller

Four-horseman pulled pork with sweet potato fries is yummy! Jamie was our server and she was great even though I had to get her to remake my drink because I wasn't expecting it to be so boozy! You get your money's worth with the drinks. My husband had the four-horseman and I had the sirloin. Wasn't crazy about the brussel sprouts but that's just my personal taste. Mashed potatoes were on point.. yummy garlic. And the steak was cooked to perfection. But damn that four-horseman was good too!! Their sweet potato fries are to die for! Will definitely be back!

Karissa B

It was Father’s Day and we got lucky enough to find this place right as they were opening and were seated right away. We all loved our breakfasts and the service was decent considering they got a rush of people as soon as they opened. The coffee wasn’t amazing but decent enough. I would like to come back to this place for happy hour as it had a cool vibe.

Mel Peterman

This is a great place to eat. The food is unique, fresh, and tasty. The service was on the mark. The prices are on par with the quality. The beer, I tasted 2 different ones, I didn't care for either that much. But the didn't make the beer here. Only issue, is parking. Due to the location, I walked about 4 blocks. The parking lot is reserved for MacDonald's.

Scott Kendall

The pulled pork tacos were amazing!! And the soup of the day was this vegetable soup with chick peas that was so delicious. Highly recommend.

Max LaZebnik

Went there with my friend after we visited Mt Tabor. Had the Elk Burger- literally the most amazing burger I’ve had in Portland, period. Wonderful service and our waitress was really sweet too!

Kimberly

Excellent service, excellent drinks, cozy atmosphere. Did not eat dinner this time, maybe next time because I will definitely return, but the food smelled wonderful.

Paula Strawn

i had the fish and chips... delicious! best french fries ever and fresh fish hand breaded. the others at my table had the wrap and the hamburger, same delicious experience. super nice servers, great service. will go back when I'm in portland again!

Holly Woods

When my friend and I when for the first time we got and shared the cheese platter, we highly recommend it. The following time I got the barbecue sandwich with slaw and sweet potato fries, and it was delicious. I can get a bit busy but the service is always been friendly and fast. Can't wait to go again.

Ashley Cartwright

This was the second time I have been to The Observatory and it was even better than the last. We started with the cheese platter and a glass each of the house wine. The cheese platter was plenty big for 4-6 to share as an appetizer. Both house wines paired wonderfully with the cheeses and it was definitely the best fruit that I have taste in ages! Everything was full of flavor and complemented one another...very well thought out choices. We also ordered a cup of their tomato bisque and shared the ginger sake mussels. The bisque had a great flavor and their mussels were definitely the best mussels in town! We thoroughly enjoyed the meal and Jillian was attentive and made sure we had everything in a timely manner.

Marc Thayer

I don't get to visit this place too often, mostly when taking out-of-town visitors to or from the airport, but I always enjoy it. The fry bread is amazing, and I get it every time. The cocktails are always deliciously intriguing, and happy hour prices are reasonable. The decor is also eye catching. It can be hard to get a table at times, but they do have a back room/bar with pool while you wait. They'll also call you if your name's on the waitlist.

Rocio G

I had the pulled pork sandwich which came with the best sweet potato fries I've ever had! No one could keep their hands off my plate. The sandwich was good but it's so big you have to use a fork and knife to eat which makes things a bit messy. Service could have been a bit faster. We were seated immediately but had to wait a while for menus. Street parking is available.

David Kirchev

Pretty good food and service. A little on the expensive side but a nice place to try if you haven't. There was no wait to get in and the food was served fairly quickly. Give it a shot if you haven't.

Eileen Patton

We had to wait about 20 minutes. The servers are friendly. The food was good bar food. The mixed drinks ranged from bad to horrible.

Andre Khrul

I eat here at least once a month. Great lamb burgers and their mixed drinks area amazing

Jeff Hernandez

Really fun place and great menu. Love the atmosphere. They have a formal dining room in the front if you're in the mood for a nice dinner. And they have a nice bar area in the back if you want something more casual. Big screen Tv's for viewing Sports and great drinks. Perfect place for a date that offers healthy eating choices as well as a good old hamburger or elk Burger and many other items.

Isaac Walsleben

They have a HH menu from 3-5 pm and includes a soup, 2 salads, a fish and chicken taco, fries fried bread. They also do well drinks - house wine and a 5 dollar rotating cocktail during HH. They also had off menu oysters - so fresh from hood canal & they serve it with a spicy mignonette and fresh squeezed grapefruit (amazing)

Tonia Ioan

I was excited to go to the observatory after reading all the amazing reviews but unfortunately I wasn’t that impressed. We went there for brunch Saturday morning and didn’t have to wait which is always a plus. The front room was full and we sat in the back. The back room has more of a sports bar vibe, the front is a little more cozy. We had Italian sausage biscuits and gravy and the frittata. Food was ok, but the drinks (Bloody Mary & blood orange mimosa) were really good! Their burgers might be better than their brunch.

Nihal Kaur

Seating is a bit odd and tight spaced, but the drinks and food here are awesome. Very tastey, and filling! Portions are rational, but my friend and I still took a box home! Definitely try the mushroom biscuits and gravy! The staff is wonderful

Joe Cochenour

The food was good. They actually served real portions and not "American" sized portions. Great fish and chips The service however wasn't the best. The fact that two dudes had a buffer seat between them at a fully open bar seemed to upset the bartender and from there we just didn't feel that we had great service. However, I wont say i'll never go back because of it.

guitarlessons PDX

Great food, great drinks. #1 spot out on the east side. Wish they stayed open late like they used to.

milly badilly

Great service, Amazing cocktails and a relaxing vibe! ( Try the spicy banana one) pretty good food.

Alicia Johnson

The restaurant has a good vibe an out-of-this-world food. the staff are pretty awesome too and there's a bar on the back with pinball machines and a pool table. Street parking only which can be difficult at times, the place is usually packed out. There are a handful of outdoor tables, out front and in back.

Mo Jo

Had trout dish and fish and chips ... usually the food here hits the mark but both were quite bland. I have been here 4-5 times. The drinks continue to be excellent. The setting is relaxed and comfortable. I will be back to try dinner again.

Levi Martin

A neighborhood favorite! Great entrees and original cocktails. Excellent happy hour!

Kharis Catchings

Great menu and cocktail selections. Service is quick and attentive. Atmosphere is dynamic yet cozy enough for a date. The bruschetta is amazing! However, the food could use an extra dose of seasoning.

olya s

Awesome food. Awesome atmosphere. Awesome waiter's. Definitely worth a shot

jeffrey lowe

Love this place. Great meals. Great drinks. Small space. Usually packed.

Timothy Freeburn

We've been going here for a long time and keep going back. The food is great, we usually get a cheese plate and something else and just share tapas-style. It's always more than we can each and the prices are right. Literally I feel like you get more on the sampler plate than you could ever afford in the grocery store for the same price. They also have an amazing drink menu an excellent Manhattans. Also rotating beers on tap that are always different every time we go. Highly recommended!

Cindy Myers

Outside dining was great as we have a dog. Awesome drink menu. Happy food was priced right. Fish Tacos were delicious

Ani Raven

A great place for fine food and cocktails. The service is always good, and the menu offers a variety of palate pleasing choices. I love to come here for a leisurely lunch, and share the charcuterie plate and one of the wonderful salads. The cocktail menu is extensive, and offers some of the most creative and tastiest cocktails in town. My current favorite is Rose Milk and Honey, which uses an earl grey infused rum as its base.

Kevin Parmley

Had the Lamb Burger and the bread pudding for dessert. They were both amazing! The craft coktails are as good as advertised and their happy hour makes it tempting to have more than one. Overall great service, great atmosphere, great food.

Alison Allen-Hall

It was fine. Not exceptional. My companion suggested the fish and chips were uninspired. I'd try the place next door before returning. Caveat Emptor.

Etan Ryan

The food here in general is solidly good, but nothing too special (some people would fight me on that opinion but I'm sticking to it) except the fry bread it's excellent. Pro tip skip the white dip and go straight to the red one it's so much better! This place is not quiet, so you'll be able to talk, but it's probably not going to feel intimate because you'll be half shouting. The bar in the bar is easier to sit at when it's busy and has the full menu but you'll have to contend with TV's playing sporting events and music.

Roman Guenther

Cozy, great service...my dining partner and I had the 2 fish dishes on the menu, and they were delicious! Great desserts as well

Angelisa Thompson

Great service, great menu, delicious food.

mike black

Wanted to try the country cat, but they had a half hour wait. So we walked a couple of blocks to this lovely establishment. First off the service was phenomenal! I think every person in the restaurant talked to us at one point or another. The food was excellent, and came out quickly. Drinks were also on point. I really liked the pain killer! I can't wait to return, and try happy hour!

Paul S

Great food for a good price. Here's the more important part: the service was excellent! They were attentive, efficient and knowledgeable. Most restaurants in Portland have truly crappy service, but this place was the total opposite. Oh, and my wife, who's a Professional Bread Pudding Expert, says that they have the best bread pudding ever, anywhere.

Francesca Becker

THIS PLACE IS THE BEST! The drinks are amazing (Rosemary Martini or Tom Kah are my faves) and you HAVE to get the Mussles Diabla and the Cheese Platter (order both and its enough for a meal for two). Everything is amazing!! I went twice last week...

William Lee

Great food and cool atmosphere. It would be helpful to better inform people of times when certain menu items are no longer available. I needed to order a to go plate but didn't realize they stopped at 10 since it's dark in the restaurant and it's hard to see where it says on the menu.

Hung Dinh

Drinks were great, foods were decent, we sat outside because the weather is nice and overall a great experience.

Janet Irwin

I had the Reuben for lunch today 12/8/2017. The corned beef was excellent. I'm not fond of Thousand Island dressing, so asked for it "lite". perfect. I eat here often. The service is good, though it's a popular place, so there can be a wait for a table in the evening. It's worth the wait. There are also some tables outside, and it is connected to Over and Out ... Same menu, but the pool tables, and arrangement of the room has a more sports pub feel.

William B

The staff was extremely friendly and welcoming, and the food was excellent definitely a gem of a restuarant.

Jessica Dent

Fantastic food, good service and a nice atmosphere. Little pricey, but definitely worth what we paid.

Seth Seeman

High quality, modern and delicious! Amazing cocktails! Quiet, clean, relaxing atmosphere, plus they have a more casual bar in the back (Over and Out). All their food is great and again, the cocktails are on-point!

katie

Been here a number of times. Excellent bar. The cumin centipede and the ruby rye Manhattan are awesome. Huge salads, large fish portions, great coleslaw. Service is always excellent and atmosphere is great.

Joe Meyer

Met an old friend here for dinner last night. The small place was crowded, but not packed and we were able to have a conversation. I often find the noise level in restaurants like this unacceptable, this place was loud, but not no loud that you couldn't speak to your table mates. The food was delicious. I had the Meatloaf which was very tasty and came with a generous portion of mashed potatoes. My wife's trout was cooked perfectly and she raved about it after we left. This is a place we will return to.

Jenn Jones

Ordered chicken and waffles. Waffle was cold. Chicken was nicely crusted, and juicy, but not seasoned. Without the syrup, it would have been a cold flavorless meal. However, I would get it again. Coffee was delicious, as well as the Bellini. Husband got the trout salad. He absolutely loved it, but wished there was more trout.

Kristina Kern

The Observatory is in a great space. Our group enjoyed the lofty ceiling and happy hour offerings. We recommend the shrimp and chicken dishes. Pretty standard and good, but not overly stellar. The shrimp came with fresh, not overly steamed/boiled vegetables and rice. The chicken was juicy, but not as memorable like Screen Door's. The portions are just right when you order an appetizer with the meal. The specialty drinks are unique and worth trying. We had a refreshing cucumber martini that wasn't cloyingly sweet. The place was packed on a Sunday night and service was off and a little rude. There was a wait at the door as the night progressed. As much as I like the space, the food and service need to rise up to the lofty space it occupies to receive a 4- or 5-star rating. Is this place overly hyped on Yelp? Our visit was better than meh, but no better than just good.

Jett Wyatt

Great food, reasonably priced. Good menu, with food for carnivores and vegetarians. Great happy hour menu, too. Staff is friendly and efficient. Often crowded in the evenings (because it's so good!) I highly recommend the bread pudding for dessert! Only minor "complaints" are the noise level is pretty high when it's crowded and the parking can be hard to come by on Friday & Saturday nights, but it's worth a short walk! Great neighborhood (Montavilla) spot!

Clarence Clayton, Jr

It was very nice to eat out again. The food was really good and the service was great . Nice comfortable surroundings, and super menus. Can't wait for the back bar to open.

MaryBeth Massey

The Observatory is such a beautiful, craft experience. The service, atmosphere, drinks and food are all perfectly crafted to deliver a unique, interesting dining experience! The cocktails were delicious, the bartender and servers were helpful, friendly, and attentive. It was a perfect experience for a solo lunch.

Kevin Ward

Good fresh tasty food, same basic menu for years, daily specials. There's a fun bar / games in the rear. The restaurant can get loud at times; get a booth if you can. There's often a wait, but it's never horribly long.

Linda Boyd

This place is AMAZING. Good sports bar-y vibe in the back. Amazing drinks, amazing food, amazing atmosphere. Had the elk burger... wanted 10 more elk burgers afterward. Reasonably priced for the amount of food and the quality of the food! Definitely recommend a million times if in the SE PDX area. (Oh, their cocktails are AMAZING, too!)

Cyric E

Drinks and fries were great! Chicken left a little to be desired in terms of meat on the bones but the flavor was on point.

Terre Leveton

The service was fabulous. But the food was lackluster. A friend and I stopped in for lunch. She had the smoked Turkey sandwich, and I had the smoked fish appetizer plate. Both dishes strived quickly. My plate consisted of half being marinated beets, cauliflower, green beans, whole marinated onion and a hard boiled egg. The other half was toast French bread, horseradish, a cheese that tasted remarkably like a cream cheese, and smoked trout, white salmon and lox. The white salmon was delicious with the "cream cheese" and toasted bread. The trout was tasteless devoid of any trout flavor what-so-ever. The lox was a dark color, unlike any lox I have seen before, very oily, and devoid of the usual saltiness. I ate the trout and salmon, but actually became nauseous trying to eat the lox. I grew up eating lox, and this lox was nothing like what I grew up eating. As s I said, the service was outstanding, and the food came quickly. But the food is lacking flavor. All in all, it lacked anything to make it stand out from the crowd except for the price

Josh Murdock

Food and staff are great. They want to make sure any restrictions are handled without making you feel weird. With that in mind, vegans and vegetarians might struggle a bit for options here. The place is very dark and cozy. Definitely great for date night.

Charlie J (CharJ)

Great happy hour pricing and the food was good! Great service as well and a nice view of the evening sunset colors.

Savannah :D

Amazing! Took my cat there for the first time! People were so nice, my kitty was getting a shot and he didn't even notice because they were petting and calming him the whole time. The people are very helpful to new customers and I don't think the prices are too high. Overall, good experience, I am impressed!

Kevin Kalarn

The Observatory is one of my go to places for a quick bite or drink. The happy hour menu seriously cannot be beat! The fries are a must have with any meal and the proportion is big! They always have a special drink of the day and a rotating menu. Next time you go try the wings! They sell out fast though so try and get them early!

Stella

The Observatory is my go to happy hour spots. Coctails are really yummy and service is always great!

Christopher Lopez

Great place to bring a date. Dimly lit. Great food. Interesting cocktails.

Kelly Coogan

Delicious and wonderful atmosphere! Tom Kha is amazing in the martini section. The Kale salad is super yummy, and if you ever have a chance to order the catch of the day...totally done well. I highly recommend this place.

Michael Schafir

Our meal last night featured large portions of Fried oysters, Sea Bass and some large appetizer plates all cooked to perfection. The cocktails were excellent as well and the prices were very reasonable! The only downer was our blue collar waitress, chewing gum, while taking our order.

rebecca spain

We were in for dinner tonight 3/18/21 around 7pm. The wait staff was amazing as well as the food. We are so happy to be back for dine in. I also appreciated all the safety precautions that were in place.

Jennifer Krasney

Food was delicious, drink was on point and the atmosphere is great. Our waiter was friendly and prompt.

evan brammer

Great food, friendly service, and amazing menu selections. Over the last few years, I've gone from vegetarian, to paleo, and now gluten free (which was the ticket). During that time, I've always been confident that I could go into the Observatory and get satisfyingly delicious food. I love this place! The bar next door is also a great spot for the late crew. :-)

Hare Typer

The food is soooo good. The shrimp and grits is to die for, but unfortunately is only on the brunch menu. It's one of those dishes you keep thinking about weeks later because it was so good. I wish there were more dairy free and gluten free items on the menu, but what is available is very good. They try to accommodate as best they can for food allergies/ restrictions and offer ideas on how they can make it a bit differently to accommodate. Definitely will be going back, and if they add the shrimp and grits to the dinner menu I'll be going more often! ;) Parking can sometimes be a major issue, so be prepared to possibly park 2 blocks away. The food is worth it though!

Quang Nguyen

Came here with the family, and will come back when in the area. We ordered all starters and shared. The oysters were fresh and phenomenal! Also had the cheese and charcuterie plate which was also fairly priced and very good. Service was really good also

Kenneth Cavness

I had the tomato bisque, blackened catfish (catch of the day), and a cherry/peach crisp -- and it was prepared excellently, with delicious side vegetables and a very savory meal. The service was very courteous and prompt, and the meal price was very reasonable. Overall an excellent experience. The lighting was a bit low for my tastes, though.

dan nicely

Great place. Was in Portland recently and was taken here for dinner. Jam-packed and as loud as a high school cafeteria, but somewhat expected on a Friday night. Nice people and great food at reasonable prices. Recommended.

Mary Lohnes

We LOVE the Observatory! We've been regulars since they opened (back when SE Stark was way seedier) and hardly anyone knew about this gem. All of their dishes are delicious but the chicken fried chicken is my husband's favorite. Get the bread pudding.

Brian Smith

The food was great. The staff was friendly and fast. The cocktails were spot on. I will definitely be back!

Ross Wineinger (Ross W.)

Everything I've ordered from here has been DELICIOUS. The fish and chips and chicken has an awesome Panko breading that's fantastic! My only recommendation to The Observatory is to add some more vegetarian/vegan options. For me, it's not an issue, but unfortunately my compatriot only had an option of salad or veggie burger. Other than that, great food, plenty of space and a chill place to eat.

Michelle Boyer

Fantastic food & friendly service!

Irina owens

Has to be one of my Favorite places to take any of my friends and clients too. Reasonable prices, great drinks, and now that they have brunch, doesn’t get any better. Try their vegetarian biscuits and gravy, on the weekends during brunch. It is out of this world.

K p

My son and his family treated me here today for Mother's Day. I had the Black Bean Enchilada w/Tots and Guava Mimosa! Delicious!! My husband Lee had the Biscuits & Gravy w/Chicken, Beth(daughter in law) had the Lamb Burger, Theodore (grandson) had waffle and scrambled eggs and my son Karl ordered the same thing I did. Delicious food, great service and friendly family atmosphere.

Thao Pham

Everything else was great, service, atmosphere, and no lines. However, I had the lamb burger that was recommended by a friend. It wasn't bad but it didn't blow my mind either. The meat was dry and coarse. It just didn't come to par with the other reviews here.

Tonya Hopkins

Had the pulled pork sandwich and the lavender lemon drop. Both the food/drinks and service were great. They also have a causal bar setting in the back if you don't want the standard sit down service. The only issue we had was it was a little too loud.

liwanaga1

I had the brie sandwich, it was excellent.

Kelly Gajer

I've reminisced about restaurants like this. Park House Eatery in San Diego came to mind while enjoying my Sesame Chili Chicken Salad. Al Fresco fare nestled in a comfy atmosphere. Not trying too hard to be what they are: fantastic. Place gets nailed with business at night. Glad it was a lunch meeting.

Rosemary Strunk

I love this restaurant. Keely, Jillian, Jeremja, Cory and all the staff are welcoming to everyone. Great food reasonably priced with wonderful staff! This is a favorite hang out as well as a special dinner spot. Thank you to everyone at the Observatory for making our experience memorable each time we visit! Rose & Wendy

Joshua Enders

This place is great. There are two eating areas. The main dining area which is essentially a big room with a nice wrap-around bar. There is a bar area in the back with pool tables and pinball machines, that also serves food. I always feel comfortable here, and it's always been full of people, even mid-week. Beet salad is large and in charge.

kelly branderhorst

Best clean food natural ingredients. Steak and bleu great. Cocktails are a unique experience.

Ron R. Riekens II

Beautiful place inside, most people don't realise you can go from here to the over and out it back as they are connected with one being primarily the restaurant and the other the bar haven't dined here yet but have had people drop off leftovers to me and I'll say while unusual combinations seem to be the norm in the area this place makes it work, I don't know how they did it but they seem to have found one of probably 5 people more than 1 state away from the gulf of Mexico that actually knows how to cook snapper so it still has a nice delicate flavor instead of being either overpowering to point of killing the other parts of the meal or so cooked out so you taste is seasoning, if no make no mistake the cooks here know their equipment and the items they are preparing with it like Julia child never thought of. Be ready for a wait at breakfast peak times and especially on weekend nights, but it will be worth the wait.

Joshua Patterson

You know those lists that you fill out where you list the 5 things you could not live without. Clearly number one on you list should be the Observatory restaurant. We have been coming here for seven months and have never been disappointed. The food is the highest quality and the menus rotate which is great when you find a restaurant you love but have had everything on the menu. Check my blog for photos of some of the amazing food I have had here joshofalltrades. Info speaking of amazing food. A great way to experience great the sides is to go to the bar during happy hour great prices and the fries are amazing. But what i would really recommend is the muscles always perfect and I've had them more then five times.

Maarten deVriend

Great, really interesting food. I had a salad with shaved dahlia roots and jerk chicken for entree. Chicken wasn't overcooked - definite plus. We had the fisherman's plate with various paté and smoked fish for our starter with our salads. All the flavors were really spot-on and interesting - the sort of thing I appreciate and would come to Portland for.

Jennifer Gamotis

Best Fish and Chips I've had in a very long time. Last best Fish I've had was in Everett, WA off Possetion Sound about 11 years ago, but they closed some years back. Both the fish and chips were delectable. The fish was one large pice, thick and had a wonderful tender bite, while the Panko crust was crisp and crunchy. The "chips" or fries if you rather, had a light batter coating and were crunchy, yet fluffy in the middle. Delish! The only issue that came up was when our salad arrived, we ordered the Cesar, which came with trimmed, but whole,romaine lettuce leave, sprinkles with the toppings. Fist off, am I supposed to cut the salad up bite by bite or do I cut up all the leaves and then toss it? Oh well, we figured it out and it was alright. Other than having to chop my own lettuce, the service was great and the food was above my expectations. We will return, but may not get the Salad.

Roger Ma

After touching down at PDX, we were super hungry and needed some grub. I had bookmarked this place as one of the nearby food spots just minutes away from where we stayed. Their mussels are damn good! Get fries on the side and drench it into the soup! My women swears it's the best mussel dish she's had anywhere. The portion are pretty big and was more than satisfying for the both of us. Lamb burger medium done w/ goat cheese = dank! Man, this hit the damn spot, especially after our flight. Full of juiciness flavor! Get "The Cleanse," it's so refreshing and warm, especially with the NW cold (we visited during winter earlier this year). If I can recall, the tab came out to be just around $30 something or so. You can never find these type of prices in SoCal for such quality food with generous portions!

Kirk Dodson

Happy Hour food and drinks are good here. The back room is often less crowded than the main room. Parking can be hard to find depending on the time of day but one can always park a few blocks away on side streets.

Stephan Russell

It was my first time going there today, I loved it. We had been seated right away and the service was fast and very friendly. The food was amazing!!! Will definitely be going back many more times.

Kat Rich

Went for a late Sunday brunch. Was told that there were openings at the bar in the back, or we could wait for a table. We went to the back, expecting to sit at the bar, but got a booth in the bar instead. They misunderstood my fiance's order and brought the wrong gravy for his chicken and waffles. They fixed it quickly and it was delicious. Also tried the shrimp starter and a salad. Everything was delicious and the chicken and waffles was free because of the mistake. Great service, delicious food, will be back.

Erich Uhlman

I'm not really sure how to write this review... let's just say the food was amazing. I mean the kind of amazing where every single bite was perfect. We splurged, I had the mushroom soup... never before have I had mushroom soup from a restaurant that I would order again, but this, I'd come back specifically to order. I wish I could order it by the gallon and just live off it! That was just the appetizer! Entree was the pork chop special, now there's two kinds of specials restaurants run, type 1 is the kind where something in the fridge is about to turn so they put it on special to get it out the door.... type 2 is the kind where the chef finds something truly amazing and wants to share that with the world. This was without a doubt the second (also because it's not a normal menu item, NEVER order a special that's a normal menu item) The porkchop was perfectly seasoned and wonderfully juicy with a perfect crisp to the outside. I don't know how they cooked it (if I had to guess I would say sous vide) but I'd love to take lessons from this chef. Dessert was equally spectacular with some kind of expertly assembled peanutbutter cup in a Mason jar coupled with a properly strong Irish coffee. I couldn't possibly have imagined this meal to have come from this part of town and certainly not for the price I paid... and first was just my order, my girlfriends was equally amazing and unexpected. So good. Td/lr The chef is seriously passionate about food. The kind of passionate you can taste. Everything else could have been awful, the waitress could have insulted my mother and I would still have left a 5 star review. If I could give 6 stars I'd give 7. Best food from Portland I've had in ages.

Trevor Passey

Fantastic environment. The artwork on the walls are all for sale, and the quality is exceptional. I had the tomato bisque and oregano frybread, but i also sampled the cheese plate; both were very good.

Steven Hernandez

Great food, great drinks, great service.

Klay Diaz

Great service and amazing food. It has such amazing art on the walls it feels so cozy

Jennilee

I see a lot of 5-stars review and I wanted to be one of em', but my experience overall resulted in a 3.5 star experience. Even though, I rated this place lower than I hoped for, I would return and try their Chicken Fried Chicken (previously recommended). The observatory is definitely not a touristy restaurant; come here for the local feel. Here's my rating below: Service: 4 stars Decor: 4 stars (casual/hip) Food: 3 stars My order: Blood Orange Negroni $7.50 - very generous amount of cocktail with fresh juice (4 stars) Catch of the Day (Halibut) $15 - Fish was delicate and fresh; the salad on the side was a bonus (4 stars) Ribeye $18 - great price for A-OK steak. cooked to order, but the steak tasted old. The green on the bottom was over salted to the max. 2-stars Whitefish Spread $9 - great spread, absolutely the highlight of my dinner. It includes pickled items along the plate. 5-stars Overall, I was on the fence after dinner, but it won't be my last time at the Observatory for another try.

Matthew Petrie

Over dinner and drinks my girlfriend and I were commenting about how the Observatory is such a universally great place. Perfect place to bring a date, your coworkers, family, friends, or just casual drinks with your significant other. The food is awesome, the waitstaff rocks, the drinks are fantastic. This place is a new favorite.

Zach Radcliff

Excellent lamb burger, fish of the day was prepared very well. First time having fry bread and it was incredible. Solid beer selection. Staff was attentive and helpful.

Rebecca Lundin

Safe, clean & yummy Great service.

Warren Drainville

This place has some pretty decent food, casual dining, and good service. It's a no reservation, first come first serve place and it's popular. Be prepared to wait about 20-30 minutes for a table.

Jonathan Rundle

Pros: Pleasant service, good beer on tap, well-priced menu. Cons: Wife found one hair in her salad, took it out, ate around that area, found another hair on the other side of the salad. It happens, but we had to call it at the point. They were very nice and removed her salad from the bill and offered to bring her something else. I had the beet salad, which was not very good anyway. The beets were shaved thinly so you had a big pile of shaved beet piled on top of the salad. It was just not a good way to eat a beet. I wish the menu had said they were shaved, I would have gotten something else.

Jim Barron

Excellent cocktails, friendly service with reasonably priced and delicious food.

Michael Lin

TLDR, had the Cumin Centipede (house made cumin infused tequila) and the Greek Meatloaf (lamb) and loved it! Found a spot at the bar on a Friday night. Fairly busy but the bartender was attentive. He helped me decide between the Cumin Centipede and the Tom Kha (thai chili infused vodka). Went with the Centipede and was not disappointed. Many wonderful flavors with an overall freshness to it with the cucumber and cilantro. I had to double check it was tequila based. Again on the recommendation of the bartender, I had the Greek Meatloaf, lamb meatloaf on a bed of lemon orzo with greens and magic. Delicious! Cleaned my plate. I would have stayed for another Cumin Centipede, but I had to be functional early the next day. Totally dug the vibe of the place. Good service, food, and drink. Definitely recommended

Tony Hicks

We were very pleasantly surprised to find such a gem...in a rather skeezy neighborhood (but near our motel) and open late. Although they didn't serve a full menu past 19 on, we had yummy burgers (lamb and mushroom-quinoa) and awesome Lavender Creme Brulee for dessert.

Mac Quilter

I loved going there! The signature drink was a real winner, the food was very good, and the service was attentive and friendly. I live in Northern Washington, don't get to Portland very often, but it is on my list of must-go places. I have told my Portland friends about this place.

kashira j.

Made a quick stop in Portland while going back to Washington. This was a great treat!! I will be making a drive back down soon and I will be eating here again!!!

Yuliya Nikiforets

Awesome lunch, dinner and dessert options. The place itself can get somewhat loud so try to get a booth if you like your privacy. They have a few couches for people that are waiting for a table. A game room is connected to the restaurant. Location is great because parking at the McDonalds is free and it doesn't require driving into downtown.

Nagisa Day

Still one of my favorite places. Might be my favorite fries in Portland at this point! I don't go here too often, as it's a $13 dinner sort of place that's a little out of the way for me, but it's been on my good list for years now. I've come here for my birthday, I've come here with my mom, we've brought my boyfriend's mom (they have kids menus and crayons btw), I've come here with coworkers for lunch... It's an agreeable place that feels as fancy or as casual as you want to make it. And the food is top notch!! Can't really go wrong with ordering I think but any of the burgers are good (yay fries!) special shout out to the quinoa bean burger for being the best vegan burger in town, and I've ordered it without even considering the meatlessness of it because it's just good dang food. The meatloaf is amazing. The apple beet salad is beautiful and delicious for a stupid hot day like today, not too filling which was perfect. This place is classy.

Thomas Harris

Popular dinner location for the locals, expect a wait. Check out the over and out, the back side of the restaurant if the wait times are too long, it has additional seating, a second bar and offers the same menu. The food and cocktails are excellent. No complaints other than it gets busy.

Mary Drinkhouse

One of my favorite things about The Observatory is how they always serve the food piping hot!! The service is great & the food is delicious! I recommend sitting at the bar if it’s just 2 of you - it can get noisy and it’s way easier to have a conversation.

Vanessa Reich

SUCH good food and drinks. Really nice dark atmosphere, great for dates and private conversation! Also REALLY reasonable prices for the quality of food and drinks. Also really inclusive welcoming

Tina Porter

Great cocktails and food. Easy-easy going atmosphere. Service was perfect. Definitely worth 5-stars. Try the fried chicken and Mac n Cheese.

Brian Stone

Solid spot for dinner, as they have the fun bar you can hang out in whilest waiting for a table. This last weekend was my first brunch experience... It was not the best brunch food to be honest. I highly recommend for dinner, and marginally for brunch.

Katryn Bruce

I've been here a handful of times and it's usually awesome. 4 stars because I did have one bad experience where I ordered a chicken bacon salad and it was just watered down dressing and iceburg lettuce and the same night I was charged $2 for a second tea bag.The beet salad is great, the pasta is great, the atmosphere is nice. Parking is a little rough and there's usually a wait, but most nights the wait is worth it.

Matt Kereczman

Went for an early dinner, but ended up ordering a bunch of smaller plates off the happy hour menu because it was so diverse. Everything was great, cocktails were top notch.

Jack-Allen Snodgrass

Place has a great vibe and an amazing happy hour cocktail, but we waited forever for someone to check on us anytime we needed drinks. If you're going expecting good table service for drinks I'd recommend trying some place else when they're busy.

Desiree G

Pulled pork was amazing. Elk burger was awesome too. Didn’t like the bar choice I made so the bartender came over to talk to me about what I like. He hand delivered a delicious mojito. Great service. 👍 …

Mike Moseley

Great time with staff and great place to enjoy.

William Beck

Very popular spot in Montavilla. Reasonable prices. Delicious dinner. I would feel equally comfortable wearing either Carhartts or a blazer and dress shoes here. Very nice staff. It's a busy place! Worth it when it's not so crowded.

Robin Cousineau

This is a family favorite. Great drinks & southern food. Get the oregano fry bread when you go. We go to the bar in back if they're busy and usually find a table.

Greg R

We came here after a long road trip and quite enjoyed the atmosphere, the drinks and some food. Food was good and service was friendly. They also had a great beer selection.

lynette nuttbrock

We stopped in for a late lunch and enjoyed some good beers on draft & my guy liked his peppered bacon club & said the fries were "great!". I ordered the smoked fish platter & everything was delicious 😋 …

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