Higgins Restaurant and Bar

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1239 SW Broadway (at Southwest Jefferson Street)
Portland, OR 97205

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(503) 222-9070
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Higgins Restaurant and Bar - Portland, OR
Higgins Restaurant and Bar - Portland, OR
Higgins Restaurant and Bar - Portland, OR
Reviews
( 42 )
( 31 )
( 8 )
( 10 )
( 4 )

Best

I gather that this restaurant has a well-established reputation, but we weren't aware of it. We've walked past the place many times on our way to nearby concerts and always said,...

Worst

I've been to Higgins twice, both times on special occasions,and both times have been very disappointed. The food has been good, but we have been ignored by the waitstaff both time...

Stay away from Steak Special 8/19/2003

Service was OK. restaurant is beautiful inside - but tin ceiling makes it VERY loud! Special of Black Angus Steak was overpriced and not good. Served on a 90-degree day with fall vegetables. Great wine and beer list. Cons: Noise, Expensive more
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Not sure what the big deal is 8/19/2003

Was told this is one of Portland's best restaurants. Maybe the chef wasn't cooking the night I was there, but I had a poor experience. I got the impression I was supposed to be grateful I was getting a chance to eat here... 1. The pinot we ordered (Achery Summit) was served warm. Complete waste of money. The server's response was to try to sell us another bottle (cooler, I would imagine). Really bad form. 2. Food was Ok, but certainly not exceptional - I had a flat iron steak (that was suspiciously shaped and tasted much more like a sirloin) in a thin, tasteless reduction. Nothing very interesting or flavorful. Other food at looked about the same. After hearing so much about this restaurant I just don't know what everyone is excited about. I've certainly eaten better for far less in this town and been treated far better. Pros: can't thin of any Cons: Bad wine service, attitude, average food more
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what great service? 6/21/2003

food is always great at higgins however, i've been there 4 times with each time less than great service. to add to the poor service, i was charged .75 cents for ketchup and mustard that i didn't use or ask for. if the floor could be as excited about their jobs as the kitchen is about food, this WOULD be portland's best restaurant. Pros: GREAT FOOD Cons: BAD SERVICE more
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2nd rate gourmet burger 6/20/2003

If you want a gourmet burger that comes with fries, Castagna has the best. Higgin's version is too meaty, rather dry, comes with a salad, and all for more money. I've tried about six items from their menu, and overall its hit and miss. What made the steak, pork loin, salmon, and halibut shine were the condiments and garnishes; never had chow chow until now. They make a wonderful Risotto fans. I know we go for the food, but the Chimney Sweep dessert drink was unbelievably creative and tasty, and they serve the must try Lindeman's Raspberry Ale. Pros: Drink menu, Risotto Cons: Lunch burger, prices, prices more
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It's all about the ingredients 6/18/2003

Higgins is THE spot for Northwest cuisine, focusing on fresh, local ingredients. The menu tends to be better in the spring and summer when the bounty of Cooper River salmon, morels, asparagus, berries, and fresh halibut make it impossible to go wrong. I've had risotto twice at Higgins, both times amazing (and I make a pretty mean risotto). Desserts are not their strong suit, and every once in a while they can go awry trying to be too creative with dishes. But all-in-all, Higgins rarely lets me down. Pros: fresh ingredients, vegetarian options Cons: waiters overwhelmed more
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Warm and inviting! 4/21/2003

This was a great place to meet for lunch. I had a nice muffleta sandwhich with a salad. I wish the lunch menu was a little more diverse. I loved the hazelnuts on the salad. Great service. Pros: Service, Food Cons: Limited Menu more
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Stick to the burger. 3/24/2003

Once at Higgins last year, I had the worst risotto in my life. My husband was with me and he agreed. It was tasteless, horrible risotto. This restaurant is way overrated, I thought. Then, we heard about their burger, so we went back there to give it one more chance--and it turned out to be one of the best burger we've ever had. Their pastrami is good, too--we decided to stick to the bar only. more
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Seasonal Dining 2/5/2003

Higgins seasonal approach to menu preparation and locally sourced ingredients results in archetypical ""Oregon Cuisine."" This results in delicious, well-prepared appetizers and entrees, often emphasizing Oregon's wide selection of mushrooms. The seasonal approach works well as long as you are a fan of the meats and vegetables in season. During a recent visit, my meal was great, but the winter vegetables and game listed on the menu didn't sound all that appealing. Excellent desserts, and if you are eating in the bar, try the hamburger. Pros: Local ingredients, Excellent service Cons: Can be loud at times, Seasonal dependencies more
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Maybe 3rd time will be a charm 2/1/2003

I've been to Higgins twice, both times on special occasions,and both times have been very disappointed. The food has been good, but we have been ignored by the waitstaff both times. We are in our 20s, but we were well dressed and polite. We had to call our waiter over for service and when trying to leave, I waited for 10 minutes at the coat check for someone to retrieve my jacket. It has better than average food, but many places provide BOTH good food and good service. I'll take my business elsewhere. Pros: great decor, good northwest food Cons: inattentive service more
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Stick to the Cheese Plate for dessert! 1/27/2003

I love the bar at Higgins - the pastrami is fabulous, the potatoes are great, the pasta is always nice. The prices are a little high - which is to be expected for the prime downtown location. I've eaten in the dining room and thought it was good enough, but . . . the desserts are yucky! The rum-raisin ice cream tastes like vanilla. The apple-cream cheese crostata is undercooked and the ginger ice cream overwhelming. Two of us went in for dessert and coffee after a show last weekend. A server picked up our half-eaten plates and $25 later (that's two dessert, two house coffees and tip) I swore never again! I'm sticking to the cheese plate, or going elsewhere! Pros: Pastrami!!, Location, Organic produce Cons: Dessert, Value more
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Magnum PI and TC would be proud! 12/26/2002

Higgins Restaurant and Bar is excellent! The food is wonderful, the service is quick, and the atmosphere is wonderful! Highly recommended. more
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Diggin' Higgins... 12/24/2002

in every way... Okay, so what is most important to you about a restaurant? Great food, quality, service, ambience? Higgins has it all, and never disappoints. This place consistently plates up beautifully presented, complex, delicious food in sophisticated, creative combinations. Even better, the food focus is ORGANIC and LOCAL, something that matters to me. And even if the food is a tad expensive (relatively speaking), I always feel as if I'm getting a good value. Higgins uses quality ingredients and serves filling portions, and its chef is a wizard. Pros: Food, Service, Ambience Cons: None, but parking can be a drag... more
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The Ambience Speaks For Itself 12/13/2002

Great date place to say the least! Steamed Clams are a great appetizer to start off the meal. Unbelievable wonderful wine/garlic sauce. Try the onion torte for a great dessert or appetizer treat. Great steaks, and the best, coldest, martinis you will find anywhere. Also the best kept secret is the bistro menu in the bar. Sirloin on a kaiser roll is actually the best hamburger in town. You just have to read between the lines on the menu! Fabulous place to hang out before or after the show! Pros: Great Food, Fabulous service, Ambience Cons: None, None Really more
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Off night 12/12/2002

Usually Higgins is a great restaurant. Food is delicious and service is wonderful. But we went for dinner recently and it was less than stellar. The service was good. But the food was not to par of what it typically is. I had the duck and it was not a good piece of meat...grissle throughout. If I were the chef I would have never served this cut to a customer paying $24! My husband had the steak which he loved. Dessert was wonderful. A rich chocolately terrine served with cherry sorbet and sauce. They do need to do something about their windows..too cold for anyone to sit by. We were shivering the entire time. Window coverings are a must. Overall this is one of the great places in Portland to dine but even the best places have their very ""off"" nights. This just happened to be one of them. Pros: typically good food, rotating menu items, bar is really cool Cons: don't sit by windows, expensive more
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The worst in town 11/30/2002

This place was the absolute worst place I have ever had dinner. We went there as a big for my boyfriend birthday and the food had no quality.I had there halibet and it was so dry.It was also really expensive for nothing.They did not give the service that is expected in a fine retaurant.I do not reccomend this place to anyone. Cons: Very Expensive, No Quality, Bad Service more
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Less is More, Loverboy 11/25/2002

Gotta admire the fact that Greg, with his trademark ""loverboy"" bandana, was actually expediting at the helm when we went for dinner. Perhaps it speaks to the state of the fine dining scene in PDX that the celeb chefs are actually working the line. Too bad it didn't show through in the food though. The mussel appetizer was weak. The flavors (fajitas onions and peppers?) just did not mesh. I wish they could have stuck with a classic white wine, garlic, herbs and butter. One entree was a funky vegetarian crepe dish that just did not work, an odd mix of bland flavors. Duck entree was okay, but the jam should have at least been warm, rather than cold. In all, just too much goin' on. Less is more, simpler is better. Hopefully, Mr. Higgins can refocus a bit. BTW, service and beverage selection is very good. Pros: Good wine list, Good beer list, Pretty good service Cons: Expensive, Overly Ambitious, Hit "n" Miss more
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Higgins rocks 11/12/2002

Higgins is wonderful. The best place in Portland. Perfect every time. more
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Very Good! 11/2/2002

This a very good B+ restaurant. I had an A+ lunch at Higgins with one of the best desrts I have ever had. The dinner was a little less great, I maybe just ordered the wrong thing. Cons: pricey more
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Eat in the BAR 10/28/2002

I think we should start this tale off in the Bistro/Bar. It's the great food and late hours that keeps me and my guests in there. You always know there open until 12pm. That's what i love. Service is fine, some people comp the corkage (They get better tips) some people don't. The wine list is great, Oregon ..Yes, French.. Yes, German.. Yes what more could you ask. Thank you for being there Greg and thank you for everything you have done for the community. Pros: late hours Cons: Just raised his price more
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Go Higgins!! 10/28/2002

Higgins is one of the best in town. The bistro on the side of the resturant is a great place to get excellent bistron in town. The resturant has a wide variety of delicious choices. The hardest thing is picking just one item on the menu. Definitely need to go back many times to try it all! more
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Menu for Higgins Restaurant and Bar


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Upscale downtown bistro delivers elegantly simple Northwestern fare.

Editorial

  • In Short
    Business diners, visiting dignitaries and gourmands enjoy this restaurant's innovative cuisine and relaxed atmosphere.The cozy decor of small tables, wood floors, an open kitchen...

  • 3/23/2007 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-12am Sat 4pm-2:30am Sun 4pm-12am
  • Payments: Visa, Discover, American Express, Master Card, Diner's Club
  • Neighborhoods: Downtown, Neighbors West - Northwest
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