West Cafe

Been there 7 times for dinner or lunch. Great food, service, easy parking. Unique menu items. Love the big windows for street life watching. more

I am an East Coast person visiting Portland and I had a fabulous dinner of salmon with a pea mint pesto served over garlic mashed potatoes, with a delicious fresh vegetable and salad. West Cafe also has a wide range of good wines at very reasonable prices. I cannot wait to get back to Portland to try one of their deserts. more

Soulless decor. For the price, I would expect my socks knocked off. Didn't happen. I was charged $4 or $5 for a plain orange juice, not fresh squeezed. I just don't see the appeal. I felt like a sucker. Cons: Overpriced, mediocre food more

The food here was fantastic. My bf and I ordered an egg plant starter, which was simply fantastic. The main course was equally amazing, lamb, the most tender I've ever had. Try this place... it's incredibly affordable for the quality Pros: Probably the best middle easter food I've had in portland Cons: Small, somewhat poor ambiance more

Our very good friends introduced us to West Cafe several months ago via their wonderful Winemaker Dinners on the Third Tuesday of each Month, and we have been returning ever since! What excellent food and service and an incredible value, you must check it out! Typically 5 courses, each paired with a fine wine, so 5 wines too, and all for just $35!! We love it and plan to be there this Tuesday for the South American dinner....so should anyone who loves food and wine and great values. As additional incentive, and to ""reward"" ourselves for very smart shopping, we purchase a $25 certificate from the Portland Dining Club which we can apply to the price of the dinner and delightfully, redeem later for a variety of hi-end products or services. We already ""won"" our first reward...a FREE case of wine, just for doing what we love anyway...it's awesome!! We highly recommend West Cafe, and especially the wine dinners...be sure to take along a Portland Dining Club certificate so you can be rewarded twice for your smart shopping too :) more

...and I was overcome by the tranquil ambience. Our server Emily was very friendly & attentive, not intrusive or overbearing. Wonderful. The prices were quite reasonable for such amazing food, and every plate a work of artistic color and texture. As an appetizer I had the Napoleon of Dungeness crab, bay shrimp & remoulade with avocado & mango salsa. It was absolutely mouthwatering. Then I had the Cumin lime rubbed pan-seared halibut served over brown rice pilaf with green apple saute and veggies. Oh my gosh I almost died! I am sooo glad I stopped by, and I can't wait to go back!\r \r Enjoy!\r -Devin Pros: Amazing service & food Cons: The food was way to delicious more

After missing my favorite restaurant for several months and missing the black-pepper margarita, I ventured back and to my surprise, West Cafe has consistent hours, a great staff and superior food. \r \r My favorite restaurant has stepped up the menu by adding new items like ceviche and my promiscuous behavior toward my favorite restaurant has stopped.\r \r The bartender Loren served up wonderful concoctions such as a mousse knuckles, a chocolate cake and classic drink spins with champagne.\r \r Gina was delightful and has a wonderful smile and great conversation makes me wanting more. The best highlight is talking 1 on 1 with the chef as he interacts with his guests and truly makes you feel special.\r \r This place is an A++. I highly suggest this place. Pros: Great food, great ambience, free wi-fi, great staff more

I have no problem spending money on food but you can get awesome meals in portland made with fresh organic produce for less. The prices are not reasonable here and the portions are also small. I'm pretty sure it's not organic and the quality of the food and presentation are mediocre. Pros: Location close to PSU, usually quick service Cons: It's a rip more

My husband and I went for a romantic Valentine's dinner and had a painful experience. People were craning their necks all over the dining room wondering where the service was. The entree was good, but cold. The salad...well, I'd be ashamed to serve that to guests. The appetizer sounded good on paper. You can truly overdo it on citrus, folks. (After 25 minutes of sitting waiting with our finished plates on our table, we gave up on dessert. They begged us to give them a second try, but we don't do second tries. We asked about a shortage in wait staff before we ordered and the host lied to us, which left a very bad taste in my mouth. I am angry at myself because I sensed the service was the problem and should have got up to leave. The only thing I have as a romantic memory is awesome brussel sprouts and that ain't enough. We came home hungry and $90 poorer. Cons: Who was in charge here tonight. They should be fired. more

My wife and I went to the West Cafe for dinner this evening. We had a wonderful experience, sitting by the fireplace and enjoyed a great conversation without too much background noise. It is a romantic, classy place without the negatives of a pretentious type restaurant that you will find with other more trendy areas of town. The service was very friendly and professional but non obtrusive, reminds us of European cafes. The food was very good, especially for the price. I can honestly say that we enjoyed every aspect of dinner, but the hot chocolate was the best. It was so creamy and chocolaty. We will be going back again and again. Pros: entire experience more

Bad food, bad service ,bad everything, should have opened in the Pearl where people love to pay for bad food and good decor... Wont be back!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pros: nothing Cons: everything more

The West Cafe was a great experience. I went for brunch and the food was awesome...the eggs were to die for, yum! The atmosphere was great, coffee was great, and I can't wait to go back to try dinner and there cocktails. They have great menus. I met the owner and he was very nice and helpful. I would recommend this to all of my friends. Jason Pros: Everything! Cons: I wish it were closer to my house! more

Just a block from where we live so we go there fairly frequently. I've tried the different menu options and I have not had a bad meal there. It's consistently good and a great value for the money. Pros: A great restaurant offering varied fare. Cons: There were none more

This place is amazing! It just keeps getting better-as you walk in, the decor and layout of the place is welcoming and warm, yet tasteful. The friendly, helpful staff is not too friendly or helpful. They offer the perfect balance of excellent service with minimal interruption. They are always on top of exactly what is needed at your table, even if they are busy. I eat here often. The food quality is ALWAYS good. I've never found a restaurant that was able to accomplish this level of consistent excellent service and food quality. Even the exotic-sounding specials on week nights are freshly prepared. Once you try this place you will be drawn back to it time and time again. These guys obviously know exactly what they are doing, and they do it well! Pros: decor, service, food quality Cons: sometimes you have to wait for the restroom more

Although their posted hours are to be open at 8:00 am, don't count on it. I arranged a breakfast meeting for two executives and wanted to give this new business our patronage only to learn that no one was there to open at 8:00 am!! more

West Cafe is my new favorite restaurant. Don't be fooled by its updated diner look. \r My beet/spinach/chevre salad with a side piece of perfectly cooked halibut was fresh and perfectly done.\r My friend had the halibut entree, which was also perfect with colorful veggies and a big mound of mashed potatoes. \r Cheese blintzes with fresh mango and raspberries topped off a perfect meal.\r The hostess/bartender was wonderful. She was proud of her bar concoctions and knew the menu from top to bottom and loved it all. \r It was priced fairly and all fresh wonderful ingredients!!!\r Loved it! Pros: Service, street parking, great fresh healthy food Cons: The quiet atmosphere may not be great for a romantic evening! more

Living two blocks from this cafe, I have visited it three times in the last year, but I won't be going back for a fourth time. Most of their customer base appears to be people driving in from outside downtown visiting the local art museum not local residents.\r \r While the menu is varied compared to other restaurants in the area, there is not much VARIETY between items on the menu. You definitely do not get your value for the money at this cafe with prices about 25% higher than comparative restaurants of its caliber in the downtown area.\r \r While service is attentive, it can be TOO attentive at times with the server hovering over your table due to the cafe not doing much business and the server having nothing else to do.\r \r My advice is to go elsewhere until the management learns to value price the menu more appropriately. On my last visit to the restaurant, I did mention price, and I was told that they didn't do enough volume to lower their prices. Yet, should this restaurant lower their prices, then they would have more people from the neighborhood visiting increasing their sales volume. Pros: Ample parking in the neighborhood, quick service, unique menu items Cons: Lack of variety between items on the menu, poor value for the price paid more

The West Cafe is my ultimate favorite restaurant in downtown Portland. The owners, Doug and Shawn, are fantastic hosts, and their staff are great. The menu offers ""comfort"" foods as well as unique and delicious appetizers and entrees, salads and desserts. And, don't miss their weekend brunch offerings - a real treat on a Saturday or Sunday morning. The restaurant interior is warm and comfortable, and you feel right at home wherever you are seated. I highly recommend West Cafe to locals and visitor alike. more

Amazing food and drink. Happy hour is awesome. The staff is friendly and wholesome. I just love it here. Enough said. Pros: awesome food Cons: n/a more

Great place for happy hour. Love the bar and the bartenders are talented and creative. (Try the prickly pear, pomegranate martini!) For an appetizer the meatloaf minis and the Asian peanut glazed spareribs are a must have.\r \r My wife and I have eaten here on several occasions and have never been disappointed. For lunch the roasted vegetable sandwich or the grilled meatloaf sandwich can?t be beat. Loved the halibut with hazel nut Frangelica sauce and recently we've had our first entrees from the new winter menu. So far so good. We're looking forward to working our way through the menu.\r \r You really get the sense that the chef is focused on healthy food and that they are creative enough to make it exciting, beautiful and tasty.\r \r An excellent barista makes the after dinner coffee special and if you like hot chocolate, the Mexican hot chocolate is a must. We're especially fond of the desserts. The assorted cookies, the apple crisp, the fudgey flourless chocolate torte, the apple pie, oh my, my! more