Echo Restaurant

I'd heard so much about Echo from colleagues since moving to Portland that I just had to go. The atmosphere was perfect - low light, comfortable-sized booths and tables, undistracting music and an awesome lantern hanging in the window. We opted for the bar seating and had a great evening of drinks (mmmm dark & stormy) and appetizers (hummus was terrific). I had the soup special that was fantastic, as well as a salad that was a good balance of hearty ingredients and dressing. It's unfortunate that so many other places get a salad so wrong. My husband had the salmon option that was good; the potatoes were to die for. We enjoyed the hum around the bar, as well as the attentive (but not too attentive) bartender. It was just a really good vibe and experience. Price was right on too. Parking lot was full, but I don't see that as a terrible sign! If you haven't already, you should definitely try it. Pros: Atmosphere, drinks, well-balanced food - neighborhood feel Cons: none! more

Please please please bring back to butternut squash cheescake! It is to die for! more

Have had mixed experiences in the past, but revisiting Echo after almost a year I'm much more impressed. The entree selection is great, had a fully enjoyable meal. Drinks were great. Music was strange, but enjoyable enough- bartender sure seemed to enjoy himself- maybe a little too much? Service was timely and friendly. Pros: Variety, Good NE option, Close in Cons: Loud bartender, were out of a few items on the menu more

OK so, the food was actually REALLY good. My girlfriend had a veggie scramble, and I had steak and eggs (HUGE, perfectly cooked M.R.) The waitress was a young girl, really nice and friendly and everything quickly arrived exactly as we ordered it...I guess this is where it gets weird. Our food was delivered by the bartender, I think his name was ""Adam"", who then stood at our table for a solid six or eight minutes basically talking our ears off until our breakfast was cold. He apoligized for the wait (there hadn't really been that much of a wait!?) and also made excuses for our server(??) saying that she was ""busy"" and that she was ""new"" (our service had been perfect!!) When she popped over to refill our coffees, (he was still tableside, talking about his other job?!) he kind of roughly asked her to do something for him and continued rambling. When our server returned later, she appeared apoligetic, and laughed when my girlfriend refered to the bartender as ""heart-attack man."" Poor girl!! Overall, a good experience, but I could definitely see someone being very annoyed by this guy. Pros: Steak and Bloody Marys are as good as I've found Cons: Bartender scared us more

I've recently discovered Echo and think they are one of the few independant restaurants in Portland to truly get everything right. Pros: Really good food and cocktails, sharp, concerned staff Cons: revolving menu means your favorite dish might disappear more

Plenty to like about this place but the food is subpar for the price. The menu on their website currently features items not on their menu, and at fairly lower prices. I was willing to spend a couple bucks more per entree, but when spending $20 an entree I expect certain details to be right. Pros: ambience, variety Cons: inexpertly prepared food, chilly staff more

I had high hopes for this place based on the look of the space and the menu. Service was nice and friendly and the interior is lovely and comfortable. Unfortunately, brunch was downright awful. Coffee was good but soy milk tasted like cardboard. The server talked me into ordering the poached eggs with potatoes, bacon and a biscuit...simple, right? Well, they got it ALL wrong. Potatoes turned out to be a sad pile of shriveled but greasy mixed tubers...a few potatoes, a few yams and some yucca or something...all dry and starchy with a weird sweetness that clashed with the salt and pepper on my eggs. Eggs were supposed to be poached firm and they came nearly raw and watery. Bacon was extra greasy and floppy...not really cooked. Biscuit was leaden, managing to be both soggy and dry at the same time...and tasting like nothing but stale white flour. I did only have two bites before I found a thin blonde hair in the biscuit but that was enough anyway. I think the only thing they didn't ruin was the plastic packet of honey that came with the biscuit. My husband ordered the french toast special which he managed to eat half of but any cook who thinks that battering and deep-frying thick hunks of zuchinni carrot loaf is a good idea is missing the mark in my book...the end result is greasy, sodden and overly sweet...and adding butter and syrup to the mess just makes it worse. The cake-like loaf on it's own with some good coffee would have been a much better bet. Believe it or not, I might go back to give their lunch or dinner menu a try because the space is nice and from other reviews it seems like they know how to make a good drink and maybe the kitchen has more practice with their main menu items. My fingers are crossed because it's always nice to have more options in NE! I also hope the kitchen gets it together to cook a decent breakfast eventually...Tin Shed is getting WAY too crowded and Bridges is nice but I like a change of pace sometimes. Pros: Cool space, friendly staff, NE location Cons: Brunch dishes were awful more

Impressive menu range... From light snacks, like the hummus platter (everyone loves hummus!) and killer panninis and salads, to fine dining entrees of seasonal array sure to please. Vintage bar menu good wines. Attentive service, witty and highly entertaining bartenders. I've gone alone and dined at the bar, been in with friends for late night digs, and sat in the booth with my sweetheart... never been disappointed. Be ready for a very hip environment, loud, fun music and groups of folks having a good time! Don't bring your little ones, might ruin the fun for everyone :) Pros: Sunday Dining, Great Service, Delish!! Cons: Loudish more

Recently ate at Echo and had a wonderful experience. The ambience is really cool- brick walls, candles, cool hanging lamps, cozy and private seating, great music and beautiful floors. Food was outstanding, had the most amazing rabbit dish- which was a special but my dining partner very much enjoyed his steak. Cocktails are delicious- great traditional recipes with modern flares. Best of all they're open Sundays and Mondays, a rare find in Portland. Highly Recommended! Pros: Value, Parking, Open Sun/Mon more

I went to Echo last night. The happy hour menu was a very good value, fairly extensive and tasty. While perusing the dinner menu, I noticed rabbit on the menu! eeeek! Vegetarians beware!!! Our waitress was ""fake smiley"" all night & seemed stuck up, however the bartendender was fabulous & made wonderful drinks. The French75 was yummy and strong. Pros: atmosphere, strong drinks, food Cons: scary meat dishes, waitress? more

Been there several times and enjoyed. Pleasant service and tastey nibbles. With this town getting hipper all the time it's good to see a old style bar. Pros: parking, good drinks more

I love this place. They are so nice and professional that it easily is the only restaurant I go to willingly. The revolving door of quality food choices make a weekly trip a requirement. The food is inventive, affordable, and quite tasty. The bartenders are fun without being pushy or invasive. The drinks are well made and their signature drinks are fun with a touch of whimsy for the past. The hook--all of it. Pros: off street parking, reasonable prices, excellent service Cons: sometimes you lose a more

We have visited a good number of Portland restaurants and it isn't often that you find a place where the food, drinks and the service are all great but I can say that about Echo. Each time we've gone to Echo the food and drinks have exceeded our expectations. more

After reading the raves on the CitySearch website, my wife and I took a shot on this neighborhood bar and restaurant. I ordered a Sapphire Blue martini, my wife wanted a Dark and Stormy. Both drinks were watery, and utterly tasteless. The house salad featured old lettuce, limp, and dry. Puzzlingly horrible! Then a tasteless small pizza, and worst of all a ""salmon rillette"", which was also tasteless, and nothing more than some flakes of poached salmon topped by congealed fat. $40.00 Don't go there. more

The service has consistently been welcoming and the menu changes often to fit seasonal varieties. My wife and I visit at least once a week. The best buffalo I have ever had, period (when it is on the menu, that is). Try the Monza!! It is well worth it. Pros: Drinks, Atmosphere, Great food more

TK and his crew do a great job. The drinks are superb, try the crab dip appitizer, the Oregon pork chop is worth twice what's charged. Get to Echo soon so you can say you knew about it before the lines went into Martin Luther King Blvd. Pros: Great People, Great Food, Easy Parking Cons: Will be crowded soon more

The food was quite good, there are clearly some great selections there. The service was not good, our waiter barely said anything to us...taking time instead to flirt at another table. I would go back...but I would hope for better service. Pros: menu, cocktails, cozy Cons: service more

Nice to see the bold use of this building. The menu here has a bit of everything without an oversized selection. This is also true of its prices. From a pepper-bacon burger $7 to a grilled steak $21. We had the curry-crusted ahi tuna $18- superbly flavored. The Mike Myerslike server talked us into the creme brulle. A trio of decadent delight highlighted this meal. Nice to see an off the beaten path place like ECHO. Pros: bold location, service, dessert Cons: ooga booga more

Echo hits all the right notes. The cocktails are fantastic. Bartender/owner TK is among the best in town. The food is honest, tasty, well-priced and interesting. Chef/owner Craig changes the menu regularly and there is always something new that I want to try. The pulled pork sandwich is perfect, as is the burger. The service is prompt, fun and the staff obviously cares about the place. You can trust their recommendations for food and cocktails. TK and Craig are obviously completely engaged and they are spot-on in their attempt to craft a friendly, neighborhood bar/restaurant without the pretensions of the Pearl District or NW trendzones but with all the professionalism and care of the best bar/restaurants in town. Pros: Great Food & Drinks, Friendly & Low Key, Parking Cons: I can't walk there more

Check out Echo now before they are overrun. The food and drinks are great and reasonably priced. Service was good and the space was relaxed. Great after work hangout. Once this place gets discovered by Portland's hipsters, you'll be lucky to get a table. Pros: Cocktails, Space, Service Cons: Limited Parking more