Graze

Some friends and I tried to have dinner here the other day. At six on a thursday, not only was it completely emply, but also 60 degrees. The candles on the table were more for heat than atmosphere. After the only waiter(who was also the bar tender) told us that they were out of half of the items on a already slim menu, we took our business elsewhere. They clearly didn't want my patronage that bad. besides, with no customers, how fresh can the food be? Pros: timely seating Cons: not much food, not much service more

My group of girlfriends and I like to try different Portland spots on Monday nights to have our ""girl's night"". Some of us have to work a bit later, so after seeing that Graze had a later happy hour, we decided that it was the place to go. My first warning should have been when I kept trying to check their website and it kept saying unable to find server.\r I was the first of the group to get to Graze at 5:05. The place was EMPTY. At 5pm, you would have expected at least a handful of people there. Nope, no one. Then I noticed the sign on the door stating that happy hour was from 3-5. So much for Good deals. There were just too many things things leaving a bad taste in our mouths, so our group decided to go to another bar that wasn't surrounded with false advertising about their specials. The food might be great here, but I doubt I will ever know. My friends and I are all pretty disappointed. Cons: None of their advertised specials are correct more

Our friend, who made the reservation and planned the shindig, had confirmed over the phone that happy hour applied to table service, but in the first moments of sitting down, the server contradicted this and our friend had to go argue it out with a manager. \r \r Once they deemed us happy hour-worthy, the server took our drink orders. We were informed that they were out of one of the cocktails, but that's not unusual. What was unusual was the 20-plus minutes it took to get our drinks. The Dill cocktail was delicious once it arrived, though. \r \r We then ordered food: \r The Calamari was a mixed plate of mostly tender rings and very chewy tentacles (I actually stretched one more than 3 inches trying to pull it out of a fried mass). \r Reuben Sliders: Though the pastrami was top shelf, the rolls were dry and the concept unimaginative. Nothing about them was different than any reuben I've had in the past.\r Wedge Salad: there's not much to taking a wedge of iceberg lettuce, piling on bleu cheese dressing and a couple slices of bacon. It was tasty, but (again) not so imaginative.\r French Fries: simple and tasty. The truffled aioli was nice. \r The lack of desserts was conspicuous with so few menu items to choose from (even including the full menu). \r \r All in all, it was a pretty mediocre meal. With a little more imagination, the meal could have been better. Seems like some kinks still need to be worked out. Like adding an emergency generator, perhaps, since the meal ended abruptly as the power went out. Unfortunately, the black out was more exciting than the food. \r more

I was so hungry! My girlfriends and I stumbled across Graze.....just out shopping. Food is great. Drinks and food were more than wonderful. I recommend it highly. more

I dropped in yesterday after shopping...have been meaning to do so for quite some time. What a great place! Just the thing after trudging through the stores all afternoon. The food is terrific...our party of four passed around a dozen items (we were hungry!)...the wine list is very nicely priced and the choices were really well thought out. A few of us had one of the signature cocktails. Superb! There is really nothing to criticize here, from the food, drink to the friendly service. Can't imagine why the place wasn't jammed! I'm glad I discovered it early. Keep up the great work. more

I heard great things about this place - and the food did not disappoint. Since - contrary to some other comments - my service was top notch (except for one thing), I'm assuming the management reads and reacts to comments in this space. So: did something happen to dessert? My server tonight was terrific - good timing and reaction on everything - but after hearing marvelous things about desserts, we weren't even asked if we'd like to see a dessert menu - and it was hours before the posted closing time. I'm sure there was a good reason, since everything else flowed so smoothly, but...it was just odd. Pros: Great food, well-chosen wines by the glass, lack of attitude Cons: Parking in the Pearl! more

I recently took my wife to dinner at Graze before going to the Circus De Sole. I happen to find the restaurant her on City Search. After reading the reviews, some good, some bad, some expensive, i went with my gut and took her her. \r \r First impression, I love the location! Sitting in the doorway to the Pearl District, this elegant and romantic restaurant boasts panoramic windows, open white linen table and the most unique salt and pepper containers I've seen.\r \r Second impression, the staff was great. We felt they were very courteous, non-pretentious and attentive. During our main course(s).. The chef came out to our table, greeted us and asked how our meal was. Crazy huh! Who would have thought it in Portland? I was really impressed with Chef Chuck Green's table side manor.\r \r Third impression, the food is the food of gods. Going with the theme of Graze, my wife and I shared 5 dishes of the most delectable delicacies. I highly recommend the steak bites, their rare-medium preparation with peppercorn sauce is sooo yummy. Most of all i suggest to get the Mac & Cheese. It is by far the best thing on the menu. It completely trumps anything at the crappy pretentious dirty restaurant under the Morrison Bridge.\r \r We really had a great experience at Graze. It started off a great much need date for two new parents. Thank you Graze.\r \r Cesar more

Every single month my fiance and I go to a new restaurant to try it out and tell our friends about it. This month we chose Graze. First, I would like to say that it is in a great location! Easy to find and fits into its 'Pearl' surroundings nicely. Once we got seated, we ordered food and drinks that by the way were all very amazing! The colors and food combinations were FANTASTIC. It was a little chilly inside because of all the windows but I do have to say that it was just two of us and we ordered a salad, an entree and a dessert and we were there for THREE HOURS! We were definitely getting frustrated because we were there to eat and we were hungry...so if you are starved -- Don't go. If you have time to hang out, this is definitely the place for you!!! Pros: Hot spot, good food, good drinks Cons: parking, slow service more

Great for Brunch, not too crowded excellent coffee and drinks!!! Food was amazing in flavor, only complaint was that we were a party of four and two of our dishes came out cold. more

I love it here. The waitstaff is attentive and knowledgeable. The food is imaginative and delicious. I really appreciate that the menu changes as determined by what is fresh and available on any given day. Small plates are the best! I get to taste many small portions, and put together a ""custom"" meal of my favorites. The asparagus is terrific as are the ribs. And the drinks...don't get me started. A very special place indeed. more

Went in for the first time because of the recommendations. I looked at the menu online and when we got to the restaurant, there weren't as many tapas as listed online. The food was okay. The shortribs were a little bland. I ordered a large shortrib to go for my husband and when I got home, found a small order. When I called the restaurant back, the woman that answered the phone didn't offer to do anything for me. She told me she would talk to my server and if there was a mistake will correct it in the future. I was really upset and called back to tell her I was overcharged for the shortribs. She then offered to have another small one for me to pick up. I live a half an hour away. \r \r All in all its small things like these that could leave a bad taste in your mouth! Pros: Good ambiance Cons: Bad customer service more

Gotta love this place-sit, chat (outdoor seating!) great drinks and above all-outstanding food. We came fairly early for dinner and shared many things-as the restaurant is a small plates format-and really had a great time. Definitely go for the asparagus, calamari, and fried oysters (the best I have had in Portland). But don't miss bartender Cecily for a great time at happy hour. I hear they are opening for brunch on the 9th on September.......with old skool cocktails on the menu and a wicked chow selection.....can't wait!\r \r And the pony picture rocks! more

This restaurant recently opened, and should be quickly visited before the crowds get there. \r Small plates, 2 of each dish for a party of 8. Garlic fries, calamari, eggplant crepes, bacon on lettuce wedge, smoked trout, flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce - let's see, what else did we have. Cannot remember but would recommend the dish if I could. \r Good wine list, reasonably priced, but a little limited. One of two reasons I do not give this restaurant a ""10."" The other is that I would want to see it operate in a crowded condition before I guarantee satisfaction. \r But you ought to go see for yourself. more

Wow, what a great place, food was special and wine pairing with Oregon wines that really made for a special evening. The Tapas portions let all of us eat what we wanted and then share with others their tasty delights! Servers made the night better with their food and wine knowledge, would definately go back with friends and recommend you try it! Pros: Quality, value and interesting wine list with great food! Cons: Construction in the area blocks views of the restaurant, but this will pass soon! more

Can't think of anything better than gathering up a group of friends and coming to Graze for pass-around great dishes. I've been in several times since the opening and the food, which was wonderful to start with, keeps getting better. It's a friendly, elegant, clean space for those with a sophisticated, but not pretentious palate. The drinks are fab. Graze is the pearl of the Pearl.\r Great new hangout. The wine list is very well priced, with emphasis given to the best of the local wines. Obviously, someone here knows wine. Can't wait for brunch service:-) Pros: great wine list/wonderful small plates...very imaginative chef more

Graze was great! I especially loved the eggplant rolls and the polenta cakes. The Caesar salad was probably the best in the Pearl. We had a bottle of white wine, Fidelitas M100, and it was served cold and crisp, and was excellent. This meal was so good that we have been back twice already once with friends and once on the way home from work for a small bite. If you order from the bar, be sure to try a Streetcar or the drink with hibiscus infused vodka and honey liqueur; but be careful because it packs a wallop: see, I cant even remember the name of that drink! Pros: tasty tapas and strong drinks Cons: Interior could be more cozy more

I'm a local chef/restuarateur who lives in the area and have been waiting for what seemed like an eternity for someone -- anyone, PLEASE!! -- to take over the space vacated by the hapless, hopeless and clueless ""Nina's Place"".\r I visited during the first week of business (I know -- I should know better) and tried the steak bites and the hazelnut chicken satay. The steak bites were OK -- perfectly cooked medium-rare -- but the peppercorn sauce was seriously lacking in the key ingedient. The satay, bite-sized pieces of grilled chicken on a skewer with a sprinkling of ground hazelnuts, lacked any seasoning at all, as far as I could tell. So bland and uninspired that I only had a few bites. What I had envisioned, and what could have been wonderful, was a toasted filbert take on the traditional spicy Asian marinade/sauce with garlic and chiles. \r I'll visit again soon, based on the positive reviews that I've read here, and hope that my initial experience can be chalked up to opening-week jitters.\r Best of luck to all of you at Graze!\r Very nice wine list, BTW. Interesting, well-chosen selections, decent prices, and top-notch stemware. Pros: Inspired/inspiring wine list Cons: Bland preparations more

I have eaten here several times since the recent opening. The particular strengths are the quality of the food and drink, and the small-plate group-friendly approach. Several dishes were very good to start with, and seem to be steadily improving to superb. The atmosphere is causal but elegant, with linens on the tables, freshly ground pepper and fancy salt, and reliably excellent service.\r \r The only downside is that it is easy to accumulate a significant bill if you spend several leisurely hours here with your friends - but it IS in the pearl, and those hours were lovely. If, like myself, you're cheap, the happy hour menu is what you want - smaller portions, but several of the the same delicious dishes.\r \r Special mention should be made of the eggplant & polenta plates, which are unexpectedly yummy - the eggplant is cooked just right, neither soggy nor stiff but just caramelized. The polenta is the best I've ever had! more

I went here with hopes of finding a good restaurant with a different (read: cheaper with better food) approach to fine dining in an area saturated with snooty eateries and was blown away. First of all, the drinks are incredible (ask Sicily for a marionberry martini) and the wine list are first rate. Also, the wine per bottle prices are reasonable, especially by Pearl standards. Secondly, the food is outstanding. We've had the ""steak bites"") that is a large enough portion to satisfy most appetites) and combined with the best asparagus in town and the truffle fries, it will bring you back to try more items. And for a new place, the wait staff couldn't be more knowledgable and friendly. For something different, and better, in the Pearl you can't go wrong coming here. Pros: Food, drinks, staff Cons: A little too brightly lit more

Hello. I have to say, the calamari is superb. Any chance of posting the recipe or are you too new to share? I think you are using Panko breadcrumbs, yes? What new dishes are coming up? Great restaurant. Thanks for opening and giving me a great new venue to come to with friends for terrific food and great drinks. I really appreciate the menu of good Oregon wines.... more