Grolla Restaurant & Wine Bar

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2930 NE Killingsworth St
Portland, OR 97211

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(503) 493-9541
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Reviews
( 48 )
( 8 )
( 7 )
( 4 )
( 3 )

Best

Love Grolla's selection of Oregon and WA wines. The appetizers and happy hour is good to.

Worst

Not as promising as it sounds...In theory, Grolla sounds great, but compared to other staple restaurants in PDX, it is mediocre at best.... Pros: nice atmosphere Cons: uni...

Romantic Night Out 12/7/2006

If you are looking for an amazing meal, created from the freshest ingredients in season, this is the restaurant for you. It has a great cozy, rustic atmosphere and the service is great. Keep checking back as the menu is always changing based on seasonal items. A must to check out! more
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Great variety and very satisfying 10/19/2006

I decided to try this place after seeing citysearch reviews, so I dragged my fiance with me and we tried the 5 course w/wine pairing. We loved it! They asked if there were any foods we didn't like or were allergic to; we are the least pickiest people so we told them to bring out anything. Each course was such a surprise and very filling. By the fifth course we were completely full and the wines were paired very well and they were very generous with each wine! Service was excellent and very personable.We will definitely be back! Pros: Food, service, wine Cons: small more
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great place to find healthy cuisine 9/27/2006

What a great find! Fantastic, inventive dishes and best of all....good for you! I was able to speak with the chef after our fantastic meal and he assured me that the kitchen was gluten free even though they serve bread from the front server station. It goes to show you, that the world does not revolve around bread products. The beet salad was one of the best I've had in town. I was too full to order dessert, but will certainly go back to give the flourless chocolate cake a try. Very quaint dining room, nice music. I would have liked our server to be a little more relaxed, he seemed nervous and ackward. I will certainly go back to this lovely little restaurant. Pros: healthy food fare, ambiance Cons: only one bathroom more
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Incredible! 8/25/2006

We went on the recommendation of the other users on this page and our expectations were exceeded. We chose the chef's taster and the wine with it and every course was a different surprise delight. Check this place out when you have a lot of time to sit and savor, nothing this amazing should be rushed! A must - we will be back. more
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Romantic and innovative 6/14/2006

One of my favorite spots for a mellow night out. I love the fixed price aspect-- you tell them what you like or are allergic to and they surprise you with 5 courses! Yum! Pros: lots of street parking more
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Fabulous, just not what I had expected! 6/5/2006

I chose this restaurant on the Citysearch's audience recommendation for my 10 year Anniversary. I walked in and was a bit under whelmed with the 8 table restaurant that was slightly bigger then my garage. THEN it happened... we were seated, handed a glass of champagne and since we chose the chef's taster the owner himself ""interviewed"" us about our likes and dislikes with food. Since my husband and I are not picky eaters we just sat back and enjoyed everything that came our way. From start to finish everything was superb and the wine pairings were right on the mark. The staff could not have been better, perfect timing allowing us to enjoy our mean and never feeling rushed. I now see why this restaurant was rated so high. Thanks to all the other Citysearch people for helping me find this fantastic restaurant for a perfect celebration evening! more
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Romantic and Exquisite Food 5/31/2006

For a *really special night out*, come to Grolla. We opted for the 5 course meal and told them to bring whatever they chose. The waiter noted if there were any foods we didn't care for, if we had any allergies etc. What followed was out of this world. $100 for the whole five courses and an extra $20 each brought a fabulous glass of wine with each course. We will be back. The staff are extremely kind, polite, friendly, hospitable (and easy to look at). Also there is a gluten-free option at Grolla, and you will never miss the bread with food like this in front of you. Pros: delicious food, great wine, great atmosphere more
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Beautiful 3/11/2006

Charming, quiet, comfortable, great service. Staff is knowledgable and helpful when it comes to the food and wine. This restaraunt is not an eat and go. It takes you back to a time when meals where enjoyed, and eating was an experience. The food is unique and full of flavor.You feel like you are the only table in the room! Pros: Unique, Quiet, Superb food more
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Loved the food 3/9/2006

The food at grolla is exceptional, and the servings are hearty. I did think it was a little pricy for a small place that's not in a good foot traffic/ hot area, but felt very pleased when I left overall. The owner is very friendly, and I think it personalizes the experience to have him there. The only major drawback is that it seems they have some dance studio as a neighbor and it got VERY LOUD which was distracting. But I would go back for the food and service. :) Pros: Great Food, Friendly Owner, Good service Cons: Loud Neighbor more
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Another disappointment 2/14/2006

I can not believe this place is still open. A complete disappointment. Went there with a small group on a weekend night. The place was dead. Service was good. seats are completely uncomfortable. All the food had something odd about every dish. We all wondered if there was something wrong with the cook that night. It is dark, slow, and bad and way out of the way. There are many better places. Do not bother or waste your $$ trying this place. Cons: food, value, seats more
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Killingsworth surprise! 11/9/2005

Definitely worth driving a few blocks off the beaten path for. more
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Try the Chef's Tasting 10/24/2005

Owner Chris made our party of 6 feel more than welcome. We all enjoy cuisine and cook ourselves, so in order to taste more variety we treated our table like one giant lazy Susan. In 7 courses, we tasted easily 35 different dishes, with wine, from soup to nuts, with not a bummer in the bunch. Chef James came out and had a glass of wine with us after the meal, to our applause. Owner Chris has a big personality that fills the small but charming space and we all enjoyed the food and the experience immensely. Any lamb dish is particularly good here. At $70.00 per person, 7 courses with wine is a great buy. Will return ASAP! Pros: Food, Friendly, Value more
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Very improtant to visit 7/26/2005

Soups are their specialty! We spoke with the chef once and he raved about his passion for interesting, daring soups (the asparagus and Proschuito soup is the best I have ever had, anywhere). Service. Chris, the owner, is an amazing host who will always personally check on you at least once during your meal. We dined there for only the fourth time shortly after our wedding and he remembered our entire story from our previous visit! Value. Two People can enjoy the best bowl of soup in their life, a decadent Mediterranean inspired NW dish, a fine bottle of wine, and a sweetening dessert for around $75. Ambiance: With no more than 10 tables, the restaurant is a delightful setting for a casual and intimate experience. On a cool summer evening, with two of the dining areas walls completely removed, the open air ambiance is reminiscent of a European Café. Pros: Value, Experience, Service Cons: Street parking, None, None more
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User review by pwm92 7/26/2005

I recently dined at Grolla Restaurant. And I wish I had know that it has existed for so long. The minute my girlfiend and I walked in the door we were greated by the owner and his waitstaff. At the end of our meal the owner talked with us briefly making sure we had enjoyed our experience at his restaurant. Throughout the meal his waitstaff was on the ball and needless to say the steak was some of the best i've ever had. I would highly recommend Grolla to those seaking a romanticaly fun evening full of great food, great atmosphere and great people. more
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Great potential, but poor service and high price 7/20/2005

I recently had dinner at Grolla, where incidentally, I tried about a year ago, but actually walked-out at that time (before ordering!) due to unnacceptably bad service. The place itself is very charming, with a great menu, so after much discussion, my wife and I decided to give it another shot. While the owner is very kind and spends time with each table, our waiter was inattentive, forgetful, lacking basic knowledge, and really didn't seem qualified to work at a professional restaurant at all. The food was good (not great), but given the poor service, it felt very overpriced to me. I won't return, and I do not recommend it, which is too bad because it is a great space, and I think the owner really wants it to be a great restaurant. My advice to him: focus on service--not only yours, but all your employees. more
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Something Truly Special 6/7/2005

This place is unlike any other in the city. I can think of no other restaurant where the chef embraces a challenge to make you something different and succeeds each and every time with each plate delivered to your table. Go for a truly memorable occasion - my ideal dinner is 2 couples, all of whom are willing to share - a long slow dinner with good friends, amazing food, fanstic wine. Pros: Food, Wine, Service Cons: Location more
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My New Favorite Restaurant 6/1/2005

My husband and I just had our first, but certainly not our last, experience at Grolla. The word experience was carefully chosen because it was more than just good food. Our 5-course dinner was crafted specifically for our tastes. Each course beautifully presented and paired with the perfect wine to complement the dish and served with a description of ingredients and preparation techniques. It was like dining at your friends house, only your friend is both a sommelier and amazing cook. Our meal took over 2 hours, which added to the relaxed ambiance of the restaurant, reminding me of dining in Italy where we commonly spent 2-3 hours over dinner. Bottom line: Grolla is one of Portlands best kept secrets and if I didnt like Chris (the owner) so much, I would have tried to keep it that way, but I truly believe that this experience is much better shared. Pros: Personal, Relaxed, Delicious more
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Grolla 5/11/2005

I have eaten at Grolla over the Christmas holidays 2004. The staff are amazingly friendly and helpful.. and the food really was out of this world. My menu was catered to my specific needs, and everything just melted in my mouth and left me feeling perefct full! Pros: food, service, price more
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Wonderful, local fine dining 5/10/2005

I was truly delighted. It's a perfect little place with excellent food, great atmosphere and the BEST in personal attention. We had the 5 course sampler with the accompanying wines. The price was $60 per person - but it was worth twice that much... seriously a ton of food and an oodle of wine. Each glass of wine was paired perfectly with each course. The chef (Peter) presented each course to us personally (benefit of getting the chef's sampler). There were 5 courses of food - but each of us received a different dish during each course... so as we sampled and shared each other's food - it was more like a 10 course sampler... also 10 different wines to be paired with each plate of food. The experience was wonderful, romantic and very personalized. I give them my highest recommendation. Pros: Wonderful Food, Personal Service, Romantic Atmosphere more
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Pleasant & Personable 1/9/2005

My wife and I decided to treat my in-laws to a nice local eatery, and we chose Grolla purely through word-of-mouth. And I can honestly say that I can trust my culinary sources once again. This was a great place, and as was mentioned in several reviews, Chris, the owner, was very welcoming. You could tell from his attitude that he is passionate about making this restaurant a success. And the food was well-made and well-presented, with flavors that I have not had before. My only criticism relates to the portion sizes, which were small compared to the price. However, I highly recommend this restaurant. Pros: Delicious food, Warm reception, Great Atmosphere more
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Menu for Grolla Restaurant & Wine Bar


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Deep-hued walls and furnishings that are a cross between rustic farmhouse and medieval church combine to form a warm, comfortable room. In the winter, candles and curtains...

  • 7/10/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Tue-Sat 5pm-10pm Sun 4:30pm-9:30pm
  • Payments: Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Concordia, Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods
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