ROUX

After dinner when we walked out, my wife and I asked each other the usual "What did you think...?" We had more or less the same experience: Great food & drink, excellent service by our server Christopher, enjoyed it and they knew it was our first time and I think they made extra effort to get us into a booth instead of one of the regular tables - it's not a quiet place(they would do well to throw some drapery on the walls to absorb sound). It was a very good experience overall; we?re not overly-demanding people. On the positive were the entrees we did have - an outstanding rabbit, a beautiful pork-stew sort of thing and a killer duck confit: all of them were just absolutely excellent. Very tasty, unpretentious and good portions. What they do, they do very well - which is why I would recommend the experience. Try the NO Sazerac. However, we likely won't be back, if only due to the limited menu and that there are just too many other restaurants in town with greater menus. You really should be wowed by a place like this, since they are so intently focused on a specific cuisine - in this case New Orleans Creole ca. 1880. This menu is very limited and the sides were just plain lame, even though they are certainly standard-issue Creole. There should unquestionably be an etouffee and a bouillabaisse - ever-present on the menu. The sides should include more vegetable options. These are no-brainers. For the price-level, I'd just expect a little more extent of menu. I always say that a restaurant is defined by the details. One should just see a broader scope of menu. They could easily add 3 or 4 more entree items and sides without troubling themselves. It's just disappointing that the menu is so limited, because I would certainly go back for more options. Dessert was OK not great. Service was excellent. Pros: Quality of Apps & Entrees, Cocktails, Service Cons: Scope of Menu, Average Desserts, Poor Sides, Noise more

It was time for my husband and I to try a new neighborhood restaurant, and I had heard from friends that Roux was terrific. The reviews on City Search solidified that, so I made reservations. The space is great, although it can get a bit loud. Our server (Rebecca?) couldn't have been sweeter and was just attentive enough. Everything on the menu looked great, so it was hard for us to decide, but we started with the Oysters Rockefeller, which was delicious (they house-smoke their bacon, and it shows.) My husband had the flat iron steak, which he really enjoyed, in part because of the arugula salad and stuffed baked potato (which included horseradish, much to our delight!) I'm very picky about my protein and how it's prepared, but I enjoyed every bite of my Cassoulet. I'm always happy to let other people cook duck for me! The andouille in the beans was perfect, too. After all of our wonderful food, we were offered dessert, which we had no business ordering. Regardless, when I'm offered various flavors of house-made ice cream, I can't resist. We shared a single scoop of their gingerbread ice cream, which I thought was to die for, but it left my husband wanting it more ginger-y than bread-y. Other reviewers have been disappointed in their wine list. Their by-the-glass selections were meager to be sure, but to me, their wine list looked great (I'm in the wine and beer business, so I'd like to think I know what to look for.) Their beer selection looked solid (face it, you don't go to a higher-end restaurant for their beer selection, unless it's Higgin's), but their cocktails are really where it's at. My husband's Sazerac was sufficiently flavorful and strong, and my champagne cocktail was inspirational! Fresh ginger combined with pear brandy, added to sparkling wine? sI'm already cheming how to make it at home. If you're looking to drop some dough on a nice dinner, I highly recommend Roux. It?s definitely in my top 5 nice Portland restaurants. Pros: Fantastic food and cocktails; sweet service Cons: Price prohibitive for most, except for special occasions; can be loud more

Nice place in NoPo- Love the bar. I highly recommend trying one of their fun drinks! Great food too! I couldn't stop eating my Pork & Beans (not what it sounds like). It was cooked perfectly-Friendly staff and great atmosphere. Pros: Food! Drinks! Cons: Selection on the menu-but it is all good stuff! more

Roux is consistently good. I've been in for happy hour at the bar, the bartenders have always been knowledgeable and sweet, the drinks great, and the food suspiciously cheap. Brunch is also great, I recommend pastries and any fish/seafood. The servers are also excited about Roux and work very hard. On a recent brunch visit, we were seated next to the most annoying couple in Portland. The man wore a dirty baseball cap and said "MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM" so many times I was losing my appetite, and he kept feeding his date gigantic bites of his food which was creamy and was getting all over the place. And he was hitting on the server, who was gracious beyond belief. I know Roux can not control this, I wish they could but maybe next time I will go earlier. Pros: Great food, great happy hour,knowledgeable and happy service Cons: You may have to sit really close to the worst people ever. more

I am blown away that a restaurant owner would take the time to answer his reviews. I myself wrote two letters to two proprietors in PDX and they blew me off totally. This kind of concern reflects Roux's approach. While busy, the waitress was extremely pleasant and made good recommendations and explained things that needed explaining. The food was very good--I liked the pork and beans and the sausage combination. I regret sharing it with my dining partner as he didn't finish it. Soup was good but a little too rich for me personally because of a lot of butter on top. Only mistake was going nearby for dessert to a popular but mediocre dessert joint. Pros: Food, service, parking available on street Cons: Portions could be bigger more

We came here for my birthday dinner. Had been wanting to try it ever since it arrived but never had the chance. We have a 17 month old and it was clear that this place may not be a good choice for our son or the patrons. But we decided to do an early dinner to spare everyone. I alerted the hostess when I made the reservation that we had a wee one with us, and we were seated in a booth quite a distance in the back. No problem with that. Made it easier for us to relax knowing that our son wasn't within an ear shot to everyone. Chevonne gave us great reccomendations and didn't pressure us at all and we took our time ordering. She gave us all the necessary items when dining with a toddler. Promtly brought out our requested paper cup full of ice, extra spoons and napkins. Don't even get me started on the food. We had flat iron steak, pork and beans and I had the albacore. AMAZING. Honestly the best dinner I have had...and I've eaten at Higgins. Love this stuff! The whipped potato side was like a dessert it was so good! Will come back when I have saved up a bit. Sad to say it is so expensive for our budget but a nice "special occasion" place. Haven't tried the deli. Hope to soon. Pros: Service - Chevonne, in my neighborhood, GREAT FOOD Cons: Expensive and hard to afford on our budget more

are roux kidding me.....this place is fantastic! Some friends invited us out to celebrate a birthday, we had reservations for four at 630p on 9/23. Parking, as in most downtown and neighborhood locations was expected, a bit crowded. Once we arrived we were attended to promptly and seated. The drink selections were fun and enticing. The waiter made sure all our questions were answered and we had some relaxing dialogue with him on his preferences and recommendations. The drinks arrived and we never felt pressured to order and move along with the process, although the waiter did continue to check with us to make sure we're comfortable or if we had questions. Our party of four ordered a diverse range of items from the menu so we all enjoyed sampling from each others plates. Here is a slight break-down of what we all ordered and our rating: 1. Oysters-Gratinee De Bienville: expected, nothing outstanding or surprising 2. Seasonal Soup-Tomato based Corn Chowder: Vegan, I loved it! Bursting with flavor but light enough to not feel stuffed afterwards 3. Farm Fresh Greens: The cane vinaigrette was the perfect sweetness to the crisp salad and herbs 4. Hush Puppies: Having grown-up in the south I was interested in trying their variation of the hush puppies. I was pleased with the fullness of the puppies, but what took this over the top was the unique green tomato & jalapeno sauce. It added the right amount of spice to compliment the fried corn. 5. House Sausage: A trio of sausages, the flavor & smell was terrific. 6. Fried Green Tomatoes: I had honestly never had fried green tomatoes before and enjoyed the breading they were made in. Great, melt in your mouth flavor. 7. Grilled Albacore: Fantastic. 8. Blackened Salmon: The sauce made the salmon flavors really stand out 9. Flat Iron Steak: Potato was amazing. The steak was prepared cajun and medium rare with outstanding flavor. Overall: HIGHLY RECOMMEND !! more

We went to Roux on 8/29 because they were donating 25% of proceeds to Katrina relief. I loved that the restaurant was still donating to the area that inspires its cuisine! It was crowded and the service was still great. The croque monsier salad was very tasty, as were the crawfish pie (so flavorful) and the fried green tomatoes to start. I'm not the kind of person to order pork & beans at a restaurant (ask anyone) but it was very very rich and savory. Overall a great dining experience and I'll definitely be back again! more

I would have to disagree with the previous posting. Our party consisted of 15 friends to celebrate a birthday (August 26th). We made reservations and were promptly seated. Our server took great care of all our guests and did I mention the food!? I can't say enough about the Crawfish Pie appetizer and the Pork & Beans entree. Fabulous!!!!! Drinks are great! Very unique drink, appetizer and dinner menu. Desserts were awesome too. Nothing too rich and a great selection. I highly recommend ROUX. I know that I not only speak for myself, but many, if not all, of our guests mentioned that they will visit ROUX again soon. Pros: Cuisine was top notch! Great service too. Cons: Not good for kids. more

Awesome! Great food - great drinks - great service. 6 enjoyed an leisurely dinner Saturday 8/11. Don't let the location put you off. We will return. more

A dozen friends decided to try a new place for brunch on a Sunday. We made reservations and were seated promptly. That was the last time that anything was prompt. 3 of the 12 meals came out of the kitchen in 40 minutes. One hour after ordering, the other nine meals came out. One of them was incorrect and had to be sent back. We had to ask multiple times for the toast/biscuits that were supposed to be served with the entree. In all fairness, the food was excellent. I just do not think that I would go back because it took SO LONG to be served. When we mentioned our disappointment to the manager, his response was "I take that to heart" Pros: Taste of the food, unique menu Cons: HORRIBLE SERVICE, unprepared to serve large group more

Praises for ROUX! It's fabulous for an intimate date, or small group as well as accomodating for a larger group. We recently did a business offsite for 35+ in a private area adjacent to the restaurant and cherished a specatular event. The attention to detail was stellar with an awesome staff! The food is prepared to perfection with an obvious balance of fresh with savory, combining flavors that delight the palette. Beautiful bar, great appetizers, wonderful menu variety, + divine desserts! We cannot wait to return to ROUX! Pros: Neighborhood Parking a plus more

Roux consistently exceeds our expectation! We have dined there a number of times and always have an excellent experience. From the attentive wait-staff to the high octane cocktails to the tasty desserts we keep coming back. The pork chop, short ribs, fish dishes are all perfectly plated with the kind of flavor that you enjoy while you are eating it and then crave the following day. We have tried a number of the excellent side dishes which are fun additions to the meal. You can't leave without the dessert. The coconut cake was superb as is the ever changing sundae. I could say more but you get the picture. Just go! more

We made it to Roux this Friday night and all agreed it was the right choice. Our salad course was delicious and the albacore tuna was truly spot-on. Reasonable wine list, too. Our server looked barely legal, but she exceeded our expectations with smart, skilled service. We were better taken care of than we usually are at Paley's or Jake's. Impressive! Thank you, Roux, for a memorable evening. Pros: fresh food, professional service Cons: maybe a bit loud more

Not only was the food absolutely fabulous!! But our waitress, Shavon, was soooo awesome, words can not describe her true awesomeness! I will return again and again...in fact I think I'll go back tonight. Thanks for everything! Pros: Shavon our waitress, and great food Cons: No complaints here more

The eastside is clearly the place for great food and good service, without the attitude, and Roux is my new favorite!!! We have eaten here four or five times (last on 6/16), and love to eat at the bar, where you can often talk to one of the owners, or share interesting and intelligent conversation with others!!! The food couldn't be better, and the desserts are to die for! Thanks, and we will keep coming back! Pros: excellent food and service, the ham hock salad is fabulous! Cons: hard to find one! more

I have been to Roux twice now- and can't say enough good things about the restaurant. The highlight is the service. When asking about an entree you get a description worthy of a gourmet magazine. Our waiter last night was well versed in the food as well as the wine list. We had a person with dairy allergies- this was handled expertly. In fact they went above and beyond to provide an appropriate dessert. The food is amazing. I'll spread the word! more

I had dinner on Saturday (6/3). We got there (around 5:40). We began to put our things down, and get settled at a table outdoors. A waiter came by and we told him that we had not YET checked in with the hostess. Soon after, the hostess came out and announced that 'for future reference we should check in with her before sitting down' (fyi we hadn't sat down). I do understand that she needs to make sure she knows who is sitting where, but there was only one other table taken outdoors and we were sitting directly in front of her station. Her tone was so nasty that we nearly left, fortunately we did not, our waitress was great and the food very good. I live in the neighborhood and am thrilled to see new business coming to North Portland, this hostess' attitude is better suited for the Pearl. Pros: outdoor seating, kids menu , location Cons: hostess more

13 minutes passed (I looked at my watch) before our server greeted us. When my husband ordered coffee she said would take a while because they had one coffeemaker. A minute later she brought coffee refills to her table behind us. Couldn't the refills wait so my husband, a new guest, could get one cup? She never asked us how our food was until we were finished despite my husband needing another drink and wanting another side dish. We felt completely ignored the entire time were were there, thinking something was wrong with us. On a positive note, our food came out in a timely manner (by other servers) and was absolutely delicious: puffy and golden shrimp fritters, and melty pecan caramel rolls. Despite the excellent food, however, it will definitely be a while before we consider returning because of the service we received. Pros: Amazing food, ambiance, cocktails Cons: service more

I was skeptical about the North Portland location, but one visit was enough to make me promise to return again soon. We visited Roux this Saturday (5/7) without a reservation and the host graciously seated us without a hassle. Our tousled waitress seemed distracted at first, so we hailed a second one speeding by and she stopped immediately and walked us carefully through the wine list, including savvy recommendations. We tried to tip her, but she refused with a smile. My wife remarked that this would have never happened on 23rd street, or in the Pearl for that matter. The food was flavorful and clean, if not authentic. We gave the crawfish pie, spinach and pork salad and short ribs top points. It seems like a lot of quality food for the money and the staff here is focused on caring for their diners, not just a quick buck. Pros: Friendly employees, Wine choices Cons: No etouffee more