Simpatica Dining Hall

Having read about Simpatica in the WSJ while in New York, we decided we had to try it. I am so glad we did. The evening was a ton of fun. We got there and were greeted promptly and seated promptly. Drink orders were taken quickly and the evening started on a wonderful note with the Champagne Cocktail. Needless to say, all aspects of the meal were wonderful, the flavor, presentation of the food, as well as the service made us definitely want to go back. The bonus was the communal dining - we met new people, discovered what a small world it truly is, and have an unforgettable evening. more

Brunch is incredible!! Went there for the first time this weekend. The meat was amazing, the other breakfast items were delicious. The staff was friendly, the chef was nice enough to comp one of our meals because they ran out of chicken after our order had been placed. It's basically in the basement of an apartment building (kinda weird) and the waiting area is like sitting in an office building hallway and is clogged by a large table, but the actual restaurant is cute and the open kitchen is cool. This was truly one of the best breakfasts I've had in Portland. I can't wait to go back! Pros: amazing food and kind service Cons: cramped waiting space more

We've gone twice recently, once for the Kansas City (or maybe it was St Louis) BBQ, and once for brunch. The ribs were AMAZING, as was the rest of the dinner, finished with Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, YUM! Brunch we had a large group and were able to sample many things from the menu and all were extremely good, if the corned beef hash is on the menu ORDER IT, it's the best ever! Pros: Food is amazing more

I had been reading about Simpatica for a while, but hadn't made it in for a meal yet. There is a fixed menu for dinners, and I can be a finicky eater. I looked through the menu for this past Thursday and decided to try for a reservation. Luckily, they had a large party cancel, so I was in luck. I wasn't sure about the communal seating either. I was very happily surprised at how wonderful both the dining companions as well as the food were. All of the people around me were also very into good local food, so the conversation flowed. It was like being at a wonderful dinner party. We had sturgeon with a sunchoke puree as the first couse. It was cooked perfectly. It almost melted in your mouth. The second couse was roasted guinea hen stuffed with boudin blanc, and a very flavorful green lentil side dish. For dessert they had a house made orange wine that was both unusual and delicous along with a fabulous and rich creme brulee. I will be back, maybe even tomorrow for Sunday brunch. This was the best meal that I have had for $25 for a long, long time. I hate to encourage more people to go, just because I may never again be able to get a reservation! If you are serious about food, especially the local slow food movement, this is a place you have to try. I have to admit, if you have a very restricted diet or are not willing to try new things, you may not enjoy the experience. more

Here's the deal: these people make the best food in town, hands down. I've been going to their brunches for more than a year and a half, every Sunday. I've never been disappointed. Never. That's frikkin' incredible. Food times are never slow, service is always great, smiles are always had, and the food is UNBELIEVABLE! Get yourself on their mailing list, support this local business, go to their catered dinners, and go to ten sandwiches on Sunday nights. It's the church of food, and it's even reasonably priced and without attitude. Pros: Food quality, underground nature, unpretentious Cons: really? Do I really have to make a con list? That's dumb. more