View Point Inn

Originally written: 09/07/2010\r Updated: 07/04/2012\r \r THE VIEW POINT INN IS CLOSED\r \r The View Point Inn is one of the most fabulous venues for fine dining in the Portland area. The restaurant occupies the main floor and grounds of an edifice that is perched on a bluff overlooking the Columbia river to the West with a vantage from which I can think of few places more suitable for viewing the sunset.\r \r The Inn itself, constructed in 1924, is on the National Register of Historic Places and is furnished with period pieces creating a scene that transports you back to the heydays that were the ""roaring twenties.""\r \r The View Point Inn is"" fine dining at its best"" and the repast is ""par excellence"" with the menu changing frequently to take advantage of the fresh ingredients provided by the bounty of the Northwest's delicious and varied local fare. \r \r An evening at the Inn is much more than merely an exquisite meal with a breathtaking view.....it's an experience. \r \r more

I was one of the many wedding coordinators that went through this place. Although it is indeed beautiful, Don't give these guys your money. This is how dishonest they are, because so many people were saying bad things about this place on citysearch, these guys told the employees to write fictional favorable reviews to counter them. They even had citysearch remove low rated reviews. Don't trust these two shysters with the most important day of your lives. more

It's a great hotel but if any of you are looking to save some $$ then book it at goo.gl/FPxYD They have some of the best hotel deals on the web! more

Wonderful location, terrible management. These people could care less after they get your money. When is the last time you were at a wedding and they ran out of food? For a small group, even? When asked about it on site, management was abrasive and not planning on doing anything about it. Guests leaving hungry: How about that memory to live with the rest of your life. Get out of the wedding business and go into the used car business where we expect to get shafted. more

My husband and I went to the View Point Inn in October for a short honeymoon. Every aspect of our stay was phenomenal! We stayed in the Roosevelt suite, which has a breathtaking view of the Columbia Gorge. The place was charming and well kept down to the last detail. Breakfast was included in our stay, and we had dinner there as well. The food was incredibly delicious. My husband called it the best dinner ever, and the service was amazing. All the staff were friendly throughout our stay. The grounds of the Inn are well kept and the view is amazing. I highly recommend the View Point Inn, and we hope to go back for our anniversary! more

I've learned that if you have nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all. more

The View Point Inn has the perfect blend of history, scenery, elegance, and coziness wrapped into one beautiful location. The service is prompt, warm, and courteous. The food is fresh and delicious. The view overlooking the Columbia Gorge is spectacular. Even if you are an Oregonian the Columbia Gorge is always beautiful no matter what time of year. There are many sites to see in the area as well, such as Multnomah falls. The drive up the historic highway is breathtaking with many waterfalls and beautiful scenic look out points. My husband and I grew up in the Portland area and this is one of our ""must visit"" places on our list, especially if you're a tourist. If you're from the area it's a great way to spend a romantic evening away from home but close to town. And if you're a Twilight fan it's a place to you HAVE to stop! more

I do not normally blog or write reviews, but in this case feel that I should. I write as ""father of the bride"" (translated - I paid for the wedding) and the wedding was last weekend (August 21). I was nervous - for lots of reasons. I have 3 grown daughters, but this was the first wedding (more to come). My wife and daughter had checked out quite a few locales, and eventually selected View Point Inn because of its unique Northwest flavor, the size, and the welcome we received from Jeff and his staff. That was almost a year ago, and the event was planned with an attention to detail that the Pentagon would (should) envy. During the months that led up to event, we saw turnover in staff that caused me concern, and we discussed this with Jeff. I also saw a few negative internet comments from ex-employees. I have no opinion about what prompts such comments, but I feel compelled to write to compliment the staff and ownership of the Inn. Our event was beautiful, well managed from start to finish (thanks Katrina!), and the staff support was all anyone could hope for. The meal was well presented and excellently prepared. Our group filled the place (125 guests), the weather cooperated, and the memory will last a lifetime. We couldn't be more pleased and many of our guests have told us that it was the most beautiful wedding they have ever attended. Of course, I admit to some bias because the bride, groom, and their planning also had something to do with all of this. But, I commend Jeff, Katrina, and those who worked that evening (and the following morning) for making this event something my family, and especially my daughter, will treasure for a very long time. A quick example of staff support - a guest could not start his car at the end of the evening (dead battery). A server left in his own car and returned with jumper cables - problem solved. Another - I had to assemble a canopy on the lawn for the musicians (per contract), and another server came and helped; he also helped dissasemble the next morning (surely not in his job description). I'm sure that the business in this economic climate is a challenge. The Inn has the locale and what seems to be good business plan. The historic facility is wonderful, but needs continual work to maintain and upgrade as appropriate. I commend Jeff for his vision and dedication to quality and customer service. It's on our list of great places to go and to introduce to friends and those who want a unique Pacific NW experience. more

Our son's wedding was held this past weekend at the View Point, and it was the best wedding experience we ever had. Everything about the View Point was just perfect for us. The grounds were beautiful with many gorgeous flowers, the interior of the inn reminds me of a classic National Park Inn on a smaller scale. The staff was absolutely great, very courteous, helpful and respectful. I was particularly appreciative of the wedding coordinator who made everything go very smoothly. Of course it goes without saying that the view is spectacular. And to top everything off, the Inn arranged a dramatic sunset. more

Recently my wife and I held our wedding at the view point inn. Everyone who was at the wedding was absolutely stunned at how beautiful it turned out. We initially found the inn online and decided to visit it because of its rustic charm and its amazing view. after touring the grounds and the hotel rooms we immediately booked the venue for our wedding. We have never regretted that decision. What we expected was a great venue to hold our wedding at and it did not disappoint. there were a few people who made our wedding amazing namely Katrina, the wedding coordinator, The bartender, the chef, and the head waiter/manager. Katrina gracefully coordinated the entire evening without ever seeming overwhelmed. She kept great composure and was wonderful to our guests. The Bartender was especially accommodating. We knew there were going to be a few loose cannons but the entire staff treated everyone respectfully and graciously. The event does have to be done by 10pm but the staff allowed for the evening to taper off very nicely. We ended the evening with a few close friends next to the fire outside wrapping up a beautiful evening full of very happy friends. The rest of the accommodations were absolutely splendid including the amazing master suite. I cannot say enough good things about this venue as we look back with the greatest of memories on our most special day. more

My husband and I were married here in September 2009. We wanted a Gorge location with beautiful views, but not too far from Portland, as we wanted our out of town guests to stay in and explore the city. The Inn is only about 30 minutes from downtown, so we were able to shuttle everyone there and back for the day without too much trouble. We loved that we had the entire property to ourselves for the event, though only from 3-10 pm. And they don't mess around come 10 pm either, they want you out! The grounds are absolutely beautiful and the interior of the inn is gorgeous, very little decor was needed. The exterior of the inn is in need of some serious cosmetic renovation. The only reason I am giving 3 starts is that In the end, our day went off without any major issues and we had a lovely wedding. But getting there was a constant headache and huge amount of stress...They have serious management issues. I would give 2.5 stars if I could. We booked our event 15 months in advance. From the time we booked to the day of our wedding, they went through 5 wedding planners. Literally. It was a revolving door, and we were rarely notified when someone had left. I spent quite a bit of time talking & emailing with the first one when we initially booked, so it was very disconcerting to call one day and be told that she hadn't been there for a month. The first time I wasn't too upset, I mean, these things happen...but 5?! The girl who ended up being there as our day of coordinator had already quit as well - our wedding was her last event. We signed up for their email list, and shortly thereafter started receiving desperate sounding emails begging for donations, saying that they were barely hanging on and may have to close their doors. Also very disconcerting after giving them a large nonrefundable deposit for an event more than a year away. When we called nervously to inquire, we were always reassured that everything was just fine. But I ended up getting wedding insurance, just in case. They also went through several chef changes during the year plus we were planning, at least 3. Food was very important to us; we wanted one fish, one vegetarian, and one vegan option. I was told I could work with the chef to come up with something creative and seasonal, but I was never able to actually communicate with the chef and they were pretty inflexible and rigid about the whole thing. I wanted to taste the veg/vegan options I was given before choosing, and they made us come out for dinner one night and pay for them all. We chose the Alaskan halibut, mushroom lasagna, and polenta with ratatouille. On the wedding day, my entree, the polenta dish tasted completely different than what I had tasted 6 months prior (different chef) and it was not good. It was just totally bland and disappointing. From what I hear, the other 2 were quite good. Their food and alcohol costs were pricey. They made my parents pay for the balance of the reception that night, as we were wrapping up, which I thought was rude. My mom, without her glasses, and a few glasses of champagne deep, did not notice that we were overcharged for 16 guests from our actual attendance. When she contacted them later to get the difference refunded, she was basically told, tough luck, it's not our fault you didn't notice the error, no refund. To this day I am not sure she has ever seen that money. In summery, beautiful wedding location, but expensive and poorly managed. If I were doing it all over again I am not sure I would have my wedding there. There used to be all sorts of negative reviews on both yelp and citysearch, which have all mysteriously disappeared...shady. P.S. I have been there for brunch on a number of occasions and it is really good. Pros: gorgeous grounds and view, food is usually excellent Cons: terrible management more

Well Where do I start> This place was wonderful. I was fortunate to have been on a trip to visit my Aunt\r who is a local so she knew all the right spots to take me to . And the first one was this beautiful spot. The Viewpoint Inn.\r We enjoyed a fabuolus piece of Blue Cheese Cake and coffee while we enjoyed the view and the well groomed grounds.\r The staf was very friendly and courtous.\r This place is a must see.....\r A very memorable place. Pros: Everything more

I have been to the view point inn several times and loved every visit. The staff goes above and beyond to make sure you just relax and enjoy everything about your experience. I moved from more than 200 miles away and couldn't find anywhere in the area that met my expectations of fine dining like I had in my home town until I found this place. Their staff and food is just as wonderful as the views.\r \r This place is perfect and definitely worth the drive. \r \r Pros: ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING Cons: NOTHING AT ALL more

I don't know what kind of experience those have had before, they sound very unfortunate. I have not had a single experience there and left with even a hint of disappointment.. If you don't know already Daria on 105.1 the Buzz raves about how great everything is at the Inn on air,and there are specials on television featuring the Inn. The service, food, everything is above anything else Ive experienced. Someone even mentioned to me that they heard a production company has approached The View Point Inn to film a reality television show on the property. Lots of small business have been struggling every where, and this is one Id like to do as much as i can in helping see it succeed. You can say what you like but every aspect of every visit is unbelievable to me in every way, a perfect place for every occasion. Its the kind of place you can trust to take someone you want to impress, or just have a quiet romantic dinner with the one you love. I would and will recommend The Viewpoint Inn to anyone and everyone. Pros: everything Cons: none to speak of more

My sister and brother in law got married there well over a year ago and have never gotten their deposit back. All they have gotten is a long list of excuses or no response at all. Now the staff has changed again and no one will take responsibility. Also the food was not as discussed and the wedding coordinator kept changing so no one ever seemed to have the right information about the wedding. My sister says she still has a bad taste in her mouth when she thinks about this place and it has ruined the way she feels about her wedding day! They were told by a former employee that not just customers are owed money but suppliers and staff also. This place seems to be taking advantage of people. Cons: Dont give them any money more

I was privileged enough to get reservations for the re opening of the View Point Inn on Valentines Day. All I can say is WOW! This place has always been an experience to remember but is now absolutely magical. Not only is the view incredible & the service is 5 star but the food is something I can't stop thinking about since I left. I was told that they searched high and low for a new Chef and boy did they succeed at finding one. I was worried that the food would change but this change has prooven to be very very good. We had prix fixed menu which started with a burst of goodness in the goat cheese and grape truffles. If you were a fan of the Saffron Soup then you will die for the Carrot Citrus soup. Oh and the roasted Asian Pear salad. I don't know what that dressing was but I'd buy it by the bottle if I could. Our entrees were beautiful, delicious and perfectly cooked but the cherry on top was the Trio of Chocolate dessert with Chocolate Port de Crème, chocolate cake and a small martini glass of pure liquid chocolate. I was excited to see the Blue cheese cake on the menu which was even better than I remembered. I live in Beaverton which makes this restaurant hard to get to but it is worth the drive. I'm supposed to have a business lunch meeting tomorrow for one of my biggest clients and I think I might make the trek. I am very excited to try some of the other new menu items. I have a feeling that I will be making that drive much more frequently now. Congratulations to the owners on the successful re opening of their restaurant and finding such a talented chef. Pros: A new amazing Chef Cons: Too far away to eat there every day more

We just recently had our wedding at the VPI and it was nothing but magical. The owners and staff were amazing, making sure our day was special. We had the entire inn to ourselves and were able to decorate it however we wanted. The owners Geoff and Angelo were so gracious and made our entire day fantastic. Christine was the event coordinator and she was fantastic. She paid attention to every detail and made sure everything was in place. The ambiance, food and music were great. We have had many people say it is the best wedding they have ever been to. After all of the stress of planning the wedding, the View Point Inn made the day come together perfectly. My husband and I will be back for dinner soon. It is a perfect setting for a romantic dinner or an overnight stay. I cannot say enough about how wonderful our experience was. The VPI truly made our wedding day something that we will never forget. Pros: attentive staff, good food, great views more

I purchased a gift certificate and the recipients made a reservation to stay at the inn. They were called 3 days before their reserved date to say that their reservation was being cancelled. They were given no apology or reassurance that good customer service would be shown to them in the future. I called several times to try to resolve the issue (my hope was to get my money back). Not only did I not get my money back, but everyone I spoke with was completely disrespectful. It's not even about the cancelled reservation and the no-money-back policy, but it is about the anxiety they caused every time I had to speak to someone there. They are rude and sarcastic. If I spoke to customers that way in my place of work, I would be fired. Shame on the View Point Inn. Pros: For those interested, part of Twilight was filmed there. Cons: Rude, disrespectful staff with not customer serv. skills. more

Our stay at The View Point Inn on November 14th, 2009 was nothing less than perfect. I was planning to propose to my long-time girlfriend, but there was a twist that I never saw coming. \r \r When we arrived, we were greeted by the wait staff immediately upon entering the building, and promptly given the key to the Roosevelt Room, which had been reserved several weeks earlier. We then went upstairs to our room to drop off our luggage and change for dinner. While my girlfriend was in the other room preparing for the evening ahead, I fumbled through my luggage to retrieve the tiny black box and get it into my jacket pocket before she could see it. I was successful, although incredibly nervous.\r \r As we were walking downstairs to enter the dining area, my girlfriend asked if we could go for a quick walk outside. It was dusk and as we walked down the path towards the fountain, I noticed a small lit candle and wild flowers lying next to an engraved brick in the pathway. We approached the brick and I was able to read the engraving asking me to marry my girlfriend. I looked at her, and she said, with tears in her eyes, “Will you marry me?” My only reaction was to pull the ring I had for her from my pocket and say “Only if you will marry me”. We each said yes!\r \r I believe the staff watched the entire event through the large windows of the Inn, and at just the right moment promptly brought two glasses of Champaign, congratulated us, and disappeared back inside. We sat on the steps, finished our celebratory drinks, all the while reliving the precious moments that had led us there. Once finished we walked inside to warm up next to the magnificent fireplace in the sitting area.\r \r While sitting on the sofa next to the fireplace, several friends arrived to join us in our celebratory dinner. We all took our seats at the table, and were treated to fine dining and excellent service from each of the staff members, including the Chef for the evening. The night was truly amazing.\r \r In the morning we caught up with Nathan, the event coordinator at the Inn, who had coordinated the brick, candle and flowers with my now Fiancé. He told us the story of how he watched the whole event the night before from an upstairs window, and how happy he was for both of us.\r \r As we were checking out, we were approached by one of the two owners of the Inn. He was a wonderful host, who took a lot of pride in making sure visitors of the Inn knew the only thing that mattered at that moment was their happiness. He expressed his delight in our engagement, and offered his best wishes for our future.\r \r The View Point Inn is one of the most beautiful historic places in the Pacific Northwest. The views of the Columbia River Gorge and the Portland / Vancouver area cannot be matched anywhere else in Washington or Oregon. The staff is professional and cordial with a strong attention to the details that make your time spent there seem magical. I would recommend that anyone visiting the Portland / Vancouver area to take the short drive to experience the enchantment of The View Point Inn for themselves.\r more

I really was debating whether or not to come here because of all the bad reviews and comments about the managers and wedding scams, but I thought I'd give it a try because I love the gorge. My boyfriend and I went here on weekend night for dinner and it was amazing. The service was super friendly. It's very fancy and romantic. I had the salmon and he had the new york strip and I was surprised that the portions were actually huge and not dinky. The soup was not all that great, though. Overall it was a memorable night and this a unique and beautiful place to have dinner! Glad I gave it a try Pros: Romantic setting, good food Cons: Don't have a wedding here? more