Davenport Reviews

Those looking for a high quality menu offered in an intimate setting will not be disappointed by Davenport. Menu is updated on a regular basis and offers a wide array of veggie, meat and fish small plates sourced from local purveyors. Note portions are in a "small plate" format which lends to "family style" approach to ordering. Wine list is extensive and has some unique and not generally available offerings. Recommend engaging the bartender/sommelier for recommendations/pairings.

This is a restaurant I would not recommend ....but I would not discourage one from trying. It gets good reviews and it does have a good bar and e good wine selection.. The food is o.k. but doesn't measure up to its competition.

We went to Davenport during Portland Dining Month. The 3 course meal for $33 was a good value overall, but the portions were quite small. I chose the scallops and they were absolutely delicious, but there were only 2 of them. My husband chose the steak which was equally delectable and spare. The endive and beet salads were also fresh and tasty. Dessert was creamy panna cotta. Wine and beer list is quite extensive. Ambiance is unfussy and quieter than many Portland restaurants. Service was excellent.

We love Kevin Gibson and followed him from Evoe to Davenport. He's still working his magic, as with a little gem butter lettuce salad, topped with avocados and crisp onions. The decor is spare but comfortable. The clientele ranged in age from thirties to eighties. We'll happily return.

With my in-laws arriving into PDX late this night I decided to my wife and I would enjoy a nice meal out prior to picking them up. I took a shot on Davenport having only read a few glowing reviews. Atmosphere is casual yet upscale, the service was attentive & knowledgeable without being overbearing and the food was excellent. In the end I think we were the last couple and spent the remaining time we had their having a very enjoyable conversation with Kurt to the point that were actually a little late to the airport. We very much look forward to our next meal here. A very enjoyable evening. Thank you.

We always like to try new off the beaten track places. This is worth a visit. A good selection of tapas and yes some are small and over priced for what you get. Still nice to have the variety with small portions. Four of us were satisfied with the 7 orders with some being better than others but still overall a nice place to try. We thought they were well presented and came out in a timely fashion.

Went for a dinner meeting and was to be received without a reservation. The dishes were executed flawlessly, perhaps the best was the halibut and shrimp, but the steak and meatballs were also very good. Skip the Fava beans, they were not well prepared. The service seemed awkward at times with one young women trailing the primary server, just looked odd and she didn't really do anything. Kurt who runs front of the house is quite experienced and knows the wine like the back of his hand and will steer you in the right direction at any price point. They also have a bunch of bottles at$40 that are not on the menu that you can ask about. Bummer no hot drinks, not sure why?

Wonderful small restaurant. Sharing menus with lots to choose from. the tomatoes were great, the use of sage an interesting twist. The halibut was delicate and seasoned perfectly. Not overwhelmed by a heavier "sauce/flavoring". wine advice, perfect. suggested an alternative which was quite good. and this was based on taste, acidity, brightness, all the things ones needs to know when matching with the food ordered and our ones taste expectations.

Exciting food Well presented Outstanding wine program Cool atmosphere Yummy dessert Had Gnocci w Prawns Dungenous crab appetizer Great service

Davenport was recommended by a friend who just returned from wine tasting in the Willamette. The tasting room mentioned the wine and small plate pairings are superb. We made a reservation and came in for dinner. Davenport is void of any signs, you have to know it is there. As might be expected, the wine list was impressive, I ordered a glass of Burgundy and immediately admired the Zalto stemware the wine was served in. The bartender was very knowledgeable, we were seated and enjoyed a varied of small plate each and everyone excellent. Food varies depending on the season, so you'll just have to drop in to see what they are serving. I was thrilled to see many nice wines available by the glass. Unlike other places I was not concerned the wine sat unopened too long. Prices while not inexpensive were reasonable. I plan on returning.

We had our anniversary dinner at Davenport Saturday evening. The restaurant is tucked away on East Burnside, and there is nothing ostentatious about Davenport, it is a very comfortable restaurant. The menu changes daily based on availability of fresh product. We enjoyed 4 different plates, the servings we generous and designed for sharing. The staff is attentive and not intrusive. I would highly recommend Davenport, the food is meticulously prepared, well balanced and delicious. For a casual meal or a romantic dinner Davenport is a great choice.

The chef/owner had a consistent success at a tiny lunch place, so we looked forward to this, his larger effort. The fois gras appetizer and the shrimp salad appetizers were outstanding, and we had his lamb dish and the game bird for main courses; original but not quirky cuisine. Table service was excellent, the decor is simple and functional, and the restaurant is quiet enough to enjoy a conversation ( most Portland restaurants are quite noisy). There were only two deserts offered, and each was seasonal and perfect: fresh fruit sorbets or a blueberry meringue. Excellent wine list, carefully chosen, quite affordable; kudos to the wine expert! We'll definitely be back to this one!

I recently had the opportunity to dine at Davenport while visiting family in Portland. It was wonderful, my party included omnivores and vegetarians and all were happy and well fed. The pork belly I had was as good or better than I have ever had. I eat out frequently live in the midst of restaurant heaven so this is a high compliment. Go, you will not be disappointed.

is a popular local restaurant with a limited menu --- dishes are smaller then you would normally find and you are expected to order 2 or 3 per person to be shared with the entire table -plates are brought from the kitchen one or two at a time- wife left hungry as the dish she ordered was not to her liking

This place is a little different for a meal. It is small plates, well designed, interesting combos of food. This was another dining month try for us. We chose to start with Endive salad with hazelnuts and bleu d'Auvergne, very nice. Second course was seared scallops with grapefruit and fennel-only 2 of them-nice sear but a tad underdone. We also ordered chopped clams in olive oil. Super flavor, wow. Served it on a large crostini. The place was packed-and we had early reservations. Good drink menu, nice open kitchen-on the small side. Service was good, staff was a happy group. Only glitch--2 dirty plates on the table when we were seated. Having a bad run of that recently.

Awesome service - great food !! Sitting at the bar with the recommendations that Kurt made ; you cant go wrong ... Loved the crepinette

List of wine is nice. Not the wine by the glass especially if you want local wines. Kurt ok greeting and Kevin cook unfriendly. Dishes nothing especial and the ambience was missing even when we put ourselves in their hands. The local wines by the bottle we're nice. Not coming back to this place.

Menu changes constantly and all of it is locally sourced. Went there with a party of six for a birthday. Ordered 10 small plates and 3 bottles of wine. $339. Great price, especially since the wine was half the bill. Yes, we splurged. All of the shareable small greats were good. Try the lamb cheeks, the tomato salad and the scallops. Very tasty. The wine guy used to manage Vinopolis, and he really knows his stuff. Quite helpful finding ones that we'd never had had before. Service prompt and friendly.

Davenport December 2014 Davenport has been on my list for a while. In fact, I stopped going to Evoe on Hawthorne when I found out Kevin Gibson had left to work on his solo venture. I've always thought Gibson's food was familiar and challenging at the same time, kind of in-your-face in a subtle way, daring you to eat food you've always known but tweaked in ways you knew were possible but not nearly so delicious as you thought. OK. Segue to now, and Davenport has been getting generally favorable reviews, especially from restaurant critics, although the ones here waffle between stupendous, meh, and geez did I really pay that much for such small plates? (Come on. The menus and prices are on the website. You knew what you were in for.) The family were all game for a celebratory dinner in the hands of Kevin Gibson. Smaller on the outside than on the inside, and pretty casual (we were the best dressed kids on the block), Davenport was pretty much what I expected physically. Gastronomically, I really didn't have an opinion formed, and was open to anything. Except eggs. (Now all my friends know who "bacongougere" is.) There were definite lofty highs and a couple of disappointing lows. Highs: The bresaola. But really, I love just about any dry-cured meaty thing. The ethereally silky celeriac puree that accompanied the pork paprikash. Whoa. And I mean WWHHOOAA. The perfectly cooked scallops, crispy and caramelized on the edges, and just opaque in the center. Even the bro, who won't eat any seafood that has bones and eyes, ate and enjoyed this. High compliment. The breadcrumb gremolata on the braised lamb gratin. Yeesh. I could mainline this. The bay leaf panna cotta with pistachio and fennel seed crumble on top. I snarfed mine. The wine list. Absolutely stupendous. The sommelier/bar tender let my dad, the family oenophile, read the non-published list. Wow. Lows: The fritto misto was mostly tempura batter (good, not greasy at all), but we had to guess at the vegetables. 24 hours later, the hubby was still trying to figure out if his was white asparagus. Nope. Salsify, based on eliminating the obvious ones the rest of us had. (Save yourself for the Gobi Manchurian at Bollywood Theater. Now THERE is a great fried veg.) The special pork belly. I wouldn't have ordered this, but was overruled because other people wanted "bacon." It was very good pork belly, but fat is yucky. The apple salad that came with it, though, needs to be on the "highs" list. The very small portions, especially the scallops (we had to order two for a table of 5) and the bresaola. On the upside, no one waddled out the door after dinner. No coffee or tea. Hm. The sound level, which increased exponentially as dinner progressed. I mean, I get it that restaurants like a "hot" sound level, but I am so tired of yelling at my mom! For no reason! The hubby has entertained himself by inventing a louvered acoustic baffling system. In his head. I wish he'd do it for real. We'd be rich beyond the dreams of avarice. So, would I a) go back to Davenport and b) recommend it? Yes, absolutely. But pick up a snack on the way home.

This was a spectacular dining experience. The wine list is world class. Every dish was as good as anything I've ever tasted or experienced. We had an excellent White Burgundy that set the tone. They bring plates for the table to share, but beware the portions are on the smaller side. We started with the Mussels in a tomato and saffron sauce. The mussels were plump and very fresh. When we asked about oysters, they said they didn't have them right now because they weren't at their best. This restaurant is about quality. We went on to try the halibut, the steak over arugula salad and ended with the Lamb meat balls. Everything was outstanding. The service was top-rate. We actually brought our six month old son who ate baby food. The staff was accommodating and friendly but it's not a kid friendly environment. And I get why. They serve their great wine in expensive stem ware. So I give the staff extra points for accommodating us, but if you have the choice, I recommend a babysitter.

Since it was a lovely evening the restaurant had opened it's huge front to the street which made for an airy and pleasant room. The menu is fine; some of the dishes are quite unique. Similar in style to a tapas restaurant though the plates are bit bigger than you'd find in Spain. Enjoyed the meal very much and the wines by the glass made it possible to choose a number of them with my husband. We assembled a flight for sipping.

Well worth the walk from the Marriott Courtyard in downtown to the restaurant. It didn't look that far on the map!.It was a great walk and it gave us a chance to see all of the other bars and restaurants on Burnside St. Not really a fan of the tapas / small plate concept but the kitchen here really delivered on some very innovative and delicious food. Most notable was the beet salad, little gems, the dumplings were out of this world only followed by the scallops. Great wine list ( however not enough Oregon wines) the bartender helped to find us a fabulous Sancerre Rose that he had just gotten in that morning. this was our best meal in Portland during our stay.

Started with a friendly bartender making an excellent Manhattan. Small, warm space with a well balanced level of sound. Something for everyone on the menu, but creatively done. Foodies (and stop calling yourself that if you are) will love what can be eaten here but the less adventurous will have any choices. Had duck and it made me quack uncontrollably with joy. Great place to impress a lady whom you may want to impress. Visible kitchen but without the noise that usually comes with it.

Had dinner here for March Dining month (our 4th restaurant this month). I picked Favenport because of the dining month menu-beet salad, scallops and panacotta. All my favorite. The beet salad was tasty and good size. The scallops was very tasty BUT they only give you 2 and with a small dab of cabbage salad spas the main course. The pan Scott’s was very average. Both of us could have eaten 2 entrees each then we will feel like we had dinner. The scallops on the menu was $16, please just add 1-2 more add another slap of cabbage, raise the price a little so people don’t feel like they only had an appetizer when the dish is supposed to be an entree. Will not return

I looked through Eater to try to figure out where to have solo dinner. Decided here - did not realize how hard parking would be. I ordered the squid (out of this world) and the carpaccio which was very good but I missed shaved Parmesan - they do a park crisp. It was good but I love traditional. Great staff, lovely wine. A wonderful dinner

Our family had a outstanding dinner and experience at Davenport. We had our three teenage daughters with us and enjoyed watching them all try something new and discover-they liked it! Our favorite dishes were the colorful tomato dish, the cheese plate (with delicious blackberries),big, fresh oysters, delicious carpaccio, perfectly grilled shrimp and delicious halibut. To cap off our extraordinary dinner, we had the rich apricot custard. If we lived in Portland, we would eat there at least once a week.

Amazing! Kind of hard to find, what sign there is seems so small. But wow. We wanted to order EVERYTHING on the menu and almost did. Nothing disappointed. Fresh, and interesting without ever being over done or too cool. The service was terrific as well. without making a fuss, they found us a 10 year old pinot not even on the list for what I thought was a bargain. this is what local restaurants should be!

I loved the name, instantly. It reminded me of my great auntie Jean gently reminding us as children to ‘keep our feet off the davenport.’ Of course, this Davenport is not of the sofa variety, but apparently harks back to the midwestern roots of its founders (Davenport being a city in Iowa.) There is much more here than the name. Have you ever had one of those dining experiences where everything just flows? This is one of those. From the moment we walked in and were greeted with a large smile and welcome from the owner, Kurt, to the cheerful farewells from staff, we were in food heaven. We chose a selection of six plates to share, each and every one bursting with flavour. You simply couldn’t go wrong with this menu. Our wine, a Pinot Noir from a lesser known vineyard in OR, was sublime. Thank you Davenport crew for a fab evening!!

We loved everything! Service was friendly - food was spectacular. The ceviche was so good we doubled up. The pairing of flavours on each dish was perfect. All five menu selections were beyond expectations. Yes, the setting is minimalist, but once you're eating, all comes a distant second to the food experience. Will definately return. Kudos to the chef.

I'll confess, I live in Portland and am spoiled rotten with the choice and variety of great eating experiences here. Three of us wandered into Davenport last night and left feeling full (but not too full), happy and slightly warm inside from the after dinner cocktail. So I liked it. A lot. Scallops, duck confit and a very tasty, no fillers or brined, pork tenderloin. Dishes appeared as they were ready, so we lingered, but the pacing was still good. But really, it was the sommelier (and Davenport partner Kurt) who just made my day. Charming and pleasant he asked the right question: what do you like? We three were at opposite ends of the red spectrum, yet Kurt recommended a 2005 nebbiolo that made us all happy. And when we asked for coffee to finish the meal, the answer was "sorry, we don't have coffee or tea" - instead we had cocktails that started once again with the question: "what do you like?" So I was treated to a local honey liquer-based cocktail to go with our shared pannacotta. What's not to like? Sure, the portions are not big, and yes, I could have easily eaten one or two more scallops, but somehow it all worked.

We discovered this little place across the river in Portland, OR, and liked it so much we came back a couple nights later. The chef is well respected and experienced but still likes to experiment. He even asked what we thought of one of the his creations. Even though we didn't care for the chicken dish, we loved everything else on the menu. The food has many local ingredients, which, of course, abound in Oregon. The prices, the atmosphere and service all added up to a place we will return to time and again.

It’s a difficult decision when an amazing restaurant in Portland is not slammed with tons of accolades and is kinda your secret, you just don't really want to share. Then you write a review. I don't want you to know that the service is first rate (some of the best in the city), or that the wine selection is monumental or that the food supersedes both of those things. This is a restaurant that made Portlander’s love food. It is chef-driven, they only cook what is fresh and the plates are a work of art. We had 10 dishes between the 4 of us last night and each was better than the last. I don't want you to go, but they deserve your attention. I can't say enough about how wonderful this place is. Just go, but please don't tell me.

If you are seeking a fine dining experience in Portland without a lot of "hype", this is THE place to go. The emphasis here is on quality, inventive local food, but not oddly prepared just for the sake of oddity. The menu is small plates to share for the table and changes on a regular basis. Our server guided us with good suggestions about how many to order and then of course we ordered more because each and every dish looked so fantastic. Everything was exquisitely prepared and presented and was delicious. The seafood was very fresh and the vegetables were all fresh from the field. You really can't make a bad selection from whatever the menu happens to be when you dine there. The wine list is extensive and service was very attentive. It's a small place with a sort of industrial vibe, but it would be a lovely spot for a celebratory meal based upon the food alone.

Had a vendor dinner there the other night. We were five people squeezed onto a four top. Food here is small plates, meant to be shared, so our mini table was packed with food. The food was fine, just not extremely memorable. Our favorites were the beets and the scallop crudo. Everything else was good, just not amazing. Service was fine, but it was not fine dining by any means. The bar has limited selections, but the wine list is eclectic and well chosen. There are so many restaurants in the Portland area, I don't think that we'll be revisiting Davenport.

The building is dark on the outside and poorly labeled; and unrefined on the inside. We expected small plates for sharing between two people. We received larger portions than needed for two people-if your calling your restaurant a small plate experience. I expected to be able and order five or more plates to share. We ordered 3 plus a desert and that was enough. Only one plate was properly balanced enough to call a small plate, and it was very good. The others where, unfortunately, hardly memorable. My whiskey sour was excellent, and the service was very good. The waitress even had to run after us two blocks to return my sunglasses. With so many other fantastic places to eat, which by the way are more expensive, I probably won't return here. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try it because the food was okay, just not necessarily the type of dining experience I enjoy.

Really liked the interior and vibe of the place We had excellent service. We shared a few seafood plates that were fresh and tasty. Good but short beer list and my enjoyed her negroni.

It took me a while to get to Davenport; when Kevin closed Evo, I was in mourning. I finally got there a year or two after he and Kurt opened the place. I chef of the sort I would aspire to be, were I on that path. This is the most creative food I've ever eaten. The thoughtfulness and skill that goes into every bite is really unparalleled. When watching Kevin cook across the table from him at Evo, I wondered how many diners actually "get it'; we'd sit there fro three hours and two bottles of wine like we were in his home and have plate after plate of deftly created wonder. A subtle beat salad with three ingredients that was just and simply perfect. A blackberry jam served with a unique cheese; the jam had so many layers of flavor I was convinced it had more ingredients; nope: just sugar water and berries. Halibut crudo; i thought it would be good (how can't it be with good fish?); again three ingredients, presentation, knife skills and temperature: perfect. And unique. Kevin knows when to stop; adding flavors, the cooking to achieve a texture, the seasoning to maintain integrity. Now on to Kurt; a seriously accurate wine guy. Mostly a gregarious host who is all compressed energy (in a good way); funny, Portland casual and extremely approachable. A wine menu that hits every note with out hitting the horrible high priced not. Rumor has it there is more than the published list available. Our friends, serious wine people and to whom I turn for accurate selection ask Kurt to match the meal. The staff are knowledgeable, clearly having as much fun as the diners, not in a Farrell's Zoo kind of way but in a very professionally interested way. They are as mush a part of the meal as the food. I don't really want anyone else to go there. But, I need to say this and they deserve recognition. Even if its only from a committed diner on a travel site!

Our friends dined with us on a hot July night. The restaurant was comfortable and energized by the patterns of communication that flowed from table to table. Our food was attractive and well prepared. Service was excellent. Dessert was perfect.

This little place packs a big punch. Small plates for sharing is the best, great European wine list, and reasonably priced.

It had been a while and this was our first dinner out. I 'm glad they made it through and I understand that it's a small space. But I wasn't ready to be a foot away on both sides. One of four plates was exceptional. Service was excellent.

I always hesitate to judge a place by Portland Dining Month. Space is cute, and the servers were cheerful and attentive. Food was good, but maybe not incredibly memorable. Extensive wine list. Dim lighting, which makes the place intimate – would definitely recommend the place for those looking for a date location. Would go again to experience the full menu. Probably more of a local choice than a destination, though.

I have known of Kevin's talents for 20 years. From chef to wine maker and back. He hs continually impressed me with is culinary wizardry. He takes our regional ingredients and turns them in to tasty delights. l enjoy the small plates, be sure to order a couple of the duck, the scallops and carpaccio.

I find it very hard to pay so much money for so little food. We were told it would be hard to get reservations, because this is such a popular restaurant. We were given a one page menu and told that it was best to order two plates per person with the intention of sharing. One order was scallops and the recommendation was to get two orders, because one order comes with only two scallops. Well, for $18 you expect more than two small, bland scallops. We noted to the server that one of the slows was too salty and she thanked us for telling her, but did not offer to take it back or exchange it. Yet again the squid was too salty to eat. This is one of my favorite dishes and we left most of it on the plate. A unique twist, they charge $3 for 5 slices of bread. Half way through the meal, we asked for another order and the had run out. What good restaurant runs out of bread? Maybe they don't order much because most people don't order any because they charge for it. They bring one plate of food at a time, at the chef's discretion, so you get a small taste of something and have to wait for the next small plate to come out. Also a difficult place for a mix of vegetarians and meat eaters. The beet salad was OK. The plate of assorted fried veggies was the best thing that we had. The drinks were very good and helped make up for the overpriced and iffy food. Not a place that I would give another try, with all of the other great local choices.

Recommended by a knowledgeable friend, we made reservations in a heartbeat. Many hits on our first visit and only a few misses. First off, high marks to the front of the house staff for warmth and competence. Our server offered good guidance on the menu items and wine pairings. While some may balk at paying a few dollars for bread and olive oil, when the bread is VERY good and the olive oil is exceptional, it was $3 well spent. I could be happy with plate after plate of this course and a bottle of wine, but there was more to try – so next was an exceptional preparation of Mussels in a perfect saffron broth. Probably the second best version of mussels we’ve had from dozens of restaurants spanning the country over decades – truly exceptional. The salad was more than just a salad – aptly named “Little Gems – some shallots, Endive perhaps, a bit of quick frying and a dash of cheese – very tasty. All winners – a great start. For a main we ordered a pork tenderloin dish presented in salsa verde. And it was …just ok. I was hoping for better, but this dish fell flat. Dessert and an appropriate dessert wine brought things back to center. The only other minor quibble was that the kitchen ventilation system seemed to be malfunctioning that evening – gratefully, the beautiful windows were opened – allowing crisp Portland air in to moderate frying smells Very nice wine list, innovative menu items and portions sized just right and appropriate for sharing, good service – all sum up an experience worth a return visit.

Great to do dinner "tapas" style.We enjoy meals way tory numerous small plates& none of them disappoints .

On a recent trip to Portland I took my family to Davenport after seeing it named a top new restaurant in a magazine. My first sign that it was one of "those" restaurants was when the menu was so cryptic about what things were. The food was all very tasty, but extremely pricy for the portion size and they seemed to be really skimpy on the more expensive ingredients. For example the shrimp salad was an enormous head of lettuce and just a few tiny shrimp. The bill for the 4 of us before tip (including a bottle of mid priced wine) was $178, and we hardly left stuffed. I hate to say this since I want to see the Portland restaurant scene flurish, but I'm guessing once the hype dies down a little they won't last too long unless they improve their value.

Davenport better fits the definition of a bistro rather than a restaurant. Cocktails are classic and well made, Manhattan, Old Fashioned etc. Dishes fall in between appetizer and entrée hence the small plates theme. The creative twists on some dish's may not be detailed on the menu so I recommend asking the server about preparations.

We visited Davenport last Friday night and had a wonderful dining experience with good friends. The restaurant serves small plates that are meant to be shared. Everything we tasted was well prepared, seasoned properly and often a unique combination. The bar tender mixes a mean cocktail and their wine selection is amazing. Ask the staff to recommend a wine because mainly of their selections are not on the printed wine list. Will be back soon!

Quality small plates. Non-pretentious. Good value for quality of food. Space functional with industrial vibe. Nice bar.

Decided to give this place a try for dinner. Small, quaint and loud atmosphere. Service is superb. Interesting choice of menu items. However, portions are tiny! Therefore, do not go if you are very hungry or expect to shell out some serious money.

When arriving, I was greeted and seated promptly. Extensive wine list, and lots of shared items to enjoy. We tried the oysters, sole, scallops, goulash, and a few other dishes, all which were tasty and ample for sharing in our group of three. Relaxing atmosphere and attentive service. Fun night out!

My wife and I have eaten in a lot of restaurants around the world and Davenport's ranks as one of the best meals we have ever had. Period. Whether it was trying to find a reasonably priced wine from their comprehensive wine list or sharing their locally sourced dishes, the staff and owners of the restaurant were superb. What ever you do, don't miss a chance to eat at this restaurant....you won't regret it and you definitely will remember it.

What an amazing place to eat! The food is imaginative and wonderfully tasting. The service was excellent (we had a group of seven). It wasn't loud and we were able to have conversation while eating. They were extremely accommodating with us as we had to change our reservation three times.

Finally made t to Davenport and was grossly disappointed. The menu is very limited, not intuitive and downright confusing. I had to ask what things were and even the bread was not called bread, but called the small bakery name that makes it. Any restaurant that makes its patrons have to ask what items are is not welcoming. One beer on tap. No rose, the whites were too sweet. They have a full bar but only 4 cocktails listed. Thy need some coac.

The atmosphere is neighborhhod charming. The staff is professional, cheerful and fun. The tapas are heavenly but scanty scanty scanty The higher priced ingredients are even smaller Love the flavoring in every dish. Too many wonderful restaurants in Portland.... No desire to come back to the Davenport unless i was not hungry!

I couldn't gush more about the menu and its execution. Beyond fabulous. Wine list? Brilliant! Our server? Fantastic! I think we ordered nearly every small plate!!!! The owner/bartender? Not so much. We had to laugh at how COMPLETELY uninterested he was in our table or questions. Couldn't answer or get away fast enough. I'm not sure what we did to annoy him...I mean, it's not our first day in food and beverage. We literally drove 6 hours to check it out! Oh well...I'd certainly go back. The food outshines him 10-1...

I wish I had a dollar or a rebate from every small plate place I left hungry and broke. This is one. $14-$20+ per. The scallop (1.5) plate is well executed as most dishes are, but how about $20 for chicken thigh ? If you have money to burn and/or you 'pre-ate' at burgerville, this is your place. Oh, and I don't eat that much and am grossed out by Cheesecake Factory portions.

Wonderful food. The elegance and simplicity of each course was superb. If we are in Portland again we would definitely return

Refreshingly not pretentious Portland. Amazing food with engaged and friendly service that doesn’t make you feel like you’re just lucky to be there (like so many other Portland places). We wanted to order everything on the menu (it all looked that good). We started off with a couple small dishes and kept going with the helpful recommendations of our server. Speaking of server, he was perfect. Not too hovering but always available with a suggestion. The bar service was equally amazing. Could make anything you wanted but had a couple choice selections that were spot on. With all the dining options available to Portlanders, I feel a little bad because I actually want to go back to this place again tonight. They made it a very enjoyable and special night with good friends and great food.

Hidden away, intimate dining venue. Fresh food from a simple menu, but well-cooked and very tasty. Good ingredients. Fantastic wine and great advice on what to select from a knowledgable sommelier. Definitely recommend for a good dining experience. without pretension.

Wonderful, comfortable setting with attentive and friendly service. Every dish presented beautifully with fresh local ingredients.

If you are into small plates and sharing, you will love Davenport. If you are looking for a overflowing, typically American dinner plate, you might be disappointed. The food was delicious, and the ambiance was perfectly Portland. We had a great evening there. (Though, we found the fact that they don't serve coffee a bit beyond "quirky," as it was described by our server.)

Davenport deserves it's inclusion in Bon Apetit's list of best new restaurants in the US. Physically the space is low-key but comfortable letting the food shine. The menu is designed as a series of smaller plates and the staff encourages sharing which is what we did. I'd recommend two plates per person so a group of 4 could sample 8 or 9 items from the menu and still have room for dessert. We thoroughly enjoyed everything that we ate but some of the highlights included the grilled pork belly, the duck salad, the lamb and the seafood salad. At the last minute we added in the butter lettuce salad just to have some greenery and it was one of the best salads that we had ever tried. Desserts are limited to two selections and the don't do coffee service but if you're still craving some caffeine you can just go right next door and have a coffee at Pix Patisserie. On top of everything else Davenport takes reservations which in Portland is an extra added bonus. If you want to have a delicious and pleasant evening of dining and experience the best of what Portland food is all about without having to queue up hours before you want to eat give Davenport a try.

This was our second meal at davenport. To be honest this is not a fine dining experience nor does it sell it self to be. This is a place for people who enjoy food and want something different than the stardard NW fare. Positives. The prices are fair-some plates are bigger than others but all are below $20. We had 5 items that were all so good we couldn't pick a winner. The seafood salad (almost 1lb of mixed seafood) was a steal at $13. Perfectly executed and delicious. Other winners were the chantrelle corn soup, the pork crepinette with white beans (a good size dish) and the duck perfectly cooked but small. If you have a big appetite, ask for a recommendation for their larger dishes and they will gladly guide you. The wine is expertly pick by Kurt who runs the front of the house and tends the bar. $29 for a delicious Gavi or an Oregon Pinot. There are good values at every price point. Describe what you like and Kurt will deliver the juice. Things to work on..... 1. Service. Pert, not overly cheery and Timing, a long wait between the first two plates and the last two. We had 6 plates, 3 cocktails and a great bottle for $160 for four of us. Fair by my standards.

Reasonably priced medium sized plates of just about anything you might want to try: seafood, veggies, beef, pork, etc., with arguably the best pricing for fine wines in the city. Great quality to price ratio here, and very knowledgeable staff, especially the sommelier, Kurt. I have eaten here 4-5 time in the last year and have not been disappointed and in fact have been largely impressed every time.

Excellent tapas style entries. Not cheap, but not too expensive either. Six to eight medium sized entries enough to share for four people. Small, sparse place but nice atmosphere with friendly and helpful staff. Extensive wine list.

We made a rezzy for early on a Saturday. Ordered a couple drinks (the Ribbon Ridge pinot and a Manhattan), both good. Then, at the waiter's suggestion, ordered 2 plates per person to share. Everything was stellar (see our photos). Glad other reviewers suggested the lamb meatballs; they were a highlight.

My friend and I recently had dinner at Davenport Restaurant based on reviews on Chowhound.com. Wow, were we ever disappointed. We ordered the fois gras plate (since we can't order it in Cal) and it was blah....what a bummer! We ordered 5 total plates and not one of them was worth ordering again. The dessert was lovely, but I was disappointed in the overall experience. Broke my heart!

Had dinner at Davenport tonight with friends, four adults in total. We brought our own wine so I cannot speak to the drinks. The restaurant is small and serves food family-style. No obvious signage outside so it was a little difficult to find. Our server advised us to order 6-8 items for a group of our size. While the food was good, the portions were quite small. For example, the scallops and the pork 'special' of the night only came with two portions, so we had to split amongst the four of us. The food itself was good - crab salad, lamb, two styles of pork, beet salad, scallops, and bread - but not necessarily memorable or special, and I was still hungry once dinner was done. Dessert options were not enticing, maybe because Pix is next door. In summary, I'm glad I tried Davenport... but there's no compelling reason to make me want to come back.

Specializes in smaller plates meant to share. My wife and I had six dishes which was more than plenty of food! Wow do they have a wine list, perhaps one of the largest in the city. Friendly staff and attentive service.

Visiting from out of state. We were guided to try at least 6 items as the plates are meant to share and referred to as small plates. Three of us had plenty to eat. It was all excellent. What an opportunity. We had farmhouse style pate with pistachios, swordfish, duck (incredible), steak, and lamb cheeks, they were so tender you could use a fork to cut them. Side dishes were also excellent. What a treat.

Davenport is a refreshing change in a city full of meat-centric and food-cart-spin-off kinds of restaurants. They have a wide range of wonderful offerings on their menu, and the focus seems to be on bringing out the best in the raw ingredients & nice wine pairings. I gave it 4 stars because they do not serve coffee and though it is a perfect "grazing" dinner spot, I also found it to be a bit pricey. That said, we had perfect service, the atmosphere was pleasantly un-hipster, and the volume was fine for a conversation!

I agree with an earlier diner who commented on the scallop portion -- I was embarrassed on behalf of our guest who ordered them as an entree. My duck was very good, as was the wine recommendation, but salads were average and the overall experience was disappointing. Not much charm either, and the chaotic bar and flies in the haphazard storage space at the front of the restaurant should have been a warning sign....And not to fault the server who knocked over a glass of lovely wine, since accidents happen, but the glass of mediocre house wine that was sent as a replacement (after we asked for it) was another miss by the restaurant.

As a former restaurant manager, I never visit a place until it's had a 6-month shakedown cruise. With that milestone reached, my wife and I had dinner there last night at this small, sedate spot. It was delightful and recommendable, particularly if you like strong flavors. Most of the menu is composed of small plates, and the chef is not shy about using oil, anchovies, eggs, or olives in many dishes. We had five excellent small plates, including grilled octopus, radicchio salad, and roasted rapini. The wine and drinks selection is equally good.

We ate here tonight and had a fabulous dinner. The service was perfect. The noise level was non-existent, despite the place being full. The portions were fine and the bill at the end was reasonable. My wife and I ordered five dishes: bread, a butter lettuce salad, some raviolis (with fava and ricotta filling), halibut cheeks with peas and a pork sausage dish that was to die for. Everything was excellent, fresh, cooked perfectly and seasoned with skill. The food ran $65 but we also ordered an $80 bottle of wine -- impossible to pass up a wine list like this place has. The server took great care and made excellent recommendations -- he even picked the wine for us. I could not as for a better experience. This is a top-25 place in Portland for sure.

We selected this restaurant as a first time visit for two birthday celebrations. The area is very busy and hard to find parking, two of us went in to secure our reservation on-time. I had left a message about the two birthdays previously. Two of us walked in and the gentleman behind the bar asked for our party name and then said let me know when your whole party is here. I responded we are all here two are parking and his response was "yeah I've heard that one before, let me know when your whole party is here". I reminded him again that we had two birthdays and no acknowledgement. So we had to stand in a small area/ramp by the door which became crowded as other people arrived and cold every time the door opened for maybe close to 10 minutes. When we were being seated I reminded them again of the birthdays no achnowledgement. Our waiter was fine, nice, helpful with our selections which we ordered many and shared. At the end of the meal no achnowledgent of the birthdays. We chose this place specifically to celebrate and they could have cared less. The food was good but there is alot of good/great food in Portland and if the vibe isn't there why would we want to go back....too bad really.

Davenport is all about sharing and share we did for a very relaxing and wonderful dinner. The setting is simple and the food is straightforward. We had terrific pate and outstanding beets. The bread was very good. The fritto mist was off the charts with fabulous shrimp, onion, squash and salsify. Our oysters were served with freshly grated horseradish for a nice twist. The cod with artichoke, clams and peas was excellent. The peas must have been shelled as we were walking in the door. We had an outstanding waiter who provided very good advice on wine pairings. It was a very fun outing for us and we will definitely return on our next visit. Also, as we learned later friends of ours in Portland very much enjoy the restaurant and the cooking of chef Kevin Gibson in his button-down white shirt.

I regularly visit Portland and am always looking for a good restaurant for dinner. This is an small, eclectic, slightly bohemian restaurant. The server seemed like a real expert on the dishes so we let him choose them and they were excellent. They came as small, family style dishes. The wine was also excellent. The beer selection was small, but good. Nice meal!

Tough review to write! Our server was so bad that he managed to make a good meal bad: it started with him being rather unhelpful throughout ordering. Then--and this is what shocked--he deboned a fish in front of us, had about a third of it fall off the plate and onto the wood table, noticed it, and then walked away. No apology, no nothing. When we finished eating and weren't full (we called ahead, told them we were pescatarian and yet arrived to a fairly limited selection with no modifications allowed "our menu is easy--what it says is what it is"). We asked about possibility of a salad and were offered an arugula salad: what came out was ... dressed arugula. This was recommended in a local magazine and--despite manager (?owner) graciously not charging us--I would not return again. Service is everything to me in my eating experiences, and Davenport totally fell flat.

Apparently, we weren't. We were two middle-aged" couples who apparently wandered in to a nest of snotty hipster foodies. The waitress seemed a little put off by our questions ( what kind of gin do you have behind the bar? What does "fermier jouvence mean... The usual nit-picky stuff ;-) ..) So... What can I say? The food is quite good, we ordered a cheese plate and some pate* to start. It was terrific. If you like eating either appetizer off a knife blade. We were told (after they dropped off the dishes) that they were out of bread. We asked if they had any other option for a pate/cheese-to-mouth device. I was abruptly told "no"...It was a busy night and they were out of bread. Hmmmm. In conclusion.. The food was quite good, but not good enough for the "you're lucky we let you eat here" kind of attitude.