Kann Reviews

We went through a lot of effort to get this reservation and weed through the arrival rules. Food was good and fun to try but a little too spicy for me. Restaurant is painfully loud. It is very difficult to have conversation. My favorite dish was the okra. The flat iron steak was good also but you don’t get much for the high price tag. Delicious dessert with a beautiful presentation.

Our experience didn’t start well. Our server was ill prepared to point out which dishes had cilantro it in (which I avoid). He had to consult with others not once, but twice and still was almost dismissive in his explanation. He forgot to bring slices of lime for our water. The manager that came over saved the day - he went through every menu item, had friendly demeanor and the rest of the experience was better. Even though we discussed both with the server and the manager no NOT put cilantro garnish on our dishes, almost all came with cilantro leaves on top. The food was tasty and the drinks interesting. The culinary part of the dinner was enjoyable. We were seated at the chef’s counter. In other places , a chef would stop to say “hi”, chat a bit about the dishes, ask about your experience— not here. With such hype about this place and a final bill close to $300 for the two of us, we expected better.

Kann lives up to its stellar reputation in Portland's culinary scene, and for good reason. The restaurant's atmosphere is warm and inviting, with staff who are genuinely friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable without a hint of pretension. The menu is a revelation, elevating Caribbean cuisine to new heights. Each dish is a masterful blend of flavors, textures, and aromas that challenge and delight the palate. From appetizers to desserts, every plate showcases the chef's creativity and skill in reimagining traditional Caribbean fare. What sets Kann apart is its ability to surprise even those who may not typically gravitate towards Caribbean food. The innovative approach to ingredients and cooking techniques results in dishes that are both familiar and excitingly novel. The entire team at Kann deserves high praise for creating an exceptional dining experience that combines outstanding food with a welcoming atmosphere. It's a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts in Portland and beyond.

This review is for 3 different times I dined there, including in July, and once last week when I had a reservation and my husband was sick that afternoon and I called them 4 hours ahead of time but was charged $100 anyway because the restaurant is completely intransigent about showing any generosity or forgiveness if someone in your party gets sick within 24 hours of the reservation even if you let them know in plenty of time to give the table to someone else. At my July visit we enjoyed the food though we did not enjoy having to wait 15 minutes past our reservation in a narrow vestibule where guests were packed in in ways that made me wish I brought a mask. Our second time the food was fine but we enjoyed it less because most things on the menu were the same. Although the menu changes seasonally most things remain the same and so it's less exciting if you enjoy food that is more seasonally driven. Obviously this is a super talented chef with a passion for food which is why we wanted to go there again. This last time though I was really disappointed by how harsh their cancellation policy is and how they will show you no mercy if you are sick in the last 24 hours but will take your money anyway. I was contacted by the restaurant and asked to remove my review on another platform, which I feel weird about since I am simply describing what happened. I will add that the chef contacted me and said they do NOT encourage anyone to come in when they are sick, so I want to make clear that they say that and take health protocols very seriously. They will just charge you anyway even though there is nothing you can do about it. It's true, they tell you they MAY charge you if you have to cancel within 24 hours. I just did not think they would do it if the reason was illness and a phone call was made 4 hours before. The chef clarified they have to charge people anyway for the good of the restaurant and the workers. So know that it a gamble to reserve here and if you get sick within 24 hours of the reservation there will be no leeway given. They also explained to me how I can't really expect that anyone would answer the phone or check the message I left because of not being able to afford it and it might financially imperil their restaurant and their workers if they did that. They said a doctor or dentist would charge me if I cancelled within 24 hours. In fact ,neither my doctor or my dentist does that--they ask you to cancel within 48 hours and if you are ill that day they tell you to call and they reschedule you. They are grateful in fact not to take any chances of exposure. Kann's policy is more like a hotel's but even most hotels will show you some grace if you are ill. Too bad there is no restaurant reservation insurance you can sign up for like you can sign up for hotel insurance. Probably because I have never before encountered a restaurant that enforces this draconian policy if you are sick. But this one does. We made a point of eating here when we come to town a couple times a year. I was looking forward to doing so this year on Halloween, Unfortunately my husband started to feel extremely ill the afternoon of the day we were supposed to go. I called the restaurant shortly before 4 since when I tried to cancel the reservation on resy it said there may be a 50 charge per person. I thought if I called and explained my husband was sick that they would not charge us since it was beyond our control, we let them know almost 4 hours ahead of time, and they would not want us to expose their workers and guests to illness by coming if we might be contagious. Despite me leaving the message we were charged $100 by resy that night. I have modified my review to remove some of my more negative feelings about it. There was a lot of mansplaining from the manager and then a follow up from the chef to explain why they did what they did. The reason I call it mansplaining is he simply wanted to explain to me on the phone what he had said in his email and restate why they would not change their policy (they say they cannot replace customers for a cancelled table, I disagree, resy does this within minutes through notify and this place is always completely booked up) and that this means it is risky for their workers' and the restaurant's livelihood and continued existence (I disagree, they could have easily filled this table through resy if I had not been terrified to do so and thought I needed to call, or if they had listened to the message and given the table to another patron 4 hours ahead of time). It would imperil their financial sustainability to do so I was told. The manager wanted me to listen to him speak and then agree with him it made sense not to give back my money and to have such a policy. There was no chance anything else was going to happen in that conversation except them expecting if they explained it to me on the phone, I would agree with them and maybe remove the review. In fact, I do not agree with it and it is the first time a restaurant has ever taken such an intransigent position about it in my experience since 2020. I have had good meals here. I was just sorry to have this final experience. I was surprised they wanted me to remove a review where I simply tell people what happened. I don't know why they don't want people to know they have no mercy on the policy when that is their position and people need to know it. All other restaurants I know of make exceptions for illness but they do not. I have modified my review to clarify the chef is very concerned about health protocols and would never want customers to come to the restaurant when they're sick. I do think people need to know they will not have any leniency whatsoever on their 24 hour cancellation policy and even if you are unexpectedly ill you will be charged at least $50.

Two of us dined at Kann in mid-July after months of trying to get a reservation to this popular restaurant. I’m conflicted about our visit. On the one hand, the food was excellent. We ordered the Salad Russe (potato-smoked beet salad - $15), Diri Ak Djon Djon (Haitian black mushroom rice and lima beans - $15), octopus ($26), crispy rockfish ($25), and bottle of wine followed by two desserts ($15 each), a coffee ($5), and a glass of port ($11). Our server was helpful in ensuring our portions were sized appropriately, warning us the octopus was just one tentacle. Dishes were presented with an extensive description that at times bordered on comical. On the other hand, noise level was excessive and the pricing was at the top for Portland or even a resort area. One menu item is a bone-in ribeye steak for $200 (not sure how many it serves, but the one we saw leaving the kitchen was huge). We ended up with a $195 bill, which included suggested tip options at 25%, 30%, and 35%, far more than any other bill we’ve ever encountered. What happened to the customary 20% tip that was 15% pre-pandemic? We left 25% minus change but still felt coerced. Chef Gourdet was present in the kitchen but we never saw him conversing with diners at the long chef’s counter, which we thought a bit odd since he is the prominent face behind this endeavor and could have personalized this expensive experience for his guests. Before dining at Kann, we had a drink and accra (saltfish cod fritters) at Sousol, the downstairs bar. While pricey for a glass of cava, a nonalcoholic drink, and the fritters at $51 including tip, it was the mandatory 22% gratuity that was off-putting, as was the $25 cocktails. We’ve never encountered a mandatory tip at a bar. Kudos to Chef Gourdet for showcasing his culture to a Portland restaurant, but based on the pricing it will be interesting to see if many diners return to support it (and help his investors pay off the reported $2 million price tag). If he truly wants to expose Haitian cuisine to Portland diners, bringing it only to the well-heeled seems an odd way of doing so.

Food was excellent. We had a table for 6 and unfortunately the noise is so loud that we could not converse across the table, basically only with the person next to us. Could not hear what the servers were saying hardly at all as they mostly talked in a normal street voice.

I went with a group of friends in the summer. Apparently it took my friend a while to make a reservation and get in. I don’t understand what the appeal is to this restaurant honestly. The food is good, as the food is excellent in many Portland, restaurants. I am not hard of hearing by any means, but I was forced to resort to reading the lips of the person sitting directly across from me at a table of six people because I could hear absolutely nothing of what they were saying because the restaurant was so LOUD! The space has terrible acoustics and the fact that I could not carry on a conversation with the people I was supposed to be enjoying a nice evening with was so unpleasant and then we were rushed out of the restaurant because, of course, it is so popular that somebody was probably waiting for their table. I belong to, the UNIVERSITY CLUB of Portland and have become pretty spoiled. The food is honestly almost as good, you can always hear the other people at your table, and you are never rushed to leave and can have your table all night long if you like! I guess it just depends on the kind of experience you’re looking for. I found the sound of chairs scraping across the cement floor at Kann to be very much like the sound of fingernails across a chalkboard. Apparently, I am more sensitive to loud noises than I ever realized before visiting this restaurant (and I am over 50 years old). At least I learned something by going there, and that is that I don’t like to go to restaurants where you cannot hear the people at your table in a conversation without yelling.

This place was an EXPERIENCE to say the least. Let’s start with the service our server made our experience very unique to us, understanding my personal dietary restrictions and explaining the restaurant and it’s entirety to us and the culture how the food works and is intended to be eaten (that being shared of personal meals). Now let’s talk about the food. The food itself felt like comfort all while still remaining sophisticated. It was extremely well portioned for you to be able to experience from starter meals to the actual entrées all the way to dessert. The best way to describe the food experience I had was the comfort of going to eat at my Nina’s and being served my favorite meal but at an elevated experience with great drinks and service. One thing I normally don’t review is atmosphere because I love hole in the walls, but the atmosphere of the restaurant itself was organized without feeling so modern and also very busy while also feeling very warm and that says quite a bit, considering that we sat at the communal counter, which you would imagine would feel like like a very individualized experience, yet, it was! I felt as though I was in my own bubble and loved seeing what others were ordering (I’m nosey like that). So don’t shy away from the chef’s counter if you can’t get your own table. Oh and cleanliness was a 11/10. The price point was fair. I would 10000% recommend this as not only a restaurant but as an experience.

Incredible. There is a reason that it is hard to get a reservation. Amazing Haitian food. Entire menu is gluten/dairy free and they have amazing no-proof cocktails. Service was amazing A wonderful place for a special dinner

Amazing fresh and bright flavors, all expertly prepared. Service was impeccable and the staff is super knowledgable and educates you about the dishes as they are delivered. Can’t wait to return!

The accolades for Chef Gregory Gourdet are well deserved. I didn’t know what to expect, but the spices in the Haitian inspired menus won me over. My favorites were the Akra fritters and butterfish! Getting a reservation can be a challenge.

It's unusual to go to a restaurant with such high expectations, only to have all those expectations exceeded in every way. That was our experience at Kann. Service by Chris and his team was impeccable. Timing of plates was perfect, we were never rushed, the table was kept spotless, everyone was attentive without hovering. The meal itself was fantastic. We over ordered so we could try more dishes, and ended up taking a bunch home. To be honest, I think i enjoyed the appetizers and sides as much as the main courses, but everything was spectacular. I am gluten and dairy free due to allergies, and I was in heaven, knowing I could order just about anything on the menu and be safe. Thank you! We will make another reservation and wait our three months to get in - it was just a perfect, perfect meal in every way. Oh, and be sure to save room for dessert!

Given it’s national reputation, and my mixed and largely negative review, I feel a need to put my comments in context. I eat high quality food at home, and I search out special food from carts, hole in the wall places, neighborhood restaurants, and fine dining establishments. I spend three to four months a year traveling, and I probably eat about 200 meals a year away from home. It is not unusual for me to plan a day’s activity in around a special meal. After two visits to Kann, I came away disappointed. On the upside, the food quality is high. On the downside, the front of house staff are not good at making you feel welcome, and the primary waiters I saw were a bit arrogant. As mentioned in earlier reviews, this place is noisy. It was hard to have a conversation at our table. All of the dishes I tried were excellent, but the portions are ridiculously small. And my biggest complaint is that this place is super expensive by Portland standards. I am told that New York diners are quite willing to pay $120 for a duck breast and leg, but at that price the dish should bring tears to your eyes. We were told that this item has a two day preparation. That’s nice, but the same can be said in other restaurants I like, but without the pretension and high price. I know local taquerias that can say the same. I guess the appeal for some is that this place is exclusive. It is hard to get a reservation, and only a few can afford to eat there.

I probably have not been more disappointed in a restaurant as I am of this one. I love good food and as many of the reviewers have eaten all over the world. The food was ok too spicy, too small portions and most not tasty smoked ribs were a small portion and not at all specially despite the $120 price tag. The brioche, salad and desert of banana upside down cake down cake were just fine. Service was very good not rushed drinks were small and expensive and the noise level made conversation next to impossible As you can see I can’t count myself as a fan and wonder what all the hype is about.

Reservations to Kann are incredibly hard to get. After a few months of unsuccessful attempts, I finally nabbed two seats for a super late seating on a Friday night. We came hungry and we came prepared. The food still surprised us. Chef Gregory Gourdet is well-known for his innovative and complex flavor building, building off of his Haitian roots he creates dishes that pack punch, flavors that confuse and draw you in, and a dinner that makes months and months of waiting well worth it. We started the night off with the softest bread ever, a Plantain Brioche Bun served with epis butter that I can seriously eat on everything. The Griyo Twice Cooked Pork killed me with the spicy pickled cabbage, but I am a spice wimp. The pork was incredibly tender and nearly melted in my mouth. The combination of the plantain chips, avocado, pork, and cabbage--perfection. Our entrees were an Epis Brine Chicken served with a smoky mango (smoky mango! I want smoky mango always now) and a King Salmon with a perfectly crisped skin and beautifully flaky meat. That salmon was our absolute favorite. Both were accompanied by the Diri Ak Sos Pwa, jasmine rice with a red kidney bean stew. My one regret was that I didn't order the collards but I guess I'll have something to look forward to when I visit next. For dessert we had the Spicy Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart that was served with a peanut butter ice cream. It was the perfect finish to a wonderful meal and though we were both busting at the seams, we had to lick that plate clean, it was so good. Kann has a yummy-looking cocktail list but we settled for a mocktail made of soursop and coconut (I was unsure at first but as I continued drinking it, hints of maple and mint made its way in and the flavor combination was delightful) and ginger tea. It's too early in the year to say that this was the best meal of 2023 but I have a feeling it's going to be one of the most memorable. Congrats to Kann for their James Beard nomination, it is well deserved.

A true Haitian authentic cuisine Dishes we tried: The giyro pork is “The Traditional Haitian Dish”. Amazing meat The cauliflower is “The Signature Dish of Kann”. Superb The Pork chop is “Is the Best of Its Kind”. Highly recommended The wild Alaskan halibut is “A Masterpiece Dish”. For fish lovers, and the like. Now, for the dessert, the Baked Haiti is “A Must Try”. you will not regret it. Drinks: Cocktail; the “Bel Plaj” is an art in a glass. The “Fle Chadek” is good. While “Doctor B” is an acquired taste, which I did not care for it. Service: top notch Price: very fairly priced, matches the quality, originality, and taste Ambience: we sat at the chef/kitchen table, and we loved it. High seats, but you watch the action. And enough space between seats. Extremely Highly recommended for food lovers and explorers.

Kann is fantastic, every bite was delicious. Exceeded expectations. The restaurant is beautiful - bright, modern and warm at the same time. We made a reservation at the communal table which really is just a series of tables set closely together. Other restaurants wouldn’t even call it communal, was more private than expected. The menu is filled with delicious options, hard to choose! We went with the plantain brioche buns with a seasoned butter- so tasty; peanut creamed greens - a fav, spicy and rich; griyo twice cooked pork - National dish of Haiti that bursts with color and flavor (avocado, slaw, fried plantains included); and whole tai snapper - tender with a beautifully spiced sauce and not a bone in sight except down the middle to hold together. The fish is good to share for two. I also have to mention the an lo zero proof drink that was amazing, so refreshing with yellow pepper, ginger and pineapple. Best non alcoholic drink I’ve had. To finish it off we loved the baked Haiti dessert, a coconut sponge cake covered in charred meringue and stuffed with cream and pineapple. So good. The guava sticky toffee pudding with ice cream was also a good choice. I’ve seen some other reviews that weren’t happy with the food, hard to understand unless you don’t like seasoned, flavorful food with a bit of spice. This is not typical dining, it’s better. Service was attentive and friendly yet quick with the plates and the check. Understandable given a reservation is tough to get. Expensive as expected but completely worth it. Restaurant was packed on a Wednesday night in March. Even the bar seating was full. Would love to return one day….

It’s almost impossible to get a reservation at Kann, but my friend was able to snag one. We were not disappointed! For starters, the specialty cocktails were so fun—mine had peppers floating on top for a nice little zip. We tried lots of menu items, but my favorites were the tomato and stone fruit salad, the jerk cauliflower and the twice cooked pork. Everything on the menu is gluten and dairy free, even the brioche, so it’s great for folks with dietary restrictions. The place is not cheap, but every morsel was outstanding and the service impeccable.

Horrible service. Rude staff and manager. Would NOT recommend. Additionally, my experience making a reservation was a nightmare. Book reservations with caution. I was charged $300 for a misunderstanding and a lack of clarification on Kann’s end.

It took forever to get reservations here, but we finally got one for a Saturday night at 6pm. We waited a bit to speak to the server, who was very professional, well spoken and confident. The server explained the menu nicely and set our expectations for our meal. We waited a little longer to order our drinks and place our dinner order. Chef Gourdet did serve our drinks, which was a nice surprise and made the dinner feel personalized and special. We ordered the scallops, duck and the prawns for the entrees. The server messed up our order and accidentally brought us two orders of scallops and the prawns but we didn't notice. She offered to also bring us the duck (in 7 minutes!) and apologized but we were happy with the food and satisfied with our dinner. We ordered two desserts, both were excellent. The scallops were quite spicy, the prawns were delicious and the taro fritters and plantain rolls were my favorite. We didn't get the duck but we left happy and full. I gave it 4 stars for the value of the food and the service. The atmosphere is nice and well done, but the restaurant was quite loud and the table were so wide that it was difficult to hear the person across from you. In the end I would return for another visit to try it again, but next time I will lower my expectation a touch.

Our group of six had to wait outside in the rain for at least twenty minutes past our reservation time. Umbrellas were eventually provided. The restaurant has very poor acoustics making it very difficult to hear anyone talking across the table. Hoping the acoustics can be improved. The service was extremely good, professional and attentive without hovering. It was strongly suggested that we eat the food family style and order a variety of many items. The food was generally delicious but with six people sharing more than a dozen items including deserts, it resulted in only a small taste of most every dish and a somewhat confusing mishmash of flavors. Also, six people trying to procure their piece of a half chicken was a bit unappetizing. I strongly recommend either dining as a couple not a larger group, or each person ordering their own items instead of family style. Very tasty items included warm plantar brioche buns, salad russe (smoked beets!), peanut creamed greens (hot!), glazed duck. The berry tomato salad was good, the pickled watermelon rind was such a scanty serving (especially considering the prices) that it is hard to comment. Jasmine rice with bean sauce - well I always like rice and beans but nothing special. Crispy rockfish was good. Ordered all four desserts and was alloted a small bite of each. They all seemed very good. Very small glasses of wine for I think $20. In sum, the food was very flavorful and generally excellent but the place is too noisy for a group to interact easily. Bill worked out to a little over $110 per person, not surprising based on all the hype.

Our daughter and son-in-law were able to treat us to this gourmand’s delight this week, when we visited them from the East Coast. What a beautiful surprise. We have eaten at many of Portlands finest culinary establishments throughout our 20 years of visiting our daughter in Portland; I can’t remember any of them matching the Michelin star quality of the food we enjoyed on this menu. Each course that was brought out was sublime: Plantain Brioche Buns, Lightly Cured Kampachi, Asparagus & Spring Onion Soup (with generous portions of dungeness crab) were delectable starters that had us eagerly awaiting the entrees. The Scallops, Coffee Rubbed Flatiron Steak and Diri Ak Djon Djons did not disappoint. The only item that made this visit from being perfect, was the extra spicy heat the Peanut Cream Greens had, which caught one of our foursome off guard. The dessert course however ended our night on a sensory high note, with all three of the offerings: Passion Fruit & Orange Sponge Cake, Peanut Guava and Chocolate Tart, and Strawberry Rhubarb Millefeuille, tempting us to ask for seconds. I must make special note of the Strawberry Rhubarb Millefeuille, that I personally had. It was truly a strawberry dessert lover’s delight…wow…just exquisite!

Very loud inside. For more than $50. the 3 scallop dish with over cooked pasta was a disappointment. The salad with the toasted coconut dressing was bland. The roasted cauliflower jerk dish was the best of the three we ordered. Overall, it didn't deserve all the accolades it has received.