L'Orange Reviews

L'Orange is a joint project of Jeff Vejr and Joel Stocks. If you have ever eaten the tasting menus at Holdfast, where Joel was co-chef, or at JEM you've probably wished one or more of those creative small plates was available as a full entree. Well, now they are: at L'Orange. My wife and I ate there Saturday evening on July 1st. The dining area is cozy and attractive. The team has captured an old Portland house at it's best. In particular, the area behind the bar catches your eye. The multitude of wine glasses stand on shelves backed by glass bricks reflects light and gives a sense of brightness and openness. But what really shines is the quality of the food and the wines. With Joel and Jeff working together that should come as no surprise. We started with a special appetizer, a blend of roasted summer squash and artichokes with some cheese and seasonings incorporated. The spread was accompanied with house made rice crackers. To say it was delicious does not give it the justice it deserves. With a glass of champagne, it was the perfect start to what was a memorable meal. Next we had the chilled cucumber soup with lemon cream, marcona almonds, and dill. Chilled cucumber soup is usually a light dish. This soup was like no other I've had or made myself. Somehow, it was both light and rich. Simply amazing. Our entrees continued the trend of incredible flavor. My wife had the sturgeon which was lightly smoked and roasted. The accompaniments added wonderful contrast to the dish, but the stugeon was simply the best either of us have ever had. The taste of it my wife gave me might have made me wish I had chosen it. But I had ordered the boneless duck confit with sauce, Swiss chard, tiny porcini mushrooms, and cherries on a bed of lentils. The richness of the dish was amazing, and the convenience of the duck being boneless made eating it effortless. The sauce transformed the lentils into something approaching decadence. The sturgeon was the best either of us had eaten. So was the duck. We thought the meal was amazing. Could the deserts match it? Yep. We split the rhubarb clafouti and the chocolate. Again, they were outstanding. The wine selection, as would be expected with Jeff directing that, was as outstanding as the food. For Portland, the prices were right and it was obvious that the wines were chosen to match the cuisine. In particular, the desert wines were exceptional The sherry had been aged in American Oak barrels for 15 years. The Madeira was a style not often seen and simply a perfect end to the meal. To summarize, this may well have been the best meal we have ever eaten in Portland and close to the best ever anywhere. If we had a chance to vote for the best new restaurant in Portland, this would clearly be it. It is fine dining at a price that is at the upper end of mid-range.

We went for a great dining experience and it was not that. They were out of some items, which is understandable these days, but the staff attitude was "that does happen sometimes." Expensive, but not really up to the level I would expect for the price. Quaint hold house, which is great, but a dangerous trek up the stairs for older folks.

The small menu on the burnt orange door with papered windows was a bit disconcerting as to whether the restaurant was open. Once inside you realize that you have to go upstairs to the restaurant. Luckily we arrived early which meant the noise level was tolerable. Service was professional and friendly. We had the sturgeon and gnocchi. We also had the tuna appetizer. All good and reasonable compared to California prices.

Everything about this place is delightful, except perhaps the trek up the stairs. Every dish we had was superb and creative. You won’t see “old standards” on this menu. Prepare for an adventure of marvelous flavors. The restaurant is co-owned by a winery so their wines are featured.

Superb plates offering the best of the Portuguese culinary scene at an almost reasonable Award. After a dinner shared in tapas mode, our winning trio is undoubtedly poultry liver tart, sturgeon and orange cake.

i’ve been all over the United States and a good portion of the world, this is by far my favorite French restaurant. It’s only fault is that there is no full bar. That being said, your waiter is your own personal Sommelier which proves successful, even if you’re someone who typically does not enjoy wine. The suggested pairing makes it more than palatable. The staff doesn’t make you feel silly, even if you’re not familiar with how this dining experience works. I love how it’s basically a restaurant with a tasting menu, however, you can choose just one dish from the menu and have it be your dinner. The selection may seem small when looking at the items on the menu, but I guarantee you this is only because of the absolute perfection the chef puts into his dishes. The menu changes each season so I try to make it a point to go at least four times a year. The atmosphere is full of middle aged to older couples and our friend groups. Everyone is having an amazing time laughing and having stimulated conversations. And even though the seating is very close together, there is nothing annoying about the sound of the atmosphere. It’s also very intriguing that most of the people sitting and eating speak French. It’s a great place to eat and drink and take as long as you’d like to finish. There is no rush in or no rush out.

We came to l'Orange with friends on a weekday night, the whole place is filled and things jumping. It is located in an old Victorian house, on the second floor. You'll have to negotiate a fight of stairs up/down, so be very cautious. Instead of a table that could be cramped, we sat at the bar. That turned out to be the "spot" to be! Filled with actions at the bar and with views to the kitchen, it was fun to be part of. They even have cute small drawers to store your cell phones! Our group ordered a variety of plates: the cucumber soup, hamachi appetizer, crepe, the sea bass, beef cheeks. Everything was delicious and so beautifully presented. Works of art that tastes divine. For dessert we got the l'Orange cake, that was amazing. Also the cheese plate, since we watched the server make gorgeous cheese ruffles/ribbons to go with the hazelnuts and honey for the plates. It is well deserved for its top 40 ranking. We shall return soon.