Ox Restaurant Reviews

I live in San Francisco and have my choice of Michelin star restaurants. The Ox experience is not to be missed. The kitchen is amazing and the food is both generous and unique. Wow! That chowder was really a treat!! I am going to go back when I return. This is an important kitchen to watch. For those with less than stellar reviews I must say this... Yes, a place that does not take reservations can be difficult if you don't arrive early, yes, the building and dining areas are not perfect, yes sometimes staff are not perfect... If you think you deserve the Universe to deliver perfection this is what 3 Star Michelin restaurants are trying to deliver so go to those. If you want a fabulous dinner then don't be boorish. The Ox deserves better than you.

The staff at Ox are distant, faces planted in their smart phones. Unfriendly service. The cuisine is excellent but I rarely go to this restaurant (and I eat out 28 nights a month) because it is so unwelcoming. Have your steak dinner elsewhere. Many good alternatives to this house of shade.

Went for dinner last night, was a very nice intimate space. Very good service, and the food was simply delicious. We had short ribs, lamb shoukder chops, dungeness crab risotto with scallops, candied heirloom carrots with truffled pistachios and chevre, fried russet potatoes with horseradish cream and the fried brussells sprouts. Everything was simply exquisite!

Reservations are required well in advance (and required a credit card), we made ours 2 months out. Our party of 6 arrived and were seated immediately. The atmosphere was lively with people chatting, eating, and drinking - having a good time. Server was knowledgeable and very helpful on how to order, portion sizes etc. Based on the hype for Ox I fully expected the food to be good, what we were served exceeded my expectations. Everything, I kid you not was the "best I've ever had". In our group we had for starters the Clam/bone marrow chowder, crab bruschetta, oysters in the half shell, and a cheese platter. The smoky rich chowder was fantastic and I would have been satisfied if I had ordered another bowl for dinner. For dinner I savored caramelized scallops over a bed of crab risotto, my hubby had a perfectly cooked Ribeye, with char roasted brussel sprouts-oh my gosh I wish I knew how to recreate that dish. Others in our group had maple glazed pork chop, grass fed ribeye, mushrooms, and candied maple carrots. It was all fabulous....I failed earlier to mention the craft cocktails, and formidable wine list....and then at the end a pretty unique dessert menu. Ox had it all, and it was all fabulous. It is expensive but worth every penny. I can't wait to go back so that I can try more of their menu offerings.

We were able to sit right by the grill (which was warm,but great for conversation!) The rare steak these guys made me...amazing! One of the best steaks I've had since Del Monaco! The service was a little garbled, and the drinks were really slow getting to us, but the food was great...if the service was better I would have given it 5 stars. That being said I would definitely go again, and would recommend it to friends!

We heard that waits can be very long -- at 5:30 pm on a Monday we only waited 15 minutes. The four of us thought the foods were good, but certainly not worth much of a wait, and we agreed that Portland has better restaurant choices (such as Toro Bravo around the corner). Ox is also quite noisy if you like to hear your dining partners. The flank steak and lamb were good, but not memorable enough to bring us back. The dessert cheese sampler was exceptional -- the cheeses and go-withs were all delicious.

Our Portland friends took us to Ox on our last night in Oregon. What a meal! My husband and I agreed that Ox was the highlight of our eating experiences in Portland. I was a bit worried when I was told that this was Argentine meat restaurant -- I eat very little meat. But the skirt steak was delicious, without the gamey taste that meat often has for me. But in all honesty, the sides stole the show. I loved the maple glazed carrots so much that I took a picture of the recipe from the cookbook at the entrance to make at home. The secret ingredient -- loads of butter. Figured! We also had the grilled onion with buttered beets, walnut and blue cheese (yum!), and the Belgian endive salad with figs. As you can imagine, this was a food orgy, worth every rich calorie. To top things off we had the tres leches cake with marionberry ice cream (to us East Coasters, Marion Berry was the mayor of Washington DC). It was over the top delicious and indulgent. Be prepared for a long wait, but there is a nice bar with good music.

Visited Ox with a large group celebrating a birthday. We had one of the set menus with 12 platings served family style. Service was good, everything looked fresh and was nicely presented. I was a little disconcerted by the family style servings and ate too much too early. Thus I couldn't justly evaluate the main meat courses. If I had, I might have rated the experience "excellent." One of the best servings was the cup of mushroom soup served "compliments of the chef" before the meal.

The five of us went to dinner at 7:00 last night - the place doesn't take reservations so we waited 68 minutes to be seated..not a positive beginning. The concept is grilled beef... entrees are a la carte so we orders short-ribs and ribeye to be shared (large portions at this place). We also had the scallop-with-crab risotto. Sides include endive salad, sautéed mushrooms, roasted potatoes, and snap peas. All dishes were well prepared, although the short-ribs we're too chewy. Unfortunately the room was small and nearby conversations loud...the sound system and hard surfaces contributed to the sonic overload negating much of the evenings pleasure . The food was excellent but the excessive wait and noise was what I will remember. I'm not interested in returning.

You have to try this place if you want the best steak you will ever have. James Beard thinks so too!

We had a great business dinner. We shared our first course, had our own protein and shared sides. All the food was great but our server, Hanna guided us through the menu and the dinner experience. The wine list is great as well. Overall an awesome experience!

OX is probably riding the reputation from the initial opening and staff. I would give it a 3 for food but the high price for mediocrity gives it a 2. I’m assuming the kitchen has undergone changes in the staff since inception. We didn’t have reservations so we had cocktails in the bar area while waiting for a table. I would definitely visit the bar again for cocktails and snacks. This was the high point to the OX experience. For dinner we shared the vinegar salad with radicchio ( no mistake..the vinegar was chokingly overpowering). The foie gras on blueberry bread was tasty and the highlight of our order. The cauliflower with Dungeness Crab was pretty boring as was the pork chop. I like the vibe of the restaurant but for the price there are far better gastronomic experiences in Portland for much less $$$$. Also, a corkage fee is expected, but $25 !! Really?? OX is not the dining experience the price point should command. Very disappointed in my experience considering the hype.

This is a small restaurant with amazing food (especially if you like meats). We celebrated a birthday meal with a larger group (11 adults), and had to use the fixed menu. It was perfect. At $65/person, everyone was happy. The service was great, and food was presented beautifully. I am giving only 4 stars though....with a dinner total of $900 and $65 per plate, we had to pay separately for dessert. Really? Dessert should have been included with this exquisite meal, or thrown in!

We went here for dinner. We got the skirt steak (large size) and carrots. The food was really good, steak was nice and tender, amazing chimichurri, and the carrots were yummy too. My complaint is that it was hot as heck in there! I was sweating the entire time, and we weren't even by the oven. The poor employees, I have no idea how they work in there.

Don't miss the clam chowder at this popular Argentinian inspired restaurant. The food was very good -but be prepared - the wait was pretty long.

Ox was recommended by our friends in Portland. It's their number one for special occasions. In addition, the fact that Chef Denton and his wife were the recent recipients of the James Beard award for Best Chef Northwest, this was the restaurant I was most looking forward to dining at while in Portland. Unfortunately, I was not impressed by Ox. My dining companion and I started our meal by splitting the Ahi Poke. The tuna was a bit fishy and not as fresh as we would have expected. It was mixed with an excessive amount of mayonnaise. Having consumed a great deal of poke over the years, Ox's version was send back to the kitchen worthy...but I don't send food back, I just don't eat it. My companion had the Maple-brined pork loin chop which was suitably cooked but too sweet for his taste. My Bone-in Halibut was okay but I preferred Imperial's version which I enjoyed a few nights prior. We got the dessert our waiter recommended which was a warm hazelnut brown butter torte, w/honey-chamomile ice cream & honeycomb candy. The description was so intriguing but it sounded much better than it tasted. As a matter of fact, the honeycomb candy were burnt and neither of us liked the dessert. This was our most expensive meal in Portland and we both agreed that we would have preferred to go someplace else. The restaurant crams too many tables, too close together, in a very small space. We were squished between two large, loud, parties, which was awkward and made it really hard to hear each other. We left disappointment due to our high expectations for Ox. Maybe we were there on an off night?

Ox is on my top five list of all time favorite dining experiences. Everything we ordered was fantastic but the two standouts were the clam chowder with clams and bone marrow. Reminded my family and I of an elevated Vongole with out the pasta so it's both Gluten free and delicious!! Ox has wonderful gluten free options including the honey comb dessert which I will now be dreaming about. The steak was cooked perfectly and seasoned to perfection. Wine selection is top notch! Can't wait to return on my next visit to Portland! They eve have a recipe of their food you can buy.

Our table was a bit dark, and it was a bit loud (b/c tables are close together). But the service was efficient and attentive, and the food was AMAZING. Unique. Incredibly good and not the sort of thing I've ever seen anywhere else. Each dish provided a multi-sensory experience. Great textures and flavors and smells.

Invest in your self, in your family and friends, in clients, and rush to Ox. Paradise. I tipped the bartender 40% - he was that good. He custom made my after dinner cocktail. Every time I eat here, every meal, is transcendental. You can't eat like this anywhere, I try. When you leave Ox you will feel like a million bucks for the rest of the night into the next day. I'm grateful for this restaurant.

Argentinian steak house, BBQ or churrascaria that serves up some of the tastiest and best cooked meat in all of PDX. Go with a big party and do it family style. Great drink menu, plenty of wines to compliment the grill and fresh seafood to help round out the experience. Shigoku oysters were some of the best I had this trip. Do yourself a solid and try the Tongue - fantastic. Skirt steak was immensely flavourful. Pork chop is the size of a Nerf football. Great meal in this Portland institution. Be careful, you are destined to get the meat sweats here... they are worth every bite.

My cousin arranged dinner here after her graduation. We were there with a pretty large group but they made everything seamless. We loved the menu and the drink selection.

Ox has a pop up grill for the summer from 11-2 and while I liked more chorizo sandwhich with chimichuri, it was a little spendy at $12, the albacore was $14 and the eggplant was 10 or 12. You can get the same thing for around 8-9 at other places and just as good. Empenadas are $10 outside but only $7 on the inside....interesting pricing but they are excellent.

When you walk in the door of Ox you come face to face with a blazing wood-fired grill. The food that comes off that grill is as good as you will get in Portland. As their name suggests, they specialize in meat, but you'll never taste better grilled halibut and the salads and sides are superb. Reservations are must, and if you have to wait check out the oyster bar out back. The chefs also prepare fantastic food at SuperBite in downtown Portland.

. . . and was it worth the trip!! We read an article in Better Homes and Gardens and knew we had to buy this couples' cookbook since we and our friends love to cook on wood. After enjoying several dishes over the summer, we just had to go to this restaurant. We contacted the restaurant by email and an extremely pleasant staff member was able to book a reservation for us. We arrived early, were quickly seated, and warmly greeted by our server. I had the butternut squash empanada and my husband had oysters on the half shell. Wonderful!! A complimentary tasting of creamy, wild mushroom soup was superb! The signature cocktail, the Oxblood, was a beautiful and earthy mix of bourbon, beet juice, and lemon with a hint of salt served with a sprig of fresh tarragon. Delightfully refreshing. Grilled trout and the flatiron steak with chimichurri were amazing - both cooked to perfection and served with a loaf of crusty boule with salted butter. My steak was the best I ever had - love at first bite The entire evening was perfect from start to finish!!

Great place if u like red meat and lots of it but be ready to pay a hefty price for it.....I mean a lot of $$$. You have lots of options of lamb, beef steak, pork or ribs. Pretty extravagant choices and fancy names; in return you pay 💰. Taste is very good; the blood sausage is interesting and the beef is very tender. Service is great and choices of food, drinks and veg is plentiful

A truly magnificent dining experience. My friend took me here to for my birthday dinner while we were celebrating in Portland. The restaurant was referred to her by a close friend who lives in Portland. From the moment we arrived until we completed our meal and left everything was amazing. We had drinks at the bar while we waited for our table. It's a cozy space off the restaurant. The bartender was friendly made our drinks just so. She also took the time to explain the menu and give us a few recommendations. Once we were seated our waiter explained the menu, and we ordered. The starter course was a cold soup. It was delicious and just the right amount to prepare for the evening. Every course was just so amazing we could hardly contain ourselves. The menu encourages family style so we ordered the baguette which they serve with chimichurri sauce, clam chowder (made with bone marrow and fresh clams in shell), Dungeness crab bruschetta, short ribs, and a heirloom tomato salad. Even with sharing the portion sizes are large and we were almost full toward the end but we had to save room for dessert. We ordered the warm hazelnut torte and it was warm, gooey and delicious. The perfect end to the meal. Our waiter and every staff member we came in contact with was warm, helpful and attentive. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening and meal.

The service was great - Davis M was our waiter and he did a fine job of taking care of us. The meal itself was unmemorable. The lamb shoulder chop I had was tasty but it had very little meat on it - mostly fat/gristle. My husband and son-in-law had short ribs and they could hardly cut them - they had to really work at getting what little meat there was off the bone. My daughter's pork chop was tasty but again, a lot of fat. We had three sides: Cauliflower (nice) potatoes (ok) white bean casoulette (runny) and a really night salad that we shared. With three drinks the meal came to $240 and I went away hungry and disappointed. We won't be back.

Dinner at Ox was a memorable experience. Clam chowder will never be the same again, after having Ox’s unique clam chowder. My skirt steak also was fantastic. A true foodie dinner experience.

This place is busy for a reason. They know what they're doing. The food is good and served hot. The open kitchen and blistering hot wood burning grill make for delicious vegetables and meat.

We talked about coming back to Ox for dinner for four months before finally returning. Just as magical as the first time. Beer and pillow fight cocktail-a citrusy/bitter, new favorite. Beef skirt steak-medium with chimi sauce-out of this world. Gem lettuce salad and maitake mushrooms-simple but best I've ever had. Scallops in fennel puree, pickled romanesco and onion rings, great. Dessert always knocks it out of the park. Service top notch, hip and friendly staff remove dishes before next course is brought out in perfect timing, keeping us in drinks and wiping up crumbs in between and anticipating what is needed next, including clean silverware. So glad we came back. One of the most memorable restaurant experiences you will have in this city, guaranteed. Be prepared for fine dining prices. Note-They don't take reservations unless you have a group of six or more. We arrived right at five when they open and were able to get a table right away, but the parking lot was full and the place filled immediately. It's nice they have their parking.

My wifw and I had a great time in this place. The ambiance is pleasant, the service was amazing and the food was excellent. We had Asado Argentino, which is for 2p and had plenty to take home some leftovers. Great wine selection.

Six us ate dined at Ox on a Saturday evening and enjoyed the experience. We had a secluded table near the fire which was perfect and our server was outstanding. The thing that kept this from being a 5star review was the food wasn't quite at that level. My lamb shoulder and my wife's ribeye were seasoned well but below the meat quality I expected. Sides are extra and good--we had Brussels sprouts and fried potatoes although the horseradish cream sauce on the potatoes was not my favorite. There is no filet on the menu. The Highlight of the meal were the desserts. We shared 3 and all were fabulous: chocolate, 3 leches cake and a caramel thing. Cost with drinks before tip was about $400 for 6 people.

This is one of the best grills with a real fire with a show. Sit at the grill bar for an interesting show that is entertaining.

Fantastic service, lovely ambiance and amazing food. We had a three course meal with each plate beautifully presented. Wait staff were very knowledgeable. Well worth a visit

We went here a few nights before my daughters wedding. What a special place. The attention to detail for the appetizers was top notch. There was a cream of asparagus small appetizer to start which set the night. We combined entrees and most had some form of beef, which was cooked to perfection. Overall, service was exceptional, food was on point and the atmosphere was very warm. A Top three restaurant in my opinion in Portland.

We celebrated our anniversary dinner here in October and I enjoyed my experience a lot. There is plenty of parking and reservations are recommended. Clam Chowder - This is a must here! It comes with bone marrow!!! Delicious. Gnudi - This is very creamy and it's most similar to gnocchi. Short rib - This is good, but of course because it is ribs, you don't get that much meat. I Skirt steak - Get this if you want MEAT!! The portion is good. Really though, any of the meats you get here are good. Chorizo - I got this so I can try all of their meats. This one wasn't tough to chew as sausage typically is. Tres leches cake - This was done well. The fruit on it balances the thickness of the cake.

Yes this is a meat centic place but that causes one to overlook the excellent vegetables. Cauliflower, asparagus, b-sprouts, mushrooms and a delicious ceviche were all outstanding. We didn't even touch the meat (which is good but can be expensive) and had one of the best meals in town and with a bottle of wine and a beer we were around $100 for 2. Great meal for a fair price. Note, they fill up fast and don't take reservations for under 6. But they have an outdoor bar that opens at 4pm where you can get in and put your name on a waitlist and this will guarantee you a parking spot in their lot.

I only wish I lived within a days’ drive of Portland so that I could dine at Ox regularly, as it is simply one of the 10 best restaurants I have ever enjoyed (and that’s truly saying something as dining out is my avocation). The atmosphere is simple, inviting and comfortable. The service is professional, friendly and helpful. But the real reason to eat at Ox is the tremendous execution of a varied menu full of bold and imaginative flavors. Recommendations include the amazingly tender skirt steak, cooked over an open, wood-fired specially designed Argentinian meat oven following what must be a lengthy aging and marinating process to render the meat so melt-in-your-mouth flavorful. The oven-fried potatoes with a dill cream sauce are an excellent accompaniment and can be ordered in single or sharable sizes, as can most of the sides. The sautéed button mushrooms served over ricotta in a cast-iron platter are a must as a starter. Seared scallops served over a cheesy , creamy risotto was shared gleefully by the table. Our desserts, a brown butter tart with caramel ice cream and a honeycomb candy was memorable, as was the tres leches covered in dulce de leche, whipped cream and a berry meringue with matching berry sorbet was a close second. Ox has nailed it when it comes to fantastic dining experiences!

My fiancee arrived as soon as it opened, but there was still a 30 minute wait in their adjoining bar area. While the cocktails were good, we were getting discouraged by the wait since it is a tiny place. The Re-Animator is a must try with refreshing flavors of ginger, honey and lemon. We were seated at the Grill. It was amazing to watch the two guys grilling all these meats to perfection. We ordered the Asado Argentino for 2 which has grilled short rib, house chorizo, house blood sausages, skirt steak (which melted in your mouth), and sweatbreads. It was out of this world! I did order the empanadas, which were not as impressive as the grilled meats. Next time, I want to try the Halibut or Lamb chops, which looked amazing on the grill. I am looking forward to a future occasion I can bring my family back. It's not cheap, but it's soo good.

If you can do go. Get the chowder and the skirt steak! Do go early if you don't have a reservation as it can be tough to get in. Wait at the bar and get a Dark and strong beer.

Everything is just spot on in this restaurant: the food is fantastic, the wine is affordable with a great quality selection, the restaurant itself is very nice with casual atmosphere and the service is impeccable. In my top three..

We ate family style with a couple of meat dishes, and side order of potatoes, brussel sprouts and beats/pear salad The food was quite good, especially the steak and brussel sprouts. The service was friendly and attentive and we enjoyed some very nice Oregon and French wines. The cake we shared for desert was well worth mentioning. Good atmosphere and appropriate given the menu and theme.

We were a group of eight celebrating a birthday. The food here is phenomenal and the service matches the level of the food. It's an a la carte menu and you will want to try everything that you can. The following were highlights: clam chowder with smoked bone marrow and jalapeno, brussel sprouts (that's right brussel sprouts), asparagus, sea scallops with Dungeness crab risotto, pork chop and the rib eye steak cooked on a wood fired grill. This is an Argentinean inspired menu and you won't be disappointed. Save your pennies people and give it a try. The bar needs a lesson in proper glassware, a martini doesn't belong in a cheap champagne glass and the lemon drop is one to skip. Go there for the food.

Ox is really good food and drinks and great service. They have a bar next to them they send people over to while they are waiting and it has great drinks as well. The black Manhattan is a amazing drink and they have a 42oz steak that is huge and fantastic and comes out sliced up already so its easy to eat.

We went there to celebrate a birthday. The food was amazing! We had the squid and octopus salad, oysters, skirt steak, chorizo, sautéed mushrooms with foie gras, and grilled romaine hearts. I can't speak highly enough of the quality and the service. It may be a little pricey but you have to remember you're paying for quality. It's definitely worth it. Do yourself a favor and have the meal that you deserve. If you're waiting for a sign this is it!

Went to Ox for a business dinner. We were seated rather quickly because we went on a weeknight. The service was very attentive and we were always seen quite quickly if there was anything that we needed. The menu is a little bit tight on options but the food that we ordered turned out absolutely delicious. It was cooked to perfection and the sides were great to share with the table. It is a wonderful restaurant to visit if you're in the Portland area.

Our daughter and son-in-law live in Portland we try to get into Ox every trip. They do not take reservations so we go very early to avoid the very long wait-although the food and service are worth the wait. No description is need, just go and enjoy. You will not be sorry.

Have had drinks twice in the bar (garage) behind restaurant. Very quaint. The food in the restaraunt was some of the best I have ever experienced in Portland. We ate family style. Ribeye (deliciously prepared), Side dishes; carrots with amazing spices, brussel sprouts also unusually and deliciously prepared. Hominey, which I hated as a kid, was prepared so tasty that we did not leave a drop. When they knew it was my Birthday, they brought me a scoop of roasted butterscotch ice cream! It was extremely tasty to say the least. Highly recommend experiencing this restaurant. Expect a wait as it is that in demand.

Absolutely loved every. single. thing. Arrived early, (5:30) there was parking in the lot and seated immediately. The staff was wonderful. Friendly and funny they explained everything and answered questions without any pretension, very casual. Three of us ordered family style, first came tiny mugs of mushroom soup with paprika butter and rustic bread. It was delicious. We ordered the Asada Argentino for two, a combination dinner including six different meats, salad and fried potatoes. Also ordered melon salad w/mortadella and ricotta, ribeye, maitake mushrooms, grilled green beans with crab. Drinks we enjoyed-IPA and the absinth root beer float, both great. I should add that portion size is large, we had quite a bit of food to take home. Everything tasted amazing. I mean so fantastic I wish I could give six stars! The steaks were especially tender and flavorful, each dish was cooked to perfection and THE SAUCES. The sauces are worth honorable mention. We finished with the tres leches cake with marionberry ice cream and marionberry meringes. I've been craving it ever since and will be back for more before summer ends.

Visited with friends and sat at the bar. Instead of going for grilled meats we ordered 4 starters and 4 side dishes. The clam chowder with smoked marrow was exceptional. Crab and avocado crostini was also very good. The empanadas were ok. The beetroot salad side was average as was the bean and pulled pork side. The only side that was exceptional was the charred Brussels sprouts. Service was good but we should of ordered less food as 4 starters and 4 sides was far too much for three persons. Cocktails were nice! If I went back I would order a steak and just have the sprouts!

My friend and I walked over from our hotel. It was 9pm in the evening. We were told it was going to be a TWO HOUR wait! We did put our cell in and went to their garage-type bar. After looking at the cocktail menu, I decided on just a Tecate. My friend couldn't decide on a cocktail so she asked for a Tecate too. The server came back to us and informed us there was only one cold Tecate... We ended up splitting it and leaving. Later, the phone rand at 11pm informing us our table was ready! Yea, right!

Found this place on a Tuesday night - and am so glad we did. The wood atmosphere, great staff and most importantly- the FOOD - was fantastic. If you go , try the oysters- we had the Alaskan and Washington - and they were great (Alaskan were my favorite)

Everything was good except for the Asado Argentino for 2 $90+...the grilled skirt steak and short ribs was waaaaay too salty I mean loaded with salt my husband and I couldn’t eat it. Before I asked our server to box it up I asked if that’s how it’s usually prepared, our server said she’ll have the chef taste it but didn’t say anything. So, I guess yes. It also came with blood sausage that we ended up throwing away when we got home. Waste of money.

I'm not happy, a restaurant that won't sit me until everyone arrives puts me in a bad mood right off. The beef was delicious and done perfectly. The Manhattan was sweet even though I asked for a little less vermouth. It was noisy. Our server was professional but friendly, and knew the menu. I have warm memories because of the people I was with. Although the beef was delicious, I'm not sure it merited the price.

Went here at the advice of a chef client of mine. We were very happily pleased. They had a well organized and well run operation that carefully guided people through their menu. They had plenty of meat and vegetarian. Options. The fried potatoes in horseradish cream are singularly wonderful. The meat came cooked let our wishes and their wines well well priced. We left with plenty of boxes of food. Ordered but not eaten.

I don't like to wait for a table and the wait was to be an hour. A lounge owned by the restaurant next door made the wait go very quickly. We were able to order a great beer and an appetizer. The pistachio nuts are outstanding. We were seated at the bar for dinner where it was a little warm from their fire oven. However, it was great entertainment watching the food being prepared and asking questions of the cooks. It was recommended by the waiter that we share the dishes because there portions are rather large. The brisket was to die for and the carrots were the best I have ever had. Don't miss an opportunity to try this amazing restaurant.

I wanted this meal to be good, but I must admit it was a letdown. We arrived a 7pm, got seated at 8:30 in front of the oven. After a min and a newly acquired tan, we asked to be moved to a table. The waiter was friendly but very slow, drinks took over 15 mins to arrive. Apppatizers were 50-50 at best. Empanadas were dry and needed some kind of sauce. The spicy meat one was better than the corn one. The Chorizo was fantastic. The bone morrow Clam Chowder, was very tasty. The main courses consisted of sliced skirt steak and short ribs. The skirt steak came out cold. They took it back and reheated it bad move they should have have given us a new entree. It was basically a common London Broil thinly sliced. The short ribs we're overcooked and dry not much taste to them. After a three-hour plus ordeal we decided not to have dessert. Really not worth the wait.

It’s hard to put into words the experience here. Every dish pushes the limits of anything you thought possible. Beef tongue carpaccio to clam chowder to roasted carrots, the flavors will take you on a journey around the globe. I will return when in Portland again.

We've been here twice now, and I was worried we'd disappoint our friends who we had talked up the restaurant when we took them the second time--that it wouldn't live up to the incredible experience we had the first. I needn't have been concerned. From the moment we arrived we felt taken care of. Cocktails came out quickly (and were delicious, and inventive: I had the Ox Blood), the food was cooked to perfection and full of flavor, (radicchio salad, maple brined pork chop, short ribs, papas bravas, and the cassoulet, which was a surprise hit), and dessert was tasty, though probably not AS spectacular as everything else. I'd definitely go back.

I came here on a road trip for a "nice" meal ... it was much more than that. You know it's a popular place when you have to wait for a seat at the bar. I had a drink at the back bar and over a(n expensive) Johnnie Walker, asked the bartender what to order (PRO TIP!). "Chowder and the Flank Steak - no question." / "You're telling me to order clam chowder, in Portland, at a Argentinian steak restaurant?" / "Trust me." And so I did and so I will. One of the best soups I've ever had and the steak was as good as any backyard pa'riiii-jah. The local Oregon pinot was so good that I bought two bottles the next day (2015 Division-Villages Beton"! Oh, yeah, it's expensive - WHOOPS. But if you can't pamper yourself, who can (or will)??

Everything was wonderful about this meal until it took 30 minutes to be asked about dessert and another 15 minutes for the check. Must eat the rib eye! Also recommend scallops and risotto.

Overpriced, MEH food & presentation, riding on long-ago erputation. Claim first-come, first-seated not at all true. In 3 "tries" to get in, including arriving over an hour before opening and being 2nd on waitlist, we have yet to score seating on the main floor area, each time being put at an incredibly small table for 2 up a short flight of stairs in a very narrow claustrophobic hallway w/ poor views of the action on the floor. Told empty tables we were walked past were "for others" even though they claim not to reserve or set aside. Staff is condescending & arrogant. Seem to cater to known guests, and look the other way for newer guests. We spoke w/ others who experienced same treatment. That said, I give them credit for good drinks from the bar! We will not give this place 4th visit for sure.

We had a magnificent evening. The much touted clam chowder was truly fantastic. It may very well be the best thing I have eaten... to date! See our picture! The restaurant decor & athmosphere is a fresh cut above, a fun environment to be in. The apps & sides were our favorite. The protiens were great, but the well-worth-it richness of the clam chowder was center stage. Our Son thoroughly enjoyed his cocktails while we had a nice Tempranillo. The ambience was ideally suited for just that. What a great evening!

My wife and I learned about Ox some time ago but their location never coincided with where we were until recently. We stopped by for dinner to sample a variety of their offerings. My wife had reservations for us for 5 p.m. when they opened, so we were seated immediately. I had a view of their grill from my seat, which was a treat to watch. My wife had already selected some items to try so we placed our orders relatively quickly. We started with their poblano and grilled corn empanadas, then moved on to the spicy braised tripe and octopus. The empanadas were good, but the tripe and octopus was well beyond what we expected. For our main entrees, we ordered the grass-fed Uruguayan beef rib eye, the heirloom tomatos salad, and the sauteed mushrooms. While the rib eye was prepared perfectly with a delicious wood smoke flavor on the outside, the salad and mushrooms actually surprised and pleased us even more with their unique and new experience for us. Ox is definitely a higher-end restaurant, and the service was appropriately top-notch, including a nice surprise of small individual servings of a cream of mushroom soup with a dab of chili oil on top for a nice spicy bite. We will definitely return when the occasion arises!

If you like meat you need to meet here. First visit and I was amazed at moment I arrived. You are immediately hit with smell of meat being grilled on an open flame. Luckily, for me, I was able to be seated within ten minutes of arrival. Later on that night that wait was easily stretching to 1 and 1/2 hours. I ordered Asado Argentino for two and component was outstanding. My only disappointment is that I don't live in Portland so I could h a have the chance to try everything on the menu. My OX was gored, but in a good way.

How could this be number 71? We arrived only 2 days after OX won Best NW chef from James Beard, and there was much evidence on why OX is the place to beat. We took in the advice of our server and the chef on the dishes to have, and the delivery was sublime. Eating at the bar in front of the grand grill was an experience in itself as we chatted with the team. Carrots were a revelation, and the meat itself was perfect. No reservations for groups smaller than 6, so come and enjoy the bar as you wait for an experience in meat eating that you can have no where else.

In town for a conference and the bartender at Teardrop Lounge recommended Ox. The meal was wonderful. It started with our waiter who was attentive and knew the menu very well. We started with the roasted sweet potato empanada. It was big enough for all three of us to get a nibble. It was delicious. For our entrees we ordered the rib eye, pork chop and scallops, waiter recommended, and so glad he did. All were amazing and cooked to perfection. Sides included Brussels sprouts and the radicchio salad. I have to be honest I am not a fan of radicchio, but this salad was the bomb. The table was silent while we were eating. We wanted wine with dinner and the restaurant has their own wine they sell by the carafe. Again another great choice by the waiter. It accompanied the meal perfectly. Wanted to try a dessert but we were stuffed. The waiter insisted we share the absinthe root beer float. So glad we did because it rounded the meal out entirely. I am already looking forward to attending the conference next year to revisit Ox.

We ended up getting the sharing meat plate and a bunch of veggies. The meat plate was hit (skirt steak, sweatbreads) and misses (blood sausage and chorizo and short rib (too dry). But the carrots and squash and brussel sprouts were amazing. we went on a wednesday night got to the bar at 4:30 for a drink the was seated right at 5. During the week you could probably show at 5 and be fine. Nice wine list and excellent service. Their cranberry sorbet with white magic sauce was excellent as was their chocolate mint cake. If you are smart just get the small plates and you will be quite satisfied.

During our previous Portland trip we caught lunch at Ox Box — the choripan-serving outdoor grill Ox operates in its parking lot during the summer months — and loved it. So this trip we wanted to try Ox. Ox does not take reservations, so we decided to arrive relatively early (6:15p) on a weeknight and, gratefully, were seated straight away. We approached the meal “family-style,” which is to say we just shared everything, the better to sample more items. We started with a spiced beef empanada with diced green olives and raisins, which was quite good — flavorful without being spicy. Our next course was a Dungeness crab bruschetta, which was the “surf” to an otherwise “turf”-favoring meal; cool and refreshing, and so particularly good mid-summer. Our entree was the 12 oz. Uruguayan ribeye, which we paired with an a la carte roasted cauliflower with golden raisin vinaigrette, mint, and sesame seeds. The cauliflower was quite good, due in no small part to the vinaigrette. Of all the dishes we ordered, it was surprising — and a little disappointing — that the ribeye was the weakest link, but it was. We ordered our ribeye cooked “medium” and it came more like “medium rare”; worse yet, it had quite a lot of fat on it. We elected to order dessert after the ribeye proved less filling than anticipated and the tres leches cake (served with Marionberry ice cream & meringue) was a nice end to the meal. Ideally we would be able to rate Ox 3.5 stars, but we’ll round up since the overall experience was fairly good. We would probably be willing to return.

We arrived at 5:40 on a Friday evening and were told that they had just filled the restaurant and we the wait would be approximately 2 hours for a table for 2. Seeing 4 open spaces at the bar by the grill I mentioned that we had just driven a long way and we would be happy to sit anywhere, she replied that the wait included bar seating. We went next door to the lounge that was almost empty and ordered a drink. We were urged to buy food maybe after 20 minutes which we did not do knowing it would be a large meal. Surprisingly our text to sit at the restaurant came shortly afterward and we were seated at 2 of the open seats at the bar by the grill I had seen open when we put our name down. After being seated we had amazing service, and even though most people might not like sitting at the counter when you are paying so much, we really enjoyed the interaction with the grill masters and other patrons. The food was delicious, but I don't think we will be heading back.

Down sides: Bistro style, tables are quite close together. If you're at all a big person, you'll want to sit on the dining room side (movable chair) rather than the wall side (a long padded bench), or you'll have to ask other people to move their tables or excuse yourself while you move yours. I'm not a huge person, but I am overweight, and I still had to ooze apologetically between the tables. For this reason, I'm not sure it would be a good place for people in wheelchairs. I've never seen anyone in a wheelchair there. And the only restrooms are a step up from the dining room--no ramp. It's a pain in the tookus to get to, since it's on MKL Jr. Blvd where it's one way. We had to go through a maze of twisty little passages to get there, and then you wind up at an intersection right across the street--but you have to wait for a hole in the traffic to cross over to the other side. There is off-street parking. One thing I don't like about Portland in general is that most restaurants serve room temperature water, which seems like a cruel joke when the temperatures are 90-100 degrees F. But that's what you get at Ox and many other restaurants. They only serve dinner. A gastronomic expert I am not, but we've been visiting Portland for 4 years, and Ox is just as wonderful every time. They still don't take reservations for parties of fewer than 6 diners, and this was the first time we got there at 4:30 and there was only one person ahead of us on the list. We went to the bar next door and had an appetizer and drinks (I highly recommend the Pillow Fight cocktail). This visit, we had the cocoa braised lamb and the skirt steak (small order) for entrees, and salad and appetizers with so many ingredients I forget now what they were, but they were awesome! One was baked mushrooms and ricotta, and that was excellent. Service at Ox is just right--attentive, but leisurely. We were there almost 2 hours. They'll give you all the bread you want, and usually bring out a tiny cup of the most wonderful soup. The waitstaff are knowledgeable about all of the menu items, including the beers and wines. We are light eaters, so for the three of us, we ordered two appetizers, one salad, two entrees, one dessert, and we shared everything. It was the perfect amount--I felt quite full when I left, and there were no leftovers. It's fairly pricey--$169 for the three of us, including tax but not the tip. But everything was so good, and it's our daughter's favorite restaurant, so we always visit once whenever we're in Portland (about 3x/year).

Really enjoyed the concept of this place with the wood fire oven being so central and influencing all your sences. Our server was very knowledgable and was able to walk us around the menu and answer any questions we had but did seem to leave us hanging a few times between courses or not offering us second drinks. Other than that a marvellous and unique experience.

Our daughter found this restaurant and treated us. The food was AMAZING! My husband, who is more cautious in his praise, declared it was one of the top three meals he's had; believe me, we eat out a lot, so this was high praise.

When you roll in at 10:54pm at a restaurant that closes at 11pm, and they happily seat you? You know the joint has got the right service bones. We actually left a John Mayer concert before the encore so we could score some late night grub. That is where our priorities lay. Ok, still busy till the last turn. Wood pit fire with sparking embers. Real tea candles, smoke essence permeates the air. Local oysters crisp and clean. Smoked clam chowder with bone marrow? Winna, winna, marrow Dinna! Although we just ate the marrow and did not melt it into the soup as instructed. Why waste yummy umami goodness? Wine list with a hoard of South American vines. Malbec is king here. Mains was lead off by the roasted artichoke . Salty finger licking happiness. Anytime a chef puts whole roasted chokes on a menu you know he/she cares. Add the mushrooms/spinach with melted foie gras madness for the filler side dish. As it was just a late family snack we opted for a 10oz ribeye, medium rare with a char. We were next to the broiler so we could see the chef raise and lower the grate to technically make this happen. Heaven on a hoof. Being the last customers we wanted to return the hospitality of the service team and opted for no dessert. They had places to go and we had a bed calling us. We were satiated. The Ox hit the spot.

My fiance and I came here for our anniversary since we have heard great things. I am happy we came right before they opened at 5pm because somehow all seats were already taken and we were offered a 45 minute wait or to be seated at one of the bars in front of the meat grill station. We took the bar seats, which was fun to see the cooks/chefs cook the meat right in front of you in this cool looking grill area. Everyone there was so attentive and friendly. Everyone seemed to be concerned if you were doing well. I believe our server was Jordana? She was amazing and made our visit that much more memorable. She made us feel very comfortable and had a great smile and demeanor. Our food came out pretty fast and all were delicious. Only dish we didn't care too much for was the Heirloom Hominy, Braised Pork Belly, Favas, Chiles, Cilantro, Olive Oil-Fried Duck Egg. Other than that we loved the complimentary bread and cream of mushroom soup. Other dishes we ordered were the clam chowder with bone marrow, that was probably one of our favorites! So much flavor and totally shareable between two people. We got the corn empanadas that was oozing with cheese, the chorizo, and the russet potatoes that came with this horseradish sauce I loved. Everything was good sized portions to be shared, which we love family style dining. For drinks we both got the Stardust: Rye Whiskey, Smoked Orange, Bitters, Cherry. It was a bold drink and I loved it. The smoked orange really enhanced the drink to another level. They were also not stingy on the alcohol there. Although I was super full, after seeing the dessert menu, I just had to and ate almost all of it by myself. I ordered the TORTE Warm Hazelnut Brown Butter Torte, Honey-Chamomile Ice Cream,* Honeycomb Candy. It was all good together. My favorite component was the honeycomb candy. We definitely left full and satisfied and have been recommending Ox to our friends and family. Can't wait to come back again. Only tip is come early! Or be prepared to possibly wait. I think those that wait may grab a beverage next door that I saw.

We went on Wednesday night. Got there around 4pm were greeted by very friendly hostess even though restaurant not open yet She reserved us a table for 5pm seating and suggested we wait in adjacent Oyster Bar. We had nice drinks there and were able to take cocktails with us to our table. We were pleasantly greeted by staff, charming waitress, everything thing was great. Food, hot, hanger steak delicious, trout melted in your mouth. Potato’s done perfect, vegetables also wonderful. We enjoyed our dinner so much had no room for dessert but hope to next time

Started with appetizers the beef tar-tare was great. Went to real meat next. They know how to make it well. Plan on sharing. It's a meat place with a few vegies.

Delicious food, wonderful friendly service...we LOVED our dinner and saved some leftovers for snacks! Patio ambiance very pleasant and calm.

WOW! They don't take many reservations and you're wait could be long, but it's well worth it. My steak was prepared perfectly. The side dishes were all wonderful. The service was really good too.

Waited about 1.5 hours to get in on a Friday night because they won't take reservations for groups under 6 people. Spent a chunk drinking at the bar in the back, waiting. Once we got seated, we loved the space, and our server was terrific. Definitely a lovely setting, and the wine list was terrific. Two of us had the braised lamb, but didn't love it. Another had the scallops and rated it only fair. Fourth had the pork chop and liked it a lot. Ordered the beets with onions side, and honestly, it was onions with beet garnish. Overall, we felt disappointed by the food. We really wanted to love this place.

Ox is an energetic place with friendly and excellent service staff. Steak is supreme here; our small portion rib eye was grilled to perfection and was large enough for two to share. Appetizers were excellent; sides were just average. Wine list was also excellent with a selection of Argentinian, French, Italian and Spanish wines. Great little bar behind the place while you wait for a table at this popular place: reservations only for parties of six or more.

So I booked this in advance as we were only hear for one evening and it was Valentine's Day. They did have a preset menu for the occasion. Oh my god we were not let down. The food and service were truly amazing. Lots of chefs additions to start which were great. The lobster chowder for starters were gorgeous. Then the beef was cooked to perfection and was the best meal we have had in the states. I cannot recommend this restaurant high enough. We were so pleased with everything. Don't get me wrong it was expensive but was worth every penny.

Great, Great Dinner... Get there early and pre-function next door after leaving your name at the restaurant. Like 4:00 pm for a 5:00 dinner. We ahd thre goat cheese thingy, which is delicious. For dinner meat. Don't be afraid to order rare. We started with both empanadas the meat and the veggie versions---the veggie rose above the fray. Dinner, meat, all versions add to your sanity and we had three sides; Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage and Cauliflower and all three are a taste delight. Then there was desert...A bejeweled crown on an otherwise regal experience. We had the two types of cake,one chocolate and one not. Too tasty for me to describe, just save room. A little over a hundred per the three of us each, but well worth it. Get in there NOW!

This restaurant is a rare find and has an amazing and diverse menu, a super cool vibe, and is a must visit in Portland.

I heard an OPB story about new cool Portland restaurants. OX was featured. The story caught my interest so off I went to OX... I won't return. Was seated at a rectangle table too large for an intimate conversation. The one page menu was given to me on a HUGE clipboard. WTF am I supposed to do with that!?! I removed the menu and had to put the clipboard under my chair. That got critical stairs from two servers. There was no room to put it anywhere else. Food.. . The Argentine food had a German flair. The smoked tongue was excessively salty. The bread was great but the butter served had additional salt added. The excessively added salt literally burnt my tongue. Don't think I'm some snowflake vegan. I'm the guy who drinks Tabasco from the bottle when nobody's looking. So if it is too salty for me good luck. My guess is the cook is a 2 pack a day Spirit cigarette smoker. There were maybe 20 other customers all over 50 and pretty stiff. Over all impression: Meh.. I won't return.

Ox continually blows my mind on the level of food AND service they provide! I went with a few friends to celebrate my birthday. The staff is so friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating, from the bar and the main dining room. You must get there early and get your name on the list as the space is small and it fills up fast. Truly one of the best restaurants in Portland!

This is a small establishment up in Elliot north of the Lloyd District. The ambiance is warm and comfortable with a tight but not unappealing layout. When we arrived we didn't have a full party and were told they only seated full parties and were asked to go to the next door bar while we wait (or in our case to retrieve out other party members). Not sure why they operate this way but I couldn't help but notice that two ladies were seated next to us at a table for four and were met by two gentlemen 20 minutes later. So this appears to be a selective process - not sure. We were seated, took a bit to order, but that was our own fault. We first ordered a bottle of wine which came quickly after which we ordered our meals and sparkling water for the table. The fellow that kept the water glasses full was careful to remove our still water glasses" and the waiter replaced them with sparkling water glasses so no mistakes could be made but then my companion who had a glass of whiskey had it "topped off" with water - whoops! At least the waiter replaced that but asked "how much was left in the glass"? Really? Just get the man another whiskey. That was odd. As we waited for our food to arrive they waiter brought around a small loaf of bread but it wasn't even cut. This meant each of us hacking through this loaf as it passed around the table. The effort to slice the loafs couldn't have been that much I thought. After waiting for an hour - yes, about an hour, the food finally arrived. The steak was done very well but unfortunately it was cool. The side dishes (broccolini, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and potatoes were all uninspiring. Maybe this is a personal thing but when I order a vegetable I want to taste the vegetable. Sure, a bit of olive oil, flavor (spices) are fine but these vegetables had been worked over to the point they no longer resembeled the

So. Good. Fantastic service. Great wine list chock full of reasonably priced wines. We had the Lan Gran Reserve 2010 Rioja. Followed by the Marquis de Legarda Rioja 2005. Fantastic and re immense by our server. Starters were great. Complimentary little cream of mushroom soups with smoked paprika oil were perfect for the amuse bouche and we ordered the bruschetta with crab, cucumber and avocado. Highly recommend. Mains we stuck with straight-up meat. Ribeye cooked to medium rare+ perfection. Skirt steak cut into medallions. Lamb shoulder. All seasoned perfectly. Asparagus with crab and remalade and cold smoked spaghetti squash were perfect sides They were awesomely accommodating for a our dairy allergy. The only wrinkle we had was on check in. The wait was about an hour and they have a bar next door to wait it out. Awesome idea but keep your phone in front of you cause if you don’t respond within 10 minutes of their text your tackle is released. I was distracted and missed it by 4 minutes and we had to wait another 30 minutes 🙄. Seems silly someone doesn’t check with you, given it’s all part of the same place. Just Go. It’s really really good!

food was good but very expensive and the restaurant is small for the business so it's very time consuming. No domestic beer.

Delicious empanadas, chorizo, skirt steak, and carrots. Lamb was over cooked. Good wine selection. Excellent service. A bit pricey and over-hyped but still great for a special occasion.

I knew it was tough to get in here; I visited on my own a few years ago and sat at the bar RIGHT BY THE FIRE. It was July and in the middle of a rare Portland heatwave too. Totally worth it. On a vacation with a friend I basically TOLD her we're getting there on a weekday no more than an hour after they open. Still had to wait in the bar next door for a bit and got the last two seats at the bar inside. Again, totally worth it. Meat, wine, great cocktails and a little exceptional service makes the pain in the neck logistics go away.

Look, I'm sure the food is amazing, but I'll never know beyond our starter. Never got the chance to eat our meal and will never go again. My wife, who rarely wears heals, tripped on the step leading up to the back room as we were being seated. The manager judged that misstep as intoxication and made the decision not to serve my wife any of the expensive wine we brought to celebrate her birthday. My wife had a glass of cava and a glass of red wine in the 1.5 hours that we waited for our table. I honestly don't know if that is considered intoxication, but I know my wife, and I know she was not intoxicated. And I know that doesn't matter, only the manager's judgment of visible intoxication matters. I'm not here to rant aimlessly. I just read the OLCC's 50 Signs of Visible Intoxication. And my wife probably violated 20 of them, and so did I, and so did every single person sitting in that restaurant. But not every person sitting in that restaurant was cut off and asked to leave. I know the law is properly set up to disincentivize the food service industry from over serving. And rightfully so. And it must be incredibly difficult to make the judgment on visible signs of intoxication. I'm here to say that the manager tonight completely FAILED in their judgment. I don't know if the manager was just trying to be a cowboy, is inexperienced, or is poorly trained, or what, but I strongly suggest it gets fixed. What really made it all worse was the passive aggressive way in which the manager handled the situation at the dinner table. I could write a whole separate review on that. Our party got ourselves kicked out because we were all infuriated with the misjudgment and how the manager handled the situation. Needless to say, there are way too many good restaurants in Portland to ever give Ox a second chance. Oh and also, our quoted 45 minute wait was actually 95 minutes ,for what it's worth. And lastly they took the two $250 bottles of wine we brought (for 4 people), AWAY from our table when they said they would open and decant them. I'm not in the industry, but I'm almost positive that is a major No-No to take a patron's personal wine away from the table to open. Did they actually bring back the wine we brought? Normally I would never question that from a restaurant of this reputation. But after the amateur judgment and management of a difficult situation, I'm left unsure until I try the wine tomorrow.

What a way to ring in the NYE..I've been wanting to come here for years...if you are waiting for a table you just wait at their bar that's adjacent and they'll come get you...small, intimate and homely ..worth every dime

The food and the service are very well executed. It almost overcomes some shortcomings that make me reluctant to return. The restaurant only takes reservations for six or more. Why? This is a high end restaurant with high prices. It doesn’t make sense not to take reservations. Our wait at 5 pm was an hour and a half. We waited in the Ox bar next door that is a converted garage. Curious that the door opens inward rather than outward making it an obstacle to exit in the event of a fire. We noticed similar obstructions at the main entrance. It would be hard to evacuate a full restaurant in the event of an emergency. After we were seated, the dining experience was first class. Waters were frequently refilled without asking. Our meals came out promptly and were delicious. I had sea scallops on a bed of Dungeness crab risotto. The scallops were prepared perfectly but I failed to detect any crab in the risotto. My wife enjoyed braised lamb shoulder. It was so tender it almost fell off the bone. Brussels sprouts and cauliflower were prepared in a manner that one could have almost enjoyed them as an entree. If Ox starts to accept reservations, I will return.

Make sure you make a reservation, if not... expect to go elsewhere! Is it worth it? Yes & Ok. If you like a true pate de foie gras, this is it! They have it mastered.. After living in France for many years, to find the quality and taste of this pate was instant first class mind travel! As for their the charcoal grilled meats and other menu items, some interesting items, good selection of wines, service good as to be expected, decore charming, hostess rude.

I was in Portland on business from Chicago and my host said " I want to take you somewhere special". He definitely delivered on that statement. Started the meal with an assortment of fresh oysters. Many choices for salads prior to the entrée. The selection in preparation of various meats was outstanding. Ordered the homemade chorizo and skirt steak. The restaurant had a small and intimate decor. If possible try to sit at the chef's table right in front of the grill were all the cooking is done.

We have been to Ox a few times and never left disappointed. We love the family style servings, the quality of the mea AND the vegetables, friendliness of the staff. It's a pretty busy place, make sure you make reservations even if you are only two (2). If you arrive early don't miss going to Ox's Oyster bar while waiting for your table.

My first review of Ox was a well-deserved "terrible" rating. While the food was excellent, the wait - 3.5 hours - was ridiculous. However, the manager compensated us with a $50 gift certificate and an additional course. Since then, my son and I have eaten at Ox again with a minimal wait (which for Ox, means about 1.5 hours). It was delicious again. However...Whey (the onsite bar) is actually my favorite and has become a must-do anytime I visit my son in Portland. Their fresh oysters are the best around, and their ancho chili cocktail is the perfect pairing with the oysters. Customer service has definitely improved since my first review and I'm happy it has!

Ox is a wonderful restaurant, crowded even on a Sunday evening. Lots of seating choices, excellent food, innovative drinks = a good evening.

Although the wait was long, the food and service made it all worthwhile! I ordered the cheese and grilled corn empanadas and they were so good I could just get three of those. Our table also ordered the beef version and those were superb as well. As a starter, I had the clam chowder and while the chowder could have been thicker ( personal preference I guess) the flavor was good and the bone marrow was sensational. My mother and I both got the grilled halibut and it was phenomenal. It was served with flowers of some kind ( or flowering herbs) and with loads of olive oil.

Our group was very pleased with our experience at OX. The food was delicious and the service good. This is not just a dinner, it’s a dining experience.

I came to Ox for their clam chowder, which Willamette Week brands as one of Portland's 12 "Food Wonders." I've eaten a lot of chowder over the years but never had it served with clams in the shell and with a piece of bone split to expose its marrow. The results were delicious. Very tasty. I also ordered some meaty beef ribs served with Argentenian chimichurri sauce. They were spectacular and the sauce was superb. A couple seated next to me at the bar struck up a conversation and shared some of their food with me. The chorizo sausage was excellent while the blood Morcilla sausage is an acquired taste. The staff was friendly and attentive. While a bit spendy, Ox is perfect for a special occasion or when you want to splurge. Great place.

Better than any review could state; we've been many steak houses east and west coast, Ox is by far the best, sorry Maestros, Morton's et all. From the first presentation of the famous bone morrow served with clams and chowder, I instantly ordered another. We ordered the 16 oz Ribeye, it came cut diagonally exposing and excellent Med rare steak to die for. I could go on but you'll just have to try it yourself. This is a busy place that doesn't take reservations for less than 6, so here's my 2nd best tip on getting into a place easily (best was secret access to the Louvre in Paris without waiting.) Go to Ox at 4pm, put your name in at the bar, go down the street to the big Nike outlet, buy stuff. Come back at 4:30, go to their little garage bar full of fresh shellfish and have your first Grenache (France,) you'll want more with dinner. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as we did. It could be the main reason you visit Portland! Even the mushroom side was prepared and taste different and better than the best elsewhere!

The staff was beyond rude. A dark haired lady with slash red lips sneered when we came in. To top it off, the food was horrible and COLD. Never again.

Our extended family of nine loves to eat, and Ox may have been our favorite meal on a long weekend in Portland. The chimichurri sauce is outstanding. The group ordered several different cuts of meat, and loved everything we ordered, along with several delicious veggie side dishes. For appetizers, we ordered the coal-fired artichoke and baked ricotta and enjoyed both dishes. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu.

Amazing, you need to bring someone since everything is family style.The server suggested two dishes that are good for solo diners. Scallops were awesome. Excellent atmosphere, will be back, but with company. Solo business trips can be limiting.Lol

We sat at the chef's counter and got to watch them cook over the wood fire. The food was excellent and well-prepared. It's expensive but great for a special occasion .

Ox was chosen as our location for dinner. It was very good even for a vegetarian. Great service lots of interesting foods to choose from.

We visited Ox on a Monday evening. The place was full but our wait was less than 15 minutes. There is a bar our back where you can have drinks and snacks while you wait The menu is all a la cart. Prepare yourself for a bit of sticker stock. The recommendation seems to be one side per person. Small vegetable sides are about $10 and large about $22. Then the cost of the mains or protein is additional. The food is great with many of the side dishes containing many ingredients It's an experience to go there Just be prepared to pay $75 and up per person to dine here

Had a great evening at OX for a nine person dinner. Service and food both exceptional!! The staff treated us like we were family visiting. Food and cocktails hit the spot! The side dishes are fanatic and too many to try. We should not have waited this long to go. Great way to end our visit to Portland!! Howard B.

I have been wanting to go here for a while, and have had to skip because of the long wait on the last 2 times I have tried to go. So on my latest trip we got Mom and Pops to meet us at Ox and we were committed to the wait (1.5 hrs this time and we had drinks). First know that they don't do reservations. The bar tender was polite funny and was able to serve able to get us some oysters and shrimp chiveche along with some drinks while we waited. The 3 types of oysters had great differences between them but were shucked poorly with the shell being in in them. Again service was good! When we were set, we ordered the Asado Argenitino for 2 to try a little bit of everything. It was all good - even the sausages were really well done. The problem was that nothing was WOW. I wanted to want to come back here over a Brazil Grill or a steak house and nothing we had was just better. It was all good. The service was better then a steak house and a Brazil grill. They were very on top of water refill, table checks, wine decant, and keeping the table clean. The service was seamless and professional. The service had a wow factor to it. The dessert was the only thing that had a Wow - the blueberry buckle was tasty but the cream cheese semifreddo was so good! I could see cream cheese semifreddo have multiple applications on many desserts. I was a Wow finish.

We had 3 couples (6 people) so we were able to set a reservation which made getting in a bit easier. We had waited about 2 years to try Ox, and it didn't disappoint. The food was fantastic. With the size of our group, we were able to try a large variety of the menu and share. Each item was prepared exceptionally. I had the ribeye which compared well to the top Parillos in Buenos Aires. Service was professional and very friendly. Our servers did a great job of answering questions and providing suggestions. My only very minor suggestion is to add a bit of a lighter side to the menu. It tends to shade to the heavier salty side. This may have just been our choices, but they all hit a similar flavor profile. I would highly recommend trying Ox. Since wait times tend to be longer in Portland's most popular restaurants, I suggest you gather a larger party and get a reservation. It's worth the effort!

Ox's claim to fame is its beef, but they have a wide variety of dishes, including some vegetarian options. I'm not sure if they have any vegan dishes. Everything we've had there has been very good, from the fresh bread and complimentary demitasse of soup to the desserts. You order dishes to share; each one feeds two people comfortably, though if you're a big eater, you might need to order more. We are not big eaters and found that two entrees and two sides were more than enough for three people. It's rather pricey, but you get what you pay for. Dinner for us three ran about $150 before tip and not including any alcohol or coffee. It's set up sort of bistro style inside: tables for 2 or 4 set fairly close together. Relatively noisy, but not too bad. It's right on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, and the windows look out on the wide sidewalk and the street. There is no outdoor seating. The service is well-paced and the waitstaff are knowledgeable about the dishes and what wines or beers would go well with each. Ox is open 7 days a week. They only serve dinner, and they do not take reservations for parties with fewer than 6 people. And they are very popular, so if you want to get a seat, you need to show up by 4:30 to get your name on the list for the first seating. They open at 5pm, and if you show up at 5pm, you may have up to an hour's wait. There's a small bar in the same building where you can get a drink and a snack while you wait. There's outdoor seating there, which is nice in good weather. Our experience has been that it takes about an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and a half if you get in at 5pm. By 6:30, there's a 2-hour wait. By 7pm, they're turning people away. We've only been in the summer, so I'm not sure if it's as crowded at other times of year.

This is the 3rd time we've made a trek down here from Seattle. The chowder is the best we've ever enjoyed. The steak was perfect as was the service.

Reasons to go to Ox: Great HUNKS of meat. Interesting cocktails. Friendly bartenders. Excellent list of Argentine and other South American wines. Did I mention great HUNKS of meat? This trip we had the lamb heart salad, morcilla and grass-fed Uruguayan steak. Yum! Be prepared to wait - no reservations, but their bar next door is a good place to pass time.

This was most definitely my favorite and memorable dining experience ever! 1st off, they have a lovely "waiting for your table" Bar next door that has a Fresh Oyster Bar and Wonderful Bar Menu with Appetizers. In the Main Restaurant, the Decor and Ambiance is beautiful and I felt so comfortable there. The Staff was very Nice, Fun and Friendly. The Drink List was Incredible and so Diverse. The Cuisine was Absolutely Outstanding, Eclectic, Mouthwatering and Unbelievably Utterly Divine. The variety of flavors and ingredients were a massive combination that I have never experienced before. We had the Cured Salmon Poke, Oysters on the 1/2 Shell w/ an amazing Variety of Sauce's, Grilled Green Beans with Dungeness Crab, Sauteed Mushrooms w/ Foie Gras & Spinach and then came the THE most insanely Yummy Desserts on the planet......Hazelnut Torte w/ Honey Chamomile Ice Cream and the Chocolate Olive Oil Cake w/ Bourbon Ice Cream and Pecans. I have not ever left a Restaurant feeling this Satiated in my life!! They have an amazing Cook Book from the two Chef/Owners which I can't wait to try everything in it!! I wish I were visiting for a longer period of time as I would have been there every night! A definite must for Locals and Visitors.

After reading the reviews we had to try this place. I hate fine dining restaurants that don't accept reservations. That's pure lazy and very inconvenient for the guest/customer. I love local beers and there selection was weak. For an appetizer we ordered the chorizo sausage. It did not have much taste and could have been way hotter. We ordered the mushroom dish and it was average. For main course we had a rib eye steak and the scallops. It was a crime what they did to the scallops. They were fried to a hard tasteless meal. The rib eye was seasoned and cooked great but I prefer to not get my steak sliced.

My colleague and I brought a client here and had a great dining experience. When you walk in,it low lighting with the wood burning grill set the tone and from there it only gets better!! The staff were very attentive and full of great recommendations. We started with Oysters on the half shell and moved onto scallops, skirt steak, Brussel Sprouts and several other great dishes. Can’t wait to come back!!

I celebrated my brother’s 50th birthday here with our mom and his wife. The whole team was very friendly, warm and accommodating with setting up a few last minute surprises. Jen, our server was very thorough, explaining the efficient process of ordering and being very attentive to our needs throughout the night. Great service as she really made us feel at home and welcome. We were sitting at a grill table(highly recommend), which we had our doubts about at first, but within minutes of sitting down - the showmanship of the grill masters and the camaraderie of the row, quickly warmed us over. The food was incredible starting with the kitchen sampling of soup to the appetizer(crab bruschetta) to salad(Little gem and radicchio- huge portion) to the entree(Beef skirt steak - so tender and super tasty even without the chimichurri sauce). The vantage point of the grill tables was surprisingly entertaining and fun. Seeing the grill masters work with all the different types of meat and seafood, gave me increased respect for their profession. Doing all that they do under the heat of the grill and be socially engaging was especially impressive to me and it made for a wonderful time. We will definitely be back as soon as we can. Great food, ambiance and service! Well done. Thank you to your incredible staff, especially Jen and manager/maitre ‘d(NY transplant who jokingly advised me to never apologize for wanting things to be perfect- sorry can’t remember your name) - T. Martin

Food was very very good. Started off with the chowder and ricotta plate. Main dishes were ribeye, pork chop and chorizo. The ribeye was a home run. Sides were cauliflowers, brussel sprouts and potatoes. All dishes were very intense in the flavoring and sauces. Our dessert selection was the pear buckle and bourbon ice cream. This was a wonderful way to close out our night! Service was spot on and very knowledgeable. As other have said, the seating is a bit close and thus a bit noisy. Diners kept coming well into the late evening. But this is definitely a place for a return visit.

Ox came highly recommended and it lived up to our expectations. Had to wait a little for table to be readied but having drinks outside on patio was relaxing and wonderful place to unwind. Such a great eclectic menu. We let the waitress help us select a number of offerings (including some of her favorites) and just shared between the 4 of us. Great choice!! I think the pork was my favorite but it was all delicious. Pretty rich in flavor and a true culinary experience! Great place for foodies.

Visited the Ox restaurant on Monday night. Arrived shortly after 5 pm. It is a busy restaurant, recommend early arrival if possible. Chowder for appetizer was very good. As ado Argentino for two was the main course. It consisted of chorizo, blood sausage, short ribs and flank steak. It was an excellent combination of meats, nicely prepared, with great taste. Service was very knowledgeable, friendly, helpful with suggestions and attentive throughout the meal. Best dinner in Portland by far with Andina, Little Bird and Troutini being the restaurants in the comparison. Highly recommend, not inexpensive. Based on lunch at Veritable Quandary I would expect they would be close in a dinner comparison.

Loved the beef and preparation, but was blown away by the surprise asparagus soup that was a special, not on the menu. Reservations are tough.

I ate here on a Friday evening, part of a group of 10 college friends in town for a girls weekend. We stayed at an Airbnb and mainly cooked together but wanted to have ONE night out for an upscale meal. Ox did NOT disappoint. Due to the size of our group, our meal was pre-planned and served family style. I'm so glad we did it this way as opposed to ordering off the menu. We got to try so many different things and everything was interesting and delicious. The atmosphere was cozy but chic and trendy as well. The servers were knowledgable, attentive (but not in an annoying way) and friendly. Can not say enough good things about this place. Oh yes - and we took home tons of left overs (steak and veggie dishes mainly) and made a fantastic egg scramble in the morning with all that scrumptiousness. Would go again in a heart beat.

Visited with a larger family group. Not always the easiest to serve, I'll give them that. A birthday celebration, so we started off with raw oysters and a bottle of Muscadet. Oysters were perfect, but the wine was warm. So, they put it in an ice bath and forgot about us. Finally had to grab the semi-chilled wine off the counter as the oysters were nearly gone (the whole point of pairing Muscadet). OK, on to the mains and sides. Just OK. Don't expect the quality, quantity or serving temp you'd find in a genuine Argentinian parella. While Pok Pok knocks off Asian street cuisine skillfully, this is a pale shadow of the real deal.

Exposed brick, right level of lighting, had the ribeye which was wonderful. Great flavor and very tender. Service was excellent. I would go here again.

Whenever we are in Portland my other half always wants to go to Andina; I love it, but I was ready for a change. After a bit of research I found Ox. It was a wonderful dinning experience. Excellent service. We sampled the Smoked Beef Tongue, Spicy Braised Tripe and Octopus, Clam Chowder with Smoked Bone Marrow, Lamb Shoulder Chop, and an assortment of sides. Everything was extremely tasty! My faves were the Chowder (a must have); I think i wold fly to OR just to eat that again and the tongue. The sides were pretty spectacular as well, the endive salad was beautiful and tasty! And ladies, you must have the “Let them Eat Cake” cocktail.

Four of us shared all of the plates which can be done easily, with the possible exception of the clam chowder which would be better for 2. However we over-ordered to be able to try more of the sides so had more than enough food. We also had the baked ricotta with mushrooms and the foie gras terrine with pear--our favorite dish of the night. Shared the mixed grill platter (plenty of meat for 4) with its excellent sausages and sweetbread. The blood sausage was the best I've ever eaten. From the garden side we had the pan roasted cabbage with chestnut cream and duck jus (wonderful) and the hominy with pork belly which was good but didn't really fit with the rest of the meal. The only real disappointment of the meal was the scallops with Dungeness crab risotto which was noticeably salty and lacked the creaminess of a great risotto. Kudos to the wonderful wait staff who give suggestions when asked and who clearly explain the components of each dish without the slightest hint of condescension sometimes present in fine dining establishments. Can't wait to go back and feast on the side dishes which are the real stars.

We were here for dinner with friends, and the visit was a first for either of us to this establishment. We got there at 4:40 pm (they do not take reservations unless you are a large party) prior to the first seating, and still had to wait 40 minutes to be seated. Note: get their early, and even though they are 'closed,' go to the door to get your name on the list!!! We waited at a small and cramped bar next door for our table to be ready. Our party enjoyed drinks as well as oysters from Alaska and ceviche which were both excellent. My wife and I ordered the Asado Argentino so we could sample a wide variety. The skirt steak was phenomenal! The short ribs were good also. The two sausages were a bit disappointing - the house chorizo was flavorful, but dry....the morcilla sausage was grainy/gritty and dry. Our company had the grass fed ribeye which was absolutely amazing and the short ribs which were very good. For appetizers, we ordered the grilled cauliflower, the fried russet potatoes as well as enjoying the house bread with garlic aioli. All were very good, but the bread and aioli were incredible. A bit pricey, but very nice for a good occasion.

We LOVED this place! It was listed on Eater, and as newcomers to Portland we decided to give it a shot. I'm so glad we did. The Argentine food mixed with a creative flair made for the perfect meal for us. Portions are served family style, so don't dine alone and come hungry. We had the crab bruschetta to start, the skirt steak and then two of the side dishes. The wine and cocktail list is perfect and the casual decor inside makes it a great spot for a casual meal out. They don't take reservations, but there's a small bar right next door that's owned by the same people, so you can put your name in, have a drink and wait to be called. They also have small plates available at the bar next door to get you started. Highly recommend!

Argentinian inspired restaurant serving up some really tasty dishes on the grill. Loved the Blood Sausages and the Skirt Steak and the Lamb Chops. My wife had the Braised octopus which I tried and must say was delicious also.

We went, we savored, we liked, and we can't wait to go back. We had been wanting to visit this restaurant for a long time, and finally met the objective. It did not disappoint. We were lucky enough to sit right next to where the meals are prepared, watched the professionalism of the chefs, and the food (beef!) was fantastic. Service was attentive and personal, menu is limited to what they do best, and it is a terrific place for a great meal.

Wonderful restaurant, much to chose from ,try the 42ounce rib steak for a few people plus marvelous sides. We let the waitstaff lead us through the menu and all of their recommendations were spot on. This is someplace I look forward to visiting again!

Our rating: 4.2 out of 5. The Service was EXCELLENT - 5 — and it’s why I didn’t rate it a 3. Food was not bad, but nothing exceptional, about 3.9. The skirt steak was the best — tender, but already cooling. Ribs were too fat. Roasted potatoes not crispy, nor specially tasty. The Tongue was tasty & interesting in a good way, but salad, sautéed spinach w/mushrooms were just good enough-nothing to remember or order again. Beef empanada was with raisins— too sweet. Malbec ($135 a bottle) was good, yet we had much better for less. The place is VERY loud. You have to raise your voice to talk. Portions are big, so we brought home some leftovers

This place just gave me the best meal I've had in Portland and that's no bull$hit!! You can choose a few a la carte main courses or you can get all the meals to share. We started with the Ox tail terrine with frozen peas which was friggin incredible. The other starter we had was the Dungeness crab bruschetta which is subtle and delicious. Mains we had were the skirt stake... yes skirt stake and if you put the chimy churro sauce that came with the bread it's frogging heaven. The other main was the maple brined pork chop. Holy pig that was good!! Desert was the sorbet as well as the hazelnut torte with house made honeycomb. FFS!! Talk about incredible. Seriously people this food was good. The place is small so it's busy weekends and ha sit wait 45 minutes for a table at 6:30 pm on a Friday night. But there is a bar next door to hang out in which is also as cute as hell!!! Do your self a favour and sample this restaurant!

Started with very high quality drinks that we had to order several of, followed by a jaw dropping starter that was on special. We ordered the Asado Argentino and upgraded one of the sides. Was a little too much food but that’s a good problem to have. Great staff. Would return.

About an hour and half wait on Saturday night, the Whey Bar attached behind made it a little easier. It's not a real big place and the grill was fun to watch. We tried the cauliflower salad, excellent (there are several salads that looked great), house made chorizo, superb, and the scallop risotto which was perfect. Only disappointment were the short ribs, very tough and fatty. Deserts are very good as well.

This is truly one of the best meals you’ll have. Sure, it’s on the more expensive side, but I cannot recommend this place enough. The staff member who served us was fantastic. The wine list is great. The share plate was excellent and the clam chowder was amazing. Just go.

Amazing restaurant, service was so helpful and friendly. So many delicious items on menu. It was difficult to choose. Server recommended family style sides and individual entrees. Totally a la carte. I had pork chop which was so tender and delicious. My husband had the skirt steak which was also delicious. Loved the Brussels sprouts, potatoes, carrots and mushroom sides! Large portions! No room for dessert! Wish this place was out in Delaware our home state!!!

This place was within walking distnce of my son’s and will be a routine now on all my visits to Portland. Very friendly staff and pleasant atmosphere. I love watching the large fire in the grill, almost as much as enjoying the flavor it adds to almost everything. We had five ppl and all the meats dishes were superb. The sides we shared were cooked perfectly and very interesting mixture of flavors and ingredients. A great place to eat in Portland. I highly recommend it.

We were there for a couple's dinner. Good meat selection and cocktail/wine selection. Would recommend to friends.

drinks were excellent. the gin drink was buttery and amazing. Beef tongue was delicious. The eggplant was phenomenal. endive salad was solid. Ribeye steak. life changing. Blood sausage was pretty good. go here!

We dropped in with another couple for dinner. Weather was typical Portland light rain. We were seated immediately. The wait staff was friendly and accommodating. They were always one step ahead of anything we would have asked for. They were knowledgeable about the menu and portion sizes, as well as the wine list. The house wine was blended specifically for the food entrees and paired nicely. And the house wine was very good. They started with what looked like tiny mushroom soup cups but the thick soup was extremely rich and creamy and delightful. The butter leaf salad was fresh and tasty. I had the braised pork and my wife had the lamb. Both were cooked to perfection, Both were excellent cuts of meat. We had a pie waiting for us at home so we did not try desert. This was the best meal we had during our stay in Portland.

Our friends and us decided to start a dinner club and this was our first restaurant. We ordered multiple appetizers and entrees and we all tried everything. Our waitress was amazing and we listened to all of her advice. We had a meal and experience to remember!!!

We made in person reservations for dinner later in the evening. Staff was all polite and knowledgeable. Great ambience and noise level was just our type. We're the type always up for anything, we have an eclectic taste. We loved our experience. Since we weren't really that hungry we ordered a list of appetizers and they were all wonderful. The cocktails were all well made. Our favorite drink was "Ox blood" (bourbon and beet syrup), it may be selective taste but we just loved it. We will return for sure (next time we'll be more hungry to order the main dishes). All in all, we enjoyed our visit.

My wife and I were treated to a dinner at OX a couple of weeks ago. There were 10 of us so a lot of different food items were ordered family style. And it was delicious. We had two kinds of steak and the rib steak was so flavorful and tender. It was the best steak I've had in a long time. The trout was also one of the best I have had. We had several starters that were also excellent.One of the starter were some excellent raw oysters. Great dinner.

Typical Portland old-style brick-walled restaurant with a huge wood fired grill at the center and two skillful cooks shuffling the meat right in front of your eyes. We ordered Ox blood and Amores Perros cocktails recommended by our server, their famous smoked beef tongue and grilled artichokes as the starters. Both of the cocktails were interesting. Really enjoyed a complimentary cup of mushroom soup. Main courses came with 12-oz Roseate Rib Eye from Uruguay and 8-oz Skirt steak paired with a glass of Malbec and another glass of Cabsav. We finished with a Coffee Corrected cocktail made up of Angostura 5 yr rum with coffee infused pisco and ouzo as the last taste for dessert. The main courses of steak were excellent. The beef tongue was great and would have been even better if it had been by itself without all the distracting stuff piled on top. The red wines served cold reduced our enjoyment with the food. I am a big fan of cracked pepper and I was not sure if I made myself clear but when asked the waiter gave us a little bowl of ground pepper instead bringing in a pepper mill. Overall we enjoyed our meal very much and recommend this place.

First off, we were told you must get there at least an hour before they open to get your name in for a table. So we did that and got our name in for a table at 5pm. There's a little bar in the back that you can wait at till your table is ready. So 5pm rolled around and we went in for our reservation but they wouldn't seat us because our 3rd person wasn't there yet. They never told us that when we made our reservation for 3 when we first got there. So they made us go back to the bar outside and wait for our 3rd person, while our table sat empty waiting for us. He arrived just before 5:30 and then they sat us. The food was good, but way too expensive and the hostess was not nice at all. Glad we tried the place out, but it's too snooty of a place to ever return to again.

Don't let the title of this review mislead you, because the food was definitely the highlight of the night. And what do people go to restaurants for? To experience something that they most likely can't create themselves at home. My friend called in that night when we decided on where to go and asked if we could get reservations for 4. They said they don't do reservations during service time, which is fine, we decided to give it a try anyways. When we arrived at the restaurant, we held the door open as our friends entered behind us and the hostess presented herself, by telling us to close the door. We told her we didn't have reservations and asked what the wait would be. She offered us the four seats that were available at the bar, but we said we would be fine with waiting. The hostess said it was a long wait, which she already said, so I asked again, "how long of a wait should we expect?" Without looking at her computer or anything said an hour or longer. Which again, we didn't mind. They have a bar next door, so we said we would wait there until they called our number. As soon as we got situated at the bar next door, and started catching up, I received a text saying the table was ready. So we walked back over. They lead us to the back room, which is literally a long, narrow room and we sat next to an emergency exit in the back. I don't know what I was picturing when I read about this place, but this wasn't it. The front room is much more inviting, so when making a reservation, I would request sitting there. Our server came out and greeted us, more like a mumble of just asking us what we were drinking. I was seeing a pattern in the wait staff that we had so far dealt with and tried to ignore it. My friend handed over the bottles of wine we brought with us for dinner and asked that one of them go on ice. Warm bread with butter and chimichurri was brought out for us all to munch on, while we decided on what to order from the menu. I had taken a peak at the menu before and remembered that I was most interested in ordering the Asado Argentino for 2! This way you get to try 5 different meats that they have, it comes with fried potatoes and a salad as well. And why not over order a little? Enjoy it! So we also ordered the baked house ricotta, with mushroom confit to share with the table. Our friends also ordered the Asado for 2, then something they had heard wonderful rumors about, they decided to order the fresh clam chowder with bone marrow- and the server agreed that this is definitely a favorite for people. Then they also asked for the soup with pork belly. Before ordering the server did let us know that everything was served family style. But at restaurants like these, we figured we would see smaller portions and hey, who doesn't love some leftovers? I wish she did tell us however, that the Asado for 2, easily could have been for 4 if you just want to share around and get sides like we did. We had plenty to take home with us. The chorizo, flank steak and short ribs were delicious! I hadn't ever had sweetbreads, so it was the perfect size to give it a try and luckily I have a boyfriend that will devour everything in sight- which he did. I had to fight him off for the fried potatoes when I realized almost all of them were gone! The salad was light, perfectly dressed and it was nice to have something like that on the table when you are surrounded by breads, meat and potatoes. The chowder which I took a few scoops of was very nice. Presentation of it was beautiful and the second soup that we ordered was a little more up my alley, spice wise! Overall it was a nice experience. I thought it would be somewhere I raved about, but it's not one of the top meals of my life, like I had expected. For an out of towner, coming to experience Portland- like my friends were, I'd say this is a good place to go. But our one let down of the night was the interactions we had with the staff.

We walked in Sunday 5pm, was able to get seating for 4 at 5:45. Had wine at the bar next door. We shared 2 appetizers, the rib eye, lamb shank, halibut,marrow, prawns. All fantastic. Med rare on the steak was perfect. A butternut squash and foie gras little samplers showed up, not sure who ordered those but maybe we were drooling so much, they just sent them over. Our waitress was good about explaining the portions and sharing was best because each dish was so rich! Dessert was the best raspberry white chocolate sorbet, perfect to cut all that richness. My goodness, send me here before i die!

This place is buzzing and is very popular. Loved the Argentinian style steakhouse. Love the meat dishes here as well as the smoked bone marrow clam chowder. Excellent service and good atmosphere.

We loved this place. We were there on a Thursday night and it was packed. The cocktails were delicious. They delivered a complimentary cauliflower soup that was wonderful. We tried many menu items and loved them all. My daughter enjoyed the chowder with bone marrow. The empanada was very flavorful. We had planned a light dinner, but ended up ordering extra items because we wanted to try more of their offerings. Will go back.

You mean to tell me there is a 2.5 hour wait 2 hours before closing. BS....they didn't want to serve us. Very pretentious place

This restaurant was recommended to us by one of the staff at a winery we visited earlier in the day. It was a fantastic choice. We are from the midwest where good beef and pork are the "kings". I might need to rethink that. The OX is "Argentine inspired" and focuses on the meat. The ribeye I had was perhaps the best I've ever had; likewise for my wife with their phenomenal maple brined pork loin chop. We also had the fried Brussels sprouts (also excellent) and the most unusual clam chowder with a smoked marrow bone. Gentlemen next to us had one of the empanadas also looked really good.

Trendy Portland foodie paradise. Food and extreme service compete with each other for top billing. Long waits and no reservations for less than 6. Parking is sparse. Drinks while you wait next door. Inside is rough, but clean and quiet. I recommend family style eating. Dunkel beer is great.

Six members of my family had a delightful dinner. Argentine themed restaurant but with many updates of traditional dishes. Had Two different types of empanadas for appetizers was well as a dish with tripe and octopus. Very tasty and freshly prepared. Main dishes were ribeye steaks, skirt steaks, and scallops. I tried them all and loved the ribeye. Tender to the point that a knife was not needed. Side dishes included grilled brussel sprouts and another potato dish with cream sauce. Desserts were sorbet, chocolate cake, and hazelnut torte. No complaints. Great attentive service. A class place. About $60 per person with drinks. Not a great place for small children or vegetarians but they do have many vegetarian side dishes.

We enjoyed an excellent dinner-- grilled ruby trout and grilled local lamb shoulder chop-- cooked perfectly. The endive salad with pear and chorizo was delicious as was the crusty bread with chimichurri. We also loved the dessert we ordered -- brown butter hazelnut tart with honey camomile ice cream and honey comb candy. The service was excellent.

Brought extended family here for dinner. Simply amazing - from the wine to the wonderfully innovative appetizers, to the main course. You can't go wrong here.

This restaurant is fantastic. A must go in Portland. Had the wood fired trout, oyster mushrooms, spaghetti squash with goat cheese, skirt steak and braised tripe and octopus. Everything was wonderful and the wine list is very good. Argentinean food in the PNW

Our party of six really enjoyed our dining experience at Ox restaurant. The appetizers and the sides were very unique and delicious. The steak choices make it hard to pick, but no one at our table was disappointed in what was chosen. The American ribeye and the Uruguayan ribeye were excellent. The service was top notch. The desserts choices were also unique, but it would be difficult to find room for dessert after eating such a filling meal.

The place is crowded. We didn't make reservation in advance but still manage to get the counter seats at the counter. Food were delicious, steak is a bit under my expectation but still not bad. We would returned again if we have a chance and recommend to others.

Loved the steak and bone marrow clam chowder. Such great flavors! Waiter made great recommendations. Would definitely go again if I’m ever in town.

We showed up right at 5 pm and were seated within 30 minutes on a Friday night. While we waited we had drinks and the freshest tastiest oysters I've had since I've been in Portland. My wife and I shared the Asado meal for two. It was fantastic and I highly recommend it for those in the mood for steak and sausage. At $75 it was a great value too. It came with a great green salad simply dressed with oil and vinegar and avocado pieces and the crunchy golden potatoes topped with a horseradish creamy dressing. (Maybe a tad too much of the dressing) The meat comes off the grill all at once and includes Morcilla (blood sausage) and Chorizo. Both were full of flavor. The Morcilla was particularly delicious with bits of nuts and spices mixed in. It also came with perfectly cooked (meaning not very) flank steak that was tender and moist and well-seasoned. Two short ribs that were good but short ribs are always better braised. And sweetbreads that were also delicious just the right amount of fatty and just a little gamey. All washed down with a Malbec of course. This was a great meal and reminded me of being in Buenos Aires. The service was outstanding. I'll be going back for more next time I'm in Portland.

We enjoyed our visit to Ox. They do not take reservations but start a wait list at 4 pm. GO EARLY! We arrived a little before 5 PM on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend and had approximately an hour wait for a table of two. We expected a wait, so we did not mind and happily enjoyed cocktails at Whey Bar which is their bar next door. We were seated at the chef's counter, and we loved watching the chefs grill tons and tons of meat. Since we were first timers, we ordered the Asadao Argentino platter that is for 2 people. It included steak, sweetbreads, short ribs, two types of sausage, salad, and potatoes. You could easily split this between 3 or 4 people. We also tried an empanada to start which was great. This meal reminded me of meals I have had in Argentina, and I really enjoyed it. However, if you aren't a red meat fan, probably skip it.

Celebrated my son in laws birthday. It was fantastic. The clam chowder is a must. I had the best Halibut dinner I have ever tasted. The men raved about their steaks. Only one in our party was not real excited about the scallops. It is spend but well worth it. The wine list is on the high price side but we brought our own special bottle. $50 corkage fee for a Magnum but felt that was reasonable. Service was great.