The Fishwife Restaurant Reviews

Totally great spot for really fresh saeafood in a homey spot. The waitresses were super friendly there's lots of specials every night it's definitely worth a try

Poor quality cod used in the fish & chips. Frozen, dry & tough! In.house breading didn't help. Might be the poorest fish I have eaten. On a,brighter note, the chips and the shrimp louis were very good. pend 3 ot 4 dollars mote and enjoy fresh fish & chips somewhere ejse!

If you want to eat the best seafood in Portland, then go here. If you want an expensive, pretentious seafood dining experience, then go somewhere else. The food here is truly fresh & delicious, and the staff is professional and helpful.

We needed to find a place to eat not too far from University of Portland and were delighted with The Fishwife. Four of us started by sharing the fried calamari which was delicious - the lemon vinaigrette accompaniment made a nice change from the usual aioli. Main courses were equally good - two in our party raved about their smoked salmon/alfredo sauce linguini, Another had the day's special - a well prepared rockfish. My own selection - the seafood linguini (perfectly prepared shrimp and scallops) in a white wine/olive oil sauce - was equally good. Decor isn't much although there are some nice old photos on the wall I will happily go there agin on our next trip to Portland

Food was fresh and very tasty. 5 of ate and drank for $180. Well done Wives!!! We will be back for sure.

We went to the spot on our first visit to Portland. It's a neighbourhood restaurant, unassuming to the extend that it was a little hard to find. Many local customers, friendly service and the atmosphere is down to earth and cosy. I loved the seafood combo and it was fun to try the shooter.

Fishwife is consistently good and uses high quality ingredients. We love this neighborhood restaurant. Braised chicken/mashed potatoes and veggies were yummy - please make the veggie portion larger. Staff are awesome and very attentive.

Judging from the crowd, and some of the reviews, we thought we'd hit the jackpot. Wrong. Yes, it's a throwback decor, quite loud but interesting. So what was wrong? 1 - wine. Served in juice glass (okay, throwback, I get it) but both that we ordered had spoiled. 2) Salmon. At $26 you expect a good piece of fish. Was overcooked, dry, and barely edible. 3) Cioppino. Very little seafood in it - some cod, bay shrimp, but no crab we could find. Had potatoes and other fillers. Some of the pasta dishes we saw looked good.....and the salad was fresh and good...but we won't bother going back.

We had ordered a Scallop Fettucini, salad and clam chowder to go right before Christmas. Everything seemed to be fine until we heated everything up to eat when we got home. On my wifes 2nd or 3rd bite of the chowder she pulled a 2 inch by 3 inch piece of plastic wrap out of the chowder. Needless to say it was not a good thing.When you pay $55 plus tip for a meal it should be right. I think it would be proper to comp the next meal for your customer and to understand that mistakes happen. We tossed the dinner so that maybe we wouldnt find anything else foreign in the rest of the meal. We have been customers of the Fishwife for 10+ years and this situation could have been handled appropriately by the owners. But that was not the case after I took the plastic to the manager 2 days later( we dont live in the area) I was told to call the owner, which I did. The owner said that the manager was the owner and that all she could offer would be 1 cup of the plastic chowder. Wtf?? Then for some reason she had to tell me all the woes of the buisness and how they were barely getting by with such a small profit. I dont care. Really??? For 20 bucks a pop you throw in a half dozen small scallops on some noodles and you are complaining about profit margin to your customers? Anyway if your looking for a seafood restaurant in Portland there are plenty that have good food, good customer service and no plastic clam chowder

The looks of the restaurant fits the location (north Portland). Beyond that, this is quite a find ... good service offering very good sea food in a retro 1950's decor. The prices here are comparable to fancier restaurants; 20 per person, depending on what you order. Still, I do like the feel of this place and the little touches on how the meal are prepared.

We stumbled on this restaurant by accident. It was a great surprise. We’ve eaten a lot of seafood the last few days and wanted one last taste. The halibut dinner was great, and the oysters were lightly grilled to perfection. Wine selections were good and prices very reasonable. The restaurant was very busy on Saturday evening, but the service was friendly and attentive. The Marion berry cobbler was amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant. Great end to our visit to the Pacific Northwest.

Always made the effort to drive here before. But it is slipping. The food was always excellent for last few visits. Not this time. The oysters were sad, small and no flavor. Almost like out of a can. So disappointed. Oh well. Will have to find another place now. Sadly.

Dinner was superb! Great menu from Salmon, Scallops, Seafood Fettucini, great clam chowder, ice cold salads and wonderful "oyster shooters!" There were 5 of us and Erin (waitress) was delightful, cordial and very kind to my 94 year old mother. Recommended highly.

Yum yum yum...tried multiple appetizers including smoked trout pate, calamari, and butterflied shrimp. The butternut squash rice was the best rice that I have ever tasted. The fish and chips were light and tasty. The chef is incredible. A definite favorite!

I was at the Blue Diamond, and a guy recommended this place, but the BD is better and cheaper and has blues music too! The breading was just ok and the fish seemed a bit heavy or maybe I wasn't hungry enough? I would like to try some of their other dishes, but not sure when I will be back here.

A night out with the girls. Got there early enough to not be crowded. We ordered a variety of seafood dishes and enjoyed each one. The green salads came on chilled plates, a wonderful touch. Will return again.

Stumbled across this place kind of by accident and what a fabulous surprise! From the outside, there is nothing to write home about. However once you are inside you are treated to a funky casual dining room with amazingly dedicated staff serving up scratch made everything from salad dressings to sauces to cocktails and deserts. If you enjoy all types of seafood this is the place for you! I will be going back next time I am in town!

Awesome seafood for really affordable prices. You'll spend $15, maybe, and leave very satisfied.

Looking for someplace to have dinner, ran across the TripAdvisor review for Fishwife. Between the existing reviews and the posted menu, we just had to give this place a shot. Heading down Lombard Street into a neighborhood that we would least expect to find this place in, we see the Fishwife sign over the restaurant. Walking through the doors into the restaurant, there is only 2 empty tables (which have to be cleared) and we are asked to wait for seating. This place is packed. Once at our table, service is quick and friendly. The menu is loaded with a variety of fish and seafood, beverages and desserts along with several daily specials that sound fantastic. The Mrs. opted for the Seafood Combo that was sauteed and grilled and I enjoyed the Halibut Bleu, both were fanastic. The food was prepared perfectly, service was spot on, prices were great and we left happy and full. Think we just found our favorite spot for seafood in Portland.

We were disappointed that they weren't open for lunch but well worth the wait for an early dinner. The setting was adorable and very clean. Yes, you still check the bathrooms to rate the cleanliness of their kitchen. I had their shrimp prawns, garlic mashed potatoes and (surprise, my fav) broccolini. The portion was very adequate for the price. My friend had fish and chips. I was impressed with the light breading and option to have the fries waffled. I certainly would make a trip back here again from across town. I should mention that the manager made frequent rounds, inquiring with customers, when it started getting busy.

We dined here based on the trip advisor reviews and it really was great. It is gourmet food in a hole in the wall setting. I had swordfish in a red pepper reduction with artichoke rice and broccolini and everything was incredible. My wife loved the salmon, too. I definitely recommend this place if you are more interested in the food than a fancy atmosphere.

My only complaint (other than long lines at dinner) is that they are closed Sunday and Monday when I'm often in town. Short of that the food is great, the drinks strong, and the staff friendly.

On our first dinner visit her, between the three of us we thoroughly enjoyed the clam chowder, halibut, pan grilled oysters, and salmon. All was fresh and properly seasoned. Sides were also excellent! Wish they had time to warm the good bread they serve!

Our favorite Portland, Or seafood restaurant. Reasonable prices for the food, but a limited menu. Chef's soups are usually GREAT, especially the vegetable soup. Ate there weekly while wife was doing radiation at a nearby hospital. We still drive the 30 miles to get there.

Not in the best area of town or in an upscale building but if you like good seafood and great desserts you have to give this place a try

We were staying at a VRBO and ended up seeing this restaurant a few blocks from the house. We were surprised as to the standards of the place. My husband had swordfish one night and marlin the 2nd - yup we went back again - it was so good. Their chowder was excellent as was the seafood platter. Great place and good prices for what you get. Service was excellent.

Not hard to reach on public transport, and friendly, down-to-earth service. Completely unpretentious but fabulously foodie in its own way. Wonderful wine, including local wineries, and fresh seafood.

Was looking for great seafood in Portland, not just good. We found Fishwife which was a little bit of a trek, but worth the drive. We tried the clam chowder, lots of clams and creamy, the sample plate was nicely battered and fried to perfection. Local beers to choose from. Overall nice place.

This place is a gem. Quiet, understated, simple. The food shines, the service excellent. We had the seafood combo, Cajun fish sandwich, and fish and chips. Will visit again!

From the outside, you may think to move on to a sleeker spot but you'd miss out on quite a treat! Everyone in our party was very satisfied with their orders. The fish was fresh and cooked to perfection. Definitely a place to go to for good seafood at a lower cost!

A friend and I were in Portland for a road trip and found the Fishwife reviews to be pretty decent so gave it a try. We were so glad we did because the seafood here is fantastic. We both had the sampler plate and it was really GOOD! Fresh seafood with just the right amount of seasoning, not too salty, not too buttery, just right. This place is nothing fancy but the service is really good and the food is great. You can tell the restaurant's been here for a while because of the decor but those are the types of places I like to visit, a local favorite!

Great.....taste, service, cleanliness, and price. Relatively accessible with major crossroads. Looking forward to going back. Also a full bar.

Atmosphere was fun, service was good, it is packed most nights so be aware of that. Our food was great, good mix of classic seafood choices and some more sophisticated dishes. Definitely going to be a regular stop for us.

The outside doesn't look like much, the inside is not much more than an over-done fish camp (as we would call it on the east coast) but the food was excellent. Seared salmon cooked just right -- melted in my mouth! Also, while they don't have a gluten free menu, they are gluten-aware, and even fry french fries in a separate frier so you can be sure they have not come in contact with wheat. You probably won't win over that critical client with their ambiance, but if you like good fish you can't go wrong here! Good job, fishwife!

We love The Fishwife. The food and the staff are both amazing. There's a lot of talk about "Old Portland" vs. "New Portland." This is "Real Portland." We have dined here more than a dozen times, and were fairly regular "take-out" customers during the pandemic. We've had the same menu items at super fancy restaurants (Mahi-Mahi over polenta, for example), and found the dish served at The Fishwife to be better, and much more wallet-friendly. Eat here. Tip big. Keep them around!

Quaint small town place. Great service and seriously the best clam chowder ever! The prices were great and it may not look like much on the outside, but it was a great start to our trip.

I have eaten here multiple times over the past 3 years. The fresh salmon and halibut are OUTSTANDING.The atmosphere is casual and unassuming. And the restaurant is always clean. The wait staff are friendly, prompt and give great advice on menu items. If you go here get the fresh fish, not the deep fried food. You won't be disappointed.

It was probably the best salmon of my life, along with heiloom tomatoes and other local fresh ingredients. All of the food was excellent! The restaurant seems to serve locals, near Porland U. and was not a tourist place at all, also a little hard to find. Not fancy, but clean and interesting, it was small, very reasonably priced, and very casual.

This was a no-nonsense restaurant with friendly staff , fresh fish and wonderful desert. The side dishes were no afterthought. The bread at the table was fresh baked. The coleslaw was crunchy and with just the right amount of seasoning without overpowering the vegetables. The garlic rice had a nice touch of thyme. The salty-honey cheesecake was amazing. We are definitely going back.

We were looking for a good fish house in Portland and came upon this rather undiscript resturant on N Lombard. Not much to look at but the delites are hidden inside! Waitstaff were friendly and typical Portland courteous and attentive. I had a variety of fish and chips and everything was great plenty to eat with a salad and fries. They did have choices as to the sides! Prices were moderate but worth what you paid for. The fish was lightly battered not so much as to loose the taste of the fish. The menu and a good variety of choices to eat and also a good variety of local beers. I would definity recommend it for a relaxing tasty experience.

This is a great neighborhood spot whose food far exceeds "storefront" expectations. There is enough variety - fried, blackened, braised etc. - to suit any palate but the quality of the fish and preparation are excellent. The wait staff is friendly and efficient. The restaurant was full but our large group was handled in a timely fashion. Don't miss the outstanding cioppino. Great for families and a testimony to neighborhood excellence. Prices are great so the value is excellent. We will be back.

I was surprised that I hadn't reviewed this restaurant already, as it is one of my favorites. My husband treated me to dinner last night and I remain a loyal customer. I had a glass of their yummy Sangria, a generous glass with fresh blueberries. Next I indulged in two oyster shooters, chef's choice at $2 each. Very nice. I chose the green salad, but many around us had the cole slaw, so it must be good, I'm just not a cole slaw fan. For my main course I had the Fishwife Dinner combo. Sautéed. A couple of large shrimp and a few scallops in a garlic sauce, two lightly breaded oysters, a slice of grilled fish and garlic potatoes (which I enjoyed dipping into the garlic sauce). The grilled zucchini was perfectly done. I have to admit I cleaned my plate. My husband enjoyed the catch of the day, Blue Marlin. He was very, very happy with his meal as well. The service is always great. Nice bread and butter is brought out with the drinks. We arrived at 6 PM with plenty of seating on a Saturday night, but it was full by the time we left. Nice to see the same chef there year after year.

We had heard that they had a blue cheese halibut dish that was as decadent as could be. That is an understatement, just like the ambiance. It's a small hole in the wall dive with old diner tables and hokey plastic fish on the wall. However, the salmon mousse, when they have it, is simply spectacular. The Blue Cheese Halibut dish is as good if not better than described. It is extremely rich. Grad a bottle of local beer, enjoy the food and just relax in this super casual environment.

We went to Fishwife based on Yelp reviews. We were tired from shopping at Woodburn Outlet Mall and were driving back to Seattle so we wanted to eat before it got too late. It was not too hard to find, the direction was "across Shell station" and there it was. Good food, quick service, friendly staff, reasonable prices. We drove home full and happy.

Not what we expected. Seafood was below average and the menu was weak.

Wife and I both love seafood and we wanted a nice, casual meal after attending the Boy’s high school basketball playoff games at the Chiles Center. We are not all that familiar with the area so we found the restaurant listed on Trip Advisor. We liked the casual, unpretentious atmosphere of this place and the service was first rate. We each ordered a couple oyster shooters, followed by meals of grilled oysters (with waffle fries and coleslaw) and their combination seafood basket (grilled oysters and cod, with small scallops and shrimp sautéed). Had to finish things off with a dessert of blueberry crumble ala mode. Seafood was all very fresh and, again, service was excellent. If you’re looking for fresh, well prepared seafood in a casual, not fancy, setting Fishwife is a great reasonably priced option.

We wanted to find a seafood restaurant fairly close to our hotel, and this one sounded good. We were delighted to find that it was a cozy little place with tables from the 50's. The place has been in business for 26 years...and one of the customers looked like he had been coming to the restaurant from the beginning! There was an interesting menu - plus an additional flyer of special fresh fish offerings. My husband had the linguini alfredo with smoked salmon, & it was fabulous. I had the Fishwife seafood platter, & I was pleased that it was simply breaded, but not beer battered-which I feel is always greasy. The blue cheese salad dressing was exceptional & there was a nice variety of lettuce. Our waitress was very friendly and informative. I hope to have the opportunity to return to this restaurant someday soon!

After hearing raves from family members we came here for our 35th anniversary. It’s not fancy by any means, but we were simply looking for a great seafood dinner. We were not disappointed! The Calamari (appetizer) wasn’t rubbery as is often the case, but soft and scrumptious. Both the Scallops Linguine and Dungeness Crab Linguine were excellent and the portions large. We were graciously comped a slice of delicious Irish Cream cheese cake. It was a meal to remember and we’ve found our local place for a seafood fix!

Looked for place near UP before a game. Fine service, understood our timing. Excellent sauteed seafood linguine that far exceeded my expectations. This place is a find that I would definitely return to try more.

Good selection of fish, affordable pricing, and many options on cooking method (fried, grilled, poached, blackened). Staff is very nice and quick. Very casual, almost like a crab/clam shack on the beach. Seasoning on everything we ate was pretty basic - butter, salt, pepper. My salmon was a little overdone for my taste. Overall, we had decent, simple, inexpensive fish meals for dinner. Can't really complain about that!

Always a winner! Great food! Causal, but delicious food and get service. You want to try this place..you will love it!

Went on a crowded Friday night. The wait was short, everyone was friendly and even with a crowd the food was served relatively quickly and well prepared. I appreciated that, as the choice of appetizers was very limited, when I asked for something not on the menu I was immediately accommodated with no issue (and not gouged in price as some restaurants will). I was impressed and will return.

I live nearby and know the history of this restaurant, from the time it first opened to the place it is today. The original owner was one of the best chefs for seafood that you could ever hope for and packed his house most nights. At the top of its popularity it was sold and rather than maintain the high quality product the new owner tried to cut corners and its reputation suffered. Now we have the present owner who has recaptured not only the idea of high quality food but holds the price line at a fair level. The interior is still a step backwards to 1950 or so with formica topped tables with chrome edges and matching chairs. And, from the outside it still presents the same face to Lombard that it did when it first opened. I suspect some folks pass it on by without a second look, but that is fine with me as it remains a hidden jewel of N. Portland cuisine and still accessible to the neighbors and those of you that read these reviews. I doubt you will find, or order, a dish on the menu that will not totally please you. However, with that broad endorsement comes a couple of suggestions. The clam chowder has large pieces of clams so you can chew a bit on your chowder. I am a fan of dumping in lots of oyster crackers and this time I like the chowder so well I skipped the salt kick from the crackers - although they were served with the chowder and I didn't have to ask for them. (nice!) I prefer my chowder to be a bit thinner, and while very creamy and not filled with potatoes, this is a very thick version. My only complaint was with the greens served with the scallop dinner. They were literally covered in red pepper flakes and burned. A tiny bit of those goes a long way, so ask your server to omit them from your dinner. Also, order scallops on the dinner menu. If you order ala carte you get the small scallops (nickle sized) and the dinner serving is silver dollar sized scallops and about 7 of them. While it is a premier seafood restaurant, you can also order a hamburger, salads, and desserts. Thinking of fish for dinner tonight? Don't miss this restaurant, but save a table for the neighbors!

Make sure you check their hours as they are also closed on Mondays. The place is always full of repeat customers so that tells you something. Have stopped by a few times only to find a line to get in, so was happy on this stop to get a table right way. Everyone @ the table enjoyed their choices. The Oysters were both fresh & delicious. I only wish the bowl of clam chowder was a little larger & a with a touch of butter. The staff was friendly & prompt.

This place is close by the house and seres fresh and delicious food but at a high price. This is a family place so it is often crowded and loud with families with children. I got the poached salmon, potatoes and green beans - but the portion of veggies is always quite small and simply prepared kind of bland

My oysters were burnt on the bottom. The kitchen had a fit when I asked for better ones. My sons fish and chips were cold and soggy. The service was slow. Coleslaw was overpowered by mayo. Like eating a jar of it. The salad was ok, though unimaginative. About the only thing that was good were the fries. Prices are a bit high for what you get. We won’t return.

Amazing specials and seafood! An open bar for my friends, and an excellent wait staff and atmosphere!

Headed to the Fishwife late Saturday afternoon, place was busy and full. Very nice and cozy place with good atmosphere.. Food was OK, my fish was way way over cooked and same goes with the Asparagus came with it, way too salty for my taste.. But overall we had good time.

This place was awesome, I had clam chowder and a salad, every one else had a plated fish dinner, All plates were clean when we left. Lots of sides including coleslaw, garlic mashed potatoes, French fries and rice pilaf

Used Tripadvisor to again discover a hidden gem. Had the combo platter and everything on it was excellent. The oysters were perfectly fried, light batter. The sauté items were also very good. The service was excellent, the women working there were all tatted up like old day sailors, but I think that was just coincidence. We arrived about 5:00pm and the placed filled quickly, mostly families.

The cioppino was great -- oh, those tender, sweet scallops! -- and the staff very patient with all my questions. This is clearly a neighborhood landmark -- this was our first meal in town, just hours out of the airport, and the elderly lady at the neighboring table asked, "Haven't I seen you around the neighborhood?" Charming decor as well, with all the antique can labels and fishing calendars and such.

Simple menu, but good variety. Incredible clam chowder... the kind that makes your spoon stand up. Multiple preparations for your seafood of choice... fried, grilled, blackened. Home made salad dressings and desserts. I had my Alaskan cod grilled and paired it with a side salad... perfect. Highly recommend this place... don't pass it up based on the exterior... you'll be missing out.

A little off the beaten path but a terrific neighborhood seafood spot. Family friendly with good service and prices. I have had cioppino at many places and this is as good as it gets. Tasty broth, plenty of chopped vegetables and a nice variety of seafood. Local attractions are the University of Portland and the historic St. Johns bridge. If you cross the bridge, you're very close to Forest Park - the largest urban wilderness in the US and full of hiking, biking and running trails.

We shared Cod fish & chips which were fresh and good. Great col beer selection too. We can’t wait to hit this place again.

My husband and I had just flown into Portland and were starving. It was almost 3:30 in the afternoon, and having been told to wait at one 'toney' seafood house on Marina Drive (they did not open until 4, would not even offer us a glass of water while we waited), we decided to look further afield. I am so glad we did! We found The Fishwife, an unassuming storefront restaurant. Inside, we we treated to awesome beer, service and superbly cooked seafood. Oyster shooters, dinner salads, trout, seafood combo (lightly fried and not heavily battered) with a bread pudding ending was more than enough to sate our appetites. I am sorry that we do not live in the area so that I could come here regularly. The prices were very reasonable and the wait staff were friendly. I would recommend this eatery to everyone coming this way.

Wonderful fresh seafood and daily specials. Recommend the cioppino, very filling. Fresh bread from local bakery. Staff is very personable. Small place, always busy, but worth the wait.

We visited later in the evening and the service and food was great. They were not crowded, but there were a decent amount of customers for that time of the evening. The chowder was nice and not too floury. The fish and seafood was nicely cooked without too much breading. The waffle fries were well seasoned and cooked perfectly. The coleslaw was not too sweet and had a fresh flavor and good crunch. The portion sizes were larger than expected, but not too large. We both had the basket, not the dinner. Service was prompt, friendly and attentive. Prices were reasonable for the quality and quantity of food. The atmosphere is laid back and somewhat reminiscent of a beach cottage and old fish house. The bathroom was clean and tidy.

This spot is one of my brother-in-law's favorites. It has great seafood, specials that are really special, and a funky, kitschy atmosphere that I loved. Can recommend the cocktails, the oyster shooters, the ciopinno, and the sea scallops, but I've heard that everything here is great.

Pretty much bar food. Manager a dufus. Much better places than this dive. Manager on duty could care less about patrons

I rarely write reviews, but have to say it's a waste of your time, energy, & money. We were looking for a casual, family friendly atmosphere and quality food. There were six of us and we waited for over an hour and a half, milling around outside, not easy for two school age children or the adults. We handled the wait as we were looking forward to the meal as described by previous reviewers. However, once seated, our experience went downhill! The food was salty, they were not able to accommodate a request to leave steak sauce off the meat, and provided my husband with only 3 oz of fish when he ordered 6 oz, because that was all they had. They made no mention of the problem prior to serving the plate nor was there an option to order a different entree. The meals when served were mediocre, at best. They also do not have a minimally adequate wine list. To top it off, they charged us a 20% service charge for "serving" a family of 6, including two children!! I do not mind an automatic charge, however I resent being charged a superior rate for an evening with no redeeming features. This did not feel like a restaurant having an "off night". Every time the waitress walked by she routinely apologized with a "Sorry! Thank you for your patience!" In our experience, we would agree there's no effort or care for the patron. Skip this restaurant.

Good fresh fish choices plus a meat for the carnivores. Very casual. Some decent wines. Service was ok too. Don't go out of your way but a good local joint.

Good food freshly prepared. Atmosphere is a bit noisy when all tables are filled, we were there on a Friday night & didn't have to wait. The restaurant is small but prices were very reasonable for the quality of food.

Been here many times and always get great food and great service! I usually get the fish and chips but I’ve had the seafood linguine and the tiger prawns and everything seems to taste great here

Service is the best I have found for such a small restaurant, wait persons are friendly, fast, and always smiling. The best clam chowder (and the thickest) that we have had and we have gone to many seafood restaurants. The fish & chips can be poached, grilled, blackened or deep fried. Oh so yummy! They have deserts that are really good to (we don't have them very often as no more room left)

My husband and I chose this restaurant in part because of the great trip advisor reviews. Since I've usually agreed with the reviews, I have to wonder if this was an off night, with someone in the kitchen who was distracted or new. The good news is the place is charmingly funky and the servers are friendly, efficient, and responsive. Mike and I shared a main course that was the chef's special and highly recommended by the server. Why do I always fall for this? Sometimes the special is special and sometimes (often it seems) the special is a way to get rid of too much of something or in this case the invention of a cook that didn't work. Our first sign that something wasn't right in the kitchen came with the dinner salads. Mike's was romaine and carrots with beets and he said it was good. Mine consisted of endive, arugula, spinach, and frisée--the bitter greens and they were accompanied by an overly salty blue cheese dressing. Since we ordered the same salad I'm pretty sure someone scooped the greens from a pre-packaged mix (American salad for Mike and herb or wild greens for me). I know working with a fresh head of lettuce is more labor intensive but these salads could have been fresher and more consistent in quality. Mike's clam and shrimp chowder was good he said and the bread, including a whole grain choice, was excellent. I noticed that someone at the table next to us had ordered the special and it looked good. Grilled shrimp atop pasta, tomatoes and sausage. I was happy to see that the pesto sauce, which had been described as light and fresh, did not dominate the dish and I looked forward to our serving. I do think that if the menu doesn't specify the sausage is spicy, the server should mention it. Regardless, the sausage was not the real problem with our portion of the special, which was swimming in pesto. I like pesto but it's a strong flavor and a little goes a long way. There was so much sauce that I wonder if ours wasn't the portion at the bottom of the pot, where all the sauce collects. Again someone wasn't paying attention in the kitchen. The grilled prawns were perfectly cooked and apparently added at the end so they were relatively pesto-free. I think we would have been much happier if we'd ordered grilled shrimp and rice with coleslaw (no salad) and if we lived in portland we would try this restaurant again.

The Fishwife has been in the University Park area of Portland for a long while. It is not very large and can get very crowded. Be safe and make a reservation. We were there on a Tuesday evenig and the place was packed. The prices are a little on the high side, but seafood is getting more expensive. We were there talking twenty minutes past closing and noticed we were the only ones there. No one mentioned it to us. Very considerate.

One of my favorite fish restaurants in Portland. Great food and drink at reasonable prices. Away from downtown. Décor not fancy but the fish and service are wonderful. Clam chowder is the best around.

Is now a regular spot for lunchwhen in North Portlad. Friendly help consistently good food and good value for the money. They have the desire to please the customer rare in todays world especially in smaller restaurants had oysters last trip grille perfect and my guest had the cajun fish filet sandwich which they raved about. Do yourself a favor and stop by when your in the area

Awesome. Under the radar - thank goodness. Great fish - fresh - grilled, fried, battered, however you want it. Family owned and affordable.

This is a quaint little ( little!) Place in a neighborhood. Another great TripAdvisor find. It is not fancy, not large, has minimal parking...but MAN it has great seafood ! It is really good . The waitresses are a tatted bunch of friendly locals. Both times I've had the combo and loved it. Nothing like FRESH local seafood. You must go a little out of the way and try this great little place.

Dungeness crab alfredo with blackberry cobbler dessert were outstanding! Wish I lived closer. THIS is a reason to visit Portland.

Almost our last night in Portland. Took a Lyft. Took a chance on what the locals love. INCREDIBLE!! Duck was amazing. Pasta. Amazing. Staff... perfect. You’re welcome.

I was visiting with my sister and her family, and we stopped by at this favorite neighborhood restaurant for dinner. The food and service are excellent. It is noisy and lively and a lot of fun, with good fresh fish at reasonable prices.

I love this place, with good reason. Been going here for years--and the quality of the food just keeps improving. Talk about the hidden gem. This is the best cut diamond ever. Fish is super fresh, and seasoned to perfection. Had the marlin tonite and it was so good. Also did the dungeness crab louie. Lots of crab, housemade dressing. Yowza. Keep it up peeps, this place rocks. ADDED bonus, Tuesday is half price bottled wine nite--how can you go wrong. Don't go wrong, just go here!!!!!

After we read the reviews, we thought we would give this a try. This was a great place to enjoy some seafood! We got there when it wasn't too busy, but it filled up quickly. They have specials and their Sockeye Salmon was very tasty! The service was very friendly, but as it fills up, they have less time to assist. If you want to eat at a comfortable restaurant and eat some delicious food, this is worth a visit!

We selected this restaurant before attending an event at University of Portland based on the reviews. I found it very clean, organized, and the service staff friendly and attentive. However, the food was just average. My husband and I ordered the Seafood Combo. The scallops were very small, the cod (fish for fish and chips) was a square piece of fish that was barely brown; it looked like is was a pre-breaded and previously frozen. Overall the food was okay, but not outstanding.

Chose this place based on the number of very passionate Trip Advisor reviews. Fabulous meal for not a lot of $. From the sauces to the opportunity to season perfectly at every turn the chef and his staff didn't miss a beat. Everything cooked properly and the shrimp was NOT overcooked. Service was laid back and yet attentive at the same time. I could have been sitting in my Grandmother's kitchen. Clam Chowder, grilled halibut and cioppino all excellent. Heck they even served room temp butter w/ the bread, I could actually spread it. I highly recommend this place. You; in theory, should not be disappointed.

OMG! Fishwife Seafood combo was fresh, I personally recommend that! Side salad also amazingly fresh!