West Cafe Reviews

Met a friend there--was walking distance from Westin Hotel. There was live music, but most of the time we could still carry on a conversation. Service was good. I had a Portabelo Mushroom dish and it was phenomenal. My friend had pulled pork wrapped in banana leaves and he couldn't say enough good things about the dish. We had bread pudding for dessert and it was OK. Would have been helpful to have more sauce on it. Will certainly go back there next time we are in town.

Was in town for a family gathering, this place was reserved for the group. That said my experience will be slightly askew, though simply knowing this can be reserved on Sunday night may be of interest to many. There was a simple dinner selection, chicken on pilaf rice or vegetarian lasagna. I tried both, though my main meal was the veg lasagna. Delicious! Very satisfying, a nice blend of sauce and veg variety. The dessert was an assortment of cookies and chocolates, a nice treat though not worth the price. Be more selective with the dessert choice and this place will be a solid A for food and environment.

Located a few blocks away from the crowded restaurant area on the west side of town, this place is a gem. Comfortable decor and seating. Adjoining bar with leather seating area and fireplace. Servers are attentive and knowledgeable. Chef creates amazingly fresh and tasty dishes. I wasn't there for Sunday brunch but I've heard it is wonderful.

The food was delicious, unique twists on old favorites. Very nice atmosphere and excellent service. Will go again.

We enjoyed our dinner at West Cafe. My teenage daughter is GF and most of their menu can be prepared GF, she was in heaven. The rest of us enjoyed equally good starters and entrees. The bread and lentil crackers they brought out before dinner were memorable (with olive tapenade that we ordered). Low key, relatively quiet but nice interior. We'll definitely be back.

I hate restaurants that provide quantity over quality, don't you. If the food isn't good, why is more of it better? Doesn't make sense to me! That isn't the case at West Cafe. The portions are just right, in fact, sometimes they leave you wanting just a little more, which, in my book, is how it should be. Anyway, lunch was grilled chicken breast over wild rice, and the sauce was a lemon aioli which was terrific. Instead of the pro-offered side of vegitable stew, I noticed grilled asparagus on another special of the day, and ask to substitute. No problem! It was a perfect match. I forewest desert, since I've been having birthday deserts since the Ides of March birthday, but I had to resist because they are always good at West Cafe. Never a disappointment.

This is a favorite family "special occasion" restaurant. Menu works for vegetarians, meat-a-tarians, and omnivores. My young son sometimes has a hard time with the menu, but they always help him out. Crowded for Sunday brunch but worth it.

Excellent food with generous portions. This place is a gem with outstanding wait staff who are non obtrusive. Good jazz combo...noise level is a bit high but tolerable. Dinner prices are comparable to other places of this caliber. Definitely will try brunch next time.

I would like to thank the staff and Chef at West Café for a fantastic luncheon experience. Great ambiance and even better food. Customer service went above and beyond. The next time I head over the the Art Museum we will stop in for lunch again.

Great place to eat and walk the art district. Items were well proportioned, flavor excellent, and dessert was wonderful.

The West hosted a wonderful Jazz duo. Locals gathered early for the Happy Hour entrees and drinks. I had Prosecco with Violette and Elderberry liquour at the bartender's recomendation. Delicious. We were amazed at her skills and she seemed to know her customers and their drink preferences. All food coming out of the kitchen looked beautiful. We sat at the bar and talked with other Jazz enthusiasts. This was our second visit and we will definitely return. Comfortable seating with street views.

This is a wonderful neighborhood restaurant, but it is right downtown! The food is consistently good and often better than just good. There are old standbys and daily specials. There is a big happy hour menu available in the bar area and - if you are really lucky - in the restaurant as well. Service is very warm and professional. It seems like one of the owners is always present, and the little details - such as the table settings - are always right. This is one block from the 11th Avenue Streetcar and about four blocks from the Performing Arts Center and also from the Portland State campus. The ambience is friendly and warm, but not noisy. All in all, a great place.

Friendly and attentive staff, an interesting menu, and a calm casual atmosphere. Owners Sean & Doug are very involved in getting to know their guests, remembering people's names and likes/dislikes, and providing a highly personal dining experience. A mix of everyday basics and daily interesting specials provide a reliable and consistent dining experience. Two and Three piece jazz groups often perform on Friday and Saturday evenings. Closing time is unpredictable, depending on traffic. Can count on them until about 9, but after that it is hit or miss.

Located in Portland's Cultural District, so close to alot of venue's. Varied menu, I especially like the starter selections. I made a meal out of two excellent appetizers. Service can be very prompt if you are on a time crunch, just tell your server.

I eat out in Portland a lot, and I want a good meal for the money I pay. And I am sorry to say that I let this long go before I thought to put a review up, but they were such a "go to" for me, I never thought about it till my husband and I went here to celebrate out 5th wedding anniversary recently. This meal reminded me of why I have loved them for years: they have a varied menu with such an assortment of flavors and foods that everyone can find something they will like. But it is the delicacy of their seasoning is what makes this place SO good! So many places throw a sauce on something and call it "Whatever" style". Not here. The food here is subtly flavored; it's delicate but not shy. The best word I can think of to describe it is "clean". They let the food and the spices speak for themselves, and they speak beautifully! This place is great for a romantic night or out, or a great happy hour (I could not believe the prices for what we got recently!). For dinner I recommend the polenta appetizer and the flank steak, which is some of the best I have had anywhere. The Dungeness crab cakes are incredibly tasty. One of my faves, for sure!

Great place to choose for a Sunday afternoon birthday celbration. West Cafe is only open for brunch on Sunday. But in the afternoon they will open for a special celebratory gathering. We had the contemporary restaurant with its cozy fireplace all to ourselves. The shrimp and crab mini tarts were the best that I ever tasted. The crust was light and flakey. Yum! The mushroom tarts were just as tantalizing. Then came the bite size barbecue chicken and veggies with a dip. All healthy and all delicious. The service was excellent. They kept our wine glasses full and the food dishes replenished. Then came the birthday cake. What a surprise. All done in grand style befitting a queen. With a variety of cookies and mini cupcakes for everyone's taste.

The West Cafe has been open for about 8 years, which makes it a long-lived species among Portland restaurants. Many of them open to great acclaim, make all the "hot" lists, then by the time I am ready to visit, they are gone. I have been going to West Cafe for lunch and dinner with one person, two, three, crowds, visitors, office party, after science fair, etc. for all the time they have been open. I also have them cater events for me once or twice a year. I have never had a bad meal, and many entrees are outstanding--all the dishes made with lamb, salads, soups, and the few desserts I have allowed myself. The service is friendly and usually efficient. The price is right. We are lucky to have them in the neighborhood.

So we ate here for breakfast on a Sunday morning since our hotel didn't provide breakfast. When we entered the restaurant there was 1 table that had been seating, but no hostess, actually no employees at all were to be seen in the restaurant. It was a good 2-3 minutes before someone came out of the back and saw us waiting there. They had just opened 5 minutes before and they were still setting the tables, turning on the lights etc, but initially we were a little turned off by the greeting and the fact that they were not ready for customers. We were told we could sit where we wanted, and chose a nice corner seat by the window. The menu was eclectic, which I like. Many interesting options, including specials of the day which made it hard to decide as all looked delicious. We started with really good coffee and cream. Then we ordered the blintzes and the build your own omelet. The blintzes, although a bit different with lemon lavender inside, were tasty. More lavender than lemon and fresh fruit on top. I could not eat all 4. I added some bacon and it was thick and porky! The omelet was well cooked. The service was friendly. If in the area again I would return.

My daughter and I recently had the carne asada tacos for lunch. Tasty and cheap. Great taco sauce too.

My wife and I had dinner here before a show. This is an upscale neighborhood restaurant. One of the owners, Doug, personally took our coats and brought them back when we were leaving. Marissa waited on us and was very friendly and helpful. We each enjoyed our cocktails and dinners. My wife had the Chocolate Truffle for dessert, and I had the Banana Split -- both quite good.

This is a good place for lunch. The service was very friendly and efficient. The food was well-prepared and attractively served. There's a good combination of comfort food and more adventurous dining available. Great salads and soups. Highly recommend this place.

This is a great little find in downtown Portland. It's easy to get to and usually pretty easy to find parking nearby. The food is great, the ambiance is lively and fun, and best of all, they have live jazz here. Any place that chooses to have live music instead of canned music is always WAY better for ambiance and the overall experience. Service is always really good here and they try their best to make you happy. I think their prices are very fair and the food is great. Weekends can get a little busy, so you might need to make a reservation, so check before you go. But I highly recommend this place and will definitely be back. Good food, good music, good service. A+

This is a stylish, mid-century modern restaurant. Dinner menu has Eastern Mediterranean touches. Entrees range from meatloaf to lasagna to seared tuna. That said our food was good but nothing we'd call memorable. Wine list is small. Service was very attentive and friendly, we suspect from one the principals. Only negative was that the bill of fare is a bit pricey.

This restaurant seems to cater to older people, but the menu reflects a wide range of cuisines and several substantial vegetarian options, so it should appeal to almost anyone. Every time we've been, the service has been attentive, the food delicious, and the atmosphere pleasant. Our latest visit was for happy hour, which was uncrowded and quiet, so we visited and ordered several dishes. All were wonderful. More people should venture in here!

This is a great neighborhood place for an enjoyable dinner solo or with friends. The menu is creative and changes often. Many GF options are offered. Service is quick and friendly. Prices are very reasonable for well prepared food in very manageable sized portions.

Such great owners. We got there early and waited til the sign switched to open. And then the customer service began, truly felt like being welcomed home. Low key but very sincere from the greeting to the good bye, nothing but exceptional service. Terrific food. He always gets chopped Cobb. I love the Indian dish, Aloo Gobi!

This is one of the two very best Happy Hours I have seen in Portland (I admit I am a Happy Hour addict). It goes from 4 until close, and has food in categories from $2 to $7, if I remember right. Fantastic atmosphere (often live jazz), and great service. It is a pleasure to support a locally-owned place like this, especially when it is such a great deal.

West Cafe is a quiet. simple little place that doesn't get much attention in this restaurant mad city, again voted by another publication as the best American restaurant city. Still, the food at West Cafe is top of the line Northwest cuisine, just inventive enough to be different but old fashioned solid too. Service is good old fashioned friendly too. It's so close to the Art Museum and it's rental gallery, it's worth making a day of the neighborhood.

...located a couple blocks behind the Portland Art Museum and Oregon Historical Society....a good place to stop for a quick or leisure lunch....wines and local craft beers available....I had the Tillamook (an Oregon staple excellent cheese) tasted cheese sandwich with Tomato on sour dough and my wife had the fish tacos (daily fish that day was baked tuna.....both served with a refreshingly simple green salad....nice decor....looks better on the inside.

We came in from the rain to grab a Sunday brunch. We were all impressed by the menu. The service was prompt and comforting. My friends had the fish tacos and they forgot to leave me a bite. I had the lamb wrap and it was the perfect blend of flavors, textures and spice. They said they'd give me a "whisper" of salad on the plate, but it was full bodied and a nice accompaniment. All in all, a most pleasant brunch experience.

The food was great. A large group (restaurant to ourselves), but everyone ordered from the menu and all went well in terms of timing of delivery and excellence of the food. We'd been here before which is why we recommended it for this group. All were pleased.

Early dinner with a group of six friends, three of which are vegetarian. The menu had plenty of options for everyone. The pear-adise martini to start the evening was like eating a fresh ripe pear. Very yummy. Everything from Mac and Cheese with sesame maple glazed tofu, to fresh salmon with a roasted garlic basil vinaigrette sauce. Papadam and olive bread with nuts were provided free of charge. The "whisper of fresh greens" salad was just the right size. We took the fig and oat bar home to have with fresh berries. It was somewhat small but very tasty. Dinner for six with cocktails and a bottle of wine was just under $300 and well worth it. We will definitely return so we can try more items on the menu.

A group of us decided to have brunch here because it was close to where we were staying. The service was excellent, but the food was incredibly inconsistent. Waffles and bacon came out terrible: waffle tastes burnt and the bacon was like cardboard. The mushroom tart was bland and didn't taste very good at all. I had a crab and Shrimp cocktail that was oddly creamy (not in a good way). Their best dishes that came out were the grilled cheese and the crab benedict. Cute place but very hit or miss on the food.

West Cafe is a bit off the beaten path at 12th & Jefferson but worth the walk for downtown concert and theater goers. Excellent happy hour and well-priced lunch and dinner menus in a friendly atmosphere at a place that seems to be something of a hangout for Portland State University faculty and staff as well as South Park blocks residents. Give it a try.

Parking is bad, only on the metered street. Seating is ok, but wow, the prices are more than it should be for what you get, in my opinion. Service is so-so, I'd say service is a 5 out of 10, food a 4 out of 10, value a 3 out of 10

I literally stopped in to get a bite before an evening meeting, and the waiter offered good service and stepped up my order so I'd make my meeting. Food was very good and very vegan friendly. GREAT choices and comfortable, friendly crowd of patrons who clearly live in condos nearby or on the west side...I'll be back!

Up until a couple of days ago I had never been to this restaurant, let alone even heard of it. In all the food hoopla in Portland West Cafe flies under the radar. I find that I go to THE restaurant of the week, month, year whatever and I leave thinking, "that was good, it wasn't amazing." I went to West Cafe expecting nothing and left anticipating my next visit. The food is really good and imaginative. I had the tuna melt on what I think was Grand Central bread with an onion gratin topping. My dining companions had equally delicious food....the lamb kabob looked really good. The portions are just right and every entree was $10-12. The service is attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is pleasant. Pleasant is very nice word to use for a dining room. Plenty of diners there, maybe every table was in use but not loud. Really one of Portland's hidden gems. Go there and eat, I can't wait to return.

There was not a thing served that I did not find to be excellent. From my drink, the French 57 to the pre dinner side, dinner itself, and a dessert, nothing could be beat. I have 95% travel with my job, and this restaurant is easily my new favorite. For dessert, I tried a standard creme brulee to see how they compared to other restaurants on a popular dish. They far surpassed my expectations, the creme cool, the carmelized top hot, drizzled in caramel with berries, and a homemade cookie to boot. While I loved the brulee, they have an extensive dessert, happy hour, snack, small plate, and dining menu to fit any fare desired. When I parked my car in Portland, I inquired of a good, quieter dining experience from a local on the street, and I was directed here. Price range $7-$25, with wonderful "Recession Recovery" specials as delectable as a week to week full priced entree. Additionally staff is wonderful, accomodating to your every whim, and interested in you getting what you want and taking your happiness in the experience upon them personally. I dined in the loung area in a leather chair seating area that would have been great for a bigger group. They opened a window just for me to enjoy the perfect Portland weather. This was a wonderful surprise.

Food carefully prepared with a very wide range of choices Something for everyone: fish, meat, vegetarian, African, NW, you name it. Very careful attention to detail, fine trio plays Saturday nights Never a bad meal here in this unassuming place filled with locals just off the downtown core.

My second lunch there yesterday. Excellent meal, Superior service - everything fresh! great value in the soup and half sandwich special and the soup was excellent.

This is a good place to enjoy a good dinner. They seem to fill up rapidly so reservations might be good but they are able to make too. People seem to eat around 6 p.m. The chef here has a vivid imagination and creates a list of specials that are always tempting. In addition to comfort foods like meatloaf, they have veggie chili and an array of beef, chicken and fish dishes. The fish soup looked tempting as well. The 'whisper' of salad is amusing. On some evenings a jazz combo begins around 6:30 meaning if you want to talk much to your dinner companions, come early. The service is consistently good and the prices reasonable for near-downtown dining.

We live not too far away, so we have walked by the West Cafe many times. Being my fiancee is very picky re: food, we're usually heading to one of her favorite places downtown. We were cruising Open table and after reading their menu, she booked it. Surprisingly the place was almost empty when we got there (only 3 tables seated) but have seen it very crowded before. Not a large place, so I figure reservations would be a good idea normally. Food was very good - I tried the pulled pork and was very pleased (note: it is a curry dish.) Fiancee got the chicken cob salad and said it was very good as well. Waitress was very friendly and very pleasant. Overall I was very impressed - so was my fairly picky fiancee. She noted that we will have to go back again now that we know how it is.

Visited for dinner and had their chopped salad. The special pizza of the night some apps, wine and a steak dinner were all prepared well and enjoyed by us. It was a quiet night which made for good conversation with friends. Would recommend and will return.

To go with our wine sweet potato wedges, and sweet potato, spinach, goat cheese crepes. Also enjoyed the seafood "tower". Well done food, friendly staff. Liked the comfortable seating.

West Café is just a block from our apartment, and we have dined there at least once a month for the past four years. They have always had good food and respectable wines, but recently, they have expanded their menu offerings to good effect. I had the Albacore Tuna Nicoise Salad this time with a glass of a Washington Rose wine. The greens were "just picked," and the tuna was lightly seared and substantial. This is not a traditional Nicoise in there were no potatoes or slices of hard boiled egg. There were very fresh, delicious tomatoes. They serve good bread that is hard to resist. It is moderately quiet. We have had many excellent meals here -- from a great egg salad sandwich to lamb to a hangar steak with reasonably priced glasses or even bottles of wine. They have very good desserts as well along with excellent cocktails -- everything you might desire. There is jazz on weekend nights and the lunch hour is crowded. We met some friends there just before leaving -- it's that kind of a place, and they might even know your name.

Lovely place, very good service, big selection with changing specials. Their bread pudding is to die for!!

I've been here many times for lunch and dinner and also had their catered food. It is always well-prepared and tasty. Menu is small, but thoughtful and interesting with seasonal ingredients. Located on the lesser-traveled side of downtown Portland, seating is often available for walk-ins. Staff is friendly and attentive.

Great little place for Sunday brunch. They were very accommodating and easily handled a large group with good service. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food.

A group gathered here before a concert at The Old Church. The happy hour menu was large, giving a lot of options to choose from. Plus, they also had other menus with reasonably priced items, so everyone found something to their liking. The Gazpacho soup was light and fresh. The pulled pork sliders were delicious. Meatloaf Sandwich was large and tasty. Service was attentive. The bar area is really comfortable with overstuffed chairs which made it easy to mingle. We will certainly return.

Big hearty portions of pleasing brunch food, and a surprisingly eclectic menu with all kinds of east-west cuisine influences. An unusual and slightly off-the-beaten-path find in southwest/downtown Portland!

My wife and I visited for lunch on a Friday with a 12:15 reservation. We were seated promptly and I had veggie sandwich with curried sweet potato wedges and she had a grilled cheese with vegetarian chili. Our selections were very good and the chili was interesting with carrots and cauliflower. It took about 30 minutes for our food to arrive and the restaurant wasn't completely full. I was fine with the wait time because I wasn't on a time crunch. We enjoyed our visit and would return.

This is a medium-sized restaurant on the edge of downtown Portland. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. The food is fresh and flavorful. Both my wife and I found ourselves saying, "Wow, this is good!" several times during our meal. I had the African Spiced Leg of Lamb Wrap which is on the brunch menu. The veggies were crisp and the lamb flavorful with just the right amount of gaminess. The iced tea was refreshing. In fact, everything about this restaurant was very good without the normal Portland overhyped "cheech." Not only was the iced tea refreshing, but the entire experience at West Cafe.

We tried West Cafe for the first time; maybe our only visit. Almost to a person, reviews indicated friendly, attentive service. We had the opposite experience. They came to my attention via Open Table. We live an hour away but frequent the Portland area about 2-3 times a month, checking out eateries with good reviews. On entering the restaurant, someone at the bar hollered, 'we'll be with you in a minute' -- there was no greeter or hostess up front. So I stood there for a couple of minutes, then a young gal walked up & asked if I needed a table. "Yes, my husband's parking the car," I have a reservation. From there, she didn't utter a greeting, just silently led me to a table, explained the extra sheet was the day's specials and left. About 5 minutes later, she returned, again NO greeting. I explained this was OUR FIRST VISIT -- Again, no WELCOME, no Hello, ZIP. Things got worse from there. We eventually ordered after she delivered beverages. Husband ordered a waffle, I ordered the scramble of the day. They brought his order then mine- but they brought me the wrong entree (delivered by another waitress). When I explained it wasn't what I ordered, she replied, "Well I didn't take your order so I don't know what happened. I'll get you what you wanted." What happened next has NEVER HAPPENED! The original non-communicative waitress returned with the same incorrect dish, a brunch menu and said, "Didn't you order the 1st item on this list?!?" Whoa! I replied, "No, i ordered the 2nd item on the list." She did NOT apologize, just turned around & left. OMG! Eventually, I got my entree. It was delicious but nearly impossible to "enjoy" ~ it felt as though I was the one who hadn't listened PROPERLY. And when we left, NO ONE said "Thanks for visiting, have a nice day, nothing! Our waitress looked right at me as we left, just stared BLANKLY. Truly, one of the strangest dining experiences of our lives! Though this may have been an "off" day for our waitress, it was made worse because of the waitress' decision to confront me. So be forewarned; this could happen to you.

There’s an excellent Indian restaurant at the Jefferson Street location. I’ve gone 4 times and reviewed it. The mandatory “when did you travel” is not accurate, but I had to put something.

Had lunch here with co-workers, 3 of us had salads and we all had different salads and we all loved them. I had the Cob, another had the Beet and the 3rd had one with apple and walnuts I believe. They brought bread to our table that was good and had olives baked in it. After the meal they brought 4 yummy cookies. Really good place and we will go back.

I ended up at West Café because the place I wanted to have lunch at was closed for the day without notice. Sat at the bar and quickly saw that the woman was the one keeping the operation together with a teen buss boy following her every instruction, and what seemed to be only 1 other waitress for the rest of the restaurant. Service was fine for a corner café bistro. Ordered a steak wrap which was generous portion and came with a green salad. It was served quickly, was decent and filling. The woman at the bar was very nice, we spoke about beer for a minute and she gave me a sample of a local. I would not make a trip for a meal here, but would eat there again if I were in the area.

Tonight I was hungry and tired and I did not want to cook. So I went to nearby West Cafe, saw lamb on the menu and noticed the "Trip Advisor" decal on the window. Just to make sure, I went to my apartment across the street and checked it out on the lap top using usually trusty Trip Advisor. All green lights, but I should have gone to Safeway then done my own cooking. The server was a gem. Being on a special regimen, I am drinking only water. Because I had put my coat back around my shoulders, she even suggested that I have a cup of hot water to get warmed up. This was a great idea that I accepted with gratitude. She brought delicious breads to my table along with my salad. They were both so good that I left nothing in the bread basket or on the salad plate. However, it was downhill after that. Although the decor is simple and appealing, there are no drapes, so, I suppose that's why the sound is not muffled. The two couples at the next table were getting acquainted; so, I know a lot about their personal histories, though they never intended for me to be involved in their conversation; neither did I especially care to hear everything that they talked about. The background vocal music was not loud, but neither was it appropriate for what I had hoped would have been a special dinner. It was very unusual for me to pay $20 to dine alone, but I thought that I was in for a treat. [Why can't restaurants that are trying to present a special dining experience just play pleasant instrumentals?] Had they played dinner music at a slightly higher volume, maybe I would not have had to endure the conversation of strangers who didn't invite me to join them. I love lamb, but at first this meat tasted like mild mutton. That was not too bad. The problem was that the meat was dry until I got to the bottom of the shallow bowl that was my dinner plate. Had I known that there was a pleasant sauce at the very bottom, I would have mixed it up for a much more tasty, less dry dinner. I am truly sorry that I can't be as positive about West Cafe as so many others have been on Trip Advisor. I have written this review so candidly, because I was not expecting an ordinary dinner here, My intention is to make others aware, in case they share my preferences, so that they will not be similarly disappointed.