Arden

I dined at Arden, opting for the pre-fixe menu with the wine pairing. At $75 per person for the menu and $45 each for the wine pairing (totaling $255 for two), it was a fantastic value for the quality of food and experience.The service was prompt and friendly, though paced a smidge too quick for my preference. That said, the pacing was the only minor hiccup in an otherwise stellar experience. If I hadn't opted for the wine pairing, it wouldn't have been an issue finishing each course with wine in time for the next. The food was exceptional and everything was plated beautifully. Highlights included a roasted beet dish and a rich, indulgent cheesecake that I can confidently say is the best I've ever had. The pasta and the pierogies were excellent as well. Every dish had its own unique flavor profile, and together they created a very satisfying meal.The wine pairing was also well thought out and complemented each dish nicely. The selections were phenomenal and enhanced the flavors of each course. Overall, Arden delivers solid flavors and great value, especially for a pre-fixe menu. The portions left us feeling full, which isn't always the case with this style of dining. Highly recommend for anyone looking to indulge in a delicious and well-rounded meal.

Another great find. I wanted to treat my newly engaged friends to dinner during my visit. Every PDX visit involves me making a reservation somewhere with a tasting menu. The exciting part of my choice is that they don't tell you what you're going to get. The whole party has to partake in the menu tasting. I opted for the wine pairing and also added the Oregon orange wine they had on the menu. I loved that they even had a few options. My friend who doesn't drink really appreciated all the mocktails. I was pleasantly surprised that 3 options were dropped off for the starter portion. Every dish had cheese, my kryptonite and downfall. Despite being not lactose friendly, I dove in like a champ. The beets one was my favorite. I love beets. Next up was a pasta dish that melted in my mouth like butta. The pierogi that came after was the table's favorite. For surf and turf, we got fish and meat. We all agreed the fish dish was better, taste wise. We were all so full, but still had two desserts to get through. I was only able to get a bite of each before I had to tap out. Every dish was amazing. That meant, every plate was cleaned. We did so much work. The wine that came with every course was so good. The service was outstanding. My favorite thing about their layout is that because the kitchen was out in the open, the smell was so enjoyable. Was the upset stomach and wet burps that kept me up until 6am worth all the cheese consumption? Hells yeah!!! Did I die? Hells to the no. See you again the next time I'm in town. Gimme all the cheese.

My cousin found this place and was super excited to take us here while we were visiting PDX.For drinks we ordered one mezcal based and one whiskey based cocktails. The mezcal based was great.Snacks we ordered the artisan bread which was great. It came from a local bakery.I loved the burrata + warm peach salad to share. The burrata was fresh and I love the combination of sweet, tangy and chili sauce.This was the first time I had tried pierogies. Personally I didn't had any benchmark to compare with but overall I liked the taste.Coming to service. It was a bit disappointing. The person who was attending us was being a snob. We had requested another round of mezcal cocktail which he never got us.

I recently dined at Arden for a birthday celebration and chose the chef's prix fixe menu ($75 per person) with wine pairings ($45 per person). The menu offered a well-balanced amount of food--just enough to feel satisfied without being overly full. I appreciated the variety, as I got to sample five out of six small dishes, all of which were beautifully presented. However, the main course, halibut, was on the saltier side, which was a bit disappointing.The wine pairings were fine. Instead of pouring at the table, they brought pre-poured glasses, with the server mentioning the origin of each wine. More detailed explanations of pairings were provided only when I asked additional questions. Also, the experience was disrupted by the fact that the wines didn't always arrive with the food, requiring me to remind the staff a couple of times, which affected the flow of the meal.As for the atmosphere, it was less than ideal. Despite reserving a dining table more than a week in advance, I ended up facing the bathroom, which detracted from the overall experience, especially since it was a busy weekend and people were often queuing up nearby. Additionally, there were a lot of fruit flies, likely drawn by the wine, which only added to the discomfort and made the experience feel less appetizing.Overall, while the amount and variety of food were great and beautifully displayed, the service and atmosphere left much to be desired.

Arden is what Michelin-starred restaurants aspire to, and don't always achieve. From the initial greetings with a bubbly rose, to the final sip of Sauternes paired with panna cotta, this was my finest experience during this trip to Portland.This is clearly one of the finest restaurants in Portland. Not only is it at the top of my list for especially fine cuisine, it's where I've come to truly appreciate fine wine. The passion on display here is both visible and inspiring.The wine tastings hosted by the remarkable Kelsey are the best I've experienced. I've actually encouraged area wineries I frequent to benchmark Kelsey (even if my feedback is not always enthusiastically received). Anyone with a passion for wine and a thirst for wine knowledge is strongly encouraged to partake of her amazing presentations and tastings of the world's wines. Virtual wine tastings are recorded and streamed on Instagram and (I think) YouTube.Strongly recommend.

We showed up with no reservation, but the host was able to manage to accommodate us. Place small but cozy. The service was excellent, very attentive, and explained all the dishes. The waygu beef tartar was really good, but my halibut was a bit salty, and slightly over cooked flavor was goodTip made a reservation. I just got lucky they were able to seat us

A splurge dinner for the usual local ingredients & wines.Smaller inside than expected, but less tables means attentive service. On the other hand the waitress was kind of snooty and did not pull us into a deep dining experience.Seasonal and creative rotations is what keeps you interested. Expensive wine selection and a little light on the pours. Food & ambience was excellent, service not so.Street parking.

We went for dinner with 4 of us last night. My husband and I had been here previously and did the pre fixe dinner, which was amazing. But tonight with a 4 top, it went a little different. They claim that they are a family style restaurant, where you share everything. It honestly should be called small plates, because it's really not shareable for more than 2 people. Everyone only got a bite or two of every dish. The food, ambience, service is outstanding. We will be back, but just the 2 of us!

Arden is a must go to restaurant in Portland. A few things stand out. It's neither big nor tiny. It's a nice size restaurant where the noise isn't overwhelming but the bustle of activity is what you want when you go out. The menu is a "one pager" but it's chock full of options for finger food, entrees and pairings. We enjoyed everything we ordered. The citrus salad was perfect with a warm goat cheese sauce. The dessert was awesome. I had the pirogies, which is an example of creativity that you will find on this menu. Cocktails were spot on. The service was comfortable and not rushed. I know some people want service to be "on point". Others prefer a more European approach where you have time to dine. Arden tries somewhere in the middle. This may not be the place for a quick bite, but the best for a date night, gathering with friends....

There were some unique flavors here, highlights were apps especially the beets and grape dishes. the use of nuts on many of the dishes were perfect complements to the flavors.the service was good for how busy they were, however we were glad we sat outside instead of inside. when i went to the restroom, the interior was smokey and loud, it definitely needs better ventilation in the kitchen.