Davenport

This is an excellent Portland restaurant among many outstanding options. We tried several dishes, the standouts being pate with prune, greens, pickles, and mustard and the halibut with coconut, chili, lime, tomato, slaw, fried shallot, and sesame. We also ordered scallops, but found them to be very small, though delicious. Every dish we ordered was balanced and made with pride and intention. Their batched old-fashioneds were also nice. The prices were fair for the quality of food. We didn't feel like it was overpriced at all. Service was unobtrusive yet friendly. The setting was spare, and the noise level was moderate.

Recommend going in a party of 4 so that you can try most of the dishes. It was easier to say what we didn't want on the menu. Most of the dishes were delicious. We would definitely return.

Finally, after a few years of seeing Davenport pop up on the Portland Dining Month lists, we made it over here. We actually walked by the place without realizing it - their name on the door is very subtle. The dining room inside is cozy - tables are fairly close together. I don't remember hearing music, so it must have been at a low enough volume that we didn't even notice, which is great. Too many places these days blast music at you at dinner. At Davenport the food, service and ambiance were all fantastic. I wouldn't hesitate to come back. We went with the Portland Dining Month menu: beets, scallops, and panna cotta for my mom; radicchio salad, steak and panna cotta for me. We also got an order of the witch nettle dumplings because I was curious. It was quite dumpling-like but it was based on the greens with plenty of cream and sheep cheese. They were good. The beets were really good and came plated with some greens making it look like they'd just been plucked from the garden. The radicchio salad was quite bitter as you'd expect from that plant, but the vinaigrette helped cut some of the bitterness. Scallops were perfect - super rare and just seared on the outside. We loved the fennel salad with grapefruit on the side. The steak was served medium rare - it was well seasoned, tender and easy to cut. For dessert, we both had the panna cotta and I'm glad we didn't have to share. It was the perfect texture, with hints of what we thought were cardamom, and it wasn't too sweet. I'd come back just for this panna cotta. Our server was fantastic. It's been a while since we've experienced such good service in Portland. She was super attentive about water, explained dishes and wines to us, and just checked in on us the right amount. Overall, Davenport checked all the boxes. Can't wait for our next visit!

We were very happy with not only the meal but the service and general ambience of the restaurant. You won't get huge portions here but all our plates were super fresh, well balanced and served with positive energy.There is something to be said for each order being made as it's placed and you can taste the difference. If you want a huge slab of Ahi or thick cuts of meat, this isn't the place but it is well balanced, considered and a delicious visit.

This was probably my favorite dining experience in Portland so far! My husband made a resi for us for our anny, and it was such a lovely evening. Our first time there, we nearly missed it due to its unassuming exterior. Inside is equally minimal, but chic and comfortable. There's no phone! We started and ended with the oysters- divine. In between that, there was a beet salad, fried quail, lamb roulette, and something delicious that involved toasted, chopped pasta with squid. They brought us some lovely sort of flan/custard for dessert.Absolutely marvelous- can't wait to go back!

Davenport provided exactly the dining experience we have been longing for. The service was great. The food was phenomenal. Highly recommend the oysters, beets, the burger (literally one of the best I've ever had), and the halibut. The price points were right on. Love the open kitchen, and the simple yet refined ambiance. Our sincere compliments & thanks to the chef & staff at Davenport. Well done!

The Food is outstanding. We started with glass of white wine, both of which we crispy and tasty, excellent wines. Our first course we shared pate served with mustard and greens we turned down the bread. The pate was typical and nothing special. There were two triangles which was perfect for sharing.Then on to the main course. My wife's halibut was perfection on a lightly seared vegetable bed with many small shrimp. My buttermilk fried quail was also on a bed of lightly seared vegetables. It, too, was perfection and most enjoyable.For dessert we opted for a cheese plate. The cheese was unnamed and had a brie taste but with a gummy texture. It was ok but that was it except for five cherries and a walnut. But, if you can believe this, they have NO COFFEE or TEA. Overall, if you want to go on an expensive diet, this is the place. The price is very high relative to portions served which are small. No glass of wine is less than $14.We recently returned from Spain (I had their glass of Spanish white on that days list.) which I paid $15, if I remember correctly, and similar wine by the carafe was either free with the meal at a cost of only €7 while a glass cost a third of that. I would end b saying it is way overpriced but the food is outstanding and worth one visit because the food is so good. But be prepared to leave wanting more to fill your belly.

This a small modern and pretty looking place. We loved some of the food. Not all of it. The service is slow. We waited a while to order. The beet salad was good, but needed salt. No salt and pepper on tables because they think you will like it how they salt it or not salt it. The Oysters and Scallops were yummy! The potato leek soup was dissapointing and not great. The lasanga was good, but small potion and nothing exciting. Service was okay. I think for me the prices are pretty up there for small plates, slow service and inconsistent food.

We had another great meal on Saturday thanks to Kevin Gibson's cooking mastery. We have been enjoying his food all the way back to his counter restaurant next to Powells on Hawthorne. He is a master in combining fresh ingredients in interesting combinations. I think Davenport is a below the radar gem in the Portland food scene.

I'm visiting from out of town and came here with friends. It was the first time here for them too. The menu had a wide range of unexpected and creative approaches to various dishes, mostly made with local ingredients. The service was excellent and the dishes, served tapas-style, made our experience into a series of delightful discoveries. The tempura-clary sage was totally new and really delicious. I know I'll come back to Portland, and Davenport is a must-visit for me.