Chart House — Restaurant in Portland

I went there for a double-birthday celebration meal. The weather was nice and clear with very few clouds, which afforded a wonderful view of both Mount Hood and Mount St Helens, if you are sitting at the right table. Otherwise you would only be able to see the side of a mountain on the other side of the trees.

We arrived too early for valet parking and parked ourselves, in a very narrow space, but I am told there is usually a valet parking. (I think we arrived shortly before 3:30 pm?) I believe there was 1 (unisex) bathroom upstairs and 2 (mens & womens) downstairs, both clean & stocked up. I didn't see an elevator so my thinking is that the downstairs area is not handicap accessible if you have problem with stairs or are in a wheelchair.

We decided to start downstairs to peek at the happy hour menu and maybe munch off of it before we went upstairs to our reserved table, and although the bartender acknowledged us when we first got downstairs saying "go ahead and take a seat anywhere", we found a lovely table for 4 next to the window, but we sat there for 7 or 8(?) minutes (which feels like 20 minutes in ADHD time) without getting a menu or a glass of water or even eye contact from any wait staff. There were 4 tables which I believe was technically only 3 parties, and of the 3 parties downstairs we were 1 of the 2 that were getting ignored while all of the attention was being showered on the 2 tables next to us. We saw lots of wait staff moving around and punching things into computers and a lot of drinks and food being moved, but we couldn't make eye contact or get any acknowledgment so we got frustrated and decided to just go upstairs and have our meal and perhaps return back downstairs if happy hour was still going, after, so that we could peek at the menu and look at the options and pricing and hours (I'll post pic as of this date.)

After we went upstairs I decided to eat a lovely mahi mahi fish meal special with a peanut sauce of some kind, which came with sticky rice in the shape of a pyramid. It did not look like sticky rice (longer, moist grain) but it tasted like it was seasoned to perfection. I thoroughly enjoyed my entire meal although I packed some away to finish at home so I could leave room for dessert and perhaps food downstairs afterwards.

My date had a chopped salad without a protein added and he said it was good, but it looked kind of boring to me. Next time we go there, we'll ask for a table a little further to the south. The view of 2 mountains (the very reason I chose this restaurant) were hiding behind the trees while sitting at the third table from the left by the windows. I did not like the table placement, in regards to the view, but we had a fantastic waiter that was very patient with all our movements and questions a, and he was attentive, without hovering over us too much. My only problem with him is that he remembered it was my birthday but he kept forgetting it was the other person's birthday at the table also, but he did not speak up about his birthday himself. I did try to remind the waiter twice it was both of our birthdays, that we were celebrating, but that didn't really matter much, it was a minor thing, overall.

We did end up going downstairs for happy hour afterward and ended up sitting at some tables over by the fireplace in the back of the room, and we enjoyed some coconut shrimp and some fish tacos, while finishing off the bottle of wine that we had from upstairs. The view was still pretty phenomenal even from the back of the room. I tried to take picture with my phone of the downstairs bar area but since it was so bright outside it's a little hard to see the inside, but it's the view I was trying to take a picture of. I will post those 2 photos.

We did end up getting service within 5 minutes of sitting down once we went back downstairs. He was very friendly and made sure to check in with us to see if we needed anything more, he brought us everything we needed, and provided service with a smile. It was a much better experience heading downstairs...

I contemplated for several hours after we left dinner tonight about leaving a review, but beings Im still in disbelief, it must be a sign that I should. So here it goes, Chart House is one of my top 5 favorites to go to for a 5⭐️ experience in Portland first off. Unfortunately, it was very far from this tonight. We were a party of 5, bringing guests not from the Portland area, to what we lavished about for the last 2 days only to leave disappointed and a bit embarrassed. Only 1 guest in our party was happy with their food. We elected not to order any appetizers for the first time ever. Now Im thinking, probably a good thing, but that's besides the point. We were ordering soup & salads in addition to our entrees, so most know already this will fill you up no problem. While our server wasnt rude, he wasnt very friendly or attentive either. We in fact didnt see him much. Well we could see him, standing behind and on the side of the bar, but just not giving us the usual attentive service we've always gotten from other servers. Our soups and salad were delivered with our dinners. When I asked why, I was informed one of our guests asked for their salad with their entree. Not sure why anyone would just assume rather than ask if that went for everyone. Our med Prime Rib came out well done. Then it was replaced with a med well done with about a good 25-35% of the cut with fat. Everyone's mash potatoes were cold and not because they sat so we could eat our soup and salad. The 2lbs of king crab legs and 2 lobster tails were cold. I dont know how they cooked the crab legs this time but the shells were so soft they were bendable like rubber and that made it even harder to open. The so called melted butter was so cold it had already partially solidified. Our server took far too long to even check back with how the food was after the initial delivery, so when he finally did we requested more/new butter. It took 15mins to bring back again cold partially solidified butter. LOL smh. The clam chowder was luke warm and clearly got even colder trying to go back and forth between the entree and the soup. Just could eat fast enough to avoid it. The veggies were far from fresh. If I could guess they were yesterday's leftovers and reheated, which made them overcooked and lifeless. Our mocktails, Prawn & Lobster pasta dish, and spinach salad are the only things that deserve a ⭐️. We paid our bill, tipped our 20%, and left very unhappy. I will say the Valet attendants were far more deserving of the tip we gave our server. And just in case, someone assumes it was because it was busy or short staffed, it wasn't! No Chart House for us... for...

A Feast for the Eyes, But Not the Palate

Nestled in a picturesque location with breathtaking views, the restaurant we visited promised an enchanting dining experience. From the moment we stepped in, it was evident that the establishment had invested heavily in creating a captivating ambiance. However, despite the stunning view, our culinary journey left much to be desired.

Let's start with the positives—the view was absolutely magnificent. As we were seated near the large windows, we were treated to an expansive panorama of rolling hills and a glistening river. The sight was so captivating that it almost distracted us from the shortcomings that lay ahead.

Our optimism began to wane when the food arrived. The menu boasted an array of enticing dishes, but sadly, the flavors fell short of our expectations. The presentation was commendable, with each plate meticulously arranged, but the taste failed to match the visual appeal. The ingredients seemed lackluster, and the execution of the dishes lacked the finesse we had hoped for.

Adding to our disappointment, the service was slow and somewhat disjointed. It was apparent that the restaurant was understaffed, which resulted in a noticeable delay in getting our orders taken and the food served. Our server, although polite, seemed overwhelmed and struggled to keep up with the demands of the dining room. This lack of attentiveness affected our overall dining experience, leaving us longing for a more prompt and attentive service.

Regrettably, the restaurant appeared to be more focused on creating a visual spectacle rather than delivering a well-rounded dining experience. While the scenic views were undoubtedly the highlight of our visit, it left us feeling that the establishment was primarily designed as a place for show rather than a culinary destination.

Considering the obvious shortage of staff, we couldn't help but feel that the restaurant was attempting to compensate for its shortcomings by relying solely on its picturesque location. However, a truly memorable dining experience is a delicate balance of impeccable service, exquisite flavors, and a captivating atmosphere. Unfortunately, this restaurant missed the mark on two of these crucial elements.

In conclusion, if you're seeking a location that will leave you in awe of its surroundings, this restaurant will undoubtedly deliver. However, if you're a discerning food lover searching for an equally remarkable culinary adventure, you may want to look elsewhere. The slow service and lackluster flavors overshadowed the stunning view, making it a place that falls short of...