Dan & Louis Oyster Bar — Restaurant in Portland

We had dined at this iconic restaurant as regulars for many years from 1976 through 1998 and after '98 we would go there once every six months or so. However, my wife and I left Portland for about a decade before returning in 2019.

As a native Portlander it pains me to say that the new owners have dropped the proverbial ball on product quality, service, and exorbitant prices for sub-par fare. I'll qualify this by describing our last experience dining there. For openers the restaurant was virtually empty on a Wednesday at 6pm which we thought was great for us since we would receive complete attention from our server. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Our server didn't make an appearance for about 30 minutes and when she finally did arrive she was visibly annoyed. She took our order and disappeared into the kitchen area. Keeping in mind that we were still the only patrons in the place the server was unusually absent again. after another 30 minutes our server appeared with our food, no drinks, no silverware, and she evaporates into the ether again. We patiently waited about 10 minutes before deciding to search for our server. I found her in the kitchen having a conversation with the cook. I politely asked her if we could have some silverware with our meals. She replied "absolutely", I returned to our table assuming the silverware was on the way post haste.......and we waited, and waited, and waited. I gave up up on our server and took control of the situation by finding some utensils in a nearby closed-off area.

Got back to the table and examined our entre only to be unpleasantly surprised by the size of the portion of Halibut for our $18 per plate orders. The serving consisted of three pieces that were each the size of your average piece of sushi for $18. The chowder was runny and flavorless and the Halibut was chewy.

While satisfying the bill we mentioned our experiece to the person who was attending the cash register and all they said was "have a nice day". We replied "good luck with your new business model".

Needless to say we didn't finish our meal and we haven't returned since that fateful day.

While watching the news a segment regarding downtown restaurants was being reported and the restaurant was Dan and Louis. The current owners were basically begging for customers to come back to their establishment, otherwise, they may have to permanently close their doors. To this I say take a serious look at your operation in all of its aspects and ask yourselves "can we do better"? You sure as hell can and that's contributing to why you're going out of business. There's a stark reason why you're losing customers and...

​Okay, prepare yourself, because I'm about to unleash the most eloquent and heartfelt ode to a seafood institution that you've ever read.

​Five stars. No, wait, fifty. A hundred! Dan & Louis Oyster Bar in Portland, Oregon, isn't just a restaurant; it's a glorious time machine filled with bivalves and liquid gold. I'm not entirely sure I've returned from 1907. Send help, but also don't, because I'm still trying to get my hands on another bowl of that salmon chowder.

​First off, let's talk about the main event. It was Monday, and like a knight on a quest for the holy grail of seafood deals, I stumbled into their all-day happy hour. The oyster sampler selection was a religious experience. I'm talking plump, juicy little miracles that tasted like the very essence of the Pacific.

​And the libations! My heart sang as I gazed upon the glorious tap list, a testament to Oregon's mighty craft beer scene. I've never felt so proud to be in a state with such a dedication to liquid hoppy goodness. And for those who prefer their spirits with a twist, the full bar is a siren's call, luring you in with the promise of perfectly crafted cocktails that pair ridiculously well with, you know, everything.

​But beyond the culinary delights, what truly makes Dan & Louis a masterpiece is the history. You walk in, and you're surrounded by the ghosts of a hundred-plus years of good times. The nautical knick-knacks, the vintage photos, the sheer vibe of the place—it’s like dining in a living museum. You can feel the generations of family, the love and dedication that have kept this place thriving since before your great-grandparents were even a glimmer in their parents' eyes.

​So, if you're looking for a good time and a great meal, get yourself to Dan & Louis. You...

We arrived at the restaurant on February 14th, 2014. My order of "Scallops" resulted in just ONE scallop. My wife ended up with three medium oysters. The Bruschetta arrived AFTER my meal arrived and the bread was as dry as a salad crouton! The warm Clam chowder also arrived AFTER my meal. One waitstaff member told my step-daughter that they were not serving hamburgers because it was too busy. She ordered a steak... which was just over an inch thick and could fit on a credit card. A different server was waiting on the table next to us and took an order for a hamburger without an issue. When we were done, I decided to take my check up to the two guys working on shucking oysters. They were slow and ignored me for the several minutes I waited to be rung up. A waitstaff came up and finished the transaction. I can't believe I even left a $3 tip... the restaurant charged me a 20% service charge!!!!!

Most of the food tasted pretty good, but it was one of the worst restaurant experiences I ever had and it falls on management and the owners! The staff bumped into each other and were even running at times to keep up. I last ate here a few years ago; I also remember the exact same decor from when my parents and grandparents frequented the restaurant in the 1980s, minus the cracks in the wall and the grime and dirt. My family history with this restaurant goes back more than 50 years (my grandmother worked there) and this experience destroyed it. Never again will I fondly remember this place or ever...