Jacqueline — Restaurant in Portland

I want to start by saying I have been a long-time fan of Jacqueline, so my last encounter there was particularly disheartening. I had family visiting from out of town, so we lined up at 4:10pm(!) for their 5pm opening/happy hour. At 4:55pm they informed the line that seating was limited due to reservations - we were surprised they waited so long to announce this as it was the hottest day of the summer and a long line had formed in the direct sunlight, 95% of whom would not receive a seat and had suffered waiting. There were only two people in front of us who were both given seats. When the hostess asked how many were in our party we told her 4. We were told there was not seating available for 4. Our immediate reply was that we would happily split up however necessary to make things work. The hostess was quite hostile from the start and told us now that she “knew we were a larger party” it “would be against their policy to split us up” and that we couldn’t be seated. I tried to say I was a party of 2 with my sister, my parents were another separate party of 2. She would not allow it. At no point were we aggressive or unkind. I calmly asked to speak with her manager about the policy as it did not make sense to which she replied “oh I would love that.” When she left, the family behind us commented on how strange the exchange was and said they were sorry for how we had been treated. They also discussed among themselves how they would tell the hostesss right away they were two parties of two so they would not have to go through the same thing. When the manager came out, he spoke with us - and was kind about it - he said he would have the hostess come back to seat us as two parties. While he was speaking she had already seated the family behind us (split up, of course, because they learned from our example). When she came back to us she told us the restaurant was full. She could place us on the wait list as two parties of two to be seated around 6:45 (almost 2 whole hours in the future, well after the end of the happy hour I had been bragging about to my parents). We were angry and felt we had been cheated out of seats, especially since we had arrived very early just to make sure we could be seated. I still opted to put my name on the wait list and left a phone number. We NEVER received a message back, which felt like a particularly low blow - we did end up eating elsewhere. All this occurred on July 5th, attached is evidence we were added to a list but were not contacted again.

We could not believe how poorly the entire thing had been handled. My parents were driving through for one day and I was excited to show them a spot I have frequented and instead was met with a situation that embarrassed me as I felt it poorly represented both the restaurant and the...

Jacqueline's Seafood: A Culinary Splurge with a Fading Spark Jacqueline's Seafood in Portland has long been a go-to for incredibly delicious seafood, a true splurge that's been my chosen spot for birthday celebrations for a couple of years running. They've recently moved just a few blocks up the same street, and while the food remains a highlight, my recent visit left me with mixed feelings compared to the original, more intimate experience. Our first visit to Jacqueline's (at their old, smaller location) was superb in every way. The service was impeccable, and every staff member seemed genuinely to love their job. There was a visible camaraderie and willingness to help one another, regardless of their specific role, which truly elevated the dining experience. It was this vibrant, positive energy that drew me back. Unfortunately, our second visit to the new, larger, and more central location felt different. We waited about 15 minutes to even be greeted, and sure we were early for our reservation, at least acknowledge someone who walks in your establishment. But the hustle was apparent. The previously joyful faces of the staff seemed replaced by more somber or grumpy expressions. It was heartbreaking to see, as that genuine enthusiasm was a significant part of Jacqueline's original charm. While the new building maintains a similar aesthetic, its location in a more populated area undoubtedly brings more traffic, which I understand for business growth. Despite the shift in atmosphere, the food at Jacqueline's remains fantastic. The crab toast is still phenomenal, a must-try. Their menu is somewhat seasonal, but certain "heavy hitters" like the Tom Yum smoked mussels are utterly amazing – if I could only choose one dish, these would be it. Their salads are also delicious. Much stands out in my memory. Scallops, bass, etc. My husband was underwhelmed by their lobster roll. But, the plating is consistently beautiful, colorful, and highlights fresh, seasonal ingredients, making every dish a work of art. One area for improvement I'd suggest is their non-alcoholic drink selection. There aren't many choices, and adding some creative mocktails would be a welcome addition. Jacqueline's is still a destination for exceptional seafood, and I do hope to return with more family members in the future. However, for me, while the food's quality endures, the magic of that initial, cohesive, and joyful team spirit has unfortunately been lost in the move. It's a culinary treat, but I miss the full, vibrant experience the original...

Excellent oysters. Pasta dish of various mushrooms was a bit soupy and I think it's the first time I've experienced a light pasta. (It was a broth.) For $24, it could have been a larger portion. Bottles of wine all started at $60 which is expensive. But all in all a nice experience and would definitely return. Edit July 17, 2024: We returned but we will never bother going back. We had family in town so dutifully lined up at 4:45pm. We were 5 people and the 7th party in line. When it was our turn to be seated we were told our party was too large, and when we said we would split our group to 3 and 2, the hostess said she didn't allow this. We found this (personal rule?) highly petty and nonsensical I mean, what difference does it make to the restaurant? We left, faced a good hour of traffic, and ultimately had a terrible meal. We blamed ourselves for not being prepared. 'We should have been there earlier' we told ourselves. We returned the next night without the fifth family member, and were 4th in line at 4:30. The same hostess came out and announced to the line she had very limited seating this night. We felt our chances were good though because our party size was decreased and we were 4th in line. At 5:15 we were turned away because after seating parties of two, two, and three, the same Hostess said it was an hour and a half wait for four. She was unapologetic, and seemed to delight in her authority, and even said, "I told you earlier it was extremely limited". While true, no one likes an i-told-you-so attitude. She could see we had 85-year old parents waiting in the heat. We felt strongly she could have come out 40 minutes earlier and told us we would definitely not be seated. This is her literal job, no? We will never return to Jacqueline's. The oysters are no better than elsewhere, and when a bottle of wine is a minimum of $60, the oysters are not really the value the line purports to display. Plus, the hostess is incompetent and/or nasty. In a post-covid era where service is mediocre everywhere, why line up to endure her? The line is Jacqueline's marketing tool, and by standing in it, we are being used to promote them. The line is for the young and gullible. We ended up going across town to Eat, a place with no wait for oysters, and had a...