The East Ender — Restaurant in Portland

I have mixed feelings about this restaurant in its current incarnation.

On one hand, the food is very good, and I enjoy it. As someone who's into veg/hybrid recipes, imagine my surprise that the tartare and burger are my favorite selections on the menu!

On the other, the service has been absolutely terrible, almost every time, in the 4 times we have been there. Plus, you get the inevitable friends of the kitchen staff, at the bar, who distract the kitchen staff, and general lack of care in managing service and/or customer satisfaction, that make me want to go someplace else. As someone who has worked in restaurants professionally, experiencing a restaurant that's MARGINAL, at best, service-wise, then seeing its staff congregated about the bar is a MAJOR turn off. Does anyone manage this place?

I just spent 113 + tip at this restaurant. I can spend the same at a number of other popular local restaurants, and receive far better service. If this restaurant was smart or good on any level, they would have up settled us promptly on our chit, since on this an off night, and with the proper service for drinks and food, our base would have been 160+.

Ever wonder why other restaurants are killing it on a Wednesday, at peak time, when East Ender is practically empty? Case closed. You have to manage your service better, or...

What an incredible place to eat and drink. Starting with our amazing server Ethan and some of the best cocktails we tried in the city. Highly recommend "The Bee's Knees, Babe". As it does wonders to an already delicious gin. Ended up with the cheese board to share and wasn't disappointed with their cheese selection, which comes from a local shop, however it could've used more crackers or bread to backup the plenty of cheese. Dinner was the star of the show for us. The smokestack burgers were perfectly cooked and some of the best my friends have tested. The pork chops were seasoned and fried to perfection, only made better by their "apple compote." But the best dish and the one I will come back for, was surprisingly the chickpea patty melt. Whoever decided to take a chickpea fritter, so good it that it could be served on its own, and throw it on a bed of caramelized goodness just to smother it in a rich cheese sauce deserves a raise. But to take this so called "patty melt" even further and serve it on the most beautiful slice of French "sandwich bread", truly made the meal. And yes it can be made vegan. And yes, you can get dessert to go. The chai bread pudding was quite good.

We will definitely be coming back when we are...

Had a pretty bad first experience. First off, some jerk douchey patron called me an idiot (per my significant other already inside) when I was looking down cleaning off my boots and missed the "use other door sign" affixed to the window seven feet above ground, and commented on how I couldn't read. (To note, the correct door to use says "lounge upstairs" so it's a touch misleading, thinking that's the lounge door).

Slow service. There are six tables. We were the latest of four taken tables total (mostly parties of two). Got ignored for the couple that came in after us, no big deal. Finally got order in. Waited on drinks. The party with jerkface was sat a short while afterwards, ordered wine, and server literally went to pour it right away. Still no drink. Asked again, it was obviously forgotten. Bloody Mary made with fish oil or something, so it was gross, unfortunately.

Seemed overwhelmed with the four tables, now adding a fifth, so the overall feel was just that we were an annoyance. Food was okay, nothing special. Fries and Brussels Sprouts were actually pretty good. We were there because of the long wait next door, and cold weather. Last time we'll make...