23 Hoyt

I loathe going up to 23rd ave., it feels like a shopping mall and its charming olde streets have been stripped of any soul. When 23 Hoyt opened that all changed. First off - Chris Israel?s menu is perfectly balanced, with executed classics and bold new dishes existing together harmoniously. On two recent trips some deceptively simple dishes blew me away. There were four of us at the table between us we had the mussels (amazing blue mussels with a delicate saffron broth over linguini), the chicken on cracked wheat with yogurt and herbs (simple but worth it), the rabbit - plated beautifully - nested in a pile of pappardelle and rich sauce and the pork paired beautifully with plums. The meal was warm, layered with flavor, surprising and better than one could imagine. On my second visit, I ordered a smoky eggplant soup and a Greek salad of heirloom tomatoes, and peppers. On both occasions our server was attentive without being cloying, the staff does a great job at giving you white tablecloth service without the attitude or loftiness. I could go on and on, this is simply some of the most honest and delicious food I have ever had. Pros: service, style, substance Cons: wimpy drinks more

My partner and I came in for dinner on Saturday were amazed how quickly and warmly we were greeted considering how busy it was (200 people?) The space looked great and piano music was a nice touch.\r The service was courteous and freindly and my entree of Beef Tenderloin and local beets was superb. My partners swordfish was slightly pedestrain but stil good. It was overall, an elegant dining experience Pros: Dining Space, Service Cons: n/a more

Had a wonderful Thursday evening with another couple on a Thursday at 23 Hoyt which was nice but not necessarily ?unparalleled? as what their web site claims and some of the other reviews mention.\r \r Received great service, the first bottle of wine (Chianti Reserva), caesar salad, desert (and desert wine) was excellent. The appetizers were average and the second bottle of wine that was recommend was marginal. Overall I thought that the main entree?s (pork, halibut and rabbit) was good but overcooked and bland. \r \r As for the restaurant decor, very nice and a good place to meet friends with the ability to carry on a conversation. \r \r It was fun trying a new place with close friends and might give 23 Hoyt another chance. In reading the other reviews, hopefully the second time we will not get the ?B? team. I would have rated this experince higher to but miss on each entree is a big miss in my book - plus never serve marginal wine. more

Being a frequent visitor of Portland (I live in SF) and I try to keep up on the best new place to try while in town. I read about this place in Gourmet a few months back and finally had the chance to try it out. I was so impressed. The food was so perfect and the dining room was so pretty. It has been a long time since I have been to a restaurant this ""together"". I am looking forward to coming back for round 2 of my favorite new Portland spot. more

This is one amazing restaurant! Interesting, perfectly-prepared food, pleasant / unpretentious service and candle-lit ambiance. As a vegetarian, finding upscale dining can be a challenge. But I was able to have a veritable feast here. Super-tasty roasted eggplant soup with lemon cream (and I don't normally like eggplant!), amazing grilled artichokes with aioli and the most perfect potatoes. The spinach salad with garbanzos and feta was lovely and the cherry crisp (with local bing cherries) was absolutely amazing!! I was also impressed that they serve free-range meat and seem to focus on sustainable, locally-sourced food. The blood-orange martini is my new favorite drink! So I'll definitely be back!! more

After having a good experience at 23 Hoyt on our first trip, we recently had perhaps the worst service that I have been subjected to in many years in our second, and probably last trip there. Even though it was a fairly slow Tueday night, we were stuck for over 3 hours with nearly an hour before our first course arrived. Another hour elapsed before our mediocre entrees arrived. Our server did not seem to be overwhelmed, but she was utterly inattentive throughout the evening. Becuase there are so many other places to choose from in this market, I doubt we will take another chance on 23 Hoyt! more

I just went to happy hour for the first time this past week at 23 Hoyt and it was fantastic. I have been for dinner many times and always love the food. Their happy hour is by far one of the best in the city. It is certainly the place to be for delicious little plates, great drinks and really good service. Pros: Free valet + great menu Cons: closed monday more

We went to this place when it was Balvo, and recently as 23 Hoyt. To us the food seemed about the same. I was not impressed with anything as I would have been if I were at Carlyle, or Lucy?s Table etc. At 23 Hoyt, nothing made me want to go again. The atmosphere at this restaurant is not very memorable either. I would not recommend due to the fact there are so many better places in Portland. Pros: Valet parking more

Great food and great sevice. It was the most enjoyable meal I've had in a long time. It sounds simple but not a lot of places pull it off. more

This place is romantic, the food is fantastic and the staff gives you just the right amount of attention. It was just the right place to set a perfect mood and tone for a great first date. Pros: Great service and wonderful food. more

We went to the restaurant on a Friday night for the first time. It was crowded, a bit on the noisy side (but it was a Fri night), but it wasn't too difficult to hear the conversation at our table of 4 people. Our table was somewhat up a couple of stairs and in a corner, so we were away from the main bar crowd. The atmosphere was very high energy and hip. The appetizers of either duck, soup or pear salad were wonderful. For the entrees, we had either the fish, duck or pork. The pork was OK, not great (a bit dried out), but the fish and duck were terrific. Desserts were OK, not great. The wine list is extensive and except for a few Italian reds in the $40 range, the prices were very high especially for the OR pinot noirs. The service was outstanding (we were not rushed) and the waiter brought the correct glasses for the two reds we purchased. Hooray for a restaurant that actually knows the correct wine glasses to use! Overall, we enjoyed ourselves and the food was terrific and I highly recommend the restaurant. Pros: good value, great food, good service, parking on the street or valet Cons: somewhat noisy on a Fri night, mediocure desserts more

I had a great time upstairs, the food was delicious and the service was wonderful. Nice wine list too!\r I really recommend this place! more

It is almost spring and 23Hoyt is only place to spend spring (and all of summer) sipping margaritas. It is on the top of their house cocktail list and is aptly titled the Margarita 23. It is made with Patron Citronge, Horonitos and fresh lime juice squeezed to order -served on the rocks! It is simply sublime! more

I dined at 23Hoyt recently and was mostly very pleased. I had the lamb, which was amazing...served with an olive tapenade, potato gratin , and spinach, it probably one of the best I've had in Portland. The ambiance is great and the service was wonderful. My only complaint is the poorly stocked bar. I ordered a Beefeater martini and the server told me that they were out of it that night. I changed to a Tanqueray martini. The server returned a short time later to tell me that they had run out of Tanqueray as well. In addition when my dining partner wanted to order another passion fruit cosmo, the server told us the bar was out of passion fruit puree. So, again a lovely place, but sort of disappointing they can't keep a fully stocked bar. What happened to back stock? Pros: Beautiful food and great service. Cons: Might be hard to get the booze you want. more

We just got back from 23Hoyt and wanted to let you know what a great time we had. It was our first time there, a birthday celebration. When I called for a reservation I mentioned that my husband preferred a more private setting. They gave us a wonderful table by the window, very private and yet we had great service and it was a fun spot for people watching both inside and outside. Very romantic, candles.........etc. \r We had the Lamb and Duck, I have never had better, and the Butterscotch desert was unbelievable. \r Finally, you will not regret a trip to the lav, if you like loud latin dance music- like I do. Hope you get a chance to go soon. more

Living within walking distance of 23 Hoyt allows me the pleasure to dine there with a fair amount of regularity and I've never been disappointed! The mussles are in a heavenly broth that you must have some bread left over to sop it all up.... oh.... and save room for the cream cake! My only advice: they should add a few more entree selections. Pros: Friendly service every time, consistent dishes Cons: Expensive cocktails (but who isn't doing that these days!) more

After look at the menu, I chose a variety of small plates and like the other reviewer we found the calamari delicious. Quite inventive it was cooked with a kind of green and matched to mussels in saffron and a superb soup, it went well with fresh baked bread and a great Pinot Noir. As with reviews the only downside was uneven service and timing when dishes were brought quickly before finishing a course, and after a long wait for dessert and coffee. Still, I rate it a go again. And, because of it's location on the corner of Hoyt and NW 23rd; it'll take time to search for street parking with a pay lot in back. However, it's always an enjoyable walk through a trendy spot on the map. Pros: Beautiful modern contemporary decor and separate dining rooms. Cons: Timing of dishes when hot foods were brought to crowding the table, later waiting for coffee more

Had dinner with some friends on Saturday night and I was really impressed with the great food. We just about covered the menu and everyone was happy. We shared the Risotto, and then I had some braised\r calamari, just because I had never had it prepared that way before, and it was really delicious. The chicken was perfectly prepared and served and all my friends thought their entrees were just great. The\r service was as efficient as anyone could ask for. We are making plans to go back very soon. Pros: food Cons: parking more

""There who believe in reincarnation believe that your new life depends on how you lived the prior life. Not so 23 Hoyt in the former Balvo site on 23rd. This reincarnation should prove to be a permanent resident in Nob Hill. On a recent visit we were struck by the absolute friendliness of the staff from the free valet parking to the cheerful hostess who obviously loves the restaurant. She positively beamed and that set the right tone for the evening. An exampe of the competent wait staff is Jim Constantine who had only been at 23 HOYT for 6 weeks. He expertly discussed the wines and every dish with the subtleties you would expect if you were talking the chef. As a result each selection made at the table was exactly what one had hoped. The courses were timed perfectly. Of particular note was the Moroccan Ahi tartare with avocado, charmoula and lemon appetizer. A slightly spicy but perfect blend of a very fresh sushi grade tuna and avocado. Every flavor blended perfectly and the portion was substantial. The caesar salad was very flavorful but be warned that if you are sensitive to anchovies you might find it?s presence noticeable. The grilled chicken has a wonderful marinade of saffron, ginger, garlic and other spices. It could have benefitted from 7 minutes less in the oven but the flavors that stayed with the meat after cooking overcame even that little problem. All the entree?s on our night looked good but the tossup was between the Shortrib Goulash and the Lamb with tepenade. The Lamb won and it was very good choice. Perfectly cooked and trimmed. Even the creamy potato gratin was a taste treat. Each slice begged you to take another. Then there was the Tuscan Cream Cake for dessert. An absolute marvel of thin moist cake layers with a light but flavorful cream between each slice. If there was a ""perfect cake"" in heaven, this would be it. Kudos to Bruce Carey. Pros: Good portions and wonderful flavors Cons: None so far more

Congrats to 23hoyt for finding that magical zone offering fabulous food, tasty cocktails with a kick, actual personality from the waitstaff, and room to breathe and find it's own style from the overall concept.\r \r New Years was just fabulous there, as the overall vibe was magical. Friendly, professional & top notch throughout. Kudos!! Pros: Service with personality & professionalism. Cons: Parking, if free valet isn't used. more