Higgins Restaurant and Bar

My experience over all was an A- and so this should still be interpreted as a good review. Our server was super awkward with no sense of humor and truthfully, he weirded me out. That takes a lot. But the food was delicious, though ever so slightly overpriced. The atmosphere is congenial, almost like you're in a living room. This is a place to take parents and bosses. more

Good food , bad stuffy service .. real attitude on our waiter both times we went .. food rocks more

The best place for this style of menu. Everything is made in house and seasoned perfectly. The service is outstanding and the space is inviting. I've been there with many people including those in the industry and they all would go there again. more

I gather that this restaurant has a well-established reputation, but we weren't aware of it. We've walked past the place many times on our way to nearby concerts and always said, ""let's eat here next time we're in town."" Well, we finally did and I wish we hadn't waited so long. The food was outstanding -- great, fresh ingredients in perfectly balanced combinations, perfectly (not overly) prepared, nicely presented, and served by a staff that was attentive to detail but not smothering. (When booking the reservation, we mentioned that we were attending the concert and that immediately prompted them to say, ""we guarantee to have you out of here by 7:15."" That was representative of the treatment we received from start to finish.) In short, about as near to perfect as you are likely to get. more

A place to go for any event.... it's been around for a long time now. NW food at it's best. more

Came around 9pm and because we already ate dinner, we just wanted glass of wine. Sat at the bar and the atmosphere was just perfect. Decided to split the charcuterie plate and WOW, let me tell you, it was just out of this world. All the pieces were made in the house so the quality was outstanding and everything tasted fantastic. Will be definitely back for dinner. There is seating for casual crowd and seating at the bar, but there is also third category - very elegant area for those who want to have high end experience. This place just has it all! Pros: everything Cons: it is popular place so it gets crowded:( more

this place is well famous. so I went this place with my folks. it was very busy weekend after dinner time. still we could not get a seat, so we got a spot in bar side. that was totally fine because we still can order same dinner menu from bar table. but the waiter who serve our table, he doesn't have any class or manner to respect out folks. I don't know waht is wrong with him, but we got very bad treated.(pu the plate very hard, no water until we asked 3 times,hard to hold him to order to get silverwares) we are not there for free food. we are there enjoy classy dinner, but waiter was so rude and discriminated us. by the way, every single plates we ordered, that was so fantastic. great food, but terreble service! so I am not going back there. Pros: great food. Cons: street parking, waiter was very rude and no manner. more

I have eaten at Higgins numerous times (lunch and dinner) and believe it is one of the best restaurants in Portland. They always seem to use the freshest ingredients and come up with innovative, tasty food. The dining atmosphere is very nice and the servers friendly and professional. Pros: great food & dining experience more

Went in for a quick pint but was surprised buy how great the bar menu was, ended up staying much longer and don't regret a thing. Great beer even greater place, will be returning. Pros: Great Beer menu Cons: Crowded Barstools more

We had dinner here last night before going to Wicked. The service was wonderful, the spinach salad with bleu cheese and squash was to die for! Nice quiet place to enjoy some delicious food and conversation before a show. Pros: Quiet, great service Cons: parking more

Higgins is an institution, it doesn't really need my further support with an online review, but I can't help but mention how amazing dining here is. I've come to rely on a wonderful ambiance, knowledgeable staff, and excellent service every time. The food is universally exquisite and the menu rotates a bit, so I recommend repeat visits. I would specifically recommend (if they have it) the Whole Pig Plate, or really any special (fish especially.) Additionally, the bar/bistro has a terrific menu that is less expensive, but includes an awesome open-faced pastrami and a tasty sirloin burger. Dessert is always a pleasure. If you're looking for a more specific dish recommendations, just ask the wait staff, they have never let me down. Finally, the drink list (wine, beer, liquor) is lengthy and diverse - one of the best selections in town without a question. I am so glad Higgins exists, just thinking about the meals I've had there makes me happy. Pros: Food, service, ambiance, everything really. Cons: Medium pricey - although you get what you pay for. more

Waiter snotty, condescending, overbearing, had to be called every time to get service. Go elsewhere for service. I for one do not believe in paying to be insulted. . Meat was good but side dishes were lacking. more

Hot date or important business, I have never been disappointed. My guests thank me every time for going to this place. Pros: Excellnt value in every sense Cons: awful parking more

It would be Higgins. This food is AMAZING, some of the best I've had in Portland. Perfect for a long leisurely lunch, over a bottle of wine, with food meant to savor and share with people you enjoy. The perfect day, and the perfect meal. Pros: AMAZING food. Cons: That I can't eat here everyday. more

When we first moved to Portland, Papa Hadyn was THE place to go. Everything was prepared with care and was delicious. However, it's just not the same anymore, and I would go as far as to say that Papa is now Poopoo! The same with Portland City Grill! What happened to these once essential Portland establishments? But have no fear, because Higgins is here! Pros: Everything! Cons: Finding street parking can be tricky, especially if there's something going on at one of the nearby performing arts venues. But its still worth the hunt for a parking space! more

It's best to make reservations, it's a small place with a great ambience. It's work casual to a romantic dinner. It's pricey but well worth it for great hospitality and a full tummy! more

We went out for our anniversary and I was not dissappointed. The staff was very friendly and personable; we were treated as if we dined there frequently when it was only our first visit there. The menu is limited but the choices are exceptional. My husband had the duck, which is an item he orders often, and said it was the Best he'd ever had. Also the portions are not small as you might expect with fine dining; my husband was very full and he is hard to fill. I enjoyed the sturgeon which was very flavorful and served with roasted root vegetables. The vegetables were roasted to perfection, very sweet. The sturgeon was cook perfectly; it was juicy and well seasoned. They also offer a decent wine and beer selection. There are plenty of local wines to choose from as well, which I always enjoy. Pros: Great Staff Cons: Parking in the street more

The ambiance was lovely . . . multi-levels give the very small space a larger feel. But when the waiter sets down an item entree menu the place suddenly gets even smaller. This is not a place for finicky eaters. I'll try pretty much anything and even I was having trouble finding something on the menu. Luckily there were three specials that offered more normal choices: a salmon, a flat iron steak (too much salt), and a lamb shank (mine are better). The presentation of the food was gorgeous. The beef steak tomatoes with fresh mozzerella for an appetizer was fantastic; a stack of yellow, green, red, sun-dried, and cherry tomaoes, topped with with fresh mozzerella and drizzled with balsamic vinegar was good to the last bite. So I guess I could say the bookends were the highlights of my meal, because the homemade ice cream and sorbet for dessert were fantastic: real chocolate ice cream and a crisp fresh sorbet. I would return for appetizers and dessert, but only with one or two other people because the space is kind of tight. And don't bring children. Pros: Great Appetizers, Great Desserts Cons: Not enough main course options more

I will first of all say that the desserts were really outstanding. Unfortunately that's not enough to get me to ever return to this restaurant. My husband and I tried it the first time about 7 years ago and were extremely disappointed. At a friend?s urging we returned last weekend and were again disappointed. Pros: Great dessert Cons: Terrible food and service more

My husband and I dined at Higgins last night after a great deal of hesitation. I had read mixed reviews on line and came close to making another establishment our choice for the evening as we had not been to Higgins for a year or so. Finally we thought, damn the reviews, lets decide for ourselves. And are we ever glad we did. Everything was as we had recalled only better because we were enjoying it in the now. The service was excellent and food, fresh, innovative and beautifully presented. One reviewer talked of the proximity of the tables to one another. I can see where the 4 tops might seem a bit tightly spaced but for couples there are a number of 2 tops that offer a great deal more intimacy than most restaurants these days. The dining room was full and the acoustics were fine....we did not think it was overly loud. Portions were plentiful and the salad and beet soup were wonderful starters. We did feel guily turning down dessert but I told the waiter I had a huge birthday cake at home taking up entirely too much real estate in my refrigerator we we had to decline. He was gracious and had just the right amount of wit and smile. Pros: Fresh, Local, Innovative and Simply Presented (no passe' vertical food) Cons: Martini could have been chilled more more