Siam Society

The food is excellent, but it's not worth the appalling customer service. I went there on a Friday night with two friends, one of whom is six months pregnant, and we were told they would come get us next door at Bink's in a half-hour when our table was ready (Cool!) Ten minutes later, they came and got us. We rushed to finish our drinks and headed over to Siam Society, but when we got there, they had already given away our table. The wait staff apologized and told us we had the next available table, but then when the next table was free, they gave it away to someone else with a reservation. They told us for sure we would get the next table. A half hour later, another table freed up and they gave it away to someone else with a reservation. An hour-and-half after we first arrived, we were still standing waiting for a table. Another table freed up, and they gave it away again, so we ended up walking out and going to the Thai restaurant two doors down, which seated us immediately and gave us prompt service. This was my second bad experience at Siam Society. On a previous visit, we were told soon after we finished dinner that our table was needed, and if we moved to the patio, they would give us a free drink. Very bad form to be rushed away after you've just dropped a lot of $$ on dinner. more

We went without a reservation and the place was packed. To my surprise, waiting was no big deal, as we were told to go over to the bar next door and they would personally come get us when our table was ready. Once we were seated, the expereince just kept getting better and better. The food is amazing (try the yellow curry with crispy catfish), the staff is awesome, and the space itself is unbeatable. more

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I live in the Alberta nieghborhood and visit this restaurant on a weekly basis. I really like the bartender Don and the staff is always friendly to me. I always order a ginger lime cosmo and Khao Soi for dinner. I think it's the best restaurant in Portland. At least it's my favourite...for now. I love the happy hour, I love the private courtyard. It's a wee bit more expensive than your average Thai noodle shop, but you're paying for atmosphere and better food quality. If it were my restaurant I would hire more staff on the weekends, as it gets a little busy and sometimes the bartender gets burried in drinks. I'm suprised he stays so calm. Sometimes it's also a little too warm inside for me. Also, the courtyard gets filled up really early, so if you're looking to sit outside, make sure you make a reservation for the courtyard or get there early enough. Enjoy it, I do! Pros: Excellent food, drinks and service Cons: Gets very busy on the weekends. more

The first time I went to this chic NE hotspot, everything was magnificent. Charming service, great atmosphere, delightful cocktails and wonderful food. I was thrilled to have a higher-end restaurant in my neighborhood and raved about it to friends. However, the most recent time was very disappointing. Although the service was initially wonderful, the food was a significant issue. Our calamari and my prawns were grossly oversalted and my friend's beef was overcooked (she asked for it medium and it came well done). When she sent it back, it returned raw in the middle (essentially seared). I'm going to hope that this was an off night for the Chef and give the place another try - it would be a shame to lose this on my list of Alberta favorites. more

Best food I've had in Portland yet with a great atmosphere and terrific service from our waiter. Ask Jered! He's great! They make killer cocktails too. Try the adventurous dishes, you won't be disappointed. Our waiter recommended the Kao Soy and Seared Scallops in Dende oil. Amazing food. Go there. This is definitely a destination restaurant. Pros: Ask for Jered's service! Great wine and cocktails. Amazing outdoor courtyard. Cons: Street parking. Can be very busy and packed to the gills on the weekends. Make reservations! more

I realize that most people might dine here because of the atmosphere. But, I found that the food was okay and I would rather be in a restaurant with an average atmosphere with excellent food. With all the thai restaurants in the Portland area I found the food here to be more trendy than tasty. I'm not saying it wasn't good. It just wasn't worth the price tag! If you are looking to impress a date, sure go to Siam Society. If you are looking for great Thai food, find another establishment. I have been taken on plenty of romantic and fun dinners that tasted much better than this! If you are the ""trendy"" type...then Siam Society is for you! Pros: Atmosphere Cons: Price & Food more

From the chic/ industrial and yet still comfortable interior, to the lovely patio and building facade - best cocktails - house infused vodkas - out of this world curried catfish - unbelievably delicious homemade cardamon icecream - and would you like coffe with that ? Is an americano okay - we don't have brewed? NOW WE ARE TAlkin'!!! Service - a little spotty depending on who you get - there is a silver haired handsome man with a Leedle beed a additude - everyone else is great though - including the owner... the prices are completely reasonable for what you get. If you want the lowkey neighborhood Thai restaurant with dinner for two under $30.00 - don't go here. If you want an overall wonderful dining experience that fills up all the corners for a little over twice that with tip - do the Siam Society! Pros: everything! Cons: one waiter could be less stuffy/more friendly more

For this neighborhood it is a nice resturant to have, but don't go expecting a fine dining experience. The decor is great, just like you are in the pearl. The cranberry vodka cosmos were SUPER sweet, I felt like I was sucking a sugarbeet. Then the wine I ordered was bad. The food was pretty good, the hazelnut spring rolls were delicious but GREASY. Service was ok. I will go back to hang out at the bar. Nice patio too. Pros: The patio and art Cons: The drinks more

Everything about this restaurant was designed with beauty in mind...starting with the food! We had such a great time there the other night. We sat out on the patio and listened to the live etheral cello player sooth the hot evening into a delirous and relaxed atmosphere. We arrived around 7:30pm and sat in awe of the surroundings and nibbled on the Pulled Pork Spring Rolls, which were laced with vanilla bean and cinamon. The pork was reduced in a white wine that made these spring rolls unlike anything I've ever had in my life. Exquisite! I think they must put some kind of narcotic in them to make them addictive. We also had a cocktail with ginger infused vodka. You could see little infused cranberries and muddled ginger floating in the drink. It was amazing. My girlfriend had a brazilian cachaca drink with muddled limes and sugar cane. Another perfect drink. For entrees we had the Painted Hills Grilled Steak (best I've had in Portland) and a dish called Smoked Laad Na....also very tasty. We couldn't eat another spoonful, except the waiter brought us the dessert list and we had to try the Chocolate-Chili ice-crem. Wow, what an incredible concoction. At first it was just like a really cremy chocolate Ice Crm (apparently the proper spelling is not allowed on AOL..it's too suggestive), then about 15 seconds later the smoky chilies would surprise you. You had to keep eating it to cool you down, but it kept getting hotter. Wierd, but amazing! We loved our experience there. We will definitely be back soon. Pros: Everything was perfect that evening Cons: Not open for lunch? more

Visually this restaurant is ruff, with the concrete wall with chunks out and an old power master box, in contrast of the lovely long rounded leaded windows. It was raining when our party of 7 was there so we missed the lovely garden experience which we had intended. The food was very good. I loved the spring rolls(such flavor!). The service was good, although I didn't like the passive agressive attitude of the waiter. He picked up all the plates right over my head, which was rude and I believe he knew that, since I turned up to face him questioning it with a look. It was a birthday celebration for me and another and that put a damper on it a little for me. Would I try again? Yes because the food and atmosphere were lovely. Pros: good food, nice atmosphere, garden seating Cons: parking at times hard more

I ate here with a group of friends for the first time a few weeks ago. The drinks were stellar, the food was marvelous and the staff could not possibly have been nicer. It's a lovely space, inside and out (check out the patio) and I look forward to dining there again soon. Pros: ambience, nice staff, delicious food more

I love Thai food. I love upscale dining. I love late night Happy Hour. I did NOT like this place. The food was terrible! It's like Alberta's attempt to bring in some Pearl District. That's fine. Whatever. But the curry was just spicy, not interesting. The pad thai was sour. The beer prices are great during Happy Hour, but the food prices are the same that I would spend going to a neighborhood Thai place, eating regular size portions and yummy food. I think I'll skip Siam Society next time. Pros: cool space, happy hour beer Cons: lackluster food, over priced, snooty more

Overrated. Food here is pricy, but very tasty. I've had as good and better at less expensive Thai restaurants. Thai ice tea is very mediocre, avoid. A little bit warehousey inside though fairly quiet. Strange background music. Nice patio. Service extremely slow, not very attentive. Pros: Great Food, Nice Patio, quiet Cons: Pricy, Bad Thai Ice T, Slow, Unattentive Ser, Mediocre Aesthetics more

The food is GREAT and well worth the wait but they are a little slow getting it to you. Pros: Food, Building Cons: Parking more

We went the same night as they were featured in The Oregonian (just by chance) and they were PACKED. The waiter (possibly the owner???) was so gracious. Apologetic for the ""wait"". (It was maybe 4 minutes). We had appetizers and drinks for Girls Night Out and we were BEYOND impressed. The lighting, the music, the building, the service...all amazing. Definitely a new favorite with us. Pros: food, service, AWESOME happy hour Cons: not open Mondays, parking not ALWAYS ea more

Beautiful building, amazing atmosphere. Great food. Good service. Amazing happy hour. I would highly recommend this restaurant, especially to those looking for weekend and late night happy hour. I can't wait to go back again and bring more friends. Pros: atmosphere, happy hour, presentation more

Fantastic in every way. You can taste the freshness of the ingredients, which I think is important for Thai food. Great, attentive service. A real treat. Be sure to save room for dessert. They had this rice and ice cream dish that blew me away! I bet this restaurant will be a big hit! Pros: Great food, Great Service, Nice ambience more

I've been hearing about Siam Society for a couple of months, but since I work in a local restaurant I don't get out too often. I've always liked Thai food, but I've always thought most were lacking certain je ne sais quoi. This is definitely true for the other noodle shops on Alberta Street. As a professional chef, I wouldn't give much thought to ever working for one of these other hole in the walls...unless I get desperate. After experiencing Siam Society, I have changed my mind about Thai food! I would would be proud to work here. The food is of a professional quality that really pushes the envelope for cuisine from this part of the world. I've always known that there must be high end food from every culture on the planet, but I've never experienced it from Thailand. Now I have. Congratulations Siam Society. I'm very impressed. Pros: professional Service, Professional Food, Exquisite environment Cons: Unlit Sign, Hard to find, No industry night more

I went to Siam Society for a date with my wife. When we walked in, there were only 2 other people were in the restaurant. The appetizers came 40 minutes after we ordered them. The service was sloppy. Our waiter didn't approach us once even though he clearly saw us sitting there waiting for our food though he checked on other tables. We were also sat at a table that had a pool of water underneath it. The food was disappointing. Pad Thai was so sour my wife could not eat more than two bites, even though she was starving. My curry was not good. The calamari was overcooked with no 'bounce' to it. The vegetarian rolls were ok. Overall, we spent a lot of money and got bad service and disappointing food. What a let down as we were really excited about this restaurant. Pros: Vegetarian Friendly Cons: Service, Long Wait, Expensive more