Veritable Quandary

We allowed an hour and a half for dinner but still didn't have enough time to pre-order the special chocolate souffle. How disappointing! Our server was extremely slow (10 minutes with menus closed before we could place an order for appetizers - why wasn't this mentioned when drinks were brought?) Never gave us her name. We had to constantly search for her. Waited 20 minutes between appetizer and dinner (which blew our pre-order time for dessert - takes 30 minutes). She said there was no back up in the kitchen so we had to wonder if she just put the order in late? Now, the food was incredible. I would take fresh, tasty and inspired food over quick service any day. I wouldn't recommend eating here is you have a show to go to or some other time-based engagement. Pros: Inspired food Cons: Really awful service more

Hot tea, great service and great food in a beautiful place! I'm not sure why other reviewers ordered dishes covered in cheese or eggplant covered in a salty sauce and then complained of the dishes coming as they were described on the menu. My family had a lovely experience, we enjoyed the low but not too dark lighting, and the service was excellent. I have food allergies (nothing in the grape or coconut world) and our waiter was polite and quick about checking with the kitchen to see if the pork dish was safe. They left the sauce off and it was delicious! They serve a variety of Numi teas, and the tea came hot, stayed hot, and they brought me more hot water. This is the first non-Japanese restaurant in Portland where I can say this. I love the layout of the place, too. It's clearly grown and expanded in an organic fashion which I find more comfortable than a planned mall look. Lastly, this is a fine dining experience. Bring your wallet with you. If you have questions about the menu, ask! That's what the quality staff are there for, and they *actually* have answers for you or know where to get them. Pros: Parking garage across the street if you drive, ambience, not too noisy Cons: I miss the days of padded chairs and tables to quiet a restaurant. more

A very blah experience. The service was okay, certainly not the best. The food was what really let the side down. It just wasn't that good and everything (apart from dessert which we decided to skip) was covered in Parmesan cheese. When we asked for more bread we were given a plate of end crusts not a slice of bread in sight! Yes, the wine list was extensive but surprisingly there wasn't a single bottle of rose apart from a pink sparkling wine. Terrible ambiance and even worse lighting. more

Ate at the bar: more

This place is definitely becoming a Portland institution, whether for happy hour or a nice dinner, I've never been disappointed. more

As a Portland native, I appreciate this restaurant for growing more beautiful and interesting every year. I sat in the garden this morning for the ""King's Choice,"" a hearty brunch of bacon, eggs, potato cake, and the best french toast I've ever had, surrounded by roses, hollyhocks, anenomes, fucias and the most incredible hanging begonia baskets. This is a place that has evolved into what it is, and so escapes that empty and predictable feeling of carefully designed and marketed business plans. It is very special, and that is why I come back so often, whether for dinner, appetizers and drinks in the bar with friends, or a family brunch like this morning. The continual emphasis on very fresh, very flavorful seasonal produce and seafood is great--I always leave feeling full but with great whole foods--and the burger is sometimes inescapable (the best flavor!). Thank you to the VQ for so many great times! more

This is my first message, but wanted to share my experience with others. Took my family ( a party of eight ), and they seated us in their wine cellar, a separate dining room. It was a great space for all ages, even two year olds. My children appreciate great food and we were not disappointed. The appetizers were unique and tasty as were the entrees. The service was exceptional and look forward to another family gathering there. I would rate the Veritable Quandry as the finest restaurant in Portland. Pros: Wonderful food. Great service. more

Gonna keep it short... Great wine list, even better food, best outdoor patio area in the city!! I also love how the menu constantly changes. Their is always something different to try. See you soon VQ. more

Great local dinning!!! I love the outside seating area. The simple burger offerd, is worth the trip in itself! Pros: Ambience, Food Cons: Size more

The entrees were mediocre and did not come close to justifying the price. The portions were also quite small and leave you hungry. The salads were pretty good, but for 11 bucks, it better be. Our server was unresponsive, slow, and screwed up our party's payment. Many better restaurants for the price, and if you want the location, just take a picnic to the park. Pros: Outdoor seating Cons: city noise, bad service, small portions, over priced, screwed up payment more

\r Love finding a perfect restaurant unlike any other? This little hideaway in a tiny brick building set in a beautiful flower garden, (just one block to the river bank for after dinner stroll), is the most romantic spot in Portland. The food is exceptional and the servings are large. Order the artisan cheese plate appetizer for a real pleasure. So few American restaurants do this well. Beautifully arranged collection of rare & fragrant cheeses, fruit & nuts. It is better than the fine cheese plates I have experienced in European restaurants.\r The spinach and Caesar salads are both wonderful, the calamari light & crisp, the crab fettuccine mouth watering! Go back for weekend brunch and sit in the flower garden for a real treat. The service was just right, attentive and professional. I am a foodie, and this is 5 star! Enjoy!\r Pros: Unique atmosphere, Wonderful cuisine, garden dining, best weekend brunch in town more

This will be either a good or a bad experience. Sometimes they are ""on it"" (food and service) and other times you feel like you have thrown good money away. So face it. Portland is not known for being at the top of their game when it comes to customer service. Many places act like they are doing you a favor by taking your money. I have had wait staff here act like that but i have also had some real professionals. Same with the food. Their specials tend to be pretty good while the regular menu items need help. (This is another chef in Portland who does't know how to make beef tender). However, in the fall they serve a Eggplant/mozzerella/ tomato pesto salad that is out of this world....as good as what i've had in Europe. So i don't go until this item is back on the menu as i know i will have a 'sure thing'. Pros: unreliable Cons: unpredictable more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. You have to try the chocolate souffle, although order it early because it takes a long time to bake. I have to agree that the waitstaff are usually pretty arrogant, and the atmosphere of the place has that ""full-of-itself"" feeling. Even so, the food is worth it. The salads are divine and make you want to eat more healthily all the time; the wine is always incredible; the butter and bread are even spectacular. There is also a gorgeous private wine cellar that you can rent out for parties of 8. This is a must-try Portland restaurant. Pros: Food and wine Cons: Parking and arrogant waitstaff more

Believe the service complaints. I had lunch there without a reservation. We came in very early and the hostess agreed that we ""could"" eat there if we would leave by 12:45. We were very agreeable and planned to leave in plenty of time. We finished eating in about 25 minutes, were presented with the bill, signed it and began a short business meeting. A member of the staff actually came to the table and asked us to leave at 12:10. He said that they ""needed the table because people were waiting to eat!"" more

it has been a long time since i have had a dining experience this pleasurable. i went here for new year's eve, and was a bit concerned that i was able to get a reservation at the last minute. i even stopped by in the middle of the day for a drink at the bar to check out the restaurant atmosphere before crazy new year's eve revellers messed it up. great bricky building with the bar in the front with an atrium-like area for dinner in the back. bar service was slow and the first server i had was somewhat sulky and unresponsive. dinner that night was completely different. our server was amazing and hustled all night. the hostess substituted for the sommelier and provided us with a solid wine choice between two chateau neuf de pape choices. i found that their low-end wines/champagnes/spirits by the glass were horrid. order wines from the middle price range to get the best deals here. food wise, the shellfish was the best part of the tomato bisque with dungeness crab and lobster. the soup was somewhat bland. the gnocchi was the best i have ever had: the potato pasta was a perfect cushion for the flavor of sharp cheese and truffles, then smothered with roasted wild mushrooms and a cream sauce. i licked this platter so clean that i couldn't do justice to the artic char with creamy wild rice that followed. flavors in this dish were tasty but unusual to my palate with the cream, citrus and dungeness crab combination surrounding the fish, which was a bit rare for my liking. i also tried the cassoulet of duck confit, braised lamb and homeade sausage. a wonderful hearty choice for a cold evening. for dessert, i tasted the fried banana fritters (ho-hum, although my partner loved them) but ordered the famous chocolate souffle. the souffle was an artistic treat, and not too sweet, which was a concern. Pros: creative menu, delicious food, great service Cons: any low-end liquor or wine by the glass more

I felt like it is a little over priced given the portion/quantity of food. But, given the ambience and quality of food... I would go back. It is a good place to meet friends. The outside area is fantastic. It is like a little getaway! Pros: Ambience Cons: Price more

Had the pleasure of going to VQ on the morning after our wedding night. We had always known of the good reputation and go there for lunch often for business. But what a great experience this Sunday. Perfect brunch menu and portions, great drinks and service just right. Plus the weather was perfect for sitting out on the patio. Everything was perfect. Even if we were still in wedding bliss, it is rare mowadays that you have a dining experience with no flaws. more

I haven't eaten at VQ for any other meals, but I had their brunch last Sunday and it was super. I ordered the housemade spicy Italian sausage. The sausage came with eggs, mozzarella, and potato cakes. All of the items were delctable. My friends ordered the Kings Choice breakfast which came with eggs, bacon, and french toast. They were happy because it took care of the dillemma of choosing to order a sweet or savory breakfast. Good job VQ. I'll have to pay a visit for dinner. Pros: Tasty brunch Cons: Parking more

First, there's not a more beautiful garden-like setting than VQ! Their food has been good each time I have visited, my favorite has always been the cheeseburger. I dream about it! Love the wine list, love the people watching, and the location is great. From time to time service could be a bit better, but they are a busy place, so you should expect to wait a bit sometimes if you want to go to a popular restaurant. All in all, a consistent, pleasant, and well-priced experience. Pros: Ambiance, Food Cons: Crowded more

The food was good and the atmosphere was nice once we got seated. However we barely saw our waitress and she was really harried. more