Meal and appetizers were delish. Husband had veggie burger and said it was okay. I had gnocchi and it was delish! Service blah. Barley can hear waiter speak. Wasn't really happy to be there. Drinks Great so good. Nice and strong. Restaurant it's self is good place to try
(4)
Nicole C.
This place is great! The food was fantastic- everything local and fresh and very flavorful. My guests and I were not disappointed with one thing... besides our server. If I could give the food 5 stars I would but the service we received, I would say, deserved 1 star. I won't name any names but the guy was very pompous and aloof and really left a bad taste in our mouths. He was not warm or welcoming- very cold and borderline rude; so much so that he rolled his eyes at us when we asked to split the bill between two cards. All of the other staff we encountered were super friendly and accommodating but he was just a sour puss, which really is unfortunate when the food is really great. I would go back but honestly would request not to have this guy as our server again. If you're going to be in the service industry at least act like you are happy to help your customers!!
(4)
Eric N.
I'm a newly minted vegetarian. After two days of getting dragged to restaurants that treated me like a second class citizen, or an afterthought... When I saw the menu here I knew that I was WELL considered. Absolutely Vegetarian Friendly! A sumptuous meal that felt deeply satisfying. I had the grilled Tofu, it was well seasoned, the mashed potatoes it was served on were delicious and it looked fantastic. It was served like state, complete, and filling. Something I've been having a hard time with lately. Our waitress was lovely and the space was soooo cosy and intimate. Other restaurants take note! This is how you do it!
(5)
Julia L.
The food was great, Todd was not. I had high hopes for this place and decided to reserve a table to celebrate my anniversary with my boyfriend. We were seated and I made a joke to the waiter about getting accidental drunk at the Burnside Brewery while waiting. I in fact didn't even finish a beer. Upon making this quip our waiter, Todd, stated that it was illegal for him to serve me and that he could be fined $10k for serving someone while drunk. I felt extremely uncomfortable with his comment bc I clearly had all of my faculties about me and was simply making a joke. He apparently did not take it as such. Todd washed his hands of us and we were then served by a different waitress. Todd served all of the surrounding tables. This was a terribly uncomfortable setting and I felt judged there. Thankfully, our food was phenomenal and we got a good laugh out of this awkward experience. Also, shout out to the sweet waitress who took our order.
(4)
Rich H.
Food was excellent. Service was poor. Brie is amazing, pickled veggies average, fritters light and tasty. Ravioli highly recommended
(3)
Lauren P.
This is a place I have wanted to go to for so long! Finally made it here on a date night and wasn't disappointed. The bones of the old house make it fun to look around and ponder it's past. The food was all delicious. There were some large groups here but I wouldn't say its a great place for groups.
(4)
Kristina D.
We came here with friends on a visit to Portland. We called Saturday night, but they were fully booked up and we couldn't even make a reservation. We ended up with a reservation for Sunday night via Yelp, and they were still fairly busy. We arrived early and the hostess greeted us right away and offered to seat us at the bar while we waited for the rest of our party. The hostess, bartender, and servers were all friendly. We didn't get any sort of judge-y stares even though this seemed like a fancier restaurant and we were pretty casually dressed since we'd been out shopping all day. We also had a baby in our party, and they were very accommodating. Overall, the service was quite good. For appetizers, we ordered the pickle plate (pickled mushrooms, beets, fennel), the fritters, and the clams and fries. Everything was delicious. The fritters were actually pretty light for being deep-fried and the clams were very fresh. For the main course, we had the ravioli, the trout, the risotto cakes, the gnocchi. Everyone really enjoyed their food and the portions were decent-sized. I had the ravioli in brown butter which had great flavor and wasn't too heavy. We liked that there were a lot of veggie and even vegan options, but there were meat and seafood dishes, as well. People are saying that it's pricey, and I guess if you're expecting a true cafe, maybe it would seem so. This place reminds me of Flea Street Cafe in Menlo Park, which is the same general concept of fresh, local, organic and well-prepared food and makes a bigger impact on your wallet. So, to me, this place doesn't seem overly expensive at all. We didn't order desserts since nothing seemed really special but the appetizers and food were interesting and tasty enough for me to recommend this place to others. I guess the only cons would be the dessert options weren't great and the lighting was quite dark. I suppose that it was meant to be that way to be more intimate and elegant, but I felt like I could have used just a wee bit more light to read menus, etc.
(4)
Adam R.
Found this place because of it's awesome yelp reviews and close proximity to my hotel, and it is definitely a find! In my usual fashion for eating on business trips I sat at the bar where I received excellent service. My Order Cocktail - Bonny Star - If you like scotch or whiskey and don't want something to too sweet you will like this, it was tight up my alley. White Bean and Cabbage Soup - A lot like a Minestrone, warmed me up nicely. Lamb Meatballs & Taragon Tagliatelle - This was 90% awesome, the meatballs, sauce, and homemade pasta where the highlight of my day! The only drawback to me is inclusion of radicchio (which can can be really bitter and was here). However I want to say that because everything else about the dish was so delectable I decided to eat around the radicchio. My suggestion would be to change that ingredient out for something more palatable. (Maybe for some of those wild mushrooms I saw on the polenta cakes, that dish looked amazingly good). Despite the use of a hated ingredient (I'm sure there are people out there who like it), this place is totally cool. I was looking at what other people were ordering and you will probably want to save room for the CHOCOLATE SUFLE, which I sadly was not able to do:(. The bartenders are great at suggesting drinks, so I would engage them if you are in the bar.
Loved this place! Had to make reservations - pretty easy - luckily there were plenty of spots since it was a Thursday evening at 6 pm. The server was super friendly, patient, knowledgable. There are vegetarian options and you can request items to be vegan (they omit the cheese). Pretty rad! That night their soup of the day was French Onion, which was made with veggie broth, nice! We ordered the following: Curried Cauliflower Fritters (tasty), Baby Lettuce Salad with Pickled Ramps (yum), Fried Polenta Cakes with Seasonal Veggies and Morels (yum!), Veggie Burger with Fries (yum but heavy). To drink I ordered the Duke of Earl -- super tasty! It consisted of Earl Grey tea infused Monopolowa vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup and lavender tincture, served on the rocks with a lemon twist. My bf ordered the Huston, which was supposed to be spicy but he said it wasn't at all (I tried it too, and agree) - Black peppercorn-infused Buffalo Trace bourbon*, Bonal Quina-Gentiane, and honey syrup served on the rocks with a lemon twist. Sadly, we didn't order dessert since they have vanilla soy ice cream (vegan)!
(5)
High S.
Completely unsatisfying, bland and disappointing. Someone brought me here after raving about the dishes. I was expecting something that matched the hype and quickly realized they were easily satisfied by complex descriptions. Balance is a big part of successful dishes and these are completely off.
(1)
Linda H.
The clams are amazing and the Brie is also amazing. Be sure to start with those. I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious the food is here. The back outdoor seating area is great for a clear and warm night. The clams with lamb sausage is savory and left me mopping up the broth with the bread. The brie was creamy, savory, sweet and perfectly baked. The sliced apples added a nice sweetness and I drizzled that all over the bread to soak up the flavors. Their smoked salmon ravioli was delicious and came with a creamy sauce which complemented it perfectly. I'm pretty particular when it comes to how I like fish and I loved their pan fried trout. It was perfectly salted and very crispy. I just wish they served it with something other than lentils. The pinot gris served in a carafe complemented everything really well. Overall, I really loved this place. Next time, I will definitely try their chocolate souffle.
Delicious dinner. I brought colleagues (one from LA and one from NY) and they both loved it. Sat outside and enjoyed a great meal, great wine. Good veggie options too!
(5)
LJ B.
Came for a birthday dinner. We had reservations. It was fine but the service was not good. We were ready to spend some money but I don't even think we were offered a dessert menu. They do have a fair amount of vegetarian food, so that was good, but it was not amazing and whenever I have crappy service in what is supposed to be a fancy restaurant that makes me think the food is not good even when the food probably is.
(3)
Mandy S.
Portandia has a ton of highly rated restaurants but I highly recommend this for anyone who loves veggies fresh from the farm. This place has a nice rustic, candlelit charm with a cute outdoor patio style dining area. The menu is short and simple with special items of the day. We got 2 of the items from the specials: - Curry carrot soup with paprika orange oil: This soup was pureed to a creamy consistency with just the right blend of ingredients. The orange oil highlighted the curry and complimented the pieces of toasted baguette. This soup would be yummy served cold as well! -Albacore Salad- perfect portion to share before the main course! I loved every bite of this as well! there was a generous serving of albacore on top of a heaping pile of spring greens and unique blends of lettuces I've never tried. I loved that it contained farm plucked plants - it tasted sweet and crunchy! The apricots were marinated in a nice vinagrette and in the darkness I thought it was a farm fresh tomato that made it so sweet and juicy. I exclaimed this to the server and she said "those are actually apricots" lol whatever else is in that salad, I want the recipe! -we also shared the infamous Food Network "best thing I've ever ate" Veggie Burger which was a vegan pattie made from eggplant and other tastebud enlightening ingredients. The bun was perfectly toasted/homemade and the olive oil was infused through every bite. by the end of the dinner, I was happy and in a state of veggie nirvana.
(5)
Nicole S.
I came for a birthday dinner with my dearest carnivorous friend and vegetarian friend, both were impressed with the assortment of options and very pleased with their meals. I was the impossible customer that came in on a Saturday night during the holiday season without a reservation and a handful of requests. The staff was exceptionally accommodating and gave me a delicious slice of chocolate carrot cake with a candle. The bar is tucked back behind the main dining hall and is the perfect mix of comfort and class with strategic lighting and insulation from the noise of the kitchen and main dining. All in all, highly recommend.
(5)
Ashwini T.
This place has okay food and good cocktails ; not great food. It had good vegetRiAn options but flavorless. The food does not give you a wonderful mouth of flavors or fresh tasting veggies. The mushrooms were blah, the gnooich was not special and polenta didn't have any flavor. If you are looking for great food I would skip this place.
(2)
Patrick M.
Great gem on the east side. Really fresh, lovely farm to table dining that's a bit of a secret and that's just fine with me. Wonderful vegetarian options- a top three pick in my book for a special occasion. Their tempeh stuffed pepper recently was divine. The service here is a tad off, but they seem to know what they're doing either way :) I prefer to go in the summer and sit in the back part of the restaurant as the front half is nice but leaves something to be desired.
(5)
Stefanie N.
Small yet seasonal delicious menu.
(4)
Travis N.
Beautiful atmosphere, staff who care, AMAZING Food. Quality quality quality. I would go back in a heartbeat, this restaurant is phenomenal.
(5)
Vivian H.
I love cheese. I love Brie. I love baked Brie. This is the best baked Brie I have ever had. The big block of cheese with toasted sugar, hazelnuts, and blueberry (or whatever is in season) sauce on top... Heavenly. Super rich and kinda too sweet but if you take it as a dessert it's perfect. Even the baguette (Ken's) was good. Pair that baby with a couple cocktail from their creative menu and you are good to go. Was kinda sad we had to go get dinner elsewhere bc their menu and all the dishes I saw coming out of the kitchen looked bloody amazing.
(5)
Ryan S.
Meh. Food was good, but skimpy, oversalted, and overpriced. The service was incredibly rushed, even though there was nobody waiting for a table. The host was downright rude. It seemed like all the staff did a big line of blow before we walked in. There's much better options in Portland, especially in that neighborhood.
(3)
Sandy A.
Delicious! These guys know how to cook. I had the green beans and the squash appetizer with oregano. Wow!
(4)
Christina B.
Pros: - Vegetarian options. - Entertaining atmosphere ( I love people watching) , if you are looking for a "Portlandia" themed place, this is definitely it. - Enjoyed the art work on the walls and the music was up beat - The server was very friendly and the wait for the table and food wasn't bad at all Cons: - The flavors of the food were overwhelming, with to many miss matched flavors. I tried the polenta with winter veggies and was not impressed. - My date had the beet salad, I wanted to ask if the beets came out of a can they were so bland. I really wanted to like this place! I am bummed my experience was much less than expected especially after multiple recommendations from friends.
(2)
Gina S.
We ate at The Farm Cafe for the first time this past weekend. We had been looking for a restaurant with vegetarian options and the reviews we read were really good. The Farm Cafe is wonderful, the people that work there are nice and care about the quality of their service, our server had great recommendations regarding our choices and the atmosphere was really nice and not stuffy in the least bit. We will be back for sure and will be recommending The Farm Cafe to friends.
(5)
David R.
Tried this a second time, after having not been overwhelmed the first. Second time was no more impressive. I don't understand how a restaurant that tries to play off that whole "farm to table" theme can deliver an overdressed, wilted salad to the table as an accompaniment to their veggie burger. Service was well-intentioned, and staff was reasonably pleasant.
(2)
Joe C.
The butternut squash ravioli and veggie burger are legit. The waitstaff was outstanding!!
(4)
Ainsley D.
Called to make a reservation and after 12 minutes of being on hold, hung up and called back. The lady who answered the phone was apologetic and put me on hold to grab the hostess who was taking reservations, but while taking another 5 minutes and in the process of doing so I heard them bicker. AHHHH just take our reservation! The girl was a total brat when she came onto the phone and told us the wait was "only 30 minutes...maybe 60" and suggested we come in. That's a huge gap, but whatever, I lived down the street and I was hungry, so my friend and I walked over. Once arriving, all it took was about 5 minutes and maybe 3 employees to walk past us simply waiting for someone to acknowledge us, but we were sat almost immediately after that. We began with the cheese plate, for $10 I was disturbed that it only came with one kind of cheese? I ordered a lemonade and it was overflowing with ice, I think I got maybe three sips before the entirety of liquid was gone! Of course no refills and I wasn't about to spend another $4. (the picture I posted proves it, how absurd!) The sauteed mushrooms with herbs were incredible and my pan-fried trout was delicious (a little salty, but flavorful nonetheless), all of the other food we got was good enough for me to give this place a second chance... but service is a huge deal and I was sorely disappointed with every aspect of it. Bummer.
(2)
Christopher S.
Beet salad, mushrooms, quinoa...perfect. My palate prefers the healthier side of a menu and this menu had me smiling all night. Delicious and healthy.
Had the pan-seared trout, clams, and heirloom tomatoes this time. All were excellent and well worth the price. They must remove the skin of the fish, remove the bones, then put the skin back on. Cooked in a blazing hot pan, sea salt, crispy skin. All 4 people at the table tried mine and lived it. This is the way trout should be cooked. The tomatoes lacked a little flavor, but the portion size was very satisfying. Nice balance with the cheese and basil. The clams, and the sauce they were in, were fantastic with lots of garlic. The bread was also nicely seasoned and shouldn't be forgotten. We sopped up as much sauce as we could and kept asking for more bread.
(4)
Sarah P.
I would have given Farm Cafe four stars on the quality of their food alone, but the disappointing service landed me on a three star rating. First, let's start with the food... I started with the Cheese Platter and Sauteed Mushroom appetizers. Both were delicious, though the Cheese Platter only came with one type of cheese. Maybe it should be called a cheese plate? Both appetizers came with an amazing loaf of bread, which I gladly lathered in butter and dipped in the mushroom sauce. For the entree, I ordered the Paella, which was served with a lamb sausage--quite tasty. I highly recommend this dish mostly due to the delightful lamb experience. My friend ordered the Pan-Fried Trout, which was beautifully plated, though a bit salty for my taste. Once I got past that, the flavors in the fish were enjoyable and the skin offered a nice crunch. The trout came intact with bones and fins, which I appreciate because it ads rich flavor to the dish. Now for the service...one of the worst I have experienced in Portland thus far. I called the restaurant twice to ask about the wait. The first time, I was placed on hold for 10 minutes so I hung up. The second time, I waited another 10 minutes before the hostess got back to me. She informed me that the wait was approximately 30 minutes...maybe 60. Wow, that's a huge time difference. When I got to the restaurant 15 minutes later, the wait was only 15-20 minutes; however, I had to wait 5-10 minutes for the hostess to take my name, even though there was no one in front of me. Though the food was delicious and the restaurant beautifully set in a craftsman home, I do not plan on returning due to the low quality service.
(3)
A B.
Very nice staff but the food was disappointing and overpriced. Portions were small. My gnocchi was lumpy and cool. I really wanted to like this place since I really like the idea of local and organic. Maybe they were just having an off night?
(2)
chris t.
Loved the outdoor seating. Had a delightful meal. Great staff. They also provide postcards prepaid postage to send to relatives !
(5)
Cassie G.
I have nothing bad to say about this place! My husband and I have been here twice and both times the food and service blew us away. The servers happlily help each other out (from what we could see) making the service above and beyond. The food is seasonally fresh and portions just right...we will be back for sure!
(5)
Dan H.
It took my friend coming out from NJ for me to finally get to the Farm Cafe. Why oh why did it take me so long to come here? The Farm Cafe makes some solid food and have been doing so since 2003. Or at least that is what the menu said. I'm not sure if a meal should ever start with anything other than Rosemary Roasted Hazelnuts ($6). These come from a farm somewhere in the Willamette Valley and only a few restaurants in Portland actually carry them. Mental note. Must do a Google search to find out where these magical hazelnuts come from and then I must rent a car and go there now. Or tomorrow. Beets. Can't wrong with those in a salad. The Roasted Beet Salad ($9) comes with all your usual suspects. Tossed pecans, baby greens, hazelnut oil vinaigrette, goat cheese and chives complete the scene. To say this salad is good would be a complete understatement. Risotto. Never tried to make it, but I sure do love eating it. Dungeness Crab Risotto ($20). Fresh Oregon crab blended with creamy Arborio rice then finished with Meyer lemon and Parmigiano Reggiano. This is upscale comfort food. A good stick to your ribs meal on a slightly chilly evening and a good way to end a Sunday. I think I had heard that the service here wasn't very good. That was definitely not the case on the night we were here. Everything was brought out in a timely manner. We were waited on with precision and a smile. If you like your food from the farm to the table, Farm Cafe has been doing this for almost 10 years. You know you pass by it on your bike on your way home from work everyday (by you I mean me). Maybe it is time to stop in and give it a try. I already did. I look forward to my next meal here.
(5)
Elaine N.
In Lieu of Le Pigeon (because we couldnt get in), we tried this place. Service and food were really good, however they dont serve beef. No a big deal for us, but just an fyi. Also it's not right in downtown Portland, you have to cross the river, but again, not a big deal. Place is small and intimate. I would go back (right after Le Pigeon:).
(4)
Jane D.
Baked brie is the best!
(4)
Gabriella H.
This place is phenomenal. My boyfriend had the lamb special and I had the polenta pancakes and they were DELICIOUS. We also had the Brie and white bean spinach dip for appetizers and they both were absolutely mouth watering. I'm still dreaming about the Brie. This was our first farm to table experience and we can't wait to come back!
(5)
Kristen M.
It is always so hard to pick just one entree from their menu! I usually get the trout because it is cooked perfectly and the vegetables are amazing. The beet salad is also a must have item. I've never had a bad meal here.
(5)
Anita H.
Asparagus ravioli was rich, creamy, flavorful, and amazing! There is ample asparagus in this dish, but it tasted great. If the weather is nice, sit outside since they have a nice quaint patio. I don't know why I haven't heard about this place earlier - will definitely be returning again.
(5)
Georgie K.
I Used to frequent the farm often and loved it! Then stopped going for no reason. In the last year I have gone a few times and I have realized it is has lost that allure it once had for me. The service was good and we sat outside on a great patio. The food is just average. It used to be very good, but now has lost that extra something special it used to have. I just always leave thinking to myself that food wasn't all that good. I hope that get that quality back up there to what it used to be.
(2)
Carlos Felipe F.
Great organic food! Found this place via Yelp while traveling through Portland and was impressed with the quality tasting food. I had the Lamb Meatballs and the beet salad, which were exquisite and very fine cuisine. Also, the host was a very accommodating and respectable "hipsterish-looking gentleman" (said without any disdain), who helped secure the desired seats my wife wanted, after having been seated already. The servers are relatively friendly, in that they are quick, but impersonal. Other than that, the ambience is pleasant and the food is superb. Will grant five stars ONLY because of the very helpful and rather understanding host, since the wait staff is, as stated above, impersonal; otherwise a four star rating would suffice.
(5)
Alison C.
Everything about this restaurant is fine. The food, service and venue were okay, but nothing was above average. The menu was very small. This is a good thing when the few items offered are amazing and diverse. My dish, the cod, was good, but boring. The venue itself is a small house that has been converted into a restaurant. We sat behind a curtain that separated us from the entry - this isn't ideal when seeking a nice restaurant atmosphere. As far as the service, our waitress was delightful and knowledgeable, but the host that seated us was dismissive and abrupt. With all the excellent restaurant choices in Portland at this price point, I won't be selecting the Farm Cafe again anytime soon.
(3)
Dita O.
I was there with 10 people. Everyone had to use their phones to see the menu, it is too dark. Most were happy with the dinners, the Lamb was a little too spicy and salty, the pasta was undercooked, the brie appetizer was good but they serve small bread portions to go with it. Nice wine and cocktail selections. The service was not good. the waitress was aloof and snobbish. Service was slow. When I made the reservation I wasn't told about the 4 credit card limit/table. This was a problem for our group. Over all I wouldn't recommend it for a nice dinner, but maybe happy hour and a drink. There is a nice off street patio in the back .
(3)
Amy B.
It had been forever since I was here last. The food was spectacular. The portions were nice sized so the price seemed right. The service was great. We even made it in time for Happy Hour. Even though we didn't order solely off of there, we did take advantage of a few good deals on one appetizer and some drinks! My quinoa crusted rositto cakes were perfect, filling and very flavorful.
(5)
Lucy S.
Really cute place that doesn't get too crowded. The place is divided into different rooms, which gives it a more cozy feel. The food is good quality and you never feel rushed or out of place. It's a nice place for a relaxed meal with close friends.
(4)
Stacy J.
I highly recommend! Visited for a business dinner and picked it because it offers something for every dietary limitation. The baked brie was my favorite dish. I ordered fish - which was yummy - but the tofu & potatoes looked even better. The ambiance was great, and the little house look is cute. I would definitely go back.
(5)
Benjamin P.
Very nice and cosy restaurant. Intimate and would recommend for romantic dinner. Tried the Veggie burger, and as a meat eater I was really surprised how tasty it was! Will come back!
(4)
Linda C.
Cute place in a converted house. I think most people make reservations here but we were walk-ins looking for dinner after a day at the Fruit Beer Festival. Very welcoming staff and a nice, quiet atmosphere. Would be a good place to go on a date. I had the polenta cakes and hubby had the veggie burger. Both were good-sized plates with quality ingredients. The sauce around my polenta was a little acidic but the rest was good. Hubby's plate was piled high with fries and the dipping sauce was nice. We both enjoyed our meals but weren't wowed.
(3)
A. Jesse Jiryu D.
High-quality, rich, interesting food. "Nouveau American" but not "haute cuisine", a nice balance of the familiar and the innovative. Friendly service. Can be crowded, and hard to get a table on the back patio on a nice evening.
(4)
Andrew C.
Coming from Seattle, I'm not totally familiar with the Portland food scene, but had heard from a friend that when in Portland, this is one place I have to go. And we were not disappointed. To start, the ambience of the Farm Cafe is homey and yet modern, with tasteful pieces of artwork scattered on the walls. Having once been a house seems to add to that air. We started with the fried anchovies and baked brie... both were unbelievable. The fried anchovies satisfied my grease desires without being overly heavy, and the baked bried was delicious. For the main entrees, we ordered the trout, the veggie burger, and the duck. The trout was definitely the highlight of the meal - perfectly moist, and the skin was crispy with notes of garlic. The veggie burger lived up to our expectations - the flavors drowned out any preconceptions of how a veggie burger can be done artfully. The duck was surprisingly the least favorite of ours (we had wanted the lamb but they had run out!), but that's just because everything else was so good.
I had heard alot of really good things about this restaurant before I tried it, so I think my expectations were a little high. It's a small space but they accommodated our large group very well. The food was good - don't get me wrong - but the price was a little high and the options are pretty limited. If you're looking for a trendy place to go for a nicer dinner then you're in the right spot. It's just not my usual choice of atmosphere.
(3)
Ben D.
This place is excellent. My wife and I went here for our second time last night, and the food once again was outstanding. We are both vegan and I am gluten free, and we are both able to eat very happily here. Service is good, food is great, and we are fans.
(4)
Will S.
What a disappointing dinner. A few of the lowlights: Veggie burgers that were essentially mush, trout that was burned to a crisp, and first courses that couldn't have appeased a 5 year old. The staff are extremely nice and efficient, nothing to complain about there at all. It's just that after all the good reviews and the hype from trusted friends this place really fell flat. When I'm in Portland next time I'll steer clear of Farm.
(2)
Dan R.
My 6th or so time here, beginning when the place was fairly new. The building has evolved--still the cute house but now with a bar in back and a covered patio. One of the first in town to focus on locally sourced ingredients. Excellent service, a fine wine. I had the lamb special (they butcher the lamb themselves) very tasty, with polenta & spinach. The mushroom and cheese ravioli intense with flavors. My only complaint is not enough choices in the menu--they cook so well here i want to see more. Considering the freshness of the food and how well its prepared, in such a pleasant setting, the prices are very reasonable.
(5)
Kristi K.
The setting and the food were exceptional. The service, however lacked dramatically. As a friend pointed out, our group was made to feel like our existence was a major inconvenience to the waitstaff's evening.
A wonderful dinner spot. Four of us went, each of us ordering different entrees and all of us loving them. Great outdoor seating if weather permits, friendly staff, yummy cocktails and great options for vegans, vegetarians, gluten free, and carnivores alike. Highly recommend.
(5)
Thomas C.
Loved the pan fried trout and lamb. They butcher their own lamb in house. The trout was very clean of scales and fresh. Both had the right amount of seasoning and tasted healthy.
(5)
Ayley J.
Lovely date night spot, which exactly what we were there for. The farm-to-table thing always catches our eye. I ordered the veggie burger and my husband ordered a duck special. My friend ordered the ravioli and her husband ordered some soup and bread. Everyone enjoyed whatever they were eating and it was a very nice evening! We even requested that they bring out a candle for our table and they obliged. I found myself picking pieces off my husband's plate because the duck was so good. The veggie burger was huge and could have been split between two people. If the weather is nice, make sure to eat out on the patio... with a candle. :)
(4)
Abraham G.
Good overall experience. I loved the deviled eggs. Nice atmosphere and great server.
(4)
Meg S.
This place was delicious! The gnocchi was tasty--amazing pillowy texture with rich, tangy flavor! We also had the trout, polenta, salmon ravioli among us, and all were delicious. Highly recommend it!
This place is very good in my opinion. The only bad things I've ever heard about this place from my friends is regarding the wait times. It wasn't bad for us even though we went for dinner on a Saturday night. There were 4 in our party and we probably got there around 6, they had a seat for us immediately. Everything we had was good! I had the Halibut with a Fennel puree. Hmmmmmmm, it makes my mouth water even just thinking about it. This place is small scale so not terribly great for groups. I believe they take reservations for larger parties. The restaurant is in a old house so there isn't a whole lot of room in there. The only downside to this place but it's pretty typical to most upscale restaurants is the portions. You definitely don't come here when you are absolutely starving, you would leave with much lighter pockets. Even so, this place was VERY memorable and I would definitely go back again.
(5)
J. K.
I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a long time and, now that I have, I've failed to experience the hype that gave this place 4 stars. We went there on a Sunday evening so there was no wait. So far so good (I've encountered a 1.5 hour wait here before). When the menu came, it was disappointing how small and expensive it was. While the appetizers sound good, there were only 8 entrees to choose from (and only 1 burger, which was vegetarian). What really upset me was how the baked brie dish came. It came with about 10 slices of bread, which was not enough to consume all of the brie, even with generous applications. Upon request, the waitress brought over seconds of the bread, containing only 4 slices. No good, as there was about 1/3 left of the brie. So I asked for more. With a little displeasure, the waitress obliged but said she will bring a "basket" of bread. Great, it was nicely warm and flavored. So it was to my surprised that they charged me for that "basket" of bread. Did they ask if I want the special bread at additional charge? No. Was it my fault that they miscalculated the pairing amounts of the brie and bread? No. Ok, so it only added $1 to the bill but it surely gave me no pleasure of dining there. It's surprising how such little differences can make or break diners' experience at a restaurant, no matter how highly regarded it may be by others. What's worse is that the rest of the meal wasn't anywhere near spectacular neither. I recommend finding another restaurant to spend your dollars.
(2)
Leslie K.
I was pleased to be seated so quickly though we did make a reservation for our party of 6. The service was good but I anticipated a different energy with the quaint country farmhouse venue. It was noisy. And noise level impacts my dining experience. I had my eye on the gnocchi but they couldn't make the dish without the cream and cream and cheese is just too heavy for me so I opted for sides -- the french lentil soup and roasted garlic. Two of my friends had the gnocchi and one really didn't like it and was easily replaced with the risotto which seemed to be the table favorite. I enjoyed my dishes but they weren't outstanding...in fact I added globs of the garlic to the soup and that was yummy but perhaps not the intention.
(3)
Mel S.
Fantastic dining experience. Loved the bar area. Had a drink there and ended up staying for dinner. Food was delicious and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
(5)
Jazz M.
I ordered take out and didn't have the luxury of dining in, hence the 4 stars. It's a charming restaurant, the staff was pleasant and cheerful. I ordered the lamb chops with couscous succotash. They were tender and moist, the couscous was equally delectable. I'll definitely return, hopefully to dine in to experience the service.
(4)
Judith P.
It breaks my heart to leave a 2-star review for a restaurant with such consistently delicious food but the last time we were in for a business meeting with clients, two people were having trouble parking and they would not seat the rest of our party in the table that we had reserved outside! Excuse me? I made a reservation, the majority of our party is here, we will probably need to pay for MORE drinks while we wait 10 measly minutes for the other two people to park ( they will probably be here before the server shows up anyway)??? Ten minutes later it was gone and they squeezed five of us into a four-top in a corner, inside, across from the kitchen pick up window. So embarrassing. We have been regulars and sending others to Farm for years but I doubt we will be returning for a while. The management at Farm needs to realize that this "precious" little practice is losing them customers.
(2)
Claire S.
I don't have any significant complaints about Farm Cafe. But with so many amazing food options in Portland, Farm Cafe just isn't anything special. The service was great, and the ambiance was nice--especially for a date night...until a family sat down with two loud children. The best part of our meal was an appetizer special: duck confit over house-made spaetzle with mushrooms and other delicious seasoning/sauciness. I'd like to give Farm Cafe another try...
(3)
Matt G.
Food was very good. Sweet potato fries (I think?). Service was very good and people are friendly. Lots of space, and a variety of rooms to sit in, including a nice patio. Rockin'.
(4)
Jeremy J.
My better half had been here once before and liked it enough to go a second time so she could take me (I suspect her motives were less selfless than she made it seem). We were early and were the first people seated, the restaurant did not fill up super quick but most places don't in the early evening on Tuesdays... The inside of the restaurant is nice and the servers are very friendly and attentive. The service was trying to be a little too upscale for what I expect for most places in Portland but that is nothing to complain about. I liked how they left a carafe of water on the table, as I go through water quickly...what I didn't like was that the carafes sit pre-filled on empty tables. How long is that water sitting before consumed?! We started with the baked brie, which we should have probably had for dessert. It was a generous portion with fresh strawberries and a sweet strawberry sauce. Absolutely divine. They provide a healthy amount of bread to load up. All around a wonderful app/dessert. We also had a cup of their zucchini parmesan soup. The cheese flavor was a dominant but the soup was tasty. For our salad we split the beet carpaccio. Nice presentation and a decent portion. I enjoyed the salad (I love the beet and cheese combination) although the vinaigrette was in contrast a bit too much for me. We then had an order of the curry chicken skewers and the mushroom polenta. The chicken has a beautiful curry scent and were plenty good. Nothing mindblowing but definitely yummy. The polenta was also really good. The polenta cake was perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. I was really disappointed with how few mushrooms there were though...if you bill it as a mushroom dish you should add more than 1 sliced mushroom! Overall a solid experience and I place I might return sometime if I'm in the area!
(4)
Jessica P.
I wanted to try something very "Portland" for dinner, since we were only in town for a couple of days and this place delivered. It is an adorable converted house, but man was it loud inside. There were quite a few large parties and we waited a bit to be seated. It seemed like they may have been understaffed last night as there was literally 1 person running the entire dining room, including the hostess stand, but we didn't really suffer because of this. We started with the beet salad and had one of those experiences where you are literally fighting the other person because it is so good. The beets were fantastic and everything worked so well together. The pecans were fantastic and I am not a huge fan generally but they added a much needed crunch. The goat cheese was creamy and delicious. I also got a fantastic saltiness in this salad which was much appreciated. The entire thing was so well balanced I wish I had a never ending plate. I had the Dungeness crab risotto which was cooked perfectly. The crab was very delicate, but maybe overpowered a bit by the cheese and lemon. I did appreciate that the crab was fresh and not canned, I could tell because I had a large piece of shell in my dish. I loved the lemon flavor and the creaminess of the dish. It was perfectly portioned, I finished the dish and was perfectly content. My husband had the trout and again it was cooked perfectly and the breading was fantastic. It also came with some delicious roasted vegetables that I continued to steal while he was preoccupied with the trout. A really great plate of food overall. They need to work on service a bit, but this place serves some seriously delicious food.
(4)
Kay L.
Food: five stars. Service: four stars. Ambiance: two stars. OK, so maybe 31/2 would be more fair, but this place was so loud that we had to lean across the table to hear each other. I don't know about you, but when I go out to eat, I want to enjoy the food *with* people. We had to work way too hard to have half-decent conversations, to the point where it really tarnished the evening. Service: friendly, knowledgeable server who moved at her own pace, sashaying across the restaurant. There were four of us; a significant lag between the arrival of the first two entrees and the second two made for some discomfort at the table. Clearing seemed random and haphazard. It's just odd to have three out of four entree plates taken and not the fourth. Food: YUMMMMMM. Salmon deviled eggs topped with lamb bacon were rich to the point of being positively sinful. We couldn't imagine one person eating all three of them (11/2 eggs total) but we sure enjoyed sharing them. The kale fennel salad was lemony-light and refreshing. The salmon ravioli was sauced beautifully, pasta was thin and so fresh. The trout was perfectly cooked and delicious. The special of braised smoked lamb with spaetzle was not to my taste at all-- reminded me of BBQ sauce gone wild, and the lamb was so finely shredded and mixed up with the spaetzle that it was hard to distinguish them. My daughter enjoyed it, though. Me, I had the special of sole, Brussels sprouts, & fingerling potatoes in parchment with lovely butter-lemon highlights. Superb flavor, perfectly cooked fish & potatoes. The Brussels sprouts were a tad soggy and there were only two, but the flavors were so great that I didn't care. We passed on dessert, although there were several choices that called our names. The coffee was yummy. We'd go back and hope for a quieter spot.
(3)
Michelle C.
I was a little skeptical before going to Farm Cafe last night because of some of the reviews but I was beyond impressed. My boyfriend and I went there for our anniversary and I dont think we stopped raving about it yet. We sat outside on the patio and it was the perfect setting. Very relaxing. Our server was friendly but not overly so. We ordered the clams for a starter which were so so so delicious, my boyfriend ordered the Rockfish special that was tasty but the real winner last night was definitely the polenta with vegetables. It was really one of the best meals I have ever had. The wine list was lengthy and very generously priced. We had a good carafe of Rose for 12 dollars. I would definitely check out Farm Cafe. It did not disappoint!
(5)
Mike L.
AWESOME food. One of Portland's top restaurants, consistently. Cramped, hard to get in, and a little inconsistent on the service. Tolerable, but something to plan ahead for - don't just show up at prime time and expect top-notch service.
(4)
Ray I.
Fresh local ingredients are the cornerstone to this institution. The menu itself is not remarkable, the execution is venerable in its French tradition. Portland has its' own Chez Panisse in the Farm Cafe. In a word, exquisite. A meal could be made from the cheese plates alone. In my wife's search to find a dinner wine the server graciously allowed three generous tastes. I will recommend all in Portland and those who visit to dine here.
I highly recommend the Farm Cafe. My friends and I were in town for work during a horrible snow storm by Portland standards. We were very happy to find the Farm Cafe was open and it was well worth the 20 minute walk in the snow to get to them. We had a variety of appetizers (mushrooms, pickled veggies, baked brie, smoked salmon deviled eggs and broccoli fritters) and everything was delicious. The cocktails were amazing (Hot toddy especially) and our entrees were delicious. I had the braised lamb shoulder and it was melt in your mouth goodness. I'll be back when I am in Portland next.
(5)
Sarah C.
I love restaurants in old houses, restaurants that serve locally grown food, and gnocchi. So basically, I was just about perfectly happy with this place!
Food was great, but the noise! It was so loud in there it was almost impossible to carry on a conversation. We had dinner reservations on a Saturday night it was very crowded, I understand a lot of people equals noise but realize when you go that if it is a busy night you are not going to get romantic by any means. Service was ok, our waitress was efficient, did her job well, but not so friendly. We had the baked brie, it's delicious but very sweet and it would have been nice to have something to spread it on, was surprised it came with nothing. Luckily we save our bread. Had a good salad, and the trout, which was wonderful. I say go if you like good locally sourced food, but do it on a weeknight when you can hear yourself think.
I have eaten here at least 4 times and most of the food was pretty good. Even though I am not a veggie right now I mostly eat that way. So I am loving the menu overall. I am not even a fan of Salmon but there Salmon Ravioli was to die for! SO there food is honestly pretty darn yummy! Its not overly complicated and I can pronounce everything on the menu. My only criticisms are that they do not take reservations and the space is terribly small! I took my mom there the night before she had to make a flight home the next morning. It was a bad call because we had an hour and a half wait!! YES! 90 minutes to wait! That was too much! They told us they thought the wait would be 45 minutes. So that kind of sucked honestly. The food was good but my mom was kindof frustrated. I have gone in since then but also had a very long wait. AND I dont always have 2 to 3 hours to eat. So I pray that one day THE FARM might consider expanding a little and taking reservations like most good restaurants. If they did I might give them another try or only go on a Tuesday night when I have all night to eat.
(3)
Ash. A.
Yummy delicious localness (is that a word...now it is). The Farm Cafe' is an adorable little house, off busy Burnside, that is sandwhiched between a strip club and a sprinkling of vintage clothing shops. Although among seediness, the Farm Cafe' still has a sophisticated air and a small town feel that will charm your pants off. The food isn't bad either. With a strictly pescatarian menu, meat eaters and vegetarians have equal opportunities to eat at this fine establishment. Also, since their menu is seasonal and local the produce is extremely fresh and full of flavor with every bite. Gone are the days of the flavorless tomato! Try anything and everything here. I assure you it will be awesome. However, I think that some of the veggie dishes lack variety. Call me picky but if I order some polenta I would like it to have some mushrooms, tofu, and or a bit of crunch to break up the monotony of the mush. All in all, this is a great place for an intimate foodie experience. Update: The Farm also gets brownie points for the free brie they gave me the other night and the awesomeness of the tofu marsala! x-tra star now!
(5)
Naomi D.
I very much enjoy eating out no matter what. However, I also enjoy cooking. So when I go out to eat at a "nicer" restaurant, I enjoy feeling like I had a creative and tasty meal that I could NOT have done better myself. I really thought that the Farm was one of the best restaurants that I have been to in Portland in a long time. I can't believe I didn't come here sooner..... I am an omnivoire so I was sort of not-as-excited-as-I could be about a place that mainly served vegetarian and seafood fare. However, despite that fact, it was still fabulous. It has a dark, old fashioned and homey feeling that I was immediately a large huge fan of. It feels classy without the trendy pretension that often accompanies the gourmet scene here in Portland. The drink menu was short but impressive enough for me. I had a wonderful "blood-orange" margarita that not only got me generously nice and relaxed but tasted very fresh and amazing. We started off with a vegan mushroom soup that I was hesitant about to begin with (no cream in my mushroom soup, whaaaat?) but ended up being very tasty; it was in a flavorful broth dashed with carrots and celery. Then we shared two plates; a goat-cheese and hazelnut stuffed ravioli and a sesame crusted tuna with a fennel-risotto cake. The fennel-risotto cake tasted like it was blessed by the butter gods of heaven and I could have eaten 12 more if my stomach would have allowed. My friend and I were inconspicuously eyeing it as we rotated plates to make sure the split was fair on that one..... The tuna was cooked all the way through which made me throw a suspicious eye but ended up being just as juicy and tasty as a medium-rare tuna steak. We ended with a fabulous blackberry/pear cobbler that we could not keep our forks off of even though we were already stuffed to the brim. My friend, who was visiting from out of town, was very impressed with this place and thought it was hands down the best meal she had since traveling between here and Vancouver BC. I feel like this place was pretty darn amazing and reasonable in price. And I feel that I can be hyper-critical at times. I mean, if I am going to actually get out there and spend my hard earned money (social work money nonetheless) on a nice meal, it better be damn good. This place gets my vote all the way!
(5)
Lindsay H.
I was excited to try Farm Cafe on a work week to Portland based on a rave review from a friend. My expectations were met. All of the food was exquisite. I sought out Farm Cafe in large part because the restaurant focuses on locally grown produce & supporting local and organic agriculture. We had the baked brie with berries to start and it was out of this world. We then had the goat cheese & hazlenut ravioli, the grilled corn and blue cheese risotto, and the blackened cajun albacore tuna. All three dishes were very good, but the risotto was stand out -- and I am not, in general, a risotto fan. We didn't have room for dessert because the food is so rich and delicious. But, I would definitely re-visit Farm Cafe if I were to find myself in Portland again!
(5)
Jen S.
WOW! WOW! WOW! you must go here if you are in town. no, you must go here if you are in the state. no, you must go here if you are on the west coast. no, just go there if you are alive and love food. service was top notch. drinks were on point. and the food. THE FOOD!!!!! we ordered the baked brie with sugar, hazelnuts and bosc pears. holy shit this was divine! next came our meals- *butternut squash raviolis with shallots, browned butter and sage. let's just say there was not one drop of anything left on my plate. insanely good. *spaghetti squash tart with goat cheese. another big WOW. i would have never thought to make a tart with spaghetti squash, but now i want to try and recreate both dishes. we've decided to make a pilgrimage here at least once a year. this is baby makin food so watch out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Mackenzie B.
I've been here a few times and the food has almost always been near perfection. They always have some amazing Vegetarian specials. Last Summer I had an amazing Pinot Noir "H" there. On this particular visit I ordered the Eggplant Veggie Burger. It was delicious if not a bit salty. Our dinner was interrupted by a loud dude at the table next to us. The restaurant was playing "AIR ~ Walkie Talkie and though I like the band, I would hardly call that dinner music.
(4)
Wendy C.
My inner monologue at the Farm Cafe usually goes something like this: THIS is absolutely the most delicious tomato I've ever eaten. No, wait, THIS is the most delicious bowl of mixed nuts I've ever snacked upon. Hold on, this is TOFU? Why is it so very delicious? The grandpa part of me is pleased that it's difficult to spend over $18 or so per entree for, what in my opinion, is some of the best food in Portland. Expect an hour plus wait whenever you show up. The gal on date night part of me is pleased with the coziness and wine specials and the mood lighting. The pescatarian part of me is pleased that I can order any darn thing I want on the menu. So why the four stars, Wendy? This sounds like a five-star place. Nitpicks from last visit: *Charming Boy Companion and I were told a 30 - 45 minute wait for a table (which is a SCORE at the Farm). We ended up waiting at least twice that long, and no one ever thought to check in with us about it. *Waitress was Wall of Silence. She removed my empty wine glass without asking me if I'd like another (I did). She took away my half-eaten dinner without asking me if I wanted it boxed (I did). She silently kept lighting the little candle on the table, even though I kept blowing it out (as it was roughly 90 degrees inside the place). Silent Waitress and I were having some serious Communication Issues! *Finally, It's August. Why was something called Spring Vegetable Nest on their menu? (However, it was delicious!)
(4)
dan l.
This is a truly charming restaurant with fantastic food, friendly staff, and wonderful atmosphere. By now it was a couple of years ago that I ate here but as I remember, our entire meal was exceptional. It's a bit on the pricey side but they make it worth your while. Set in an old house on Burnside St. you feel right at home. I hate to write such a general review but it was so long ago that I can really only remember being satisfied and eager to come back in the future.
(4)
nicole y.
I have seen some pretty bad reviews of farm cafe, and the people i have mentioned it to have had some gnarly experiences there. for me, i really enjoy it, and since i respect my opinion the most, here's my review: THE BEST VEGGIE BURGER I HAVE EVER HAD! i'm not huge on egglant, nor do buns make me salivate, but the farm veggie burger has got it going on. i've tried lots of veggie burgers out there, and i give respect to a restaurant that makes it's own, but i give even more respect for doing it well. for me, a cheeseball should be renamed a goodball. is there a way to mess it up? i did have one weird experience with service here, regarding the sun and some umbrella shades, but other than that, it's been fine. maybe not amazingly magical, but i'd rather have space and not feel rushed to leave, even if there is a line.
(4)
John B.
Delicious food. Interesting. Courteous service.
(5)
Willow H.
We drove to Portland for a day trip and loved our meals at the Farm Cafe. I am vegetarian and my husband eats fish, they had local and delicious options for both of us. The atmosphere is a comfortable and elegantly understated home, and their staff was great. I must say that my only disappointment and the reason I did not give them 5 stars was because of my tea. Yes, Tea! I ordered some tea and they brought me out STASH tea. I almost fell off my chair in surprise that a restaurant boasting local fare did not have local tea.
(4)
Alisha P.
This is a restaurant any vegan should know about. I went here for my birthday last year, its a causally fancy place. I first went years ago with my aunt for one of our dates we do when she comes to visit. I've loved it since. Their crusted tofu marsala sounds underwhelming but I swear to you I dream about it, I'm not even a mashed potato person. Their salads are good and they always have at least one vegan special. So, I can choose the AMAZING stand by or try something new -or- share! I wish they would take the egg out of their veggie burger, because its always on the top veggie burger lists. When I was with my parents both got different fish dishes, both said they were the best fish they'd had in over a year. Thats saying something because my parents eat alot of fish. I love this place!
(5)
K B.
My friend is avoiding fat and oil. Why go out to dinner with such restrictions? It cramped my style a little since we wanted to split an entree. We had the tomato plate to start, which starred some of the most delicious heirloom tomatoes ever. It was served with goat cheese (which my friend scraped off) and usually comes with basil oil (which we left off). Then we had grilled fish (I think cod) over a succotash. They were great about preparing the fish without oil and it was still moist. Over all a good experience, but I would like to branch out into the menu a little more. The drinks were delish. I will definitely get the Herbito with the tarrgon-infused vodka again and again and again...maybe even all in the same night.
(4)
Tim H.
Some say that the true test of a chef is how well they roast a chicken. It's a simple dish to make but to do it well is truly an art. Farm Cafe's roast chicken was simply spectacular. Perfectly seasoned throughout, crispy skin and juicy, delicious meat. They also took the extra time to bone out the breast and the thigh. Excellent. The wife had a goat cheese ravioli that was also perfectly cooked. She did an excellent job of describing all the flavors and little details in the dish but I did a poor job of paying attention as I was too absorbed in the chicken. Regardless of how much we would have paid, Farm Cafe is a five star restaurant, the fact that we had an appetizer, two cocktails, two beers, two entrees and desert and it cost all of sixty some dollars is unbelievable. We'll come here every time we're in PDX.
(5)
Girl W.
Its a very nice restaurant. But something about it went wrong in my stomach and it came splashing out in a liquid form faster than it went in! I had ravioli with some kind of veggie filling, squash maybe. The sauce was a clear yellowish light sauce with a weird flavor. Maybe all of it was too rich for me. Atmosphere was really wonderful! We sat in a room that was a little dark and it had a bar in it. I personally enjoy darker rooms. Wish I would have ordered a cocktail, I hear they are fantastic. Too bad the food did not agree with me. Maybe next time.
(3)
Elizabeth S.
So delicious! It is such a cute little restaurant. Great service. The gnocchi was insane!
(5)
Jeremy R.
This is our new favorite place! Great food! Great service! Excellent vegetarian/vegan options! Had a really nice evening out with friends. The noise level was just right for conversation with the old house giving that cozy feel. Just an all around great restaurant!
(5)
Yousuf M.
specials are always good!! Also it's a good place for dating and drinking. Moreover, the customer service is great!
My family and I enjoyed a late dinner on the outdoor patio. The outdoor space is quiet and romantic, especially when illuminated by the outdoor lights. I was very impressed by the chartreuse cocktail and the corn gnocchi - both were light and refreshing. The buffalo wings and mushroom appetizer were also hits for the group. I will definitely return when I'm next on the west coast.
(4)
Rachel G.
Everything about this place is lovely. The service is friendly, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is charming. Make sure to make reservations and get the baked Brie. Great place for a date or a special night out.
(5)
Khari L.
I can't say enough about this place, it's food nirvana. The smoked salmon deviled eggs with the house made lamb bacon, were the best deviled eggs I've ever had in my life. Plus, the farmhouse veggie burger is the only time I've ever really liked anything that was eggplant based, the fries were even amazing. Also, the blue cheese stuffed figs were amazingly balanced with the balsamic reduction, honey and hazelnuts, again, blue cheese is not something I'm usually a fan of. And the desserts did not disappoint either, definitely take the time to eat here.
(5)
Melissa S.
I took my parents here on their first time visiting me in Portland. I could not ask for a better dinner service. Our drinks, appetizers, dinners and dessert were fabulous. I love the ambience in this restaurant. There is nothing better than a quiet nice house restaurant! My trout was perfection! I will come back here many times!
(5)
Alan W.
Fun Evening...! Great service, the waitress' recommendations for drinks and dinner were spot on. The drinks were excellent, creative and ....potent.... The dinners' presentation was good but the food was excellent, well prepared The atmosphere is a little dark, but pleasant. We're going back ...!
(4)
Angus R.
Food was good had a couple of starters that were both extremely salty. Had the ratatouille for a main it was excellent. The highlight was the sunken souffle for dessert.
(4)
Akshata R.
Lovely family restaurant with a seasonal menu! I've tried the veggie burger and the quinoa dish at different times - the taste has been good and the portions just right. Very friendly staff to boot. It can get crowded so be patient at the bar :)
(4)
Erin F.
As a vegetarian, the Farm Cafe is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. Although the menu is not exclusively veg, I can always find something and it's always delicious. The atmosphere is pleasant and cozy, and service is top-notch. Great spot for happy hour, too!
(4)
Mary L.
Fantastic meal. Wish we had time to come back before we had to go home. Charming people, great atmosphere, fresh delicious food. Mmmmm.
(5)
Lena H.
This is legit Portlandia cuisine.
(5)
Lori F.
Ho-lee-Cow! (In a good way) Friends sang the praises of the Farm Cafe for years and I never went for it, I thought it was all hype but as I learned, it surely wasn't. We were greeted by a lovely waitress who was kind and let us know that we had just snagged the last seat on their patio... Which was perfect and inviting. Food was mostly veg but there were plenty of great options which included a special of salad Nicoise. I usually have a giant boner for Nicoise salads so I went for it. Gentle Jehova! It was like no Nicoise I ever had. Carefully seared tuna, hard boiled egg and some sauce that was divine. It was thoughtful and richer than any Nicoise in my life and it truly shot me dead with deliciousness. So dead that I just revived and mustered up the courage to post this post, this very instant. We had a wonderful carafe of Pinot Gris and the atmosphere was summery and delightful. I will be back for sure, and will look forward to another memorable evening, :)
(5)
Deepak G.
We went here on my wife's birthday. Food is absolutely amazing. We tried all veggie options and they were great. We liked tamale a lot. Definitely will go again.
(5)
Julie F.
Simply put: amazing food and dining experience expertly managed by great service staff. We had a reservation and the restaurant ran late on having an available table. Very kind and apologetic, before we were even past our time slot, the host made sure we made our way back to the bar and selected a drink. Then, while there, he continually checked back with us and as our reservation window passed, he bought us an appetizer. Not only was it delicious, it was a joy to watch two talented bartenders seamlessly move between high - maintenance cocktails and entertaining the few of us at the bar. By the time our table was ready, two bartenders, the host a server and a bus person had already chatted us up and helped out. Then, we met our waitress who described the food in strange, passionate ways, yet after the first bite, we both realized she was spot on. The meal was perfection. Beet salad and a greens salad and then a featured lamb shoulder special that was truly amazing. I had the pan - fried trout and don't know if I'll have a meal that tops it. Again, all this great food is going on with truly incredible service and Bob Dylan playing on vinyl at the bar. This was one of the best choices we've made in a long time. Don't miss it.
(5)
Wendy C.
I was surprised at how upscale this restaurant is--several men in sport coats and most men in khakis, women in dresses (although our waiter was in jeans). Definitely a date-night place, not kid-friendly at all. I also expected more vegetarian food, since this restaurant came up with that search term, but it isn't a vegetarian restaurant (my mistake). The food was pricey, and while the veggie burger was tasty, it almost seems like cheating to make a veggie burger out of breaded and fried eggplant. We ordered 2 entrees, the veggie burger with fries (huge), and the ratatouille, which looked more like a side than a main and didn't stand on its own. Had to ask for bread, which seemed to be on everyone else's table. Waiter incorrectly identified the peppers in the gnocchi as not the hot kind, which was not the case. Not a big deal for most adults, but a total deal-breaker for a kid (and we did ask if the peppers could be left off, and the answer was no). Lastly, we were seated under a fan that my husband described as "hurricane," and when I asked them to turn it down, it went to tropical storm.
(3)
Haroun K.
One of the best meals I've had in Portland so far. I had a dish comprised of quinoa, kalamata olives, seaweed, salad greens and edible flowers, and my god was it good. It was so so so good. The ravioli and the beet salad were also enjoyed around the table. The chickpea dip is a good way to start, the rhubarb crisp (with either dairy or vegan ice cream) is a good way to finish.. There's a refined, respectable beer and wine list. And sitting on the patio on a nice summer evening is a great idea. Service was informative and friendly. I'd definitely return.
(5)
Joe K.
Love this place! My wife and I have been here twice now and it hasn't disappointed at all. Where to start? The food is excellent, the wine is excellent, and the atmosphere is great, and the service is wonderful. The first time I had the risotto, that my mouth still waters when I think about it. Probably the best meal I have ever had, and that is saying something. Their wine selection is great and their house tempranillo is phenomenal for the price. My wife and I love checking out the great food scene here in Portland, and I have to say this is at the top of our list for restaurants here. My wife did complain of being a little cold the second time we were there due to sitting next to some glass french doors. It wasn't bad at all and I was totally fine. Beyond that the atmosphere is nice. The last thing is the second time we went we felt like we went to town ordering and figured we were going to have a pretty hefty bill. I was shocked when it came in at $82 without gratuity. What you get for the price is amazing. Love it here and cannot recommend it enough!
(5)
Kirsten H.
Pretty mediocre restaurant. I went to try the veggie burger that I saw on a food show. It was tasty but fell apart on the first bite which makes anything a challenge to eat. No amazing food, just a typical Portland restaurant. Service was very thorough too.
(3)
Rebecca C.
I think this place is hit and miss with the food. The brocolli fritters were excellent and the fries were perfect. My date also really enjoyed his fish and the desserts looked amazing. What I don't understand is the hype over the veggie burger. Now, i'm not a vegetarian and I don't eat a lot of veggie burgers, but this was disgusting. It was mushy and squished all out of the bun in the first bite. The eggplant tasted like it hadn't been cooked properly and there was still some bitterness to it. Normally I wouldn't have gone for the veggie burger but two things drove me, first everyone raving about it, and second I just had a tummy bug so all dairy was pretty much out. Which is a bummer since everything else on the menu either was dairy, nuts (allergies) and mushrooms (gross). So frankly, if you can't eat nuts, dairy or mushrooms, this place is definitely not for you. I will say that service was not as bad as I expected. We did have a bit of a wait between our waiter coming by, but it wasn't bad. The water person was good, and kept our carafe filled.
(3)
Michael H.
This is a great date place as the ambience is romantic and the people were super friendly. Other than that, it is a toss. We had the brie appetizer which I thought was very good. My date thought it was too sweet. She then tried the kale which was okay and I had the tofu. The tofu dish was nothing more than a heap of mashed potatoes with three (four?)wedges of tofu which were crisp on one side. The entire dish was so bland that I may as well stayed at home and made my own.
(2)
TheBucketOfTrut H.
Tried this place tonight. I almost never write Yelp reviews, but I was thoroughly disappointed with this place with it being rated 4 stars here. Had the "BeeT Carpaccio" and was underwhelmed. The white bean and spinach dip is a definite skip. The crackers weren't crunchy at all, and the dip just wasn't anything special. I got the roasted duck entree which I can say is something I could probably cook as good or better in my own kitchen if I followed a recipe, and I can't cook worth a damn. I'm not going to waste much more effort just wanted to put a warning out there for anyone thinking of trying this place for the first time. I will say It has a nice relaxed atmosphere, it's in a great spot, and the staff were all nice. It's just a shame the food isn't better. Either it was an off night or a lot of you folks are nuts.
(2)
James O.
Great place. Cool, cozy atmosphere with excellent rotating dishes. I came here with my family on Xmas eve and they to us we were out of luck (no reservation) but then the manager came up and told us to come with him and he said merry Christmas and gave us a perfect table. Everything I have had here has been amazing. I highly recommend coming here.
We were visiting friends in Portland, and they were kind enough to take us to dinner at Farm. Thanks to the restaurant's location in a house, it is a pretty cozy & bustling establishment. We started at the bar, where we sat briefly while waiting for a tabe to become available. The bartender was friendly, and knew what he was doing. The drinks were all delish. Next we moved to our table in the front of the house near the windows. There we were greeted by a friendly server who really knew the menu well & was able to give great guidance. We nstarted with the cheese ball & mushrooms, both of which were excellent. For entrees, we had the gnocchi, the veggie burger, & the lamb. All were delicious, except the veggie burger, which was far beyond delicious. It was the most amazing veggie burger ever--and I've probably had 100. It has apparently been documented on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" or some such reality/food TV show. I'd give everything a solid 4, but the burger gets a 7, so overall. :)
(5)
Jaime R.
Smoked salmon ravioli was incredible. Also, the lamb bacon that came with the deviled eggs was a great surprise. we read a lot of reviews about the veggie burger, but was unimpressed due to the lack of structure to the patty, it fell apart fast. The burger and fries were massive compared to the rest of the plates our table ordered, which seemed odd. Very good flavors on all the dishes. Definitely will be back when we're in town.
(4)
Carolyn E.
This place is amazing. We were there for the first time to celebrate. Our anniversary. Despite being busy and a bit loud it was a great evening with a wonderful meal. The beet salad was one.of the best things I've ever eaten. The squash ravioli was also excellent. Only complaint was that the garden burger was mushy. But far from inedible. We'll be back. Attentive service nice am incentive. I highly recommend.
(5)
David B.
Had a cup of soup and Risotto. Both were *superb*. I really wish I knew how to describe the dishes better, but they were just perfectly balanced - flavorful without being heavily spiced.
(5)
Jenny C.
The whole concept of changing the menu everyday to fit the kitchen's freshest ingredients is a godsend. Every restaurants should follow suit. Now it doesn't make sense for restaurants to have static menu but adaptable ones to ensure the best quality and healthy food for customers. Not only are their ingredients fresh, but also the food is amazing. The chef definitely knows what he/she/they are doing.
(5)
Mandana S.
Dear Farm Cafe, Thank you for being a pillar of consistent excellence. You're a great role model for other restaurants, and spouses, alike. Love you long time, Mandana
(5)
C-pher M.
I found this place on my Food Network, "On The Road" app. HOLY MOLY I was impressed with not only the menu, but how reasonable the prices were for what they were serving. I HAD to start out with the Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs. These things are insanely tasty, and made with their house-made lamb bacon. Speaking of house-made lamb bacon, I was impressed that their meats are butchered and prepared there onsite. It really makes a difference to have fresh ingredients and it doesn't get much fresher than this. They also said that they farm source all their products, so they are coming right from the person to the location...so no wasting time letting the food age with a distributor. I was torn between the Goat Cheese Ravioli and a Salad made with local Artisan Blue Cheese...but the Ravioli sounded too good to pass up. (That and our waitress suggested I go with the pasta) I wasn't disappointed. I have to say, I hope to get back to Portland again so I can go back and try some of the other dishes that they have available. If you're in the area, I suggest that you go there to eat. It's pretty damn amazing!
(4)
Mike P.
I almost never leave reviews, but this was fantastic. One of the best burgers I've ever had in my life, and it was a vegetarian patty. (I'm not vegetarian, either.) Usually I can dissect what spices or flavors were added. This time, it was such a great mixture, I couldn't even place it. It just simply "tasted great" and was a great portion.
(5)
Jenny C.
We sat at the bar which had a great atmosphere. Dim lights and friendly wait staff, and a happy hour that starts after 9pm every night. Score! We ordered a lamb burger (awesome), fries, and melon salad and drinks. The fries were a little salty. The drinks were on point and the salad was as well. I would definitely come back here during happy hour because the prices were so good.
(4)
Joe G.
Came to Farm Cafe during a trip to Portland. It is located in an area of town with a lot of food and foot traffic. The place wasn't too busy, although I made a reservation since that's what all the previous yelpers recommended. Ordered the veggie burger since that was also recommended. And the burger was fantastic! You could hardly tell that it was a veggie burger. The bun was crisp and the lettuce was fresh. The party itself was tasty and filling, mostly tasting like a mix of veggies, grains and protein. Totally worth the visit to Farm Cafe and would definitely come back on my next trip to Portland.
(4)
Denise H.
My favorite food place in Portlandia!!! Came here for a late Sunday dinner with a friend. Easy nearby street parking. This is a great place for vegetarians, which my friend likes to pretend to be sometimes. Made reservations just in case, but there was plenty of open tables at 9:30pm. Chose to sit outside in the patio which is really cute with string lights, very romantic if you're on a date. We shared the clams and fries as an appetizer, which was delicious!!! I had to fight every urge to drink the broth afterwards. These clams were amazing and accompanied by yummy fries and a nice dollop of aioli. The fries were so good drenched in the broth! I got the veggie burger with house salad which was sooo good! I can see why other people might be put off by the texture as it is a little on the mushy side, not sturdy like a black bean burger. But I love eggplant and don't mind a little bit of mush. It tasted excellent! Also the salad was great too! My friend got the ricotta/lemon ravioli. I tried it and it tasted very fresh, but I still liked my food better :) Would definitely recommend it! If I ever come back to Portland would also try a bunch of stuff on their happy hour menu.
(5)
John L.
Late at night, Portlanders are hunting our elusive white whale--that great late night menu. No, Farm Cafe doesn't serve white whale. That was a Moby Dick reference. Anyway, after 9pm you can get great food and fancy atmosphere at an incredibly reasonable price. And the people were nice too.
(5)
Glenn P.
I didn't know this was a *Fancy* restaurant. Sure doesn't look that way from its exterior. WOW is this place PRICEY! The name is definitely misleading as there doesn't seem to be much 'cafe' inside this place at all. While the food and service was good, I did get the impression that they were trying to hurry us through as we didn't order any alcoholic drinks (at $10+ apiece!) The vegan thing is very pronounced here - and that's fine if you're into it. You'll get the stink-eye if you don't make a reservation! I guess we were lucky to walk in and get a table on the weekend.
(2)
Mandy N.
Vegetarian amazingness!!! The herb crusted tofu with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and mushroom Marsala was to die for and the Potatoe Gnocchi was the best I've ever had. We ordered the rhubarb crisp with coconut ice cream, which was a delicious ending to the most wonderful meal.
(4)
Erin R.
Delicious food, clearly sourced locally. The meal was amazing, but the service was a bit spotty. Our waitress was flighty and kept forgetting things. Thankfully, the lovely atmosphere and the food in general made up for it. Also had a phenomenal wine selection - best Pinot Gris I've had in a quite a while.
(4)
Sima M.
This is the first time I've felt compelled to review a restaurant. From start to finish, staff was welcoming and attentive. Every item we ordered was flavorful and delicious. I'm not a big fan of tofu, but I tried the crusted tofu with mashed potatoes and mushroom marsala...sooo good! My husband had the ravioli which was equally tasty. This is a good restaurant esp if you have folks in your party who are not into vegetarian dishes...easy place to please a variety of palettes. Enjoy!
(5)
John L.
Not sure how this place has escaped my notice for so long. It has it's own parking lot!! Although only 4 spaces. There are plenty of spaces along the street at dinner time. The mushroom appetizer was good 4 stars. The baked brie was supposed to be really good, and it was pretty good, but didn't seem much different from what my friends make at home all the time. 3.5 stars. The halibut cakes were quite delicious, especially with the aioli 4.5 stars. The pan crusted tofu with garlic mashed potatoes were ok. The tofu was good but the mashed potatoes were just so so 3 stars. The poletta was decent. 3.5 stars. The veggie hamburger was pretty darn good for a veggie burger. 4.5 stars. The halibut was pretty good. 4 stars. The kids cheesy noodles were actually pretty good. 4.5 stars. The green ravioli was quite good. 4 stars. All in all I would go back. Most of the dishes were ones that I would order again. The service was good. Great place for vegetarians. Not exclusively vegetarian but lot of vegetarian choices.
(4)
Nancy B.
Quaint building and excellent service only add to the experience of great food and wine. We stopped in during happy hour and found ourselves satisfied with corn fritters, white bean and basil spread, roasted peppers and lamb dolmas and the lamb burger slider. They offer a creative cocktail menu and tried several of the choices.
(5)
Jskilicious S.
We walked in without a reservation and were able to be seated at a table near the bar. It's an old time saloon type feeling with a little farm table action. The deviled eggs with salmon were pretty good. My husband liked them so much he ordered them twice! I got the feta ravioli which had kalamata olives and feta cheese with a brown butter lemon sauce. That was delicious. There was also an albacore tuna dish served with rice and snap peas that was also great. The desserts are something you can skip. We got the homemade ice cream which I didn't care for. Overall the chef is very talented. I would have liked to see a little more menu selection. We would go again.
(4)
Bailey m.
What wonderful service! The food, the atmosphere, quality, everything! Perfect place for a date or romantic evening with your boo.
Lovely birthday meal. Just what we were looking for. Vegetarian with flavor. Loved the baked Brie with blackberries! Loved the melon salad. So tasty. I had the ravioli and it was delicious, not too heavy. We are Farmers Market shoppers and enjoyed the creativity and simplicity that was given to each dish. Great ambiance. I dressed up -- lol Portland everyone dressed down! Enjoy. We left feeling full but not heavy! I will return.
(4)
Paul S.
Had the trout, very good. Nice atmosphere, like eating in a home. Not too crowded or crazy on a Sunday evening. Good service. Wish the menu had a few more items.
(4)
Michael K.
I was skeptical at first based on some of their prices, but ended up really enjoying everything. Service was great, patio was comfortable, prices actually pretty reasonable, and food was excellent. Will def return
(5)
Desiree D.
My husband and I were looking for something to eat last Friday night around 9pm. We knew our options were limited for a couple of reasons: it was late and we are vegetarian. He found this restaurant on google and we decided to give it a shot. We were seated in the bar and given both the regular and happy hour menu. While we only ordered a butter salad off of the HH menu, it looked pretty great. The regular menu was what caught our eyes, though, and we got the fantastic baked brie to start with. Ugh, if I could only eat that forever, I would be a happy camper. My husband got the marsala tofu dish he loved it. Crispy tofu, a mountain of mashed potatoes, and an amazing mushroom marsala sauce. I ordered the preserved lemon and feta ravioli. You only get four ravioli, but it is obvious that they're handmade and seriously worth every penny. Freaking amazing. The bartender was awesome and very attentive. We didn't get a chance to try desserts this time around, but they looked amazing (some people next to us were eating the souffle and the rhubarb crisp.) We can't wait til we are back in Portland again so we can try more of their menu!
(5)
Laura P.
I really like The Farm Cafe. My BF and I have been 3 times in the past couple of years and have always had am exceptional experience. All three times we were seated outside on the patio. Its a beautiful and intimate patio. We were greeted and quickly seated. They have good local brews on tap as well as a full bar with of great drinks. The menu changes frequently which is great and it follows what's in season and fresh. Last night we shared several starters including the baked brie, the beeT Carpaccio(yes beet), the mushrooms and the ficoide glacial salad before turning to the crispy Idaho trout. Everything was do good. We finished with the peach and raspberry shortcake and a small glass odd madiera. Service was attentive and she knew the menu. All in all a great meal.
(5)
Derrick P.
Excellent vegetarian menu. If miss real vegetarian burger (not from costco) go there. BIG FAT veggie Patty satisfied me completely. Real cut potato fries. And the fried tofu. So yummy. 100%recommended.
(5)
Michael W.
PRO: The staff was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant overall had a warm and friendly feel to it. The food presentation was good as well CON: The food was mediocre in taste and the menu was not very creative. Portion sizes were very small and most of the meal was fillers like pasta and polenta. I had the gnocchi entree and it was appetizer size. Come on guys, it's potatoes and sauce. My first visit here was disappointing overall and I would not go back.
(2)
Aldwin C.
Plenty of vegetarian options. There is fish and pork too No fuss foods yet tasty They have a number of home made drink concoctions. I will definitely try a few before I return to Chicago The restaurant is a converted house. So each table feels intimate
(4)
L L.
Always a delightful experience! The food is superb and caters to my vegetarian diet. I usually get the encrusted tofu with mash potatoes but tonight I had the gnocchi with ramp sauce with nettles loaded with garlic. It was delicious! The wine list is impressive and the waiters are skilled choosing the appropriate wine pairing. The spinach bean dip was mediocre, But you must try the baked Brie and the seasonal pickled veggies! Yum! Reservations are helpful if you come in the later part of the evening.
Overpriced vegan food. The word Farm In the name evokes meat and large portions but you won't find much of either here.
(2)
Ben H.
The Farm is top notch on all fronts. First, the ambiance is is every thing you would expect in an upscale restaurant. The exterior is an inviting Victorian house conversion which is standard for many eateries in Portland, but there is a lot of thought put into the layout and decorations in the interior that make it stand out. The bar area and outside seating have warm lighting that accentuates the modern decor. Next, the menu makes good use of seasonal flavors. Although distinctly vegetarian, the dishes are hearty and generously portioned. Even a carnivore will feel amply sated after dinner at the farm. Lastly, the drink menu is creative and intentionally supplements their menu. The wait staff does an excellent job in suggesting drinks that pair well with your food.
(5)
Sam N.
Had an incredible experience and lots of good food at The Farm Cafe. After having been in Portland for 2 months (moving from the east coast), and hearing "Portland is good for food", The Farm *finally* put Portland on the Food Map. The building looks unassuming, but the ambiance was nice - not too fancy, but also well decorated. The servers were all extremely pleasant and helpful, including the bus-staff. Our meal started with the heirloom tomato salad and the kale and white-bean soup. The salad was pretty great - probably the best tomatoes I've tasted in 2015. The soup was to die-for. I didn't expect a dark soup with kale and white beans, but they balanced it well. It was a little over salted for my taste, but I'm sensitive to that. The delicious bread they served went so well with the appetizers. For entrees, we got the crusted tofu and mushroom dish, and the veggie burger. The tofu dish is what put this meal on the map. The mushrooms and sauce were complex, light, and done to perfection. The tofu was the perfect temperature, seasoned well, and fried just right. The mashed potatoes on the bottom were the iconic example of garlic spuds! This is a dish that you MUST try. The veggie burger was good, but not incredible. I was happy enough with it to take it home (as the rest of the meal was beginning to be a bit much food). The meal ended with some homemade coconut ice cream. We were wondering if it was from coconut milk, or cream, but it was certainly the former. The richness of the coconut taste pervaded every part of each spoonful, and the $3 serving was very plentiful! In all, for $46, we made out with one of the best meals of the year, a great time, and a place that we'll certainly be going back.
(5)
Vi B.
So many good things to say about The Farm Cafe. Service: Fabulous. We had a very attentive (but not obnoxious) server who walked us through the menu's servings. Ambiance: Very Portland--like so many other hotspots here, TFC is in a converted house with multiple rooms to walk through. This adds to the intimate feel for the whole dining experience. We sat in the bar area, which was pretty quiet. However, the rest of the restaurant seemed loud/bustling. Most importantly: The food! I ordered a charcuterie board, autumn salad, and ravioli. You can really taste how much care went into each dish. We spent our time enjoying every bite and every sip of wine. It was a bit spendy but well worth the experience.
(4)
J M.
The lighting and ambiance is spot on. Everything was delicious and fresh. Had a beet salad that was to die for and a quinoa dish I would order in the mail to Seattle yuuuuummmmm
(4)
Dan M.
The feta ravioli there was incredibly fresh, you could tell they made the pasta themselves. Actually, everything tasted fresh! I would recommend sitting outside if it's not too hot or in the bar if it is. The bar was quiet and intimate whereas the other in door part of the restaurant has more of a typical restaurant atmosphere.
(5)
Marianne R.
Love this place. We had a reservation for 7:15 and were promptly seated. I had called the restaurant to let them know we had a special occasion (daughter's birthday) and they said they'd do something special like a candle on her dessert. Well that didn't happen. And we had to hunt the waitress down to get my husband's drink - she said she forgot. The food was fab, the service was meh. But we've been here many times before and had better service so I won't hold this one incident against them.
(4)
Seth F.
I didn't even make it as far as the food. I was beyond excited to eat at this restaurant, but I was turned off to the point of leaving by the way the owner treated me. He was overly rude about my not having shoes (despite my politely explaining that without it being posted on the door it's not required). You'd think the owner of a place like this would be much more down to earth, or at least friendly. I would have loved to try the food but I refuse to support people who aren't the least bit personable. Went to Clarklewis and got a MUCH better experience!!
(1)
Leslie W.
I've been here a couple of times. The food is good and there's a nice selection, especially for those who like many non-meat items to choose from. My first visit here was with a group of four and we were there for Happy Hour, which was just about perfect. My second time here was with a large group, and I know large groups can be difficult to accommodate and it's rare to get good service and good food because of the technical difficulties faced by the kitchen and staff. So I try to be gentle when reviewing a restaurant based on a group experience, but I will say this was one of the best meals I've eaten _in a group_ at a restaurant, ever. The service was off but I think our server was new and frustrated by having to serve a big table. I sometimes wonder why restaurants even allow big tables. They can't get a dozen dishes out at once and you can't talk to the folks at the other side of the table, so why be seated at the same table as someone you'll never see? Side by side tables would solve a lot of problems re: billing and service. But nobody asked my opinion, except maybe Yelp, so I'll just try to live my life in small groups whenever possible. Since the food was good and served at the right temperature, and pretty reasonable for the quality and preparation, it gets four stars despite a few issues.
(4)
Robin T.
Kudos to a chef and restaurant that pays attention to every detail, every bite, every flavor. What a delicious dinner we had! When you start with the best quality food, cook it properly, and add herbs and sauces that truly complement, then you create a memorable meal. Well done! The server was polite, informed, and unobtrusive . Perfecto. Dinner for two was $75 ( no drinks) which I think was quite reasonable for such high quality food. I highly recommend this friendly place.
(5)
Becca J.
I had dinner here, and it was amazing. I absolutely want to come back. First bonus - they take reservations!!! (I hate that a ton of restaurants in Portland don't do this.) They also have a small parking lot next to the restaurant; there are only about 4-5 spaces, so it is likely that you will have to do street parking. We started with the Williams Baked Brie appetizer. It was warm, and sweet, and the hazelnuts on top were like the icing on the cake. For my main dish I had the Parisienne Gnocchi. Rather than being heavy and potato based, this gnocchi was actually cheese-based and very light. The pesto sauce it came with was so good that the waitress brought me out some extra bread to sop it up and eat every last bit. For dessert we had chocolate pound cake with home-made whipped cream. I'm not really sure how to describe it, but the chocolate seemed more like carob than milk or dark chocolate, and the whipped cream was the perfect sweetness. There was also some sort of berry sauce on top that was really tasty. Overall, I'd love to come back here. Everything was so good that I really want to try other things on the menu. The inside ambiance was a little dark and intimate, and it had a slightly upscale vibe.
We had a very nice dinner here on Friday. You enter through an old house, but they are linked to a bigger building behind. It is nice appointed inside, with lots of wood paneling and wooden booths. It feels very comfortable. The treat here is the outside patio. This restaurant is just off Burnside, but you would not know it sitting outside. We liked their salad selection. Rebecca and Phil loved the beet salad; I skipped it. The heirloom tomato salad was balanced just right with oil and balsamic. The figs on my salad made everything else worthwhile. We paired an Eyrie Rose of Pinot Noir off the wine by the glass menu. It was just right to start the mean on a warm Fall evening. Nice color and good acid to go with the food. We also enjoyed our entrees; Phil had a fabulous gnocchi and Rebecca and I split the duck breast. He had the better dish; our duck could have used a bit more spice. The wine list is all local and focuses a lot on Pinot Noir; as a result it is expensive. Since Pinot Noir is not our favorite red, we looked at the other choices and picked a Cabernet Sauvignon from Walla Walla. We were assured it would go well with our dishes; it did not. It really needed a big bloody steak. It was a bit harsh and too much wine for our dishes. I think we will bring our own wine next time. We enjoyed this dinner and will come back.
(4)
Jim C.
Great service, great menu, great location. Well, everything was just great. Thanks.
(5)
Judee M.
I loved finding this little place. The ambiance of a wonderful Victorian house (remember being in it when it was a residence years ago--so added to the intrigue) My hubby is one picky eater. When I saw "vegetarian and seafood"as focus, I thought I'd take a chance. We were delighted with the trout and a very yummy ravioli. I was crazy tired, so can't remember the ingredients, but it was soul comfort food for me. Relaxing, intimate atmosphere. A little girl was having a birthday with Mom and girlfriends, a table over. The waitress catered to that delightfully, still keeping within the romantic/intimate feeling of the restaurant. A European feel to this place. We had attention from waitstaff but not the overbearing type which is so rampant these days. My picky hubby gave it a big thumbs up. The price is up there a bit, but a great value for the $, and we are usually cheap eaters. I will take several girlfriends for their birthdays...ideal!
(4)
Allison S.
TOURISTS- I'm sure this is great if you need a quick bite to eat on lunch at work. But found it on yelp and was super disappointed because I'm here as a tourist. Not a regular sit down restaurant. This is a tiny cafe in an office building. We turned around and left because it's not what we were looking for.
(3)
Lorrie M.
This place is pretty phenomenal and highlights one of the main reasons I love Portland. The food here is epic and when you get the bill you will wonder why San Francisco charges 3-4x as much! I came here with some friends after a full day of eating, so we were kind of tapped out already but wanted to try some dishes here so decided to order 4-5 things to share. We had 3 appetizers and 2 entries between the 3 of us and it was a pretty good spread. We also had a bottle of wine, which was surprisingly delicious despite what I have been told about PNW red wine. Their bread pudding, meats, and amazing selection of cheeses, baked brie, short rib, duck ... I could go on but now I am just hungry. Definitely make a reservation, and this place is totally worth it.
(5)
Mao T.
We came here for a special little dinner after we moved to Portland. It looks like a little house from the outside and the ambiance is nice. Service was timed well, our server was there when we wanted her to be and she left us alone to enjoy our meal. We did a whole three course meal, apps, entree and dessert. People are stating how expensive this place is....for their presentation and elegance ...I think this place is a steal. This place seems to fly under the radar but it is definitely worth checking out.
(5)
Michelle K.
With a 7pm reservation on a Saturday evening, we were seated at the front of the restaurant, which, with a bay window, definitely felt nice and cosy. The food was hit and miss. For starters, the Williams Baked Brie, served with apple slices and bread, was super delicious; the mushrooms, on the other hand, were not very exciting and even a bit too salty for me - didn't feel like it was worth $9. As for the entrees, I had the quiona crusted risotto cakes, which were quite nice - the crust had a nice nutty flavour but the risotto inside was a bit lacking in flavour, though that was made up in part by the squash puree. The side salad of micro greens was really refreshing - yummy. My dining companions had the veggie burger, the potato gnocchi and the roasted lamb. The veggie burger was a real disappointment - the patty, which I tried, was really mushy and strange. I didn't try the other two dishes, but the gnocchi was apparently okay while the lamb was raved about.
(3)
Paul G.
It was crowded, and after seeing some other reviews I was worried that there might be a long wait, but our waitress got to us quickly and was extremely professional and attentive. The food was delicious and unique - we ordered a bunch of small dishes and enjoyed every one.
(5)
Linda M.
So good - perfect, attentive service, great atmosphere on the patio, and the food was fresh, original, and so delicious. Outstanding experience.
(5)
Chelsea Laine H.
Was in town with my boss and we wanted something close to our hotel that had good vegetarian options. We found this place! The decor is super cute, cozy, and very homey. It's a good date night spot but also good for meals with friends. We started with the Brie...always a great option! I had the mushroom risotto and my boss had the asparagus ravioli - both were delicious! It looked like they might have a patio in the back?! Would definitely try this place again when in the area.
(4)
Ashlee L.
Ate here for my 30th birthday (right before Christmas) since it looked like it was really vegetarian friendly. Unfortunately we were 30 minutes late for our reservation because of a train (which forced us to eat quickly to move on to the next item on the agenda), the service was almost non existent, no paper towels in the bathroom, and the food was just ok (between the two of us we had the Fritters, Risotto Cakes [under-cooked], and the lamb). If I lived in the area I would probably give it a second chance by trying one of the salads. We had a cute table in the front window, but not much of a view (just an ally type street).
(3)
Jeanine H.
The building is beautiful anyway, but right now it has Christmas decorations in all of the wonderful old windows. My friend and I were seated at the front of the restaurant, which felt private, even though we were visible from outside. The wait-staff was very prompt and helpful throughout our meal, without being omnipresent in a spooky way. My friend and I chose three hors d'oeuvres to share and a salad for each of us. The fritters were tender and flavorful, with a creamy sauce that set them off without being overpowering. We had clams and fries in a delicious garlicky broth and aioli atop - a scrumptious treat. And...then deviled eggs with smoked salmon were creamy and rich tasting. My lamb bacon accidentally fell in the clam broth, which only enhanced the flavor! Our salads were very fresh and perfectly dressed, meaning the dressing didn't fight with the flavors of the ingredients. I love beets, but they were even more delicious with their partners, pecans, greens, and chevre. Yep, it's pricey, but for a special holiday evening out on the town, it's worth it.
I guess it all boils down to what you order. I came with some girlfriends and enjoyed the ambiance... cute little restaurant, nice crowd.. Service started off a little snarky but ended well so no complaints there. The table enjoyed the Brie appetizer with bread, but I felt like no one (including me) was overjoyed with their meal. Two of us got the famed veggie burger. The taste was excellent, but the texture was off-putting. Mushy... blech. The accompanying fries were outstanding, however. A friend got the quinoa risotto cakes and while she didn't love the taste, I thought it was fantastic. I finished my meal with a very tasty souffle. I would definitely give this place another shot... need to try other things. The trout looked yummy.
(3)
Jo B.
Read great reviews about this place so was looking forward to eating dinner here. Unfortunately it didn't quite deliver. Baba ganoush was quite possibly the worst I have ever had...blended to within an inch of its life and bearing none of the deep smokey flavor that a good blistered eggplant skin should impart. Poor seasoning too. The sauteed mushrooms were a bland buttery pile of plain old brown button mushrooms...I was at least expecting some variation in there. The kale salad was pretty good and the veggie burger decent. The wine list looked great but the server had no idea what to recommend when we asked for a good local Pinot. Overall disappointing.
Manila clams with French fries - a thought process Dish arrives: "I don't get it." Eat a clam: "mmm, clams." Eat a fry: "good fry. Hmm, these fries are getting soggy!" Start to eat fries with the clams: "ok, but this is weird" Start mixing fries and clams with broth: "tastes ok" Eat more: "tastes better." Eat more: "oh, this is a soup? Okay. I THINK I get it." Eat more: "yum." Eat more: "YUM...but still weird."
(3)
Steven M.
I had been wanting to try this place for a while and I was not let down! It is a cool vibe when you enter and feel like you are entering someone's home. The only draw back was that we waited for about 5 minutes before we anyone greeted our group. That would be the biggest complaint is the disjointed service. The meal made up for any lack of service. The autumnal oriented menu was a wonderful experience and very thoughtfully executed. There is a strong compassion for the food which is a reason why I will prioritize the Farm Cafe as one of my go to places w/ family and friends.
(4)
Chelsea M.
This place was just A-OK for me. Here are the great points: The polenta was amazing, the broth that it was in was so flavorful and they managed to put a warm salad on top (I am not sure that's what they called it, but it's what I am going to refer to it as) that made the polenta dish complete. Tons of veggies which was a very nice touch. Decent size wine list for the size/style of the place. Spicy, roasted hazelnuts were delicious! Just spicy enough that I kept wanting to eat them and then I would remember they were spicy and then want more! Vicious cycle! Trout was enjoyed by all in our party, no one left a bite on their plate, and they ate it so quickly I did not get a chance to try it, so I can only tell you it must have been good. Beet salad was delicious! I only wish the cheese was mixed in a little more instead of just spread on the plate at the bottom. (Details) But the beets were at the perfect temperature, cold and perfectly roasted. Here is why they did not deserve 4 or 5 stars in order of importance (1- most important, 4- least important) 4. They spelled McMinnville wrong on their wine specials, details. 3. Williams Baked Brie - both an appetizer and a dessert.... Hmmm.... I don't know why this bothered me, but it did. I am okay with brie being a dessert, I love cheese as much as the next person, but it was the same thing, on the menu twice, for the beginning and end of the meal. Make a decision. When should I eat it? 2. Chick Pea Spread - Well, it was called chick pea spread for one, so hummus. It was put on a plate that was difficult to pick up, even the waitress commented on it, and the hummus was placed on top of mixed greens so towards the end you had to scrape around the lettuce and lost a good portion of the delicious hummus to the lettuce. It showed a lack of attention to detail (again) that I found annoying. 1. Gnocchi - Gooey gnocchi with pesto that was flavorless and swimming in butter and parmesan. It was utterly disappointing. I left half of it uneaten. This is the primary reason that knocked this place down a full star for me. Overall: I probably will not go back. Maybe if I spent more time planning my meal, I would have had a better dining experience. Notes: You will need a reservation at this place, space is limited. Unless you want to try and squeeze into the bar, please make a reservation, you will be happier!
(3)
Shawn C.
Fine dining in the Northwest at its finest!!! Its not cheap, if you want cheap go somewhere else!!! If you you are tired of Ringside and El Gaucho, go to The Farm! I highly recommend sharing a bottle wine with your meal. Want something more casual? Go to the bar at the very back, its great. Pro Tip; Great for a date or anniversary, make reservations and show up on time! There is no place to wait and the lines can get long.
(5)
Kelly B.
I guess I'm a "regular". Miss the fried goat cheese salad(bring it back) They make great food. Like any good restaurant, they get BUSY yet handle it better than most places. I've liked the lamb dish every time I've had it! Service is usually spot on and cocktail/wine suggestions never fail to compliment the food.
(5)
J S.
Wow this place is amazing!! Sit in the outside patio. Great ambiance. Tofu potato dish was awesome - didn't think the combo would work but it sure does. Several vegetarian options. Yummy salads.
How often is it that a handful of nuts become the center attraction of a dining experience. The rosemary-roasted hazelnuts appetizer is such a fantastic item, that I could picture myself sitting in front of the television all day eat them hand to mouth. Slightly sweet and slightly spicy, they are an addictive eat to say the least. We also ordered the WIlliams baked brie which was a wonderful, rich appetizer. It is a bit on the sweeter side. The farmhouse cheese ball which is a blend of 3 cheeses reminded me of the cheeseballs that you would order from the fundraising catalog in elementary school. The dungeness crab risotto was very good with a good deal of crab essence. The only detraction was that the crab meat had dissipated into the risotto so it was hard to find. I was expecting chunks, but at least the flavor was there. The real reason we had come here though was that we heard their Farmhouse Veggie Burger was one of the best around. It was more substantial to other veggie burgers and the fact that they had used breaded eggplant as the patty made it even better. The real sell in the dishes is that everything tastes fresh.
(4)
Annetta B.
Been on my radar for a whole year as I love in Seattle. It was just as I hoped it would be. The waitress even mixed a wine for me to make it sweeter.
(5)
Jim A.
We were early for the reservation but were immediately seated. The drink delivery was slow. The starters were excellent. A most interesting wine list, the Gramercy southern Rhone style was outstanding with the lamb dish. The only complaint would be the noise level. Way too loud.
(4)
Vanessa M.
I came here before moving to Portland for a business trip. I sat at the bar in the back solo and enjoyed every minute of it. The bartender was nice and attentive. I head so many reviews about the veggie burger that I had to try it myself. It was so decadent. I love the layout of this place as well. It is in what was a house probably and each room is unique and comfortable. There is even an outdoor space that wasn't opened when I was there but looks nice. I am so glad I stopped in this place for a solo dinner as it was worth every bite!
(4)
Emily F.
Absolutely delicious. The ambience was lovely. We shared baked brie, the watercrest salad, and a bottle of wine. My partner got the trout and I had the lamb shepards pie. Both were wonderfully seasoned and cooked well. We were shoked by the bill only coming to 40 each. I would return in a heartbeat.
(5)
Jacob M.
Service was great and the ambiance is good too. Unfortunately they lose a star for a rather uninspired, although well executed, menu.
(4)
Carolyn M.
We were able to get a reservation before a show on Saturday night and were pretty excited. Parking was okay; there is decent street parking. The "back" door was u inviting; I wasn't sure it was truley an entrance. Once inside it was warm and cozy as described. My only suggestion about ambiance would be to improve the lighting! Our little two top had no direct lighting and only a votive candle. I had to use the flashlight on my phone to see the menu (getting older sucks). I ordered a cocktail; Tangaled up in Blue. Good flavor of bourbon with hints of mint and lemon. Worth it if you like the combination. Dinner for us included salads; beet and butter leaf. I LOVED the beet salad even though I don't adore goat cheese. I stepped out my comfort zone and went for it; delicious and well proportioned. The butter leaf was fine but unremarkable. The salads came with homemade bread served with olive oil and balsamic. I saw huge "wheels" of bread being cut up by the servers. Entre's were pan roasted rockfish over fingerling potatoes and Brussels with a caper aoli; the fish was delicate and yummy. My Brussels were tough so I skipped them. We also ordered the trout; a first for dining out. The server said it was "sustainably" farm raises...hmmm. Big fish salt crusted and pan fried after being deboned. Yup- not a single bone to be had! It too was super good and served with roasted seasonal veg. If they stepped it up a bit by improving the lighting and softening up their garnish Id be happy to bump my rating. Oh, don't be misled on service. The women were on the ball and friendly (guys must all be in the kitchen?).
(3)
Liz A.
Pretty yummy. Drinks were good too. We got there on time for our reservation and ended up having to wait because the party at our table was taking their time leaving. They hooked us up with our first round of cocktails while we waited. Pretty awesome service.
(5)
Erin J.
Hubs & I stopped in for a late dinner. Place was packed, however we were able to get a small table straight away in the front room by the kitchen. It was LOUD... definitely not the place for a quiet intimate dinner. Our waiter was friendly, attentive & helpful in answering our questions. The menu is somewhat limited, however, it'd be nice to see a burger as a staple on there for those that may be less adventurous. I had the halibut... hubs had the ravioli. Both delicious and appropriate serving sizes... this is a quality not quantity place. We shared the baked chocolate souffle.... order when dinner arrives as it takes extra time to bake. Food was all fantastic.... 4 star rating due to noise & lack of an artisan style burger.
(4)
John Mark J.
Cute, very veg friendly, and chill yet nice. Great find. Had the risotto cakes, butternut squash salad, Gruyere fritters...so many things on here that sound very interesting and scrumptious. Would love to try them all. Next time!
(5)
Jane F.
Serious yum
(5)
Kelly L.
Excellent food--Chef Kelly Weiss is a food wizard. Rather inexpensive prices for fine-dining and the quality you get. Ingredients are farm-to-table, natural and very high quality. Chill and professional staff. Owners Fearn and Guy are super rad. Dishes frequently change, oh and the veggie burger is to die for. There is are many reasons this restaurant is so well-established yet still relevant. Great for dates fyi.
(5)
Darcie A.
I love this place. Reasonable prices, great food, generous portions, delicious cocktails and easy no matter the dietary restrictions in your group.
(5)
Frank C.
I am still congratulating myself for discovering this place myself! (on my way to my favorite bike shop). I am so glad I noticed this place while walking up Burnside and made a note to try it out. My wife and I finally had the chance to eat here one night. I had the Duck and my wife had the Trout. The duck was delightful, tender, rich, with a sauce that complimented it perfectly. It came with a delectable crepe-like side. I totally cleaned every bit off my plate! (oh yeah, Trout was great too. Very tasty). The cocktails were magnificent. We were lucky enough to meet the bar tender and I'm really glad we did. I could tell she took her craft seriously. We tried the specials and we really enjoyed the results! We arrived late, so the Lamb was out. We must go back!
(5)
Jess M.
I've been coming to this restaurant for several years now, it is definitely part of our rotation. Stellar food, great drinks and attentive staff. Their bread- oh lord, it's some of the best fresh bread it town. The only things holding me off from a 5 star review is their menu can be a little boring. Also, portions are often on the small side. That said quality ingredients speak for themselves!
(4)
L C.
1st time in Portland and wanted to eat at a good organic resto so I chose Farm Cafe... Had the hazelnuts based on reviews from others.. Blah blah blah. I bought a lot better at the University Market on Sat. I highly reco those ... Not the hazelnuts at Farm Cafe.... Waste of money. Next, was the veggie burger... I asked if they could give half fries and half salad but that was not possible! Imagine how difficult that would be to ask the kitchen staff to do in order to please the customer? Anyhow, soggy fries and slightly undercooked, veggie burger was soggy, sloppy and cold and the bun was crispy. I think it was an eggplant burger??? I also tried the trout with lentils and something pickled mixed with the lentils. I was not happy with any of this. The trout was the best part and I would give it 3/5. If u have high blood pressure then stay away as it is drizzled with salt chunks. I don't understand the other reviews and what people thought was so good about this place. I do not recommend farm cafe. Look for other alternatives as Portland has many. Oh, I almost forgot, they have nice little peppermint chocolates in a tiny bowl at the entrance... Grab a couple on the way in and out. Should have gone to Chipotle... It NEVER disappoints and it would have cost me a lot less!!!
My three favorite things about Farm Cafe: 1. The Williams Baked Brie (Slice of brie served warm with toasted sugar, roasted hazelnuts, seasonal fruit, and Ken's baguette... mine had apple slices!) 2. The old house converted into a restaurant - great ambience! 3. The host was quick to acknowledge that I was early for my OpenTable reservation. He seated us promptly and thanked us for being flexible. No worries on my part, I was the one who showed up about 10 minutes earlier than my reservation time. :)
(4)
Kristen G.
Abso-freaken-lutely AMAZING. For once, an ALMOST vegetarian restaurant that isn't afraid of flavor! I was able to take my non-veggie mom and her meat-loving bf here and they LOVED IT because the food is just impeccable! We started with the roasted garlic -- which was delish! (because, hello, it's roasted garlic!) Then had the pear arugula salad -- which was quite tasty. I got the wild mushroom gnocchi for my entree -- and it was heaaavveeennn... Light and delicious... I stuffed myself silly.. But still.... I decided I had to try the marscapone cheesecake -- and wow, I was so glad I did. It was light, not heavy like "regular" cheesecake and they put a pumpkin-y type sauce on it... woooowww. I can easily count this as one of my most favorite meals EVER (along with Gary Danko in S.F. and Patina in L.A.... which both have michelin stars.... if that gives you any idea) The price tag for the meal was unbelievably reasonable for the quality of food! I love that this place is in a super cute house... and the service is friendly and not incredibly formal. For not living in Portland, I would have never noticed it, or probably found it... but I'm so glad I checked yelp before venturing out... Just amazing! Go... NOW! (my meal here makes me want to fly up to Portland every month just to eat...)
(5)
Helen H.
This place was perfect to grab a nice dinner before catching a show at the Doug Fir. Fresh, simple, and amazingly delicious food! I loved my fish baked in parchment paper with vegetables, and the wine was great too. The atmosphere is cozy and warm; I sat at the bar. Great service and friendly people; everyone should come here!
(5)
Edward J.
The Farm is very romantic and cosy. I can't wait to go back there. Though, the wait is tedious and long. I would go half to one hour early and sign your name up. Go down a block to Ron Tom's or Doug Fir for a drink. Anyways, I highly recommend the roasted garlic and bread. My boyfriend and I shared a gnocchi mushroom dish, delicious! Though small but still, good! The white wine sauce is unique. My friend and her boyfriend got the tofu and smash potato (the only vegan dish). The gravy looks really good. They also have a wide selection of seafood and meat dishes. The dessert looks really good too, but no vegan that night. Ask for the special! PS: You can wait in the back patio with a drink.
(5)
Andrea V.
Yee-haw, I love The Farm. Some of the best grub I've had in Portland and also ever-so-handy for the vegetarian friends. High points: the wine list, which had some affordable bottles, the cheese ball (it lives up to the hype), the mushroom gnocchi (so good I almost licked my plate), the chocolate souffle (worth waiting the 15 minutes), Stumptown coffee. The bites I had of my dining partners' trout, herb-crusted tofu and BBQ tofu were all fabuloso. I also had the spinach salad with shaved fennel, mandarin oranges, pomegranate seeds and citrus dressing which was just heady. Service was good - there was a rather large gap between the salad/appetizer and main course but our server brought us extra bread so we were pretty happy. I wouldn't expect to get out of here quickly - our visit spanned about 2.5 hours, although to be fair, we chatted a fair bit and had appetizer AND dessert. After 6, there were consistently people waiting in the very small front hall (on a Thursday night) so I'd get here early if you want to be seated promptly. My new favorite place to go!
(5)
Danphi V.
Very cozy little joint with a unique menu and friendly staff. Nice bar area for us to hang out in while waiting for a table to open up. The menu changes seasonally and the trout I had was delicious. GF had halibut special and that along with the accompanying brussell sprouts were excellent. Our friend had the tofu Marsala and she said it was good, albeit a bit too salty. Our deserts were top notch as were the adult beverages. Jeremy was attentive server who was always on the move taking care of his guests. A big kudos for keeping us well hydrated with water, a person would come by when our carafe was low and top off our H2O.
(3)
Lauren P.
There is a reason Farm had an hour wait. This intimate, hip restaurant did not disappoint. As everyone else has already commented, the menu was simple.. the ingredients fresh.. and the execution impeccable. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal, and even our hour wait on the back patio where we sampled a few of their signature cocktails.. also delicious.
(5)
Koshka C.
This cafe was located not far from the hotel where we stayed. It is a victorian style house transformed into the restaurant; therefore there isn't much room for big parties and families, but it is perfect for small groups of people and couples. The dark wood and warm colors create a comfortable and cozy atmosphere with a hint of romanticism. The menu has vegetarian, meat and fish dishes; all of the ingredients are fresh from local farms. We started dinner with a cheese ball served with a warm herb baguette on the side. Creamy goodness with garlicky undertone and a nice crunch of the hazelnuts, spread over a warm peace of bread was devine, and the size was just right to share for two people and not get full. I ordered a pan seared trout with herb risotto. Outside the fish was crunchy and coarsely salted with sea salt and inside the meat was juicy, tender and sweet. Simple, scrumptious and very pleasant. The risotto was soft but not mushy with smooth, rich flavors of herbs. The meal was polished off with a glass of fragrant rose from a local winery. I didn't get the pleasure to taste the duck breast my boyfriend ordered, but he said it was the best prepaired duck he ever had. he is quite demanding when it comes to duck meat. In overall we had a very pleasant experience, tasted delectable, simple, vibrant and fresh food accompanied by crisp wine. The restaurant doesn't take reservations; they open at 5 and get filled up pretty fast. The atire is casual, nice casual.
(4)
Marilyn H.
Went last night after not visiting for a while. They had completely remodeled the bar and built a fantastic looking patio dining area in the back. Can't wait to go back when it is warmer and use it. Food was excellent. Braised chicken special, veggie burger, and duck were wonderful. Wait staff were friendly and fast.
(5)
Harry S.
Great fish.
(4)
Dan G.
Excellent earthy spot. Fish was all good. Salmon entrees especially. A great stop is quintessential Portland. Good wine list, too. I would recommend reservations. Locally grown food spot. Vegan menu, too (of course, its Portland after all).
(4)
Samantha S.
Amazing food, fabulous customer service & great atmosphere. Went here on a Wednesday night with a group and everyone was very pleased with what they ordered. Loved everything about this place and they have an outdoor area which would be great on sunny days.
(5)
Kayt d.
My husband and I came to the Farm for dinner on a Sunday night and only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. I had a GIN-ger cocktail while we waited-- it was really tasty. We were visiting from San Francisco and purposefully sought out restaurants that served up local and/or organic foods. (I heart the Pacific Northwest!) The Farm fit the bill and did not disappoint. Our meal was terrific. The wine list was short, but inexpensive. We'll definitely be back.
(5)
K S.
Love the ambiance. Really nice employees. The bottle of wine we got was excellent. The food was good. I wish I would have gotten the tofu. It looked really good. I got the trout. Mom got the salmon. Beet salad was good. The dessert we asked for was their coffee ice cream with pecan and camel topping. Kinda a combination of 2 desserts (yes, we were those people) Our waiter checked and rechecked with us and what we got was cheesecake and vanilla ice cream. We just laughed... I will probably be back, though most likely for lunch.
(4)
Tina B.
I came here when I was in town and stayed at the Jupiter Hotel (right down the street). The space is very cozy and comfortable. The menu had a lot of delicious options...from cocktails, main courses to dessert. The food was delicious. Everything tasted very fresh. I made sure to save room for dessert! Also, the prices were very reasonable.
(4)
bailee. ..
When my man and I want a special date night, our failsafe is drinks at Rontoms, dinner at Farm, and, uh, entertainment at Union Jack's. Every meal I've had here has been simple and delicious. The trout is my go-to (the salt crust really makes the dish), the gnocchi is super savory, the crab risotto (which I believe is a winter special) is life-changingly delicious (though I recommend sharing it, as an entire plate of the richness may be too much), and even the vegan tofu dish is rich and flavorful enough to win over meat eaters. The service is always really good, even though the place is normally busy. The servers and bartenders have great knowledge of wines, and we've discovered a few new favorites here. Cocktail list is interesting, they have Fernet for a digestif, and the atmosphere is über-sexy. What's not to love?
(5)
Brie P.
why why why?? ever since the farm expanded...it's kinda sucked. Been there twice but i just seems like the upped the space but didn't hire any new staff...or maybe the didn't make the kitchen better. it makes me sad
(2)
Alexandra A.
This place is a yummy! I've driven by this place several times and always wanted to go. I'm glad I finally did. The food is great! So flavorful and well designed. I got the crab rossito with blue cheese. It wasn't over powering but it was a little rich but that is to be expected with those ingredients. We also had the baked brie as an appetizer. The only suggestion there, is that the crust of the baked brie should be cut off before it's baked because the crust is so bitter it really tarnished the flavor for me. If I picked that off, it was great. I also tried the cajun salmon with creme fresh polenta & greens. That was out of this world! I'm not a person that likes spicy but this was amazing and the creme fresh cut the spice really well. That dish was the bomb!
(4)
Chris W.
The food is seasonal, primarily local (extending to the spirits and brews), and the ingredients are cooked at their prime. My only complaint would be the wait time, though in this time of season it is understandable considering the outdoor patio is closed. For the quality of food, the prices were very fair. Three drinks, an appetizer plate, extra bread, and two entrees for 50$ sans tip.
(5)
Stacey J.
Went to Cascade brewing and the waitress told us this was one of her favorite restaurants. I'm so glad she told us about it b/c it was amazing. I am in shock that there was space b/c in Seattle I don't know if you would have gotten in to a place like this on a Friday night without a reservation. We started out with drinks... my drink was pretty strong, which I didn't care for, but can't say it was bad. The beer selection was good. We then ordered the baked brie, which was amazing. I loved the sugar added to it. For someone who doesn't eat beef or pork this place was great. Unsure if there menu is always like this, but I would say it was a pescetarian's dream restaurant. The main dishes we got were raviolis with pecans and browns butter sauce and risotto with crab, lemon and blue cheese. Yummy! Dessert: Mascarpone cheese cake with pecan crust and dulce de leche sauce. Amazing! Atmosphere was nice and you could hold a conversation without yelling. It is in an old home. Prices were also reasonable. Definitely would go again.
(5)
Evelyn L.
Love the decor in Farm with nice service. We ordered veggie burgers based on the review. Definitely recommend it!
(5)
Dusty T.
The Farm features simple northwest fare done very well. The menu is simple and brief and the food never disappoints. Their wine list is huge and unpretentious and they pour a nice sized glass. The ambiance is charming and cozy and the food is very very good. The crusted goat cheese salad is my favorite salad in town. There tends to be a long wait most evenings, so don't show up starving.
(4)
Emily S.
I came here for dinner and drinks with a friend on a Wednesday evening. We got there at 6pm and I was worried that we might have to wait to get a table but it was nearly empty. I think our waiter was bored because he kept coming back to our table entirely too often to check on us. It was a little irritating but I suppose I would rather have a waiter who is overly attentive than one who disappears! The food was wonderful! We had the baked brie, braised greens and toasted pecan stuffed ravioli and the vanilla bean bread pudding, all of which were outstanding. The cocktails were also palate pleasing. The restaurant did get busier and filled up as the evening went on. I am looking forward to going back for a date night! Great atmosphere, even better food!
(4)
AiLien T.
I had the Spring Vegetable Timbale ($15). The exact description of the entree is "Miso cured spring vegetables with wild mushroom-Israeli couscous, nori wrapped then oven roasted, served atop coconut-carrot and lemon grass puree with micro greens and a mild, sweet chili oil." I found the dish to be weirdly smoked flavored and rather salty. There was not enough texture--only mush with flavors that did not complement each other well. I was unimpressed by the price, food, hipster waiters, and drinks there. Go to Clyde Commons for the farm-to-table taste and feel. My friends who had the Farmhouse Veggie Burger ($11) loved their entree. The description for the veggie burger is "burger-style sandwich made with eggplant, bread crumbs, cheese and spices served with caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, and Dijon mustard on a rustic bun with choice of French fries or a mixed green salad" ( thefarmcafe.com/menu/food ).
(3)
Elizabeth C.
Oh dear. I might be the only person who tried the Farm Cafe was not impressed by the food. I love pickles but their pickle plate was an odd assortment of bitterness (was that a pickled orange rind? It was awful), the mushroom appetizer was uninspired and bland, and the goat cheese ravioli was also bland. Thankfully the very nice waitress allowed us to try the orange Rose before we bought a bottle because it tasted like the winery was trying too hard to be clever. She thoughtfully suggested the carafe of Pinot Gris which was half the price of the bottle I was going to order. However, we were served so quickly that it was like being in a factory line. The appetizer arrived almost as fast as the server could go to the kitchen and turn around. The main course was served before half the appetizers were finished (although that pickle dish would've sat there for a long time), and our main dish plates were whisked away as soon as my dining partner put down his fork. I kept wondering if there was a line at the door because it felt like we were being rushed to leave (I promise we were not unpleasant guests). We did get the dessert menu rushed to our table and it was also pretty lackluster so we left for Papa Hayden's instead. I honestly didn't get much of a chance to look at the rest of the restaurant because it felt they wanted us out of there as soon as possible and that I had to keep eating or it would be briskly removed before I finished. No one was unpleasant and the prices were fine, but I doubt I will return.
(3)
Billy B C.
It's rare that I experience la petite mort when I take the initial bite of a dish, but it's happened here on more than one occasion. I'll never forget the first meal I ate here -- the gnocchi made me weep with pleasure. Since then, this charmer has been remodeled and expanded (and I do miss the original bar) but the food remains ridiculously good for the price. And like Vermont, The Farm is for lovers and is a fantastic choice for a first or second date.
(5)
Bean B.
Great food & cocktails! Vegetarians-you won't be let down!
(5)
Leigh D.
If you're vegetarian and sympathetic to vegetarians, this is the place for you. Positives: Atmosphere was nice. It was a bit crowded but still, very cute. I wasn't full when I left, after a 4 course meal. Negatives: Didn't like it. Hollier than thou politacally motiviated clientelle. Who cares? I'm not paying those at the next table to preach to me, I came to relax and enjoy some good food, that didn't happen.
(2)
Jim B.
This was our first official dinner in Portland and I must say I was quite pleased. For starters, the place was bustin' out all over with charm. The building itself looked to be a single family residence at one time and it had an inviting, homey feel to it. The menu was equally as inviting, featuring an assortment of locally grown and organic items. We opted to start with the sauteed goat cheese salad. So tasty, so very tasty. For my main course, I had the special: Parmesan encrusted snapper. The fish was perfectly cooked: tender but substantial, and the crust provided a great deal of flavor to a relatively mild type of fish. The service was very friendly (something which we found quite common in Portland.)
(5)
Jaime A.
Beautiful building, great atmosphere and fabulous food. I don't believe it's possible for ingredients to be of higher quality or more local than what you find at The Farm. I found a new favorite on a recent visit when we ordered the elusive Broccoli Fritters. Wow! I heard they frequently sell out of this menu items and I certainly understand why. Once we had a couple fritters, shared a salad, we could hardly finish the house garden burger fries. No complaints at all.
(4)
Sara P.
This place was amazing. Went with a good friend last night and had an amazing meal with a slightly entertaining waiter. The scallops were perfectly prepared and salad yummy ... wine was affordable and people were interesting. Tiny space with intimate feeling though it can be a bit crowded if people are walking by you to get to the heated patio. On a Saturday night we had an hour wait but it was worth it and the patio was comfortable ... I think we were seated before expected or else time went quickly. For the salads I recommend the one with goat cheese, although the others were good as well ... didnt have a single bad dish that we tried.
(5)
Katherine A.
Wonderful food, nice ambiance, and decently priced. Best veggie burger I've ever had. Will definitely return!
(5)
Art V. B.
The food is certainly good. Nothing too complex or too special to make it memorable. Yet everything tasted good and it is always nice when menus get updated regularly with local and seasonal ingredients. The restaurant felt cozy although it was too dark for my taste. Service was friendly, but very, very slow on a Sunday night. They could benefit from one extra server during peak hours.
(4)
Erica B.
I love the Farm. I love their Food. Last two times I was there I had the risotto and it was amazing. My daughter ate their brussel sprouts and LOVED them! And for dessert we had a to-die-for warm chocolate cake! Heaven. The only thing that is a down point is the service. It's not that they aren't nice, they just seem understaffed every time I am there and they aren't able to offer a very personable service.
(4)
Matt B.
I love the look of the Farm's interior (it's a repurposed old house). I loved the roasted chicken dish I ordered here. I recommend sharing an appetizer between 2-3 people as the entrees are very generous portions.
(4)
Bob M.
Nice ambiance, 30 min wait turned out to be ten :) sauteed mushrooms were great, special appetizer that night of fish cakes was great. Herb encrusted tofu was ok (the sides were good, rosemary mashed and mushroom marsala). The duck special was amazing (potato croquettes, brussel sprouts, and a cherry/orange sauce). Good beer and wine selection.
(5)
Randee S.
We had driven from San Diego to drop our daughter off at George Fox University in Newberg and went to Portland for a couple of days. I had heard about the Farm Cafe and it did not disappoint. I love the house, each room is very unique, excellent servers that are excited about their fresh food which was refreshing and the food was wonderful as well. From the starters all the way through dessert. FYI - the veggie burgers are huge and enough for two. The fish was tasty as were all the sides.
(5)
Tyler B.
The evening started off on the right foot when the waitress suggested Aviator Gin for my Martini. It was totally unique and I loved it. My wife and I split an appetizer, then we had two salads and split the gnocchi. Over the food was very good, not great, hence the 4 stars. The overall experience matched our dining expectations exactly and I will be back.
(4)
joe r.
I think this is a solid choice for a night out. Not in my top 10% of restaurants, but certainly in the top 30%. Good food and service.
(4)
Preston P.
Liked it before but now I love it. They have completed an expansion and now have a larger bar area and outdoor deck with great sunset views of downtown. The halibut was grilled to perfection. Don't forget to leave room for the sunken chocolate souffle for dessert. Service seemed a little slow but they were quite busy.
(4)
michelle c.
They had this special...it was sesame crusted tofu with a side of lightly dressed greens and spring rolls wrapped in rice paper. It was the best tofu I had had in a very long time (this from a girl who will eat tofu right out of the box...cue the "ewwwws"). The vibe of the place was really cozy and intimate. Maybe a little too intimate since there were two couples intermittently making-out between bites of their food. Good for them, but maybe they should have gotten it to-go and headed to the Jupiter Hotel a couple blocks down. While waiting for the loo, it got a bit crowded as there's no where to really stand once the line is longer than one. I found myself staring at one of the chefs and trying not to get in the way of the server fetching plates of food. They also have a drink called the Gin-ger, which was out of sight! Grated ginger with gin and, I think, lime. I have to try to make that here at home!
(5)
Joshua M.
Had a fantastic piece of salmon with fingerling potatoes. Finished it off with a pear dessert that was pretty good as well. RC Cola instead of Pepsi? Hmm... Furthermore, service was good and I enjoyed the ambiance. On a late Thursday night it was pretty quiet, perfect for conversation.
(4)
Leah K.
I was in Portland for one night, found this place on Yelp, sat at the bar by myself and had a delightful evening. Tofu with mushrooms was amazing. I substituted fries for the garlic mashed and it was delicious as ever. Good wine list. The speciality cocktails looked fantastic although I did not try any. Bartenders were cute and friendly. Atmosphere was welcoming with all kinds of people - gay, straight, families, couples, singles. I will definitely go back if I'm ever in Portland again!
(5)
Jason K.
Went here while visiting from out of town, thought it was very good- I had the ravioli which was solid if not mind-blowing. Cozy ambiance, and the staff (bartender) gets high marks for being able to answer a lot of questions about the menu form allergen info to GMO.
(4)
Steph C.
Went to Farm Cafe for dinner yesterday and was a little bit underwhelmed with the food. This would be solidly in the 3.5 star type range, if I could give half stars. Standout for me was the watermelon salad (on the specials list) - really quite excellent. Served with with two types of watermelon (yellow/red) and over a bed of cactus-type lettuce (which added an interesting texture to it). Topped with just the right amount of vinaigrette. Very refreshing and tasty- perfect summer dish (I'm still in denial and refuse to believe it's fall). My friend ordered the cheese ball which was a bit too rich for my tastes- it really did just taste like a ball of cheese- nothing more nothing less. None of the nut-infused tastes came out, like we had hoped. As for mains, I ordered a salmon, which was served over a bed of seasonal vegetables (corn, beans, etc.). Salmon was fresh and fairly well-executed, but nothing really spectacular. My friend's main was the chicken marsala, which is a large piece of chicken marinated in a dry marsala-style sauce with a bit of a kick to it. Tasty and not overcooked- although wasn't a big fan of the sides mustardy greens (a bit too salty for me) and some thing else that resembled polenta. Service was attentive and friendly. Overall, a solid experience and would likely go back and give it another chance. Nice atmosphere- restaurant is in a converted house, which I really quite liked.
(3)
Neeva D.
Farm Cafe at first seemed like one of those places that I hate, the kind of place with a small, spendy menu that doesn't have food that I enjoy on it. Having heard good things, however, I decided to give it a shot and, as you can see from my rating, I was pleasantly surprised. We were told the wait would be about half and hour so we decided to get a drink at the bar in the meantime. It took a little while before anyone took notice of us for a drink order, but after that they were very attentive, even offering to check with the hostess to see how much longer our wait was going to be. We ended up waiting for about an hour, but it was pleasant. Good company, good drink, and good ambiance will make any wait pretty bearable (and I wasn't starving, so that helped too). We started with the broccoli fritters and the roasted garlic. and both were amazing. I did feel a little silly ordering basically a bulb of garlic and some bread for six bucks, but it was done extremely well and was delicious. The fritters were like deep fried broccoli essence. They were soft and tender on the inside, crunchy on the inside and yummy the whole way through. For dinner I had the butternut squash ravioli. The pasta had a delightful texture, the filling was sweet and smooth with just a tiny bit of hazelnut for texture. I would order it again and again. Good food, good service, and I loved loved loved the atmosphere. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Cathy M.
I really enjoyed their menu selections, and wish I could've ordered more! I ordered the cheese plate appetizer and ravioli entree. The cheeses were wonderfully different than any I've had before, which I always love. The ravioli was one of the best I've had. A few things we didn't enjoy--as always, this could've been a fluke, I would still go back, and still recommend it to others. This was only our first time there. Our server was very stand-offish and didn't really seem to care that we were there. Very hands off. And I was so sad we couldn't sit outside. It was a Wednesday evening, but they were packed, and the outside seating was at least an hour and a half wait. We sat in the bar area, which was better than waiting, but not the experience I expected. But as I said, I still very much enjoyed it and would recommend others go.
(4)
Michelle P.
Service was excellent, however, I immediately developed intestinal distress after consuming the saffron cauliflower risotto which I've been fighting for two days. Hmmm.
(2)
Jessica M.
Went here at 6:30 on a Friday night with out a reservation. The waitress said it would be a 30 min wait but it was only about 12 minutes. Menu is rather limited but all the ingredients are very fresh. Everyone loved their meals, I highly recommend the True Cod the brussels sprouts and grits were amazing. If your in the mood for a cocktail the margaritas were the best I've ever had. Forgot to mention there salads are amazing as well I tried the pear and beet salad and they were both winners!
(5)
Joselyne P.
We have been here three times and each time was wonderful. It's in a kind of funky location, but the restaurant itself is a lovely old house with tables throughout the various rooms. They have a large outdoor patio which was too hot to eat at when we were there but looked wonderful Our waiter was not the most knowledgable about the food (didn't know what the sea beans were, didn't know where the beer was brewed) but was very friendly anyway. The food is really what makes this place. I have never been to a restaurant where I would feel comfortable having any random person order for me and enjoy it - but truthfully everything on the menu is good. Fresh local ingredients are what I've come to expect from Portland, and Farm cafe delivers. Go there! Stop suffering through crowded, overhyped tiny restaurants and check out the Farm cafe.
(5)
Clarke W.
Cozy romantic atmosphere. Knowledgeable staff, overall great service. The food was truly incredible and creative, without being over the top. Everything served was fresh with an eye toward local seasonal and sustainable ingredients. Amazing cocktail pairing! Impressive wine selection. With so many awesome restaurants in Portland, The Farm is definitely one of my favorites! Tip: - If you are curious where the food on your plate has come from, if you ask your server, they will know.
(5)
Mavis B.
When it is cold outside, they have the heat cranked up. When you need a stiff drink, there is 3 minutes left for happy hour. If you have a blazers game to make, they will get you out the door, but not Until you have eaten a ton of really tasty grub.
(5)
Lily S.
How I missed this restaurant is beyond me. I guess it's been open since 2003...which is when I left Portland, so I guess that explains that. Blue cheese stuffed figs drizzled w/ honey? Yes. Roasted corn & gorgonzola risotto? Yes. Eggplant parmesan w/ sauteed vegetables? Yes. Chocolate molten lava cake w/ coffee ice cream? Yes. A bottle of white and a bottle of red whose names escape me? Yes. Outdoor patio seating? Yes. All this can be experienced by you as well if you go to the Farm Cafe, which we will be making a trip back to.
(5)
Clare G.
I just had a wonderful expense account dinner for one at The Farm Cafe. Because I believe in blowing my perdiem on a single meal, and because everything looked so good, I enjoyed a 4 course meal. Most of it was vegetarian and some of the courses were vegan. I had sauteed mushrooms as a starter with a phenomenal local bread. Next a kale and fennel salad with a bright citrus vinaigrette, balanced perfectly with lightly sugared pecans. The main was mushroom ravioli with braised greens in a brown butter sauce, and finally a chocolate souffle with vanilla Tillamook ice cream to accompany my coffee. As to the place, the decor was offbeat but inviting, the lighting subdued but not so low you couldn't read the menu. Only cons were two and slight: some of the dishes were just a bit on the salty side, and the music, while at an appropriate, unobtrusive volume,was 2 hours of the same artist and he was surely not everyone's cup of tea. It was quiet (as far as noise from other guests) when I visited on a Monday evening. The Farm Cafe will definitely be on my shortlist when I return to Portland.
(5)
Reed C.
Farm is one of our go-to spots. Anytime you put a restaurant inside a funky old house, you're already high on the points scale with me. The menu is varied, and I have yet to be disappointed with my order. We almost always order the brie (do this when you sit down, as it takes a few minutes -- and dive in gently when it arrives, it's HOT.) The risotto is almost always wonderful -- get the dungeness crab when it's offered, you can't go wrong. From halibut to chicken to the specials, it will be easy for everyone at your table to find something sure to please. The wait staff is friendly, laid back, and the right amount of attentive. Beer and wine list is extensive, and well drinks are creative and the perfect touch. Farm sprouts high marks (sorry, couldn't resist one pun...)
(5)
Lee S.
OMFG...the tofu masala! Dark, romantic, and the perfect spot for my meat-averse sweetheart. Not sure about the body stuffed above the bar, though. Love the Farm!
(4)
Toobab T.
My husband and I came here on a quick trip to the city. Wow. This place is great. We were seated quickly despite the fact that we didn't have reservations. The staff were friendly and informative. Decor - subdued while still vibrant. The food is what got us though. We shared the broccoli fritters to start. My husband, who's a real carnivore, meat and cheese kinda guy, loved them. They're fried and fluffy but not heavy. For entrees, we recommend the gnocchi and/or the butternut squash ravioli. Both are pillowy and delicious. We wish we'd had room for dessert, but by the end of this we were way too stuffed to try it.
(5)
Stanley T.
After last night's visit, it's clear to me that a review update is in order. Service was still excellent. The zucchini fritter appetizer was a real disappointment. Were those green and yellow flecks within those doughy, rather flavorless balls zucchini? Fish cake appetizer was wonderful again. Roasted garlic was great - how could you mess that up? My roasted chicken entree was over-salted but otherwise OK. I heard good reports about the herb-crusted tofu entree, though I didn't try it. For the price, this should have been a better experience.
I'm a little behind on recording my gastronomical adventures in Portland, so I must be brief as I have a lot of catching up to do. Farm was fantastic. I've eaten at a number of different 'establishments' since my arrival in Portland this past January and this was the first meal that satisfied all my foodie desires. Fresh, local, salty, buttery and sweet were all there. Oh and the wine was delicious. The food was excellent. We started with the cheese ball. I know what you're thinking but yes, it was good. This is not your average potluck at work cheese ball either. Crusted in a fine powder of nuts, with aged cheddar, laced with horseradish and herbs, this thing is delicious. However, it was eclipsed by the trout. Coated in cornmeal, pan fried in butter and sprinkled with sea salt it was simple, delectable and fork tender while retaining a crisp crust. Yum. The bed of winter veg upon which it was laying was also roasted to perfection. Wine and dessert made the meal complete. I had a glass of fantastic Oregon pinot noir. The selection was impressive and I look forward to future tastings off their wine and drink menu. We finished it all off with a carrot cake that was the best I have ever had. Seriously. Not too much frosting. Not too moist. Chunky, candied walnuts on the outside. Tart berry on the inside. It was just right. Very pleased with Farm Cafe and I will happily return. I've been missing SF and this place made me feel at home.
Very fresh and satisfying meal every time. I really like this place. I would recommended it. Its hard to review any of the menu items because their menu changes often according to what's on season. Last time I was there I enjoyed the beet salad, lamb sausage plate, brie cheese platter and eggplant soup and of course a bottle of Patton Valley deClassified pinot noir. Everything was delicious!!The waitress was very friendly and patient, she gave us samples of the wines that we were trying to decide on before ordering which was very helpful in making the decision.
(4)
Matt F.
I guess the veggie burger here was talked up a bunch by someone (I forget who) on Food Network. Well worth it. It's one of the best I've had. More often then not a veggie burger consists of a frozen grocery store veggie burger grilled up real quick. The veggie burger at The Farm was definitely hand-made. Delicious blend of seasoned vegetables, mashed together on a ciabatta bun. The dijon mustard on it complemented it perfectly. Even the fries and ketchup were obviously hand-made and good, and I hate ketchup.
(4)
Dawn M.
Went with co-workers to this restaurant. Everyone enjoyed it. Menu consisted primarly of vegetarian or fish based food. (I don't think there was any beef/pork/lamb on the menu.) I enjoyed my pan fried trout. This is the first restaurant I've had trout at that properly deboned it - so I appreciated that. (Trout is the easiest fish to debone, so I never understand when I get trout with bones!) The veggies were great - cooked to perfection and well combined. I tasted the vegetarian lasagna, and it was delicious, though the naming of it as lasagna was misleading - there was no pasta involved, with egg plant used in place of noodles. Also tasted the tofu and crimini mushrooms dish - I'm not a tofu fan, but it was pretty tasty. Small but nice selection of wine/beer that matched up well with their menu. Desserts were amazing - best part of the meal - tried the cheese cake and the swedish chocolate cake. Servings are a reasonable size - not oversized, but more appropriate for what people should actually be eating. Cost was ok - with tip/tax, bill for 4 people came in at about $100, including a drink and a dessert for everyone. Quality of the food was great, so I thought this was a pretty fair price. Outside of the building is misleading - doesn't look like much. Inside, decor was warm and friendly. Noise level is perfect for enjoying conversation with friends, without being overheard. Probably a nice place for a date. I wouldn't be likely to go there with more than 4 people total. Would I recommend - yes, but I'd note the vegetarian and fish based menu. Would I returne - yes, if I lived here, I'd return. (Since I'm a visitor though, I'll keep going with my quest for the best food in Portland.) Note: Doesn't currently accept Amex, but does accept other major cards.
(4)
kelly s.
Very lovely veggie friendly eats are easy to find here. I had the clams, and goat cheese salad, and was unadventurous in ordering the veggie burger, but was so in the mood, and to be honest- it did not disappoint! Service was sufficient, if I was a pickier woman, could have been a little faster and more attentive, but over all good. The space is intimate and romantic, all in all it's worth a visit to the Farm.
(4)
Michael S.
After my first trip, I was prepared to give the Farm Cafe 5 stars. After taking my foodie friends, including one celebrating her 40th birthday, I'm a little embarrassed having raved so much about this place. My first night here, everything that everyone got was exceptionally delicious. It was delicious and creative. I got an English Pea and Blue Cheese (Stilton?) Souffle. It was rich, decadent, savory, creative, and all around yummy. I was ready to declare this my favorite restaurant in Portland. Where else can you get a meal of this caliber with local, seasonal ingredients but without a pretentious atmosphere and astronomical price? My return trip, however, was very disappointing. Looking at the menu I had very high hopes. I bypassed the risotto, which looked like an easy win, for the more creative chicken with wild mushrooms and red currant. Currant is my new favorite berry to cook with (in sweet or savory dishes). What I got, however, was a very uneventful, unimaginative rosemary chicken. I couldn't find any currant. I don't know if they ran out and quietly made a substitution, or if the dish just wasn't executed very well. I'm in culinary school and this dish tasted exactly like the first chicken I roasted in my 101 class. Not bad, but not worth paying someone else to make. Besides the food being disappointing, service was incredibly slow that night. I was with friends and wasn't in a big hurry, so I didn't mind the two and a half hours it took us to get through dinner and desert, but even in good company, it got a little ridiculous. Five stars for the first trip. Three for the second. I will give this place another try and hope that my 3 star night was a fluke.
(4)
Sara W.
We didn't have a reservation but walked in and got bar seating right away which was great for a Thursday night. We were greeted right away and then told a lot of the menu was sold out...which was discouraging but luckily didn't affect us. I asked the bartender for a Pinot Noir recommendation and I was torn on two so he let me sample both, and of course his #1 recommendation was the best so that was really nice! The Sokol Blosser '08 PN was dynamite and worth the $12 price tag. We also enjoyed an appetizer of roasted garlic...2 bulbs for $6, so that was awesome. I had heard great things about the veggie burger and even though i am a carnivore, i was curious enough to try it. They were out of buns unfortunately so we had it in a pita instead...now i'm told the bun is delicious so that's disappointing, but the pita was SUPER delicious so i didn't care one bit. the fries were great and the homemade ketchup was pretty good too. I saw this place advertised on Food Network: Best thing i ever ate, Burgers! and it really was the BEST vegetarian burger i've ever tasted. it was so unique with the eggplant, roasted bell pepers, sauce, etc. And i thought the pita was an outstanding compliment to the burger personally (thought a friend in our party said the bun is divine too, so another time!) Even if you eat meat like me and are curious/skeptical, just go for it...it was simply divine! Plus i love supporting local so this was a no-brainer. i would gladly come here again for it, it was a wonderful experience!
(4)
Tan N.
One-word impression: LEVITY One of my colleagues told me when we first met and found out about our mutual foodie-ness that her favorite restaurant in Portland was The Farm Cafe. I tucked the name in my bank of go-to restaurants at the time, but I always forgot about it when thinking a getting a fine meal. So when my birthday rolled around and I was to choose where to go, The Farm Cafe just popped in my mind. And I was glad it surfaced, as I had a very nice experience. Regarding the atmosphere, I found it to be very charming and comfortable despite the fact that the tables were somewhat packed together. The small house feel of the place was very homey and got me relaxed without needing a drink. Regarding the service, it was overall very nice and full of levity. I felt like we were well-waited while being given the space to lounge back. It all contributed to a great start to the dining experience. For the food, we started off sharing the Williams Baked Brie. I really love baked brie, and the version they served with the apple slices, melted sugar and hazelnuts was quite nice. Suffice to say, we had to fight over the last bites. I then had the Dungeness Crab Risotto, which the girl sitting at the table next to me raved about and convinced me to get. I must say that I really liked the dish, though it was close to being too salty. I'm a guy who can handle salt, but to lighter palates, it might have been overwhelming. Regardless, it was creamy, full of great crab flavor, and was filling without being heavy. Of all the wonderful dining experiences in Portland, I can totally understand why my colleague chose The Farm Cafe as her favorite of them all. The overall experience was simply charming, as the combination of the great food and good ambiance with lovely company left me feeling light on my feet and glad that I was born on that day many years ago.
(5)
Jessie S.
My husband and I ate dinner here last night. We were in the neighborhood, it was dinner time, and so we yelped it up to find something great. We didn't have reservations, so we were happy when there was a table available. We sat outside, and they have a nice patio area. Our server was attentive and nice, though he did not mention any of the specials that I heard other tables discussing after we had already ordered. We started with the baked brie, which came out relatively quickly and tasted delicious. After that things went downhill a bit. After we finished the appetizer we waited 45 minutes or more for our entrees to arrive. The server came by a few times and asked if we were doing ok, and he apologized for the wait. He did offer to buy the hot tea that I ordered as we waited, and that was a nice gesture which we appreciated. That said, there was no acknowledgement by anyone but our server of the fact that we waited a ridiculously long time for our food to arrive. I would have expected a manager to stop by and thank us for waiting, or maybe to have received some kind of complementary bread service. We were really excited when the food arrived, and my husband really enjoyed his lamb. I ordered the polenta cakes, and the flavors were nice, but the dish was small, and there was a really brothy sauce that made everything sort of soggy. It also wasn't very hot, which was irritating considering the fact that I waited an hour for it to be delivered. We didn't order dessert because we wanted to make it home before the sun came up. All in all I'd say the menu was interesting and the service was fine, but the preparation of the food was not well executed and the wait was almost unbearable.
(3)
Kimberli R.
I love this place. Romantic, quiet, low light. Try the trout as well as the hazelnuts. Good veggie and vegan options if you ask. Great back patio in the summer as well. I highly recommend them.
First time here. Very very nice ambience. Delicious Oregon pinot with unusual (yumm) hummus (great olives, peppers and pita), unique mushrooms sauteed with herbs, and a palate-cleansing refreshing tomato bruscetta. Nice service. Unfortunately the Herb Crusted Tofu with Mushrooms Marsala ($15) was sooooo salty that the marsala was blunted and the roasted garlic was lost. Were there mashed potatoes? (Perhaps the tofu might be better prepared with a silken medium firm?) I brought it home to see if perhaps tomorrow I could get a sense of what was intended. I know what I expected and don't think my expectations were over-the-top. I'll come back and hope it is better. (NOW I'll read the other reviews.)
(3)
Mallory T.
Yummy and cozy. This is the place to go on a drizzly Portland evening to warm your spirits. Small menu with something for everyone. Great service. Save room for dessert. Didn't get 5 stars because they ran out of several dishes by the time we were finally seated, and they kept playing with the lightswitch on the wall by my dads head.
(4)
Lisa H.
This restaurant is one on my top 5 faves in town. I love the flavors, creativity and combos on each plate. it is lovely to be able to eat seasonally and feel confident that the food I am ingesting is healthy sans the odd flavor enhancers/ long winded preservatives. The food is also (mostly) local and organic and that is also on my criteria. I would gladly eat here more often if I had more moneysss
(5)
Debbie Chiou S.
Great service. Great ambience. Great food. We both got the pan-friend trout. Nicely salt-crusted. Served with seasonal vegetables and a warm quinoa salad. The seasonal vegetables when we were there were broccolini and asparagus. Weird combination, but turned out really well. The warm quinoa salad was also good, but I found it a bit too salty, capery, and tomato-ey. Otherwise, I'm a big fan.
Great little bar in the back room, with excellent mixed drinks. Not so impressed with the menu, but they certainly pack a lot of people in there on a Friday night.
(4)
Laura N.
Something was amiss my first shot at the Farm. After all the great reviews I was left feeling quite underwhelmed. ...Cue the questions. Was it you? Was it me? I mean...I've never had complaints in the satisfaction department...and from your yelp-utation, neither have you. So why was our chemistry off? And then it hit me...romance. Intimacy. You needed me to give back...to pull my weight in the relationship. Ahhhhhhhh... The Farm is seeping with quaint charm...and it was utterly lost upon me as I forcefully assembled 4 virtual strangers into an environment oozing with passion. Granted, my strangers were all beautiful, and no doubt both romantic and passionate in their own right...but it's not like the four of us were planning on getting a shared room at the Jupiter later if you know what I'm saying. This is a "dirty little secrets" type of establishment, a place where you will indulge in one too many cocktails and make eyes at your companion over a small round table. You will devour the fresh organic ingredients that are beautiful in both taste and presentation. This is *not* a meet 'n greet, bust out 'yer ice-breakers, let's chit chat and get to know each other venue. So I went back. And I returned all the romance and intimacy that the Farm demanded. And our chemistry was spot on. The second time was absolutely heavenly, (but the second time usually is, right ladies)?
(4)
Erin M.
Make a reservation! My friend I ate here for the first time and the food was out of this world, fresh and full of flavor! Worth every penny!
(5)
David M.
We were staying at The Jupiter just a couple blocks away. There were 2 of us, and we didn't have a reservation. We were told it would be a while. We sat at the bar on a warm sunny evening. I got the Blood Orange Margarita, and I had hoped for more zing. Not enough tartness. The Rosemary Roasted Hazelnuts were fantastic. So tasty. The Tobasco spiciness added an extra dose of flavor that really worked. I wish it weren't a secret recipe, because it would be such a treat to make for a cocktail party. For dinner I had the Farmhouse Veggie Burger. Awesome! Probably the best veggie burger I have ever eaten. I enjoyed every bite. We sat out on the patio in the back and enjoyed the sun as it went down and our bellies were so full. We enjoyed our walk back to The Jupiter after an excellent meal.
(4)
Zach G.
After eating at the Farm Cafe last night I feel like I don't even want to ever taste anything else. Wait, no, scratch that. I feel like I CAN'T even taste anything else, since my tongue is still recovering from the chemical burn caused by the insane amount of salt in the food. Now, I like salt as much as the next person, and am all about well-seasoned food. But this was overpowering. I couldn't taste the salmon, I couldn't taste the grit cakes (ok, to be fair, grits don't really have all that much of a taste. But these sure were salty!) I couldn't taste the greens, although I'm pretty sure they actually didn't have any salt at all, so. My tongue was literally tingling for a good half hour after my last bite. Service was a bit marginal as others have noted, and they've stocked the bathroom with a particularly foul smelling and heavily perfumed hand soap, a mistake I just don't understand at a restaurant like this. Ok. Where's that extra star coming from? Well. The bread was good! And they have a well-edited selection of taps; lots of serious beers worth drinking. I think I'd come back for drinks in the bar, which is an appealing space, but I can think of better ways to spend fifty or sixty bucks than to come back for dinner.
(2)
Paul S.
In short: decor and staff were great, food was not, though it's well presented. Both my wife and my dishes were really heavy handed with the seasonings and salt, and we both didn't sleep very well the night following. And much of the other patrons, I can't put my finger on it, had this bland Midwest whiteness to them. The bar in back looked very charming, a fun place to hang out. We don't drink so I can't speak for the quality of the drinks, but people seemed to enjoy it.
(2)
sara w.
The food here is some of the best I have had in Portland. The Clam appetizer was incredible. I'm thinking of it now and my mouth is watering. Had the Goat Cheese Salad for dinner, which had a delicious Caper vinaigrette drizzled on top. Husband had the Goat Cheese Ravioli. All was very tasty and complex. We split a carafe of Cab, which was very good. The prices are also reasonable.
(5)
Jenna R.
I'm trying very hard to understand why this place gets such RAVE reviews. I really am not a nay-sayer for the hell of it. I try to enjoy myself anywhere I go. You could call me a half-full Yelper. The only thing I enjoyed about this place was the baked brie. It was absolutely delicious, and recommend to everyone. The other plates I've tried have been.. okay. Like "Meh, alright, I was hungry so this is satsifying". The food is fresh, but there are SO many other places in Portland for the same level of fresh for tastier and wayy less expensive. This place may be "all organic" but they rape you with their prices. If you're trying to impress an organic vegetarian on a date, I'm sure this place would do the trick. However, I am a serious carnivore with NEEDS and this place didn't fill it. There's no real style or unique atmosphere to the place, the staff is hoity-toity, and the wait is long. I'm going against the organic grain here and saying, Pass on this one.
(2)
Elizabeth H.
Had an absolutely terrific dinner last night at Farm Cafe with a good friend. We shared a plate of beet (not a typo) carpaccio first: thinly shaved beets with crumbled goat cheese, herbs, and just the right amount of crunchy salt. Really fresh and distinctive. The serving was huge, so it was fine to share, but it was so delicious and light I could easily have eaten the whole plate myself. Then I had wild salmon simply grilled, on a bed of spinach, with a side of grit cakes that were flavored with (I think) chipotle pepper and something else. The salmon was done impeccably - moist, flavorful, just the right amount of char on the outside. Spinach was fine, and the grit cakes were fabulous (of course, I'm a sucker for anything made from corn, but these were really great). We also had cocktails (a rarity for me, although you wouldn't know it from this week's reviews). My friend had the Calavara, with tequila, gingerale, lime juice, and something else, and I had the GIN-ger, with gin, ginger liqueur, and tonic water. Both were really nicely done. Service was very good from our waitress. She was attentive in just the right degree. There was one snafu; I got there first and was seated in the back by the bar (I love how they have the space divided up - keeps the noise down and offers lots of choices. They appear to have a nice patio too.), and told the man who seated me that I was expecting a friend. When she was 10 minutes late I got a text from her wondering where I was. Turned out she'd been sitting up front having been told by another person that I hadn't arrived yet. Communication is a good thing... Overall, this has jumped right up on my list of places to go back to. Lots of vegetarian options on the menu, too, which is a big plus for me (well, I'm a pescetarian, actually).
(5)
John K.
I've found the Farm to be one of the most enjoyable places in a town full of good eating. Small seating areas in the comfy old building give most tables a pleasant amount of privacy. And the food has always been fresh and beautifully prepared, no matter what I've ordered. On my most recent visit, our group had the trout, sturgeon, salmon, and the veggie burger - everyone was thrilled with their choices. This isn't the place to go when you want a big ol' steak, but everything that they do have on their menu is a winner. Their bar looks wonderfully inviting - I have a feeling there's a happy hour in the near future, though.
(5)
Ashley C.
I don't know if it's because I was with friends or because the food was that good, or maybe a little of both. I'm not a vegetarian but this place works for me. My friends and I came without reservation, and ended up spending an hour at the bar. At first, it seems annoying, but after a few drinks and lively conversations, it was fine. The wait seems short. By the time we sat down to eat, we were ready to devour everything. Again, not sure if it's because we were starving or because the food was that great; but we licked the plates cleaned. There were six of us so we tried a little of everything on the menu, and everything was delicious. You really can't go wrong.
(4)
Matt D.
First off, I absolutely ADORE the atmosphere in this place. There's something sophisticated and homely about it (unlikely combo, yes?) that makes you just want to LIVE in there! We were seated fairly quickly and the bartender/waiter came over to help us right away. Niether of us were very hungry, so we opted for something reasonable on the menu: a gardenburger. Now, can be very picky about gardenburgers (as I eat them quite often) and I absolutely hate it when one is overly dry or bland. This was easily the best gardenburger I've ever had. It was moist, flavorful, and EXTREMELY filling. I only ate half of it and felt completely satisfied. The bell peppers were cooked to perfection, and the roll it came on was slightly crispy on the outside, yet fluffy and delicate on the inside. Yum! The fries were quite flavorful as well, but unfortunately they had way too much salt on them. I would have given them 5 stars if it weren't for this minor flaw. I will be back though, that's for sure!
(4)
mary s.
Lovely, intimate interior. The baked brie with hazelnuts & strawberries was absolutely mouthwatering. So delicious. As an entree I had the salmon with grilled veggie orzo. Probably safe to say it was one of the freshest, most perfectly cooked & tasty salmon dishes that I have ever had. Would definitely go back!
(5)
Lester L.
The service is bland, slow, and dismissive. Inside, during the evening, it is way too dark (could barely read the menu). The drinks are overpriced BUT the food is good. I was thinking to myself, after standing in the doorway for a long time, all alone, on a sparse night for them, that the food must be their saving grace if people keep coming back. Indeed, the food is quite good and very fresh. However, there are low notes, such as the baked brie, but there are soaring high notes such as the trout, snapper, and rabbit stew (for example). I will come back again sometime ONLY for the food. Someone obviously knows what they are doing in the kitchen...could they please transfer some more knowledge to front-of-house??
(3)
Tamara Y.
wonderful thoughtful food. Best beet salad I have ever had. Oh so good we wanted to go back after for a whole different meal. Only advice is our server did not pay attention to us. She was more focused on her larger tables and made some mistakes. Totally forgivable but when fine dining you want the service to match the taste!
(4)
Mike K.
We stopped by during Happy Hour (literally one hour, 5-6) for just a drink and a snack. I think we're spoiled in Portland, because a lot of local happy hours are ridiculously cheap for what you get. This place isn't as cheap as some, but still definitely worth the money. We got fancy cocktails for $5 each, and they were awesome...probably could have gone for $10 or more normally. The sauteed mushrooms were around $7 and were very tasty. Our server was pretty nice, but we did have to flag her down our way a couple times. On the upside, she was cool enough to ask us at 5:57 if we wanted more drinks at the happy hour prices. Of course we did. The dessert menu didn't look like anything to write home about, but that alone isn't enough to judge a dessert on. So I'll reserve judgment until I come back for dinner/dessert, which I definitely would like to.
(4)
Seth M.
they shouldve just called the bake brie "the orgasm", because after i ate it i had to excuse myself from the table and change my underpants the heirloom tomatoes were very good. fresh. the goat cheese tasked like ricotta, and that was fine with me. the veggie burger was like an eggplant patty. it was creamy and great.
(5)
Anika K.
Yum... from the delicious bread, to the salmon, and finally the fantastic poached pear dessert: I am a fan. The atmosphere is a lot like Eastside Cafe in Austin, with many more veggie-friendly eating options. Also: a great beer list, all reasonably priced. Nice for a special night out - we spent our last night in PDX here and it was a perfect end to a great few days there.
(4)
Faffy L.
You can pretty much count on other people's reviews on the great food that Farm offers cuz I am really not gonna say much anything much different - but! I can offer you one tip: They have the BEST walnuts on their arugula salad. THE BEST. So good that I asked for a side of it, that I wrapped up in tin foil and offered it to bartenders I've met on the rest of my roadtrip up the Pacific NW. I was even given the recipe to make it! But I know they'll never be as good. Yes, it was THAT good. p.s. Their veggie burger was pretty bomb too. I'd hold the horseradish sauce if you aren't into that kinda thing, cuz they slap a good bit of it on. p.p.s. This place may seem small upon entrance, but it's a good size and they have a nice cozy bar too.
(4)
M.E. O.
So good. Every time, every dish. That's about it.
(5)
Lillian G.
The herb-crusted tofu with mushroom marsala was the best tofu dish I've eaten. Ever. I shared the meal with an out of town friend and it was such a perfect place for us to discuss long forgotten topics, aborted life plans and every other little thing you can think of. We shared the poached Bartlett pear with vanilla Tillamook ice cream and a ginger cookie. The Farm is such a sweet highlight of my year already.
(4)
charlene a.
Warm, hearty - AHHmazing food. Charming decor. It felt like I was just dining a friend's house. The crab risotto melted me with delight. Glad I used Yelp to look up restaurant info b/c my friend had just moved there. Great way to end my first Portland visit....
(4)
A E.
Amazing. Had a fantastic solo dining experience at Farm. The host (a male, so I think hostess is inaccurate, no?) suggested sitting outside, and led me through the restaurant to the cutest outdoor patio that reminded me of one of my favorite wineries/restaurants in Santa Barbara. The waitress promptly got me started with a glass of wine and appetizers and made some great recommendations for my meal/beer pairing. And I must admit, when she initially delivered the beer she suggested with my dinner (a stuffed brioche that was so good I wouldn't dare screw up the memory by trying to capture it in words), I thought it was too earthy/piney. But when the entree came out, it was such a fantastic compliment. Overall, the service was top-notch. I was a waitress from the age of 14 to 21 so I know how demanding and unreasonable some people can be (e.g. most of the low-rated reviews, whose whining say more about the reviewer than the servers/restaurant), yet I also know what poor service looks like. That was not the case here -- I found the servers to work in concert together to offer me very attentive and personalized attention, and for that, I was very thankful. The only not-so positive thing I will say is that I took the cheesecake dessert to-go and when I ate it later that evening, I wasn't overly impressed. I found the dulce de leche to be grainy and didn't love the cheesecakes texture. Perhaps that's a reflection of it having sat in my refrigerator for several hours or due to the last month I spent in Argentina, often eating their "national treasure" straight from jars sold everywhere in the country.
(5)
NessaBelle H.
Yum yum yum, la la la la... Love The Farm, da da da da.. Great food, quality ingredients, seasonal menu, daily specials, good wine list, decent cocktails, service is nothing to bitch about (usually), it's pretty much all Portland, and all good! There's been a few inconsistencies, but over all The Farm Cafe is a real gem. My boyfriend and I are frequent customers and almost always order the arugula pear salad to share and entrees from the specials menu, and are always pleased. We'll share a bottle of wine, usually red, but depending on the food/season. I highly recommend the Love and Squalor pinot noir. mmmm.. Desserts are good too, but you'll have to ask my man about those, he's the one with the sweet too.. er.. grill.. If you haven't been, go! I think it's definitely worth the coin, but be prepared to spend anywhere from $60-100 for 2 (including wine). You could spend less if you skip the starters and/or the booze, but who wants to do that? I considered giving it 5 stars, but that's asking a lot from me, and they're not perfect. Definitely a solid 4.5 but that's not an option and I don't round up. ;) Happy grubbing y'all!
(4)
amii c.
We came in here just wanting an afternoon snack, unaware that it's a pretty fancy looking restaurant inside. Could have fooled me with the unpretentious exterior and the name Farm Cafe. I had a Super Wonderful cocktail (Portland 88 vodka, pomegranate juice and ginger-ale on the rocks with lime for $7) which was actually mediocre. Don't remember what the BF drank, but I think he enjoyed it more than I did mine. We both loved the Williams Baked Brie ($8) for sure, though. Slice of brie served warm with toasted sugar, roasted hazelnuts, warm gooey strawberries and baguette. We already love brie, but never had it like this. If we lived in Portland we'd get this all the time. Didn't try the main courses because we weren't hungry enough, but the prices looked a little high to us anyway.
(4)
Liz C.
Their hummus is some of the best in town, and everyone else enjoyed their meals, but I got FOOD POISONING.. Must have been the gnocchi which tasted sour. Ou friend's asparagus flan was amazing and very rich - and vegan! Halibut also got raves. But it's not worth the night of pain and agony I dealt with afterward. Farm has been a favorite of ours for 5+ years but we won't be back any time soon. Bummer.
(2)
Michele L.
The Farm Cafe is my new favorite restaurant in Portland. We have been there several times and they never fail to amaze. The food is inspired...the ingredients are fresh and prepared expertly. Tonight I had the summer squash and basil fritters and the goat cheese ravioli. They both melted in my mouth. The service is wonderful and the atmosphere is relaxed. We bow to their genius.
(5)
kristin e.
Over the summer, I took a birthday boy here for dinner. There were 2 menus: an everyday (seasonal) menu and a nightly specials menu. I remembered ordering a roasted white corn risotto with some blue cheese whose name now escapes me. The dish was pretty good actually, if it were eaten THIS season: cold, rainy, overcast. In fact, the night we dined here was during that week when Portland was in the 104 F+ temps and the restaurant inside was humid and sweltering, so I kind of made a bad choice in ordering a thick, creamy stick-to-your-bones-warm-your-soul-type of dish. The cocktail I ordered, the Gin-ger wasn't that great either. The ginger bite was nice and sharp, but I felt that the other flavors weren't balanced. It was like taking a shot of gin and chasing it with a piece of raw ginger. Anyway, I went here again over the weekend and my experience was better. Deciding what to order was difficult: it was a toss up between cioppino or chicken from the nightly special menu. I LOVE cioppino and really wanted to see how it was done in Oregon (it is a dish that originated from San Francisco, after all) but I didn't take my chances so I ordered the grilled chicken with brussels sprouts and polenta and it was delicious. The size was more than generous (you get HALF a chicken), more generous than the piddly portioned ravioli dish that was eaten across from me. Better yet, the drink experience redeemed itself in the form of the Goldenrod (St. Germain, sparkling wine, orange and lemon). Definitely habit forming status. Best yet, the bread pudding with caramel and vanilla Tillamook ice cream was one of those dishes were you'd feel extremely thankful for having taste buds (and a penchant for dessert, of course). It was that good.
(4)
Kayla M.
I brought my mom here on her first night visiting from Texas, and we both loved it!. The white and red wine is great and decently priced. The Mussels appetizer was amazing, especially the white wine sauce it came in. We split a salmon dish for the main course, which had to-die-for pesto on top, soft but crunchy on the outside polenta cakes, and the best cooked greens I've had since I've moved to the Northwest (from the South). The fish was also perfectly cooked. - 1 because they messed up one of our drink orders. We didn't correct because the wine we got was good anyways. I'll be back here to try the veggie burger soon.
So no, they don't take reservations and yes, there's always a line, and yes, sometimes you feel like a sardine while waiting (and sometimes even while seated), and yes, sometimes they really make you aware that if you're done eating, it's time you maybe gave up your seat, but the dishes are unique and delicious and the crowd and staff you find yourself pressed up against are kind despite it all, so yes, it's definitely worth a trip and several return visits.
(4)
Natalie M.
Farm Cafe is pretty much one of the cutest places that I have ever been to. It's an old farm house that is in the middle of the city (sort of) that has been converted into a restaurant. I had made a reservation because I had seen on yelp how popular it was and we were sat right away upon arriving. I hadn't realized just how big this place really was until I got up to use the restroom and saw the outside patio (so cute for a date night) and the other 2 dinning room areas. We ordered the baked brie that was covered in a strawberry drizzle, steamed clams/mussels, and roasted garlic for starters. I think the brie was one of the best things I've ever eaten...no lie! I ordered the Veggie burger because I had seen it on the food network and had to see what the fuss was about. Fuss on food network becuase it was delicious....I think it was a bit overlooked because I was fairly full from the appetizers, but still hands down, best veggie burger I've eaten to date. I plan on going back the next time I'm in Portland to treat my tastebuds.
(5)
Rock D.
My favorite restaurant in Portland. Period.
(5)
Andrew C.
I am a connoisseur of fine cuisine, especially after having worked in a five-star hotel/restaurant environment. After moving back to Portland in 2006, I "accidentally" happened upon the Farm because I made a wrong turn off Burnside and turned around in their parking lot. Their sign aroused my curiosity, so I walked in the front door. Hooked. All I can say is, "If you don't try the food, libations, and experience the hospitality for yourself, you're cheating yourself out of a wonderful dining experience that I'm sure will repeat itself for years to come."
(5)
nm l.
The happy hour prices were really great, so my friends and I ordered lots of appetizers. The choices were kind of boring and bar-food-like, but it's nice to have more sustainable options in that genre. So, the hot wings. They were essentially raw - and it tricked me, because I was thinking "oh, maybe free-range chicken has a different consistency or something" and I tried to be a trooper about it because I was hungry. I tried to blame the weird taste on the sauce, too. I actually ate three raw chicken wings before noticing that there was blood on my plate. At that point I panicked, and asked the other folks eating the wings what they thought. They had all stopped eating them after the first wing, and we kindly let the waitress know to inform the cook to leave them in the fryer for a few more minutes before serving them again. The waitress was nice - she offered us more chicken wings. None of us wanted to eat chicken ever again at that point, though. The price of the wings was removed from the bill, but we weren't comped anything else and I kind of feel weird about that. I think if you inadvertently feed your customers something that could make them really sick, you should do whatever it takes to save that customer relationship. With the amount of people who love this restaurant, I imagine that the prospect of our tiny table of four not returning to the restaurant doesn't put a dent in profitability, but let's be real: I've never heard of a restaurant forcing you to pay for any aspect of your meal after serving you improperly cooked meat. I like the idea of The Farm, but I was unimpressed by how they handled this situation.
I really REALLY really wanted to like this place! I hate it when I go try a new place when the "b" team is on. The service reminds me of service in Europe - snails pace. I really don't mind waiting for my food if it's really good. I really hate waiting for my food only to be very disappointed by it. I've heard great things and I'm not a fan of inconsistent food. Why couldn't it be good when I went? =( best thing I ate was the baked brie.
(3)
Lisa S.
Yummy flavors, cozy, great atmosphere. This place is very, very popular (with good reason). I love how small it is...it feels very "family". My date and I ate dinner at the bar rather than wait for a table. Our vantage point was great for flagging the waitstaff for more bread, or for people-watching. We munched on the heavenly sweet-n-salty roasted hazelnuts while waiting for our dinners. I had a green salad and Brie appetizer - both wonderful. My date had a seafood stew that he was praising as well. Dessert was a squash tart, better than any pumpkin pie I've ever had. The wine recommendation was superb and I will definitely be back.
(5)
Brandi W.
This is a very difficult restaurant to rate because the good things about it are incredible, but the bad things we experienced were really, really bad. Good things included the atmosphere of the place. It is a darker restaurant that feels casual with all the rough wood and some interesting artwork pieces. The music was just on the not too-loud side of loud. And it was some great blues music, which I loved. The food, for the most part, was absolutely excellent. We had the herbed tofu with crimini mushrooms and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. The flavor they somehow managed to weld into that tofu was just amazing. I had the trout which was butterflied, breaded, fried and topped with some sea salt. It came over a vegetable orzo that was perfectly fresh and tasty. But the cheesecake for dessert was possibly one of the best cheesecakes I've had. Perfect crust, smooth and creamy, and topped with a melt in your mouth soft caramel sauce and 3 pecan halves... mmmmmm Problem one: my trout was full of bones. About halfway through the fish I was picking them one by one out of my mouth and finally I just gave up and left about a third of the fish on the plate. Problem 2, the service. Ok, so the waitress we got had zero personality, but unlike some reviewers have mentioned, service wasn't slow. Of course, we were there at about 10:30pm, so the place was none too busy. A different guy brought out our entrees, and had a bit of an odd, sardonic personality come through when we called him back to ask for silverware. But that was no biggie. Then, towards the end of the meal, a different woman came out to wait on us. She had her chin in the air the whole time and had an obvious attitude from the first moment she opened her mouth. I mean, I don't know if she was having a bad day, but I don't think I have ever seen a server like this. You could tell that the whole time she was thinking something along the lines of "screw these customers, I want to get the fuck outta here". She may have been a manager, she kinda had that vibe. When she asked if we wanted dessert, I asked her about the almond tart. Immediately she said they were out of it (this happened at the beginning of the meal as well, but at least the waitress told us up front about what entrees they were out of). So I asked her about the cheesecake, it seemed to be a standard on their menu. She immediately misconstrued what I said, very snarkily replying, "there's nothing STANDARD about it, it is to die for." I was a little taken aback, and explained that I meant, it was a regular on their menu as opposed to the many desserts which were on the specials list (and I'd read some good reviews about it). It got worse from there, with her basically ignoring my dinner companion and being very abrupt and almost mean. This is a woman that was either having a really bad day, or should immediately, without any hesitation, remove herself from any job that involves customer interaction of any sort. It left such a bad taste in my mouth, despite the awesome food, that I don't know if I ever want to go back there. There are many, many restaurants with good food in Portland, but good service is what begins and ends every meal. Without it, I could just as easily take my business elsewhere.
Farm cafe, the small place around the corner with a great patio. On the days when the sun in shining in portland it's hard to beat this patio, and happy hour. Farm table has a great happy house menu and and excellent veggie burger.. we also sincerely enjoyed the roasted garlic but you should be prepared to share the garlic with your loved one, otherwise No Kisses for you! Service is a little slow, particularly the bar... but it's still a great find.
(4)
Emily H.
Had a wonderful dinner with some local friends. It is so refreshing to have dinner at a restaurant that focuses on being fresh, local and seasonal. The Veggie Burger was beautiful. I tried the special for the night, Duck Confit Manicotti. To describe the Manicotti, it was rich in sauce and didn't have too much duck confit in the filling. All in all though it was a heavy dish (as I was expecting) but not what I was truly hoping for; however, everyone else I was with thoroughly enjoyed their meals. Our waiter was great - informative and wanted to know about our dining experience. Thanks for a good experience!
(4)
Angela P.
Wonderful fresh, local, artfully prepared food in a cozy Victorian home. Emphasis on vegetarian food, though this seems to be evolving into more meat options. There is always an excellent fish dish on the menu, and they have the best veggie burger in town, maybe the world!! The sunken chocolate souffle with coffee ice cream is off the hook. Wonderful, creative specials & faster seating / service since they've opened up the back room / expanded. Upscale but not pretentious. When my family visits, this restaurant is always first on their list.
(5)
Joe B.
An evening with business friends invited an onslaught of creative dishes to share and feast upon. Starting with baked brie, roasted garlic, and fresh hummus, I immediately ordered the draft IPA. Not typically a fan of brie, Farm Cafe rekindled an old flame. Dipping my spoon between a delicately toasted apple and buttery hazelnut mixture, I found what took the form of baked apple-brie pie. It was awesome. Our server recommended the duck and I obliged. The locally farm-raised duck breast was perfectly flame-roasted with just enough sweet gooey sauce to accompany. I'll be back.
(5)
Tim B.
YUMMM! This place is nice! This is a great "first date" spot, it is romantic and the food makes you feel good. The portions are perfect! So many places seem to "super-size" everything, not here. The serving sizes are just right so don't expect to use a doggy-bag here (poor Fido). The Farm does not take reservations, which was not a problem, I was seated in under 15 minutes, but I know the wait can sometimes take up to an hour (it is WORTH the wait). Having to wait so long is a pretty good indication of the quality of the food! The food is mostly vegetarian, but there is fish on the menu; and everything is locally grown and organic (and the fish is not farmed). I had baked brie which was topped with honey, pears, and hazelnuts (Mmmm!). For my main course, I had the seafood risotto; it was so damn good! Personally, I do not think this is a good place to bring kids, the place felt very intimate and romantic, more of a special occasion kinda place. Nothing against kids, but they would have killed the vibe of the place.
(5)
Mietsko B.
This place SHOULD be great, but sadly, it is not. The food and cozy atmosphere post re-model is gone and apparently by my last visit, so is the service and any attempt an customer retention. I no more than sat down with the person I had brought to the Farm (after having raved about it's wonderful food) than did we up and leave, our server was so unbelievably rude and condesending. I realize that there is a Portland snobery, but this woman was down right mean. She made a snarly repugnant face to my guest right in front of me, did not even bother to turn her back before making faces at us; we had not even ordered our drinks. We immediately left, and can say with all authority that we will NEVER return, there are too many other joints in town with at least the heart to hide their distaste for their customers. Horrible, terrible memory, Not coming back.
(1)
Jolene B.
The food is worth the wait. We waited for an hour but it's a fun city to walk around in. WOW...
(5)
Mya R.
My brother recommended this place so I had dinner here on Monday. All the food was really good, and some of it was amazing. Our table of four split 3 different appetizers: -steamed mussels & clams (tender shellfish, rich & delicious broth, slightly salty) -beet carpaccio (it sounds weird but was amazingly good & loved by everyone at the table) -baked brie w/ strawberries (I didn't try this one, but others seemed to like it) For entrees we had: -trout (very fresh, very good) -the lamb special (tender, really delicious, slightly salty) -risotto w/ peas (I didn't try this one, but my friend said it was rich & flavorful) Dessert: -cheesecake (devoured) molten chocolate souffle (oh my god rich & good! I scraped the dish to get every last bit!) -rhubarb crisp (tangy with a crunchy topping, just what I wanted). They also dished up a bowl of ice cream & strawberries for my friend who can't eat gluten, even though that wasn't on the menu. The service was good but really depended on who brought our stuff. We seemed to have several people dealing with our table so dishes didn't necessarily go to the right seat, & whenever the bartender brought out drinks he reached across the table directly across my face. I'm not a fan of someone's arm in my face during the middle of a conversation, especially when there's room to go around. Summary: excellent food, promising wine list, decent service that could use some polish. I recommend it & will definitely return.
(4)
Mike A.
I've been to Farm Cafe 2 times now and both times I've had a great experience. The hosts and servers offer prompt friendly service and make you feel welcomed. The servers are well versed in the wine list and cocktail list and have no problem pairing your courses up by glass of wine, bottles or cocktails. The food is all beautifully plated cuisine with rich dynamic flavors and textures. It seems like their line cooks and chefs spent time in both culinary schools and art schools. It all tasted great and looked brilliant too. Most important, the menu has something for everyone. Vegetarian, vegan, omnivore what ever. There is something on the menu that you will love. I'll be back everytime I'm in Portland and I'll be sure to tell everyone I know how great this spot is.
(5)
Ashley B.
I loved Farm Cafe. We went on a Saturday night around 9:30pm and were told we had a 45 minute wait to be seated. The bar was filled so we headed down to the Doug Fir and had a drink while we waited. I love that the host will call when your table is ready so you that you are free to explore the decent selection of bars around the restaurant (Rontoms, Doug Fir, etc). After a shorter than expected wait we got our call and headed over for dinner. To start we had the roasted garlic appetizer and mushroom appetizer and both were delicious, though if I had to pick a favorite I think the mushrooms were prepared better than any I have ever had (and I like mushrooms). Next I had a special of roasted chicken with greens and mashed potatoes, it was AMAZING. I finished every bite despite how stuffed I was. My dining buddy had the veggies burger and he really enjoyed that as well. Everything about Farm Cafe was great from the atmosphere to the drinks to the service and most importantly the food. Next time I go I promise to save room for dessert because if it is anything like the other food I tried, it will be awesome.
(5)
Sherry Y.
This is one of those times (ok every time) that I wish I could give half stars. To give 5 stars or not to give 5 stars? The food is fresh and tasty--but can be a bit pricey. Happy Hour is served until 6:30 and they'll let you have it in the dining room (but beware no HH on Fridays)--but no HH on cocktails. I think it is a dollar off of beer and $5 wines. Our waiter was very nice today--sometimes they can seem a little pretentious. If only they had cocktails. . .
(4)
carrie r.
Love their tofu & mashed potatoes! So good! Service super slow...wait staff friendly!
(4)
Emily H.
Cozy atmosphere, tasty food, lots of vegetarian options for my non-carnivore dining companions. I had the trout, which was fresh and crispy. I tasted my husband's Dungeness Crab risotto, and it was quite good. I am a risotto snob, and I would order this one the next time I eat at Farm. Beet salad was pretty standard, but fresh and delicious. The factor that inspired this review is how great our server (I think his name was Patrick) was. He was friendly, low key, helpful, timely and gave some of the best service I've had in ages. We were a bit unorganized as a table, and he handled our indecisiveness with grace, not huffiness. He actually seemed to be enjoying his job rather than being put out about being in the service industry. Believe me, I've been there, but I don't want to be reminded how much my server hates me and their life when I am dropping $75+ on dinner. You know?
(4)
Michelle H.
Is this where Belly Timber has been spawned from? I got that vibe instantly when I walked in the door. Gorgeous, revamped old house to make you feel comfortable and not at all awkward? Check. A small, but awesome menu that focus on what's fresh and local? Check. Super friendly service, coupled with amazing drinks from the bar? Check. It was my kind of date night in this place. It has ambiance without feeling stuffy. I didn't feel awkward in jeans and a band tee, but I still felt like I was classing it up a bit. Well, as classy as a stone cock (rooster, get your minds out of the gutter) in the entry way can be. Local art decorates the walls and helps to take the edge off the dark wooden tables and sheer curtains on the window panes. The prices lean toward that date night price range, too. You're not dumping money at the Heathman or Higgins, but you're still going to be set back $30 on a decent evening. You are worth it after all, right? The quality is just as good in my opinion. Pan fried trout. Done and done. As much as I love salmon and halibut, I'm all about variety, even if it's pan fried. I want to tap into my childhood roots when I'd go fishing and eat what we caught that day. Sure, I didn't pay $19 back then, but I also didn't have it pan fried, boneless, and served over a bed of delicious grilled vegetables. You get what you pay for. Dungeness crab arancini. Get this. Get. This. These little fried balls of crab are delicious. Each bite had a hint of crab, mostly of risotto, but it was amazing all the same. We ate the arancini almost as quickly as it hit the table. Then we waited for the fish. We waited a long time, too, like an hour's worth. It was a little ridiculous. However, great conversation (and eaves dropping on other people's conversations) passed the time so well that we hadn't realized how much time had lapsed until our server came back to offer us free drinks to compensate us for our wait. Yes, please! Any drink we wanted, too. I had some vodka, mint, and lime concoction. It was a little too minty, but appreciated. I had a drink of his whiskey maple syrup thing (I may have almost got some in my eye due to a freak straw accident, but that's neither here nor there). Unique. Interesting. Definitely a lot of whiskey. Complaint of the evening (and it's not the wait): TURN UP THE LIGHTS. When we have to use the small tea light to read the drink menu, and you are so kind enough to bring us another to be able to see, shouldn't that tell you something? Finally the trout came out. Fried perfection. It wasn't overly greasy, it was slightly salty. The grilled vegetables were divine. It was really a light and perfect meal. So light and perfect in fact that the dark chocolate souffle and coffee ice cream was needed. It was worth the 15 minute wait, too. It was decadent without being overly sweet. Even though I had to avoid the ice cream, it was lovely. Two hours later we walked out into the cool summer air comfortable and happy. It was the making of a perfect night. I love this place.
(4)
Megan R.
This place is consistently very very good. Great food, great service. I go here frequently and am never disappointed. It isn't the most trendy or exciting place in town but for a delicious date night meal you can't go wrong. Only thing I wish they'd change is to update the menu a bit more frequently.
(5)
Brandon B.
Great food! Great location! Mediocre service. In all fairness it was most likely just the waiter. Also a perk that they have their own parking lot. Made for a great anniversary celebration.
I have been here twice now and have had two great meals. The food is always fresh and local. I HIGHLY recommend the veggie burger. Take it from someone who is a big fan of meat and all meat related products--It isn't your average veggie burger. It is enormous and has flavor so great I forgot it wasn't meat. A few tips--this place is always packed on Friday and Saturday nights. The location is in an old farm house and there is not much space to wait--either in the waiting area or the bar. So do yourself a favor and go on a weeknight and avoid the wait. There is also a happy hour before 6pm. Also beware--they are hesitant to seat you until your party has arrived. So pester your friends to be there on time!
(4)
Jane M.
I absolutely loved the asparagus ravioli. Small portion size, so be sure to order an appetizer or dessert. Although lacking in quantity, the pasta was not lacking in quality. The butter sauce was excellent, slightly sweet with a zing of lemon and salt. My cocktails were perfectly crafted. I was seated at the bar as soon as I walked in, had a drink, and my table was ready. My chocolate souffle and coffee ice cream for dessert were delicious, warm and melty-gooey. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable and gave great advice for ordering absinthe, which was surprising since it's such an unusual drink to order. The bartender was wonderful. Skilled and friendly, unlike other vodka + juice "bartenders," that plague many other bars. I will definitely be coming back and I'll probably have the exact same meal again before venturing onto other goodies.
(4)
Kody L.
Farm Cafe is potentially a five-star restaurant, but I need to try it out a few more times. Getting a table for three at 8:00 pm on a Tuesday night wasn't too bad -- I'd say a 10 minute wait. So I would guess prime dining nights are quite busy! Be aware that they don't take reservations, which kind of baffles me given the size, quality and popularity of this restaurant. I've tried going in the past, only to turn around after receiving a wait time estimate of two hours. Arancini: So damn good! Try these large risotto balls. Trout: Very nicely prepared. Seriously, perfectly cooked and not dry at all. Boneless and on top of a variety of cooked, but still crisp veggies. Asparagus ravioli: Surprisingly the best meal of the night. I don't know what it was, but I wish I had ordered this dish. Try it! Gnocchi: Was okay, but I'm not a gnocchi fan, so it could have been excellent without me knowing. I loved sitting outside. It was spacious and I appreciate that despite their popularity, they didn't cram tables together. The servers were attentive, nice and genuine. I'll be back!
(4)
Yan M.
After reading all the stellar reviews on Yelp about this place, we figured we'll give this place a try.... We arrived at 7pm and the place was packed! We snagged the last table in the outdoor patio and the indoor was completely full. This place sure is busy on a week night and at 7pm! We ordered the cheeseball, blueberry salad, snapper and tofu marsala! The cheeseball was flavorful although it was a lot to share for two people to share so we left half of it behind. The bluberry salad was delicious! The dressing and the fresh blueberries with greens went really well together, great and refreshing salad. Bf's snapper was delicious. I love the tofu marsala, nicely done although it came with a lot of mashed potato. Overall, a great meal and a nice ambience. Only downside that they only have 1 bathroom and it's a unisex bathroom so there was a line of male and female patrons waiting in line when I was there.
(4)
Thilo W.
Went here recently with my wife and a friend of ours and we had a very nice meal. It was crowded for a Wednesday (but not the hour and a half wait we had been quoted at Toro Bravo!). We were seated in about 30 minutes and had some very nice cocktails at their bar while we waited. The space is an old house (which gets a bit noisy, but is otherwise charming) with a nice bar and patio area in the back. Our waiter was friendly, but not all that attentive -- overall OK. One plus (as in many Portland establishments) is a very reasonable $10 corkage fee, so I B'd my OB. As for the food, we had the: Spiced Hazelnuts -- fantastic, hot and sweet, couldn't get enough Cheese Ball -- much better than the Cracker Barrel version Roast Chicken -- very tasty, touch dry, nice orzo/tomato side Veggie Tagliatelle -- excellent, nice house-made pasta, veggies, and a tasty sauce Grilled Corn/Smoky Blue Risotto OK, this gets its own section. This is fantastic! Sweet roasted corn, blue cheese, and perfectly cooked risotto combine for one of the best examples of this dish I have ever had. Rhubarb Cobbler -- tart, sweet, crunchy, DEEEElicious! Mascarpone Cheesecake with dulce de leche sauce -- so often, cheesecakes disappoint -- not this one. Slightly airy with a rich dulce de leche sauce and a delicious crust -- very good indeed. All of the above, plus 3 mixed drinks, plus corkage came to $108. The quality of the food in most big cities would garner 50-100% more in price. An excellent deal for gourmet-on-the-cheap seekers! The only reason I docked them a star was for the mildly indifferent service, but I would definitely go again.
(4)
Lucia C.
Lately I've been an avid reader of Michael Pollen's books. After reading his excerpt in Food Inc., I've become hooked on learning about sustainability and supporting local farmers. (and no I am not becoming a hippie!) That being said, this restaurant is special because most of their ingredients come from local farmers. If I had written this review without the knowledge I have today (thank you Michael Pollen!), it would have received a star or two less. The food was really good, but did not astound me or become a cause for revelation. I had the "herb crusted tofu with mushrooms Marsala" and tried my buddy's the veggie burger for reference. So the extra star is for the excellent example this restaurant is setting for the world to see. It is possible to make somewhat affordable and yummy food to the public from local farmers &ingredients. And if I had to recommend something, I would say, get the chocolate souffle with coffee ice cream and don't even think about sharing it! because I still dream about it today =]. It's so good, it added another star to this review.
(5)
Gabrielle A.
CRAB RISOTO!! Giant pieces of crab in there to satisfy. And the gnocchi was awesome, I have never had a better gnocchi! Light, fluffy & melted perfectly in your mouth. I also love that they have such a great bar with desert wines. Service was great the place is clean... I could go on. Oh, and the price per plate was great, there are not huge plates of food but you leave adequately full.
(5)
Caroline J.
I had meant to order the veggie burger, having bookmarked the farm cafe here on yelp way before I actually made the trip to portland. but instead ordered the goat cheese ravioli and goat cheese salad. both were good and this is coming from someone who doesn't love (or hate) goat cheese. I ate every bit of my ravioli and sopped whatever sauce that was left. mmm delicious. I left with a nicely full stomach.
(5)
Keith K.
We were in Portland on our way to the coast and I had seen this restaurant on the Food Network on the show The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Duff (Ace of Cakes) touted their Farmhouse Veggie Burger as the best burger be ever ate. So we made sure to stop in for dinner. The food was delicious. The burger lived up to the hype. The fries were good and the spiced ketchup they served with them was outstanding. The reason my rating isn't higher is that this wasn't really a family friendly restaurant. It is small and cramped and has no kids menu. Their kids dish is a cheesy risotto which, while delicious, was a bit too adventurous for our son. We ended up boxing up our food to go as the kids weren't happy and it didn't seem like a very understanding crowd. It may not be fair to rate the restaurant lower for this as they don't say they are a family friendly establishment, but I'm rating my family's experience there only.
(3)
jimmy c.
Been there twice, first time had the special which was chicken quarter with mash potatoes and some veg for like 17 bucks. It was pretty good, and I had enough to eat. So we took a friend from out of town there and I had the risotto with crab I think at 16. A tiny bowl came and the contents were sub par since you could not even taste the crab? What's up? Had a taste of what my companions had and did not think that this place was even in the ball park of a Portland joint worthy of a mention. The most hyped place in town.
(1)
Vandana M.
Great spot to celebrate our anniversary with a romantic dinner on the beautiful patio at Farm Cafe. Perfect spot for vegetarians -- we wanted to order everything, but in the end went with some yummy corn frittery things, watermelon salad, a veggie burger, and ravioli. The appetizer and salad were outstanding. The veggie burger was pretty yum, but my ravioli was a little "eh." I would definitely go back the next time I'm in town to try some of the other menu items, because there were a lot I am still thinking about...
(4)
DeathandFood H.
Best meal I've ever had in Portland. Granted I've eaten at maybe 20 restaurants in Portland but the food I had at Farm Cafe was as good as the food at Chez Panisse or other slow foods/california cuisine restaurants. Simply everything we eat was an experience of pleasure in our mouths. Vegetarian and seafood were all prepared perfectly highlighting all the elements that made the ingredients so good and taking simple food to even higher levels of taste. I ate here with a friend who was vegetarian for many years, my wife who was vegetarian for a decade and now eats some seafood and I've been vegetarian and vegan. Add to that our San Francisco trained snobby expectations of super fresh, super organic and tasty food and our expectations were pretty high. Farm Cafe meet our expectations and exceeded them. We arrived at 8pm on a Friday without a reservation and had an almost 20 minute wait. We were directed to the bar area but looked around helpless as the bartender ignored us. Turned out this was normal and the wait staff take the drink orders but it would have been great if the host had told us that. That was the only bump in an otherwise wonderful experience. We started with the Farm Cheese Ball which was a mix of three cheese rolled in Hazelnuts and served with bread. The bread was good, the cheese was yummy and it was soon all in our bellies. The good time really started with our entrees. The spouse has the greens and mushroom ravioli. At three ravioli it seems small until you bit into the rich brown butter coated ravioli with it's savory and intense filling. It was a complex and yet completely satisfying dish. Our friend had the trout, not just any trout but a trout that was crisp on the outside and tender and moist on the inside. A trout that has strongly seasoned crust that was the perfect companion to the trout's strong flavours. Served with the trout was Brussels sprouts, turnips and potatoes all roasted and they were as good as the trout. My dish was the saffron crab cakes served with parsnip fries. The crab cakes reminded me of cakes I've had in Maryland from fresh cooked crabs since they were all crab and very little filler and the sweetness and flavour of the crab was brought out even more by the seasoning with the saffron and other spices. None of the spices overpowered the delicate taste of the crab and the parsnip fries were a great update on french fries with just as much crunch on the outside but sweeter on the inside. Having had such good entrees we had to have dessert and the desserts were just as good as the entrees. We ordered the apple tart and the sunken chocolate souffle with coffee ice cream. The apple tart was a true tart, thin and crisp and not to sweet. It was served with a caramel sauce that wasn't too sweet either and seemed to have some savory herbs in it that brought out the apple Essenes. The crust was of course tender while crisp and the whole thing was perfection in dessert form. The chocolate souffle was actually a very traditional chocolate souffle and would have been great without the ice cream, with the ice cream, it was almost like a super rich Sunday with the cake acting as the fudge. The coffee flavour of the ice cream didn't add very much and I wondered what it would be like with perhaps maple ice cream. Another great thing about this place was the very reasonable prices. 13 dollars for the ravioli, 16 for the trout, nothing on the menu over 20 dollars. Without out a doubt the prices would have been more in comparable restaurants in the US and it still would be worth if coming here even if the prices were more. I'm only sad I don't live in Portland or we would be regulars there.
(5)
Megan H.
SOOOOOOOO good. everything tasted fresh and was just perfect. I took my mom there for a late mothers day because she's tried to go a few times and could never get in, so we went early (like 530) and there was no wait. There were quite a few people waiting to get seated when we left, but our server definitely did not make us feel rushed to leave. I had the trout and both my partner and mom had the asparagus ravioli. I tried it all and it was all delicious! My recommendation is to go early and hungry!
(5)
Kiera H.
This review is based solely on the vegan-tofu-mushroom-potato dish, their beer selection, select appetizers (roasted garlic, mushrooms, french fries), a berry tart dessert, and how much my meat eating family members have liked it. +1- for having one of the best vegan dishes that i have had from an otherwise meaty establishment. Although, I wish it came with something green. +1- for this amazing dessert I had. +1- for making my mom happy (she always has something to complain about and I didn't hear a single complaint from her... not about the seat, the cocktail, the food or the service) +0.5- for the beer selection. +0.5- for good desserts. I cant give this a full star because the portions are ridiculously small for the price. This is Portland after all. If I were employed, I would eat here bi-weekly. I have dreams about this meal. The staff are hit or miss. Once they were very friendly, Another time the waitress tried to tell my mother's husband that he wasn't using the salt grinder correctly when he told her it was not grinding. He told her that he does in fact have the mental capacity of at least a 12 year old and that we needed a new salt shaker. Even if the service was consistently horrendous, I would be there for this $13 vegan-tofu-mushroom-potato dish that probably cost them about a buck to make because it is SOOOOO good.
(4)
Mark T.
Pushes the bounds of the finest, freshest dining in Portland while keeping the prices reasonable. The tofu marsala is spectacular, and a Wednesday night spring special- a spring pea risotto was one of the best dishes I have eaten at any restaurant in 20 years of dining out. If you like spring peas, it is worth calling ahead to see if they have this item on the menu- it is worth coming for this alone. Very nice wine and beer selection. This place gets alot of things very, very right.
(5)
Marlana B.
I meant to write this earlier. I made a visit to The Farm Cafe - again - on Sunday evening and had a memorable meal - possibly the best meal ever. Unable to decide, three of us shared our selections so we got to sample from our top three wish list items . We started with sauteed mushrooms, amazing puffed squash fritters (can't remember what they were called) served with a cool, refreshing yogurt sauce for dipping and baked Brie covered with blueberries, raspberries & nuts. Yes, we did linger here for a few before entering the pearly gates. For the entrees, I ordered the Marsala Mushroom and Crusted Tofu over herb garlic mashed potatoes. The other two angelic beings about to touch on the divine ordered Goat Cheese Ravioli and Fire Roasted Corn Gnocchi!! I'm truly sad and sorry that my writing isn't good enough to capture just how good the food was, so I can't help you to imagine all the incredible surprises and layers of flavors lingering on our taste buds. Yes- died and went to heaven:) The chef was so ON FIRE Sunday night!! A true miracle worker - Thank you thank you thank you - love, love love! :))
(5)
hello h.
The food is good, for certain. The veggie sandwich is full of complex well balanced flavors and the fries are an excellent crispy compliment to the sandwich. The Williams Baked Brie is mouth watering delicious! My out of town friends still talk about this incredible appetizer. My main gripe with the Farm is the service. The managers I have interacted with have been pleasant. The servers I have had, I've been there about 10 to 12 times now, have been inconsistent...they have varied from absolutely terrible to pretty good. I've managed and worked in casual to fine dining restaurants for over a decade and a major part of my experience at a restaurant is receiving decent to excellent service. One example of my service experiences there: During one particular time visiting the Farm, I brought my younger early 20 something out of town siblings. The server seemed annoyed with their requests for water, slammed the plates (literally dropped the plates) on the table and we saw him three times the entire evening. Once when he took our order, someone else brought the water, once when he literally dropped the food at our table, and last time to drop off the check. He never picked up the dirty plates and we were there for an hour and a half nor the check but I paid with cash so it didn't matter. My main mistake was still giving him a 20 percent tip because I grappled with service industry guilt. Luckily, I have been there recently due to my urging of my girlfriend to give it another try and the server I had during the happy hour time was redeeming of my previous experience. He was kind and professional but definitely not personable. But, my standards felt much lower as a result of my previous experiences. I would still give it another try but I will stick to the happy hour time as the ambiance and service was dramatically better.
(3)
Katie K.
Incredible dinner! Thought the locally sourced restaurantwould be tasty but Farm Cafe exceeded my expectations! friendly, great service but not bothersome, sat on the patio in the spring and it has the perfect ambience. I ordered the baked brie for appetizer and it was rich, hot, and delectable topped with apples and nuts. My non-cheese loving partner even ate more than his share! I ordered the ravioli stuffed with ricotta + asparagus and topped with lemon butter-- very vibrant, unique combination of flavors that was comforting yet interesting. My stolen bites of quinoa, asparagus + pan fried Idaho trout were also to die for-- pretty standard flavors but executed to perfection-- light nutty quinoa, tender flaky fish, and well seasoned and grilled asparagus....I will be sad to leave Portland + Farm Cafe behind....
(5)
susan f.
Best restaurant in Portland. Go here.
(5)
Neill P.
One of my favorite spots in Portland. The food is always great, and it is in a very cozy building. A very good place to take a date, in my opinion. They have a good selection of vegetarian dishes, and they aim to serve local and organic food in all their dishes. You simply MUST try the desserts. They have a chocolate souffle that is to die for, and a pecan cheesecake that is equally delicious. There are two big drawbacks to this place. The first is that it usually comes with a very long wait (which speaks to its popularity). The second is that it's probably in the least interesting part of Portland, which really sucks when you have to wait 45 minutes to an hour for a table. At least they added a bar section where you may be able to hang out if that's not full.
(5)
Bonnie N.
Oh, YUM!!! My sister took me here, a first visit for both of us, and a very positive experience. I love the focus on seasonal cuisine, and it was great to be so stuffed and not feel heavy or gross like sometimes happens when you eat too much at a restaurant. And we weren't gulping water post-visit either; the seasonings (salt) were perfect. We started with the baked brie with toasted hazelnuts, maple syrup and caramelized apples, served with bread. First bite, and we both closed our eyes and said a unison "yummmm." I had their soup special, parsnip-apple, and it was tasty, simple, yet exotic. Delish. Cocktails and wine were competively priced. I had the one made with pomegranate juice, ginger ale, and vodka. Yum, again, and mixed perfectly. My sister had the housemade ravioli, stuffed with pecans and wilted greens. She swooned. I had the special steelhead, served with wilted spinach and an AMAZING celeriac gratin. Another YUMMMM. And then there was dessert. I didn't want to share, and it was a good thing we ordered our own because the portion was perfect...a single approx 1/2 cup ice cream with cookie. Sounds boring, but nooo! They called it Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or something like that. Housemade cinnamon ice cream with almonds served on a bed of flaky almond cookie pieces (arranged like a flower). Fabulous. It tasted like...Cinnamon Toast Crunch, only WORLDS better, and balanced perfectly flavor-wise. I definitely recommend a visit here; I only hope I get the chance to go back soon!!!
(5)
Ben S.
Reason: A friend in Portland recommended after the Alberta Arts Fair while visiting from Chicago. Order: The nuts, ravioli w/morels, halibut, and multiple desserts. Thoughts: Awesome. Went on a Saturday night and was seated outside right away. The food took a little while but had wine to tide us over. The waiter was a little slow returning with a second order of wine and beer but it was pretty busy. Fresh, tasty food and a nice place when the weather was 72 degrees out. Definitely recommend to others and would try again. Once again the nuts were outstanding.
(4)
Liz S.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Portland. It is delicious and a great place to go if you are a vegetarian or vegan foodie. Meat eaters will also like this place. The menu is somewhat small, but each dish tends to be prepared very well. As mentioned before, the herb-crusted tofu with mushroom marsala is INCREDIBLE. This is gourmet vegan cooking. I haven't really had a bad dish that I can recall. The toasted hazelnuts is a great appetizer. I've also had good gnocchi here. It gets really busy and crowded so get there early if you don't want to wait.
(5)
Jonas T.
Great food here. Nothing way too extraordinary that I'd go out of my way for , but i did really like their herb-crusted tofu. Overall, a great dining experience. JONASAPPROVED!
(4)
Skylar L.
I can't believe I haven't written a review on Farm Cafe yet. Sometimes a place is just so good that I can't seem to adequately put into words the sheer perfection of it. Consistently good food at a reasonable price. That, my friend, should be their tag line. The menu changes with the seasons but retains an overall inventiveness -- not to mention deliciousness. The first time I went here was with Kimberly V. We were going to a show at Doug Fir and neither of us were looking forward to the food served in the DF dining room. Le Pigeon was too pricey for our blood, but both of us heard good things about Farm Cafe. Not until I got there did I realize I had passed it a few times before always thinking to myself, 'I don't know what restaurant that is, but I have to try it one day. It's just so cute and inviting.' Curb appeal is not everything, but it counts for something. Fortunately for my hungry eyes, the interior lived up to -- and surpassed -- the exterior. It takes a long second to catch that the modernist sculpture above the bar is actually a deconstructed mattress. It doesn't make any sense as the rest of the bar is so rich with dark wood and cool light fixtures, but it totally works. The rest of the restaurant is just as nice. It's one of those places that is perfect for two friends grabbing a bight to eat before a show or a guy proposing to the woman of his dreams (or vice-versa or versa-versa, or vice-vice, I'm sure they support equality here). The actual food is incredible. For the sheer disappointed I felt when I learned the beet carpaccio that made me want to sing the last time I had it was taken off the menu, I'm not going to mention (anymore) specific food items. Just know that I haven't had one bad thing there. If you want to grab a drink and an appetizer at the bar or a great sit down meal in the dining room, I defy you to name a better restaurant in Rose City. I'm waiting....
(5)
J B.
Still great, after all these years.
(4)
Jon R.
Oh man the food here is amazing. So simple and yummy, it's really perfect. They do sort of the California-style cuisine, with lots of organics, and focusing on using top notch fresh ingredients rather than a lot of seasoning. It's really the best way to go. I took my parents here when they were in town, and we ordered an enormous feast. Their housemade hummus is to die for, I highly recommend that as an appetizer. For my main course I had a half chicken which was cooked perfectly and of very high quality. I also tried some stuffed ravioli which was equally amazing (I forget what exactly was in it, but I know it was veggie). The service is great and I like the decor in the place....the art was pretty cool, not your standard PDX "I write a lot of shit on my paintings because they aren't very good" stuff. The only drawback with Farm is the wait, which can get pretty brutal on weekend nights (there aren't too many tables). Thankfully there's a wide variety of bars in the neighborhood...Rontoms is just around the corner if you want to grab a drink while you wait. I think Farm is my favorite restaurant in Portland, and it's definitely worth the wait.
(5)
Meghan O.
I had the best meal of my life here. We had an heirloom tomato salad, the famous veggie burger (the best you'll ever have), and blue cheese risotto. I recommend this restaurant to everyone headed to Portland. The house is cute and cozy, the service is great (we were in a hurry to get to the airport and they were very accommodating), and the food was simply delicious. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Wes M.
Oh man, the Farm Cafe. My feelings about you would be so much more mixed if your food wasn't so good. The first time I tried to go to the Farm Cafe, I arrived to find that the wait to be seated would be at least an hour. No thanks, I said, thinking I'd come back another time, with a reservation. The time came when I wanted to go back (Valentine's Day) and I gave them a call. What's that? No reservations? Okay, whatever you say. So we showed up 15 minutes before the place opened, and there were already a few people waiting. By the time they opened there was a line down the block to get in. The time came, we entered, and were one of the first tables to be sat. Unfortunately, we were one of the last tables to have our order taken. The service was slow, but very polite. Our waiter did make time to stop by, make sure that we had some bread and drink, and warned us that the kitchen's ticket wheel was full. After a while he managed to stop by to take our order, and get some more bread for the wait, which we were assured would be long. Once we got our food, though, we were happy we went to the trouble. I got the grilled polenta, which was amazing. I'd had polenta before and hadn't really liked it but Farm managed to completely change my mind on the matter. My girlfriend had the herb-crusted tofu, which I tried, and it was just as amazing as my own food. We were just totally blown away by it. We finished up with their daily special for the dessert, which I unfortunately cannot remember the name of, but I assure you it was just as delicious as anything else I had that evening. If it had not been for the fact that they don't take reservations, Farm Cafe would have easily gotten 5 stars for that night.
(4)
Sue S.
Adore, adore, adore. Best patio in universe. Lovely food. Order a few things and share and you will be in foodie heaven. Love the wait staff. Slip into PDX on a September evening and discover heaven.
(5)
Mary E.
Maybe it was just a off night, but we found our entrees to be less than good. The apple crisp dessert lacked any crisp and was inedible because it was grossly over sweetened. Apple cubes in brown sugar syrup is what it was... Most of the salt encrusted trout was left uneaten because it was so salty. This dish itself is poorly conceived . The salted fish is draped over a warm quinoa salad which became horribly salty from the trout that is draped over it. We also ordered broccoli fritters which came unadorned on a white plate. Five fried balls on a plate. No creativity in the presentation whatsoever. The service is friendly but not up to the prices being charged for the dining experience. Our entrees were brought out as we were finishing our starters. I was astounded when the server pushed our collection of dirty plates to one end of the table, put our entrees in front of us, and walked away. Tacky. Gross. A waitress came shortly and removed them but they should have been removed before the entrees were brought out. I would not return to this restaurant especially when there are so many great dining options in the area.
(1)
Victoria J.
went here on Valentine's day....the wait was 2 hours! Somehow through the madness the staff was mellow, attentive and positive! had a "My Bloody Valentine" gin drink that was way to small for 9$ but sometime's you gotta drop big money when you're lonely and single on lovers day. It was good, not 9$ good especially not for how much I got but I fixed that up later at a dive with a long island iced tea. arugula salad with gorgonzola cheese, pears and candied walnuts was wonderful! At first I was bummed they didn't put more cheese on it and then I had some cheese and realized how intense it was and that the portion was perfect! Cheese cake was just right. Basic cheese cake but dang. real good the crust was my favorite part.....graham cracker goodness to boot! Spanish coffee was excellent too. mmm-mm Farm why do you have to cost so much? I will probably never go back because of how much everything costs but it was darn good and super cute too!
The herb-crusted tofu with mushroom marsala was heavenly. Heavenly, I tell you! Totally worth going here just for that. Also enjoyed the cheese plate. Went here before a Saturday night show at Doug Fir and were able to walk in and choose our own table. And were able to get out in time to catch some of a (surprisingly) decent opener. I agree with a previous reviewer who said this place seems like it's in the same mold of Belly Timber on Hawthorne. Same vibe, and enjoyed my meal here just as well.
(4)
sarah k.
A friend took us to the Farm Cafe for dinner one night while we were in town for a wedding earlier this year and I have to say that I LOVED everything about it. And let me just preface my review by saying that the three of us are big meat lovers and none of us missed the beef that night. Vegetarian, or not, the food is just plain good. From what we were told by our friend, the restaurant uses all locally bought, fresh, and organic ingredients which results in amazing food and a bit of that hippie kumbaya feeling of having done your body and the state some good. Yes, it's called the Farm Cafe, but I wasn't expecting the literal translation! The farmhouse looks old and rundown from the outside, but the interior is dark, warm, cozy and not at all what you would expect having seen the exterior. So, I was pleasantly surprised and somewhat relieved! We ate an early dinner and therefore missed the long waits though the restaurant was still filled with a diverse crowd of young, old, hippies, punks, families with children, and us tourists. The mint juleps were strong, flavorful, and probably the best I've ever had... which really doesn't mean much since it's not my drink of choice and I've probably only ordered this drink two other times in my life. Just being honest! We shared the Farm's cheeseball and though we were all trying to be polite and not take more than our share of cheese, we all ended up sneaking our forks back to swipe a bit more cheesey goodness onto our plates. The thing disappeared far too quickly. I ordered the grilled halibut with the warm red pepper lentil salad and grilled squash and it was amazing! The fish was fresh, incredibly delicious, and so perfect with the understated spiciness of the warm lentil salad. I tried a bite of my fiance's salmon, and a bite of my friend's crab risotto, but I have to say that the Halibut was my favorite entree ordered that night. A great sign since I always end up wanting what the other person ordered. My friend insisted we order dessert. "Ok, twist my arm!" I picked the dulce de leche mascarpone cheesecake for the three of us to share, but I have to admit that it was a little disappointing texture-wise. It was still good, but not as creamy as I had hoped it would be. All in all, I wish there was a Farm Cafe in the OC.
(5)
Alfred K.
Really, really good. You wouldn't expect much when looking at the building from the outside, but inside the space is warm and comfortable. The food was pretty solid - we had the grilled corn and smoky blue risotto, which was less smoky and less grilled than I had expected, but the mild blue cheese added a great saltiness to the risotto. Pretty good. Also had a bit of the oven roasted chicken (special of the day) and it was perfectly roasted resting on a simple light black bean salad. Good, simple, Northwestern local food that is apt for the name Farm Cafe. Yup I'll be back.
(4)
Ben D.
Overrated. My veggie burger was very bland and the pastas had an odd taste to it. Not at all what the reviews build it up to be. Much better locations in Portland.
(1)
CeeCee P.
If you had asked me last week to yelp about Farm Cafe, I would've given it a five, no contest.. how could I have given it any less when wonderfully divine food had been served? I can easier devour a huge hunk of plain brie in one sitting, with that said, the baked brie here was addicting... I loved the sweet twist on the cheese, and the hazelnuts and seasonal apple slices nicely complimented the rich flavors... French fries, french fries, french fries!!!! I love french fries!!! && I definitely loved how Farm's french fries came out piping hot, crispy, and well herbed and seasoned... good thing there was other food on the table, or I might have consumed the whole plate on my own... :) I usually don't order soups on my outings, but I was glad I did on this visit. The soup du jour was winter vegetables in a tomato based broth, and my my my, it exceeded my expectations. There were a ton of yummy veggies and the tomato base nicely melded all the flavors together. On the happy hour menu during this visit, sauteed oysters were on the menu... and for five dollars, a pretty large portion of oysters and mini clams came out!!! I loved that the sauce didn't overpower the yummy flavor of good seafood. Now, if you asked me yesterday to yelp on the Farm, I would've rated it a three... what went wrong might you ask?? One- no oysters and clams on the happy hour menu... Now, before you get mad at me... I know that their menu changes and that oysters and clams can't always be on the menu, but that doesn't stop me from being disappointed ok? Two- I need to ask Farm cafe what went wrong with the winter veggie soup?!?!?!? What was once a delicious soup was now a bland one, filled with weird and unknown veggies like the yellow carrot things served at IKEA, yes, it was really yellow... Three- We came there near their opening time... so why were my fries lukewarm, and chewy from staleness?? Not even the ketchup could've masked the unpleasant taste.... Four- I don't think I like dense things in sphere shapes that are fried... like the broccoli fritters... It was honestly like eating a dense bread, with a few broccoli pieces scattered around it... and fried. Not my thing... and Five- First, let me mention that our server was super nice and patient while we decided on drinks... let's just say, though, that the boyfriend wasn't impressed with the draft beer... I'll trust the boy on this one because I'm not a beer person, whatsoever... So.. based on my last experience, why did I rate the Farm a four?? I like to think of the good experiences I had here with all the wonderful dishes, and I'm giving Farm Cafe the benefit of the doubt that maybe yesterday was an off-night... I'll likely come back here, but it won't be soon...
(4)
Af R.
Had a good salad and nice fish dish with potatoes and veggies. It was very filling and reasonable for the amount of food. The place isn't big but it's in a cool house and on a Friday night at 7 the wait was only 20 minutes.
(4)
Donte P.
I'll keep this brief. The atmosphere here is wonderful, perfect for a date night or something cozy and quiet. The salads are again delightful, inspired and delicious. The crab risotto was merely fine, but the gnocci is top-notch. I'd give this place 4 stars if I'd been the one that ordered the gnocci instead of the risotto. So yes, I blame the restaurant for my own mistake.
When I walked in at opening time, 5 pm, I was "greeted" with, do you have a reservation? I was the sole person in the whole place and no other customers arrived for another half hour... For $16 I had a feta ravioli dish containing a mere 6 of them, each 2" x 2". The dish was served tepid. The sauce, if you want to call it that, was pinkish with no seasoning or flavor and certainly no indication of tomatoes. No salad, just 4 pieces of bread, very fresh though, and an undersized dish of oil with little vinegar. A very big disappointment.
(1)
Bobi C.
I went here for a date night because it got really good reviews on yelp so I decided to go. I thought the place was really nice but our food was just ok. I had the ravioli which was really good except for the amount of salt, also we had the mushroom appetizer again very salty and then finally my husband had the Sole for his dinner and it was just not very flavorful.
(3)
MC M.
First time at the Farm Cafe and wow! It was wonderful - beautifully presented, creatively composed flavors and textures, a joy to taste our way through the menu. Unfortunately, it was VERY noisy & the wait staff were scrambling to cover everyone. Perhaps because it was a Friday evening?
(4)
Tom C.
My friends and I came here for dinner. I ordered the pan fried Idaho trout. The dish was unpleasant. The trout was extremely salty even after squeezing fresh lemon juice on it. The greens and salad were also very salty. One star added back in since they did mentioned the pan fried Idaho trout came with sea salt. The portions were extremely small. I finished the entire dish and was still very hungry and so is everyone else in my group. Other than the food, their customer service was excellent!
(3)
Giggly C.
Why didn't I discover this sooner before moving? Amazing food, menu always changing. Haven't had something I didnt 'like (ate 4 times total so far). Love the baked Brie.
(5)
James C.
Cute little restaurant in a little old house very cozy, good food
(4)
Das K.
On a whim (and based on some friend's suggestions) we decided to get an early dinner (6pm) at the Farm Cafe. We have driven by the area but never noticed the little house right off the street... as soon as we found it (very easy) we said... ah this will be good and interesting. We entered into the restaurant where you immediately run into the bar and people waiting for their tables (no reservations taken). Ran into a co-worker waiting and he bestowed on me the fact that this place rocks and let me know what to not get. They offered us a seat in the back patio right away and let us know our table would be about 30 minutes - ordered drinks Herbitos, which were a quite tasty rendition of a mojito and enjoyed the back patio. BTW, they could make the back patio really be stellar if they added some shrubery and more plants to mask the fact that you are sitting on Burnside. The little house ambience plus a little backyard garded would make this a very cool back patio. Anyways after 40 minutes we were at our table ordering round two of drinks. We went for the warm brie special, bread with roasted garlic, delicious carrot ginger tomatoe soup, butter lettuce salad (omg), the halibut with vegetable sucatash, and the goat ravioli. Everything was very good, with just a few very small issues... the sucatash was a little too peppered, and could have been better with less pepper and maybe some cayenne instead. We were wondering if they were making a hint though when they brought us salt and pepper shakers twice (just in case we needed more pepper?). The goat cheese ravioli has a slighlty lemon-sour flavor, which we weren't expecting, but it was quite good. The soup was amazing, the bread excellent (Ken's I believe), and the salad and appetizers were delicous. And the ambience of the little house jam packed with cozy tables really made this place stand out amongst the norm. We will definately be back and be enjoying their changing menu. But for everyone else for get what I said above... it was terrible, please don't go you won't like it and the wait is like 3hrs each time.
(5)
Paul W.
We've heard amazing things about the Farm for a while now, and for my wife's birthday, she wanted nothing more than a well cooked vegetarian meal. She got just that at the Farm, and I got some well cooked meat too!! We started with the broccoli fritters which were crazy good, lightly fried, and totally healthy since they're a veggie.... right? She had the butternut squash ravioli, which she claims to be fantastic. I, however, was far more enamored with my quarter salt rubbed chicken, roasted brussel sprouts and yam mash. Oh. My. God. So perfectly cooked, alone they were great, together.. heavenly.
Five hungry foodie folks decided at 7pm Friday night to go to the Farm. I secretly questioned whether we would ever eat, but I also secretly jumped up and down since Farm Cafe has been on my list since I moved here in May. We had to wait for 1.5 hours but man, was it worth it. (Since there's really no place to wait inside, the hostess will call you when your table is almost ready, so we headed a few blocks east to Doug Fir for a drink.) Farm Cafe is tiny, quaint and cozy (although I'm not sure what the surfboards are all about). Almost everything on the menu was veggie-friendly and looked amazing. After much contemplation we started with the brie, mushrooms, roasted garlic and edamame. All were excellently and simply prepared but the mushrooms were particularly well-cooked and seasoned - perfectly hearty fall food. (We also opted for the pumpkin-tini, mostly for novelty's sake, which was more like brandy-infused brandy with brandy-infused cream and some nutmeg. Which also probably had brandy in it. The waiter joked that the bartender had never made one before, which we interpreted as "so far no one had been as dumb as us to order one." Anyway, avoid.) For dinner we opted for the goat cheese ravioli, herb-crusted tofu, veggie burger, fish (I believe it was trout?) and pot pie special. Everything was absolutely delicious (even the veggie burger, and I swore a while back I would never put another veggie burger in my mouth) but I must confess, I enjoyed my goat cheese ravioli selection more than anything else. It wasn't the most beautiful dish, but it was definitely the tastiest. Good thing, seeing as how I ordered it. We shared two desserts. One was the chocolate brownie molten cake thing, which took 15 minutes to warm and wasn't really worth the calories (tasted like undercooked brownie to me, and the coffee ice cream left a strange aftertaste on my palate). The pear tart, on the other hand, was lovely. And I don't describe food as "lovely" very often. Perhaps the most amazing thing was the teeny bill we got at the end of the night after all that fantastic food, ambiance and service... I'm already planning my next visit. PS If you're worried about the $1 for a side of bread, order an appetizer - most of them seem to come with bread that isn't absolutely necessary for appetizer enjoyment.
(5)
Andy W.
I have to disagree with the conventional wisdom here. Maybe this is one of those cases where I came when the wrong staff was working or there were circumstances beyond my sights at play here. Or maybe they're so confident in their ability to draw a crowd that they don't feel they need to impress anymore. Whatever the reason, I was very disappointed in my experience at the Farm Cafe tonight. 1. The service. Our waitress refused to make eye contact with us. For example, at one point, I asked for a beer menu, made my decision, and waited 15 minutes before the waitress came by; when she did, she whisked past and took the menu without taking my order. Eye contact would have helped. Or some acknowledgment of my presence. 2. The food. I ordered the seared ahi. It tasted quite good, but the ahi was far from seared -- in my estimation it was cooked medium, if not medium-well. I'm very confident I don't have salmonella poisoning, and I appreciate that, but I think I would have preferred seared ahi. That is, after all, what I ordered. I'm definitely going to come back at some point, because there has to be something to all these fantastic reviews,and maybe I'll be able to give some more stars at that point. But for a place that usually has a line out the door, I expected much, much better than what I got.
(3)
Shannon F.
Check it. Service is a make or break for places, particularly nice places, whether it's a restaurant, hotel, clothing store, anything that can offer service. Seriously. So when I walk into Farm and put down my name, and I'm told the wait's gonna be about an hour, I'm down to wait. When I'm pushed out into the cold for that hour without being told that there is actually a nuzzly little heated patio for wining while waiting for dining, and oh, by the way, the wait's actually an hour and a half, but oh wait, that's actually for a frigid table outside with no heat, otherwise wait longer, I'm gonna be a bit aggitated. Then, when I wait a little longer for the inside table, but I'm still not seated, then opt for sitting outside, and then I'm told that even if a table opens up inside and there is no one else waiting, they're not gonna move us, I'm a bit pissed. Yeah, the hostess was inconsiderate. Yeah, the waitress was flighty. Yeah, they both would walk outside, peer from about fifteen feet away, and then walk back inside without actually engaging in the "how is everything," dialogue, but, BUT the food was rather excellent. Appetizers: Baked Brie (kida weak, but came with tasty fresh bread). Cheese Ball (kinda tasty, but not the uber flavorfest I was expecting, but came with tasty fresh bread). Roasted Garlic (delish, could I make this at home?, yes, but well done, and came with tasty fresh bread). Main Course: Porcini Gnocci (freaking fantastic in a dumpling! Light, fluffy, melty dumplings in a flavorful, probably crack filled, butter sauce, and meaty porcinis). Tofu Marsala (say what now?! Yeah, that's right, it was some of the best Marsala I've ever had, and it was made with tofu! Booya!). Sesame Tofu (meh. This was one of their specials, and let me say, a special is supposed to be a dish you rock, that doesn't happen to be a regular on the menu. The tofu was kinda burnt, and not exceedingly flavorful). So that's the story of how I had one of the best meals in a while, and yet, I probably would consider going elsewhere before going back. Of course, that Marsala does deserve a second chance -- erm, I mean, hostess. ps. GO TO THE BACK OF THE RESTAURANT WHERE THERE IS A HEATED PATIO WITH CHAIRS AND TABLES AND GET DRINKS INSTEAD OF SITTING OUT IN THE COLD.
(3)
Courtney S.
Went here last night with my husband and uncle. I have been wanting to try it for a long time. It was slightly more expensive than I was expecting but a good value for the money. The food was very tasty, the presentation left something to be desired and my husband commented that his was not just aesthetically lacking it was also difficult to eat because his fish was piled atop a lumpy mound of mixed vegetables. The mushroom tart was simple but good. The service was good and ambiance fine, about what I expected. We had the cheese ball appetizer and it was ok but blander than I was hoping for. It tasted like it was mostly cream cheese. We shared a cheesecake dessert which was ok also but the sauce kind of just tasted like flour for some reason. I will return for more.
(4)
Bryan M.
Nice outdoor seating, upscale restaurant. Really tasty vegetarian dish; mashed potato with tofu slabs. The staff was pretty attentive. Everyone inside looked well dressed so I think I'd probably come here for a nice dinner rather than just a regular dinner. But the food was great and it was a nice venue.
(4)
Noland H.
This place rocks! The margarita is strong. Will put hair on your chest.
(5)
Ali G.
Really adorable place. The food did take a very long time to come out, but it was superbly tasty. You have to like salt, because they use alot of it. The clams & mussel appetizer is a must. Vegan style menu, no meats. Very hippie like atmosphere, very neat artwork on the walls.
(4)
R. H.
We had a really great evening here. I don't tend to enjoy places that don't take reservations, especially if it requires a long wait, but we managed nicely in the bar while we waited the 45 minutes or hour for a table. By that time we were enjoying cocktails that were mighty fine. The wait for the table was worth it. We had a nice, cozy, dark intimate table and the food was really good. The old house that the restaurant is in is also very interesting (the bar is in a more recent addition and has a large patio off it that would be nice during the dry season). The entire experience was good, though I'd still like to be able to make a reservation...
(4)
maya g.
Great atmosphere and food. The bar is fun (really good cocktails!). Romantic lighting and creative menu. Went for my birthday and loved it!
This place is very cozy and I adore it. The food is different from my usual taste buds craving, but it's very satisfying. The bartender can fix up a refreshing fresh fruit non alcoholic beverage too!
(4)
Sue M.
Tried this restaurant on a friend's recommendation and absolutely LOVED it! We loved everything about it from the decor and ambiance to the quality of the food. The bread was so addicting!! Had to keep ordering more and even thought about it the next day. The roasted chicken was amazing!! Seriously, everything we tried was really good. Would definitely come here again!!!
(5)
Lauren L.
We went to the Farm Cafe after seeing it featured on the Food Network a while back for having the best veggie burger. And I gotta say they were pretty spot on. The veggie burger was delicious, light, and was served on a heavenly roll. I had a stuffed squash special that was equally as outstanding. What I loved was that both portions were just enough for dinner that you didn't feel so stuffed, and their outdoor patio is perfect for when the weather cooperates. The service was also friendly and they had a surprisingly large wine list.
(5)
Yan Biao B.
tuna was delightful nom nom nom nom nom nom
(5)
Michael Paul C.
Yelp comes through again. Upon landing in Portland a few nights ago, I knew I'd rather venture out into the city for some local grub than settle for expensive hotel food that's just mediocre. The journey to and through Farm Cafe pleasantly introduced me Portland and what it's all about. Located in a hipster neighborhood, it was obvious that the young and free roamed the night and owned this part of town. Being green is punctuated by dedicating mile after mile of bike lanes, and recycle bins glaring on every corner. While the restaurant was subdued from the outside, the inside was nothing short of impressive. Sustainability emanates from all angles. Reclaimed wood paneling. Dim energy-efficient lighting. Oh, and they only use local ingredients in their dishes, capping off a smaller overall carbon footprint. Nice. The bartenders genuinely love their job and it showed. By the time the fully recycled menu made it's way into my hands, I could have eaten an entire cow. I ordered the Arugula Pear Salad for $8. This consisted of fresh arugula greens tossed with sliced pear, Gorgonzola cheese, candied walnuts, and apple cider vinaigrette. This is no small appetizer and was definitely a hefty portion. My only complaint is that this was too much, and that isn't always a bad thing. My entree was the Herb Crusted Tofu with Mushrooms Marsala for $13. I was a bit skeptical for not having any real protein (red meat) in my main dish, but this was a highly regarded and recommended dish. It consisted of breaded and herbed tofu cutlets with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and crimini mushroom Marsala. Good dish overall, but a bit over hyped. A smooth glass of Pinot Nior complemented my dishes perfectly... and set me up for an awesome ride in the Mustang GT, through the winding roads from Portland into Hillsboro, on that cool calm night.
(4)
Jav V.
Everything was great from start to finish (except the host who kinda just stared at us waiting for US to do something when we walked in). The roasted garlic appetizer was so good. I had roasted chicken with green beans and mashed potatoes. Everything was perfect. For dessert, we had chocolate souflee with coffee ice cream. The service was good. I like the atmosphere, though it did start to get loud as the place filled up.
(5)
Christen M.
This place is a little too expensive for me to want to go to on a regular basis, but the food and atmosphere make it perfect for a special occasion. What the other reviewers say is true -- meat-eaters won't miss the meat, and vegetarians will be in heaven. I had some tofu cutlet-style thing (thanks, useless memory) with mashed potatoes -- spicy, rich and just heavenly. The drinks were also fantastic. The service was just a little slower than we wanted it to be when we wanted a second drink. We also ended up sitting a bit too close to another table (almost the long-table-style arrangement you find at the Montage at the Tin Shed, though there are several more private tables) and rather than become Best Buddies with the people next to us, as sometimes happens at the aforementioned establishments, we found ourselves irritated by them. Very upscale, very uninteresting, very loud-talking folks. Not the Farm's fault I know, but if I go again I'm going to insist on a table with more privacy and quiet.
(4)
Adrian R.
This was the best meal that I had when I visited Portland. Me and my wife went there after hearing a few good things about it when we visited and we both walked out wishing we had something like this where we lived. The service was quality. Little slow at times but something about the place had conversation flowing like crazy so we didn't really notice. We got a cheese platter as a starter and was impressed with the quality of the cheeses that we got. My wife ordered the Asparagus Ravioli and was blown away. She kept raving about it for days later. As for me the Potato Dumplings were one of the best things that I've ever had. In fact I'm craving them just writing about this. The sauce was creamy and delicious. We ended up splitting the cheesecake for desert which was lite and fluffy the way cheesecake should be. We love this place and will be back the next time we're in Portland.
(4)
Samantha H.
This was worth the wait. We just put our names in and walked around the corner to the Doug Fir for got a couple drinks. This made the time fly by and the bar was cool. I ordered the gnocchi with sweet potato and Dave got a fish dish. The food was amazing and the restaurant was pretty packed but it didn't take away from experience. Its a must!
(5)
kristen p.
Oh, I just love this place! Very tasty, well thought out, fresh and, I'm not sure if I have the authority to say this but, gourmet? I had a vegetarian pot pie that was on special, so good! I've also never found a better garden burger in life. It's worth the $10. I didn't try the fish, but it looked very good. Get's a bit crowded.
(5)
Courtney D.
Eating on the farm Although this is known for being an awesome vegetarian spot, they also have a great selection of fish on the menu. I loved their halibut, which comes griled with a yummy citrus sauce and my favorite side, basmati rice. What makes this place stand out, though, especially in its urban setting, is it's charming atmosphere. It's a converted old farmhouse with a unbelievable charming front deck and heated patio for outside dining. It's hard to beat a good cafe where you can eat out on the deck. But if it's a cold night, it's equally charming inside with its candlelit setting. It's a great spot for date night or a cozy place to have a good chat with your girlfriend. Tip: All their food is made with fresh, organic ingredients, so if you're into healthy eating, this place is a great pick.
(4)
Brad C.
For being a 'vegetarian' place they serve alot of fish. Me and the finance went in for a late night snack and it was amazing. Maybe some of the best food I had while in Portland. I wish I would of been hungrier so I could of tried more. Price was fine and we had no wait (Sunday at 10pm). I wish there was a Farm Cafe in Chicago!
(4)
jenny v.
Best meal I had in Portland! The food was fresh and bursting with flavor. I had the goat cheese ravioli, blood orange margarita, and blueberry cobbler. It was one of the tastiest meals I've had in a long time. The prices are moderate (actually cheap by NYC standards).
(4)
David M.
WOW. Amazing menu. Fresh food bursting with flavor. This is one of my favorite restaurants. The recent renovation has expanded the dining room, which was highly needed because of long lines of eager eaters waiting to dine (although I miss the old bar!). Th new outdoor seating space is fantastic. Don't miss the chocolate souffle for dessert!
(5)
William P.
Have to take it down one star for the too-glossy renovation which took a cozy homegrown atmosphere and made it overly spacious and, well, schizophrenic. Not to mention the apparently overwhelmed waitstaff in the back room. The cuisine is still first-rate, thankfully.
(4)
Caroline R.
I love Farm. It's one of my favorites for reliably delicious vegetarian food. Once I did notice the food was over-salted, but otherwise that hasn't been an issue for me. Yummy, friendly, relaxed but pleasant atmosphere. I like sitting in the bar area for HH.
(5)
S A R A H.
Food, environment and service are all spot on, down to the wild sprigs of plants in the table vases. We ordered the risotto and tuna on kale which we shared. They entrees were delicious alone and even better tasting when mixed with the other one. Wine and beer choices are excellent. Overall it's a lovely place and the food is top notch without the snobbery.
(5)
Natalie B.
I'm a big fan of the Farm. It is probably one of my three favorite Portland dinner restaurants. Things you should try: the brie appetizer with seasonal fruit and simple syrup, the tofu and mashed potatoes with mushrooms YUM!, and, drumroll please... the AMAZING sunken chocolate soufle with espresso ice cream. This is one of best best best desserts I have ever encountered and they bake it to order. Seriously, what could be better? Add to all of this that the Farm is in a teeny little farmhouse surrounded by big brick buildings on Burnside, and you have a really really funky and cozy and wonderful dining experience for surprisingly few dollars. Yum.
(5)
Ken N.
I came to Farm with high expectations because of all the 5 star reviews. I was not disappointed at all. The food was so good. The bread was amazing. I can't wait to go back. I'm not a vegetarian but the garden burgers were awesome.
(5)
Charles N.
Terrific place - especially good for late night dining (not after hours, however) and it's worth going to just for an after concert house-made veggie burger, which I feel (as a carnivore) is just as satisfying as the moo-made alternative. Since I play in the symphony, I tend to hit the joint around 10:30 or Sunday or Monday night, and it's not a wait to get a table unless it's a nice summer evening, but then sitting on the deck in the back with a nice drink makes the time fly by anyway. Highly recommended!
(5)
Tracy B.
I've been to the Farm multiple times. If you love cheese and especially goat cheese they feature cheese highly on the menu. The cheeseball is covered in hazel nuts and to die for. We've had the goat cheese ravioli twice and it's amazing, fresh home-made pasta! I tried the polenta lasagna and was a bit dissapointed because it was too salty. The service here has never been above and beyond outstanding, they are a bit slow, but that's typical SE Portland dining so you live with it. The bar is beautiful!
(4)
Robert D.
Nice place. Waited forever for a table even though we had a reservation. I ordered the Pan Fried Idaho Trout. It was fried in sea salt, but I had to peal the skin off to be able to eat it. Otherwise it just tasted like salt. They put the fish on top of the rice and vegetable sides, which made them salty as well, which was not good. The menu said it came with a side of grilled veggies, which turned out to be just a few spears of asparagus and several large onions. Not what I had in mind. So the main course was hugely disappointing for the $19 they charged for it. My friend ordered the same thing, and when he complained to the waiter about it, they actually comped his entree which was nice. Others in our group were very happy with what they had. So it seems that it was just the trout was sub par. I ordered the strawberry tiramisu for dessert, and it was absolutely amazing. Cocktails were good too.
(2)
Shelly C.
Wow- a great meal, subtle well combined flavors and interesting dishes. The thing I was most amazed about though? A couple of mess ups with our order were quickly rectified and taken off the bill with much apology. It's so rare any business does that anymore, and rather than souring our experience at all, we are looking forward to the next visit!
(4)
Dustin B.
once you get past the smell of hippie (patculli-marinated BO with a hint of dirt), this place is fantastic. it's trendy, in a we're-not-trying-at-all-but-we're-actually-trying-Âpretty-hard kind of way, which means that casual clothing is a must -- you'd be judged by a room full of people who "don't judge" otherwise. despite the attitude of the patrons, the food is fresh, local and unpretentious. the wine list is totally reasonable and decent, and the prices are suitable for the quality. things that bugged me: 1. they don't take reservations (i chalk this up to the trying/not-trying attitude of the place), so you'll have to wait for a table. 2. while you're waiting, there's nothing to do -- the bar is too small to hold many people, and restaurants/bars nearby are just as crowded 3. someone at the restaurant parked a PT Cruiser outside. WTF? I don't care how many days it's been since you showered, you can't eat at organic/gourmet/hippie places and roll in a PT Cruiser.
(5)
Claire K.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the excessive amount of salt used, especially in the roasted chicken dish my daughter ordered. Overall, we loved everything we ordered and the chocolate souffle and mascarpone cheesecake desserts were fabulous.
(4)
Jes P.
I do believe this is one of my new favorites in town. Last week my co-worker and I decided on Wednesday that our week had already been far too long and decided to have a mid-week event- such event being a 3 hour sit down at the Farm Cafe. We started out with a bottle of Patricia Green Pinot Noir. Delicious and light- the perfect Pinot for any meal. We had the Baked Brie with sugared hazelnuts and apple slices baked right in- yum. Then the salad with breaded and pan fried chevre- double yum. Next up were the entrees- we split the salmon with braised greens and grit cakes (similar to polenta but slightly sweeter). Both the sides were delicious, but the salmon was a little over salted. You can always take more salt but you can't take it away. By this point our co-workers husband joined us and he ordered the crab risotto. It was very tasty although we all decided the risotto was a little too al dente. Finally, we ended the evening with lattes and dessert. The lattes were perfection. And the Chocolate Souffle Cake? Oh my, my. Baked fresh when you order and just perfect. Right up there with the Steamed Chocolate Pudding Cake at Paley's. I now have my two official favorite for chocolate dessert in town. (Favorite non-chocolate dessert: Cheesecake with Strawberries at Rose's deli.) The selection was excellent. Definitely a focus on vegetarian meals with some seafood. Another plus for me is that the Farm Cafe focuses on local and seasonal food. This always brings more flavor and better quality to the table, and supports the local economy to boot. Speaking of, I'm headed out on this beautiful Saturday morning to hit the farmer's market and visit my local plant nursery. Cheers!
(5)
stykkisholmur t.
meh. we walked in on a friday night fairly early and only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. we ordered two glasses of wine that were listed on the specials board. they were just so-so. we ordered three appetizers: hazelnuts with brown sugar and chili (yum- our favorite), heirloom tomato salad (oversalted- yuck!), and a cheese plate (just alright-- the fruit that came with it could have been better). for the entree, i got the crusted tofu which was good but not amazing, and my husband got the corn/blue cheese risotto which he liked but i wasn't too crazy about. overall, i felt like the seasoning was off and that the produce could have been better. not sure what the fuss is about.
(3)
Francesca J.
We didn't have to wait for a seat which was really nice. But what was really REALLY nice was the food. The drink menu made me chuckle...tango tarts & super wonderfuls anyone? The edamame was standard but good, and the roasted garlic appetizer with Ken's artisan bread was delish. What really did me in was the dungeoness crab risotto...cooked PERFECTLY and expertly blended with blue cheese. Yum. My friends had petrale sole cooked in parchment with brussel sprouts, polenta, and butternut squash...also very impressive. Dessert was some amazing chocolate cake (I don't really like chocolate cake, but the coffee ice cream on top made this one totally edible) and a cheesecake with dulce de leche and pecans. To die for! We sat and chatted over our meal for quite some time and didn't feel rushed out. As TQ pointed out, the waitress was perfectly unnoticable. She was right there to take our orders and check on the food, but did not hover whatsoever. A little pricey to frequent regularly, but a great place for a special night.
(5)
Natalie G.
Can we talk? Good. Okay first things first - the wait was pretty bonkers and the hostess might have been frazzled or might have just not liked us but whatever the reason she failed to inform us of the delightful heated patio where drinks are served for those waiting to be seated. So instead we have to go to a HORRIBLY lame "lounge" up the street to grab a drink. We are eventually offered a table outside..in the cold..with no heater or we are offered to continue waiting for a table inside (though if we take the table outside we would not be moved inside - an hour and half we have waited thus far - spiffy, eh?). We are hungry and have a show to go to so we agree we will just sit outside. We order and the food is rockin. The garlic is roasted to perfection, the baked brie was not what I expected (and also a bit young for my liking) but still very good, and the cheeseball was also a bit more tame than I was hoping but enjoyable none the less. Onto the main course(s)...okay so I'm totally getting married. That's right you are the first to hear Tofu Marsala and I are engaged. This dish is ridiculously good. And the Gnocchi with Porcinis is going to be my not so secret lover. So all and all the staff was full of blunders and disappointments but that food was rockin. 4 stars for food 1 for service. Also a member of our party has sustained an injury and we request a pint of ice so that she might refill her ice pack..it never came. We had to ask again at the end of the meal. "Oops"
(4)
Izabella d.
a small cozy house, four hungry bellies. started with the mussels and clams, cooked in some crazy tasty butter and garlic sauce,, the cheese ball on fresh warm bread... could have easily ordered the roasted figs as well. many good choices for starters. waited for the entrees. drank the good wine. crazy moist, juicy chicken glazed in a sweet berry sauce, somewhat boring sides of plain rice. simple goat cheese ravioli, pure tomato essence in the sauce. crazy light fluffy buttermilk cake, topped with fresh whipped cream,, hot hot chocolate cake with coffee ice cream. yuuum. not the cheapest, but it hits home.
(4)
eve a.
The cocktail I had deserves a 5 star rating: gin, st. germain, and orange bitters...it was delicious! Moving on, the butternut squash soup was odd. Couldn't figure out what it tasted like, then it hit me: it tasted like bitters, the kind you put in your cocktail. The goat cheese salad was okay, nothing special. The new bar and outdoor area were great, serve good. All and all, a great place for drinks and appetizers. Will try it again soon for dinner.
(4)
Lana R.
The veggie burger lived up to its reputation and the pasta dishes were delicious. Very pleasant atmosphere in a lovely old home.
(4)
Jenny G.
I went once with a friend. We got there early so had no wait. The food was amazing!
(5)
Kim B.
Holy hell, the tofu and mashed potatoes dish is so good it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. If I lived in Portland, I would eat that dish at least weekly, no doubt. I recommended this place to an omni friend and his mother and they loved it as well. The ambiance is great, the staff friendly and the wait is never long.
(5)
marc c.
Ive been eating here since it opened. I have waited many years to write this review. It is always good. The food is great. The bar is great. The patio is great. Well done farm!
(5)
Libby G.
Fantastic Food. Service is variable. If the service was consistent I'd give it 5 stars...
(4)
Adam G.
Farm is one of the tiny jewels in the Portland restaurant scene. Great local organic food, homey atmosphere, affordable prices. (especially the wine: when was the last time you paid $13 a bottle for a good bottle of wine at a restaurant). The converted 1880's farmhouse is an intimate, quaint setting in the middle of downtown Portland. The warm of the leather chairs, handmade bar bathed in candle light extends to their wait staff as well who have always been personable and happy to offer honest suggestions. The great thing about Farm is the local exhibition of Oregon products. It has one of the most balanced menus featuring poultry, meat, pasta and an assortment of vegetarian and vegan dishes. While I personally am not a vegetarian or vegan, I like a restaurant that takes care to not just slap some vegetables together as their token veggie dish. I think is speaks volumes to how they care for the entire menu. Given that the season is upon us, I imagine they will be featuring their pumpkin ravioli which is wonderfully unique. They also have an eggplant veggie burger is better than any veggie burger I've tried (note: limited experience here :-) ). I have never gone wrong with either their halibut or their trout. And for dessert do the cheesecake, the chocolate souffl is good as well, but let your company order that one. One thing I will say though is that this is a small establishment so their service is best early in the evening. If you get there at prime time you may be waiting, especially on the weekends. Also, after you are done, if you are looking to continue your evening just go up a block to Doug Fir, fun little bar that usually has live music in the downstairs.
(4)
Coral C.
It was a bit of a wait on a Monday night for 5 of us, but there was space at the bar, so it wasn't too much of an issue. It gave us a chance to narrow down our dinner choices, which wasn't an easy thing, because everything sounded so good. And while the service was disappointing once we got to the table, the food more than made up for it. We brought some out of town guests to give it a try, but it'll be a regular dining spot for me and the husband for sure.
(5)
Stephanie C.
super cozy and warm. love l'ambiance! food was awesome. got seafood risotto (great flavor and texture! not too thick). butternut ravioli had lotsa hazelnuts and a lil spice. awesome brown butter flavor. also got the mushroom appetizer. everything delish! again, what a cute place!
(5)
Morgan B.
Delicious dinner and out of this world desserts!
(4)
Anna L.
While the food was good, it wasn't outstanding. The prices were generally $2 too high and the server was pretentious, which is just about my least favorite 'bad waiter trait' to have to deal with.
(3)
Kylie S.
This place was great. I came with friends for my birthday (so I had high expectations!) It has a very unassuming exterior--I've overlooked it many times because it does not look like a restaurant. And I have no idea why they call it the Farm--the name really doesn't fit . Inside it is cozy and casually elegant. There wasn't a table available when we arrived, so we got to sit on their heated back porch and drink martinis (excellent martinis if you tell the bartender exactly how you like them) The wait wasn't too long for a table--there was a long wait for the food but we had bread and wine and the food was great when it arrived. To be honest, I liked what everybody else ordered better than what I ordered (the herb crusted tofu.) Next time I go, I'll probably get the squash ravioli or the salmon dish. Still it was a great birthday experience and there will definitely be a next time!
(4)
Kate S.
Went on a Thursday night and only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. They have a nice heated patio out back. We had a caramelized onion and goat cheese tart that was really good. I liked the artwork (longboard decks painted with shipwreck scenes) and the cute victorian house. And I think our bill was only $40 or so? Can't really remember, but it wasn't expensive at all. Planning on going again soon.
(5)
Violet T.
I went to the Farm Cafe last night for a birthday dinner and for the most part this place was great! The cheesball appetizer was fabulous! The wine we had was great, and somewhat reasonably priced. I have two reasons why this place didn't get 5 stars, 1st, the waitress accidentally broke the bottle off a glass filled with wine, the whole glass did not come crashing down, but enough spilled out that I had a couple stains left on my skirt, she gave me soda water and a rag that smelled like cleaner. If she would have credited us an appetizer or got me an extra glass of wine, I wouldn't have given this another thought. 2nd, my dish wasn't all that fantastic, I had the goat cheese ravioli, it was good, but not that good. The sauce was a little bland. However, all of the other dishes at the table were fabulous. My favorite tasted dish was the Grilled Corn and Smoky Blue Risotto, it tickled my taste buds. The desserts were pretty good as well. All in all, this is a really nice restaurant, and I would recommend it to a friend.
(4)
Ryan L.
Rarely do you find a restaurant with such delicious food for such reasonable prices. Everything about the dining experience was top-notch, from the heated patio replete with wine (automatically added to our eventual bill) to the modestly sized (yet wonderfully flavored) entrees. Everything we tasted was delicious, and we will certainly be back. Plus, they use local ingredients - what's not to love! The only potential drawback is that the waitstaff is atypical in that they do not check in every 15 minutes to ensure that our experience is a good one (and thereby ruin the very experience they mean to enhance). I quite prefer to enjoy my dining companion's company, not my waiter's, and so we didn't mind this laid back attitude, though others might.
(4)
cynthia t.
The Farm is great for late-night dining (open till 11:30, making them a rare gem by Portland standards!) They seem to vary their menu with the best of what's seasonal and regional although one of their stand-by's happens to my personal favorite: the Herb-crusted Tofu with Mushroom Marsala Mashed Potatoes. They also score big on ambiance, as it's very compact and cozy. During the summer, there's outdoor seating but overall the restaurant is small, so expect a wait if you come during peak dining hours! OR entertain yourself with a mixed drink from their bar. REALLY good!
(5)
Reece D.
Fantastic food. Their watermelon gazpacho is amazing. This is a very tiny restaurant, so be prepared to come early to a get a table.
(5)
Boll W.
Do you have someone in from out of town? Do you have a business deal you need to seal? Do you have a special someone you would really like to impress? Then possibly look no further than The Farm. This is definitely one of my go to spots in Portland. Tucked inside a cute little house that is towered over by the Viceroy Ballroom and a little pushed in from Burnside is a great restaurant(and often overlooked bar). Their menu isn't extensive but it is filled with ingredients from local farmers that are fresh from the field daily. The ravioli is divine, the roasted hazelnuts(or filberts if you're Oregonian) are the perfect starter, the Gnocchi is just about perfect and the herb crusted tofu is full of flavor. One thing I think gets overlooked at this fine establishment are their drinks. The bartender never fails to deliver me a top notch mixed drink. I don't think I've ever been questionable of the tender on any of the drinks I've had here. That says a lot. I never have to wait for my drink to water itself down and I never have to ask for "more alcohol". I like to make sure I visit here every once in a while to savor the flavor and look forward to my return every time. I just don't necessarily look forward to the wait to be seated(the place is kinda small). But, I do look forward to the divine drinks and food!
(5)
marilyn g.
Menu selection was excellent from pasta dishes to seafood to chicken. We started with the broccoli fritters which were cooked perfectly and would make even an non broccoli eater pleased. My dish was the shitake mushroom lasagna with green salad, it was just right, you could really taste the vegetables, not just the cheese and sauce. The atmosphere of the Farm Cafe was very calm and inviting and I really enjoyed our server's friendliness, attentiveness and professionalism. I would definitely go here again, especially if I'm eating out with a vegetarian who wants a lot of different food choices.
(5)
Doug and Anna W.
Absolutely amazing! The Brie appetizer and blackened salmon were to die for. Great place in a comfy house environment. Will definitely come again!
(5)
syrus f.
This place didn't take reservation for party less than 6 people. And this was the last restaurant we tried before heading to PDX. So we arrived at 4:50pm (they open at 5pm). We waited a little and they opened right on the dot. We were the first one in. Not long after, more and more people showed up and within an hour or so, this whole place was packed. We planned to have dinner here but instead, we ordered everything on the Happy Hour menu (which we did not know about from the research we did prior). The mussels/clams were excellently good. The white wine sauce was so powerful (but not overwhelming) where I just wanted to slurp the sauce away afterward. We also had the corn fritters with green tomatoes sauce, crab cake, soup and hot wings .... I also asked if they had any fruity drink and my waitress came back with a drink called "fruit concussion". It was a simple strawberry/lime fruit drink that tasted so goooood.. I seriously didn't know what they put in their food and drinks, but whatever it was, I loved it...
(5)
Matt S.
Only went here once so far, but wasn't blown away. Had a pasta dish that wasn't very memorable. Snacked on some appetizer someone else ordered and wasn't blown away by that, either. Just sat at the bar. Nice enough place and probably worth a second attempt at some point. But in a food town, Farm didn't impress on my first trip.
(3)
Andrew S.
My wife and I tried Farm Cafe during a recent visit to Portland. Flavorful food, delightful service, all served up in a pleasant atmosphere. We sat on the still under construction deck, which is probably done by now. Highlights included the cheese plate and halibut.
(4)
Eric A.
This is now a mandatory entry in our "where to take visitors to in pdx". Every entree I've had has been between good and incredible, and the Brie in fruit sauce appetizer is not to be missed. Cozy atmosphere, loud but not too loud to hold a conversation. Wait time can be long sometimes, but there's good beer to be had while you do so, at either the bar or tables out back if you've brought a large group.
(5)
Tapatio S.
At first the place felt a bit too small/claustrophobic and dark, but the food was great as expected. The fish dishes were spot on, and the cheeseball appetizer was delicious.
(5)
amanda r.
De-lish. They seem to put hazelnuts on everything, which is okay with me. The servers were helpful but stayed out of your face. Everyone's dish was good but it's really the atmosphere that makes you all warm & fuzzy. Perfect to warm your heart in that wet, cold, (Port) land.
(5)
Sarah L.
Great service, great food. We have been twice since we moved to Portland in November and both outings were fantastic. On our recent visit Sunday evening we had 2 friends from out of town who are total food geeks like us, and they loved it as well. Oh and as a bonus, it is very well priced! We did not get there until after 9 on a holiday weekend, when the waiter announced they were out of several things I was a bit nervous. However, everything worked out great and there were no disappointments! Give it a try if you have not done so yet!!
warning - this place is PRICEY. good and sustainable and all that. but you pay for it. wowza.
(3)
Maria L.
A great vegetarian-friendly restaurant with delicious gnocchi. Attentive but laid-back service, relaxed atmosphere. We tried the Splendor red wine blend and I loved it. The servers were great with my 11-year-old son and he loved their tofu marsala.
(5)
Kelly M.
Farm is my favorite restaurant in the city. I crave their tofu marsala on an (almost) daily basis, and will put up with any ungodly amount of waiting time to devour it. The brown-sugar and tabasco sauce roasted hazlenuts are amazing, and I'm guessing that everything else on their menu is great too. I love that it's in a converted house and uses all local fresh ingredients. Nothing to complain about with Farm. I love it.
(5)
Greg B.
Incredible food & casual atmosphere. I was pleasantly surprised that a combination of vegetarian dishes could be so fulfilling. We mixed soups, salads, beers and cheese dishes to create a great healthy meal under $40. Great place to take a date, as the service was friendly and prompt.
(5)
Eli R.
Extremely mediocre... I had the crab risotto with blue cheese, which seemed like something I threw together in the kitchen. It was decent, but not what I would expect for the price in this town. The ambiance was very nice, however, they seated us by the door which was pretty chilly - again, for a place which is supposed to be fairly nice, not so great.
(2)
Brenna S.
Vegetarian food never tasted so good! For strict vegetarians, or those who just enjoy a tasty meal, The Farm has much to offer. Featuring creative vegetarian takes on traditional dishes, an extensive wine list, and lavish desserts, this little house of a restaurant holds an ample gourmet experience. Tucked away off of East Burnside, The Farm is an idealistic setting for a romantic night out. Try the Tofu Marsala... you won't miss the chicken one bit!
(4)
kate m.
We're just back from a really great dinner at The Farm Cafe. We had to wait about an hour for a table for two, but there were great cocktails and a patio area out back to occupy our time. They even have heaters back there so it was nice and cozy. My only complaint is that the service isn't the fastest. It's not the slowest either. The food was oh so good. We had the sauteed mushrooms, the blueberry salad, the tuna and the gnocchi. All of it was prepared well and very yummy. Oh and also the molten chocolate cake with coffee ice cream for dessert. The restaurant itself is very nice inside, small and intimate with dim lighting and fun art on the walls. I'm sure we'll be back!
(4)
snood s.
Had a really great dining experience here. For some reason going into it I felt skeptical. We had an amazing salmon with caramelized leeks and a dreamy, melt-in-mouth ricotta ravioli with lemon accents. The desserts were good but I could have easily skipped them ... it was the main courses that made this meal so memorable. Good service. Highly recommended and I look forward to returning when I have some extra dough.
(5)
Keith F.
Wonderful dinner of corn & bleu cheese risotto. I arrived early, and was promptly seated (and offered reading material (!)), though the place filled up by the time I left (7:30pm). The menu was short, as I expected, and included a number of fish dishes. My wine was pleasant, if pricey & the chocolate souffle was perfect.
(5)
Hillary B.
I remember being sadly disappointed in my meal at The Farm Cafe. I did not finish my cup of the soup of the day, as it was overpowered by onion and cilantro, which should complement the flavor, not be the flavor. The edamame was good, but it's cheaper to boil and salt that at home. The ravioli sauce was not inspiring, not to mention that there was much goat cheese in the dish. To top it off, the pasta of the ravioli was almost rubbery. The food wasn't all bad. It just was, which is hardly the result one wants when trying to visit a fun, new place. Try it once if you want to, but also try some of the other good places on the Eastside. Oh...and be careful of the charge for splitting the bill when paying by card.
(2)
Dawn M.
Very nice servers, great food. Love the setting and patio.
(5)
J. S.
This was our first visit to The Farm since its renovation. We were impressed with the new space. We have mixed feelings about our visit. There were 4 of us. We placed our order and included some bread, which we didn't receive for 25 minutes. It took about 40 minutes to get our meals and even then one of the dishes took another 10 minutes. The food was mostly good, although the ravioli was minimal in size for the price. Just so so.
(3)
April C.
oh, farm..i do love farm... i was very, very skeptical about 'tofu marsala' but oh, my, it's amazing - though sometimes a bit salty. the hazelnuts (rosemary/honey or maple, i think) are awesome. the place itself is adorable (very creative use of an old mattress as a wine rack; cute) in a not-too-shabby-chic way, and the waitstaff has always been knowledgeable and attentive no matter how packed. if not crazy busy, and you can get a small table off to the side, it's a darling little date place.
(4)
C. R.
We had a decent experience here and I definitely would like to go back for a second try. The atmosphere is great, although we made the mistake of bringing a cranky toddler with us, so we spent most of the time trying to not ruin everyone else's nice atmosphere. That may be why it seemed like forever before we got our food. When we did, my tofu and mashed potatoes were a bit cold, but my husbands gnocchi was fine. The tofu was good although bordering on too salty, and the taters could have been creamier. Not sure what kind of potatoes they used, but they were a bit too watery for mashed potatoes. Our appetizer, a black-eye pea croquette was delicious, and the drinks were tasty so all in all it was a good experience. Next time we'll get a babysitter!
(3)
Nick B.
One of our favorite vegetarian restaurants to hit when we're feeling a little fancy. Baked brie and trout is rockin' and you can't really go wrong with any of their fare.
(5)
Kalindi T.
This vegetarian delight promises to do just that! They do serve fish stuff for those that can't live with Tofu, but man alive do they kick that tofu into sublime submission with their Mushroom Tofu Marsala! The baked Brie is delish. They've got a great bar with fantastic and creative drinks. It's bitty so expect a little bit of a wait, but it will be well worth every minute.
(5)
Sarah T.
i love the farm cafe. the food, the staff, everything. i always get the marinated mushrooms to start (the broth is really rich, it's nice to soak the bread in it). last time i went i had the corn gnocchi, which was amazing! it was in a kind of corn chowder broth, with tomatoes and blue cheese. the flavors and textures were really good together. we couldn't decide on one dessert to share, so we had to get two--we got the cheesecake with caramel sauce and the peach crumble with vanilla ice cream. everything was absolutely perfect, i could not have wished for any changes.
(5)
B'ma S.
i had heard about this place from a friend who was super-excited about trying it out. so i went to see what the hype was about and was not very impressed. don't get me wrong, the food was good but a little on the steep side, i like good food with good prices too! we ordered the roasted garlic for app, it was delish! then we had the tofu marsala and the vegi burger, tasted great! only giving three stars because i wish they had more to choose from and the cost was a little on the high side...you should try it at least once!
(3)
Aaron L.
There is a common conception of vegetarian cuisine, which is not entirely untrue, that it consists entirely of faux-this and faux-that, wants-to-be-meat-this and wants-to-be-cheese-that. Sure, there is a lot of that out there, and it is not necessarily without merit. Farm, however, is of the rare breed of vegetarian establishments that does NOT seem to subscribe to the imitation-omnivorous-dishes approach. I have only visited this establishment once, unfortunately unable to revisit it on my most recent trip to Portland, but I look forward to returning upon my next. The meal made such an impact on my entire party, that I feel the need to give it a positive review even now, several years later... To put it very simply, everything on our plates was delectably divine, fresh, delicious, and wildly original... Just look at the cuisine contained in the photographs on this Yelp listing! Fancy-schmancy vegetarian gourmet hooplah! I don't remember the food being cheap, but I do remember feeling as though it was well-worth every penny... I look forward to being dazzled by Farm at least ONCE more in the future...
(4)
Gveve C.
small overly expensive food and terrible service. never will i ever go there again
(1)
Sara G.
This was one of the most delicious, fresh meals I have had in ages. Farm Cafe is in a restored Victorian house right on the corner of Southeast 7th & Burnside, just right for browsing at the cute vintage stores on Burnside before the restaurant opens at 5 pm. My boyfriend and I went nice and early to avoid waiting for a table, but since it was Monday night, we ended up sitting in a mostly empty restaurant the majority of the evening. The atmosphere is the reason this review is only five star- the emptiness of the restaurant left something to be desired in my people-watcher's heart. Sitting at the bar usually fills that void, but it had the total impression of being dominated by the staff and a couple of their friends- we watched our server as well as the bartender, a cook, and the other server linger on the barstools and graze on different plates. Not in an unprofessional manner, just a casual one, but it definitely made sitting at the bar an unattractive option. Anyway, the important part of this visit was the food. YUM! The cheese plate was delicious, if a little on the scant side portion-wise, and the bread from Ken's was perfect. We ordered a couple glasses of wine that were reasonably priced and delicious, as well as two entrees- a wild mushroom and grilled polenta special, and the gnocchi. Both dishes were perfectly sized, rich enough to feel indulgent, and full of flavor. The mushroom/polenta dish was just a little spicy. Again- YUM! Service was perfect, not hover-y in the slightest but very prompt and pleasant. Our bill came to $60 pre-tip, which seemed very reasonable for what we enjoyed. If it had been a more active night in the place, this would be a five star review; maybe I should learn to deal with my aversion to waiting for a table and go on a busier night. And hooray for a parking lot!
(4)
Jill G.
Have been going to the Farm for 5 years now. It is always consistently tasty and friendly. Excellent cocktails too!
(5)
Jenine R.
though the name "farm cafe" can lead to false presumptions, it is a quaint restaurant with lots of personality. its perfect for a date or a tourist who wants to really get the taste of oregon, literally. all of the food is home grown and this makes for a really nice environment. the wine selection was really impressive but what got me was... the cod, yummmmm!!! go get it guys!!!
(5)
amanda l.
the farm cafe is my favorite restaurant in portland and the farmhouse veggieburger is the best ever. the baked brie is superyummy too. i always bring out of town vegetarian guests here. 5 hearts!
(5)
Mollie M.
Fabulous vegetarian (and fish) restaurant. Had a bit of a wait, so my friend and i saddled up to the bar for a couple of cocktails. The Bloody Beet Mary was probably the best bloody mary i've had. A cozy restaurant, very atmospheric, with a feeling like you could be there for hours (which we were). We shared the beet and goat cheese capricio and the cheese plate as appetizers. I ordered the house smoked salmon raviolis, while my friend had the wild mushroom gnocci. Both were scrumptious! Actually everything was good except for the service. As an experienced waitress, i got the feeling that it was one of his first nights waiting tables, but maybe im just giving him the benefit of the doubt. Didnt know the menu well, didnt know what cheeses came on the cheese plate (and bullshitted his way through it-- i would have rathered he took a minute to actually find out), and merely plopped our plates on our table and scurried off with out even an "enjoy". I didnt let his frazzledness taint the delicious meal, but it will cost my review a star.
(4)
JC R.
Remember that movie where that guy spends way too much time making a MASHED POTATO MOUNTAIN? You know 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'? I think they've got him in the back making the food. And some aliens too, as that mashed potato mountain dish they made me is freaking out-of-this-world delicious. Go here with a close friend, or someone who will soon be a "very close friend" as it's quite intimate and charming. It's pretty much like you're been invited to a carefully thought out private at-home dinner, with someone who's a good cook and spent all day getting ingredients at the farmer's market and..... probably wants to get in your pants i.e. a 'Close Encounter with their Third Leg' and you're not opposed to the idea - except well, oh yeah, there's other diners around. But there's no dishes to wash afterwards. Sounds pretty great right? So it's no surprise there's a wait.
(5)
Mike P.
Food is Five Stars. Service is Two Stars. Most rude and aloof wait staff I've ever experienced. I was wearing a hockey jersey because I was headed to a hockey game. Sorry I didn't fit in. Forgive me?
(3)
Alex T.
It was all right. I heard a lot of great things about it, but probably was so over-hyped to me that there was nowhere to go but down. Not that the food isn't good (it's real good), but I wouldn't consider it a go-to restaurant for me. It's always busy though which is a good sign. I'd recommend going there to try it out to see if you like it.
(3)
Jonathan H.
I had a meal by myself at Farm Cafe while traveling for business. I sat in the bar area and had a very friendly waitress and bar tender. I had Cajun Tuna and broccoli fritters. Both were fabulous, and had some great fruity pinot to go with it(something Williamette, but I don't remember exactly), followed up with an after dinner brew. The fish was fresh and tasteful, and the fritters gave the meal enough of a causal feel to make this restaurant feel anything but stuffy.
(5)
Mehul H.
Excellent food and atmosphere.
(5)
Z Z.
I wish I could live at the Farm Cafe. Seriously. I want to be able to wake up and have the food from there are my disposal all day long. The food was fantastic, I think I may be in love with it. Went there last night with a friend who is visiting from NYC. We both loved how the restaurant is spread out over different little rooms in the big ole house. It is just adorable inside...very cozy. Thankfully we got a seat right away, it was pretty crowded, even on a Monday. I was just beside myself with excitement after looking at the menu, there were about ten different things I wanted to order! I started with the vegan leek and apple soup. It was delicious, the apples gave the soup a nice sweet taste which meshed nicely with the leeks. Delicious. I got one of the specials of the day which was this warm brie appetizer that had apples, brie, and hazelnuts in it. They served it warm and with this fresh baked bread from Ken's. So delicious. I loved it. I am such a big fan of any dish that adds apples to it, especially fresh crispy warm apples. So fantastic. I also tried the hummus, which was served with flat bread, olives, and roasted red peppers. So good and a huge portion! Enough for several people, that is for sure. My dining companion also ordered one of the appetizer specials for the day, the crab cakes or some type of fish cakes. She really enjoyed it and really enjoyed her main meal which was the braised greens and toasted pecan stuffed ravioli. I had too much of my own food to deal with to try it but it looked fantastic! Awesome food, I can't wait to go back! I loved it so much. I really enjoyed all of my leftovers today, so delicious. Update: my last visit was a disappointment! they totally had an off night. The edamames were quite good, that made us happy. My husbands mushroom appetizer was quite good (according to him, I didn't try it) and the cheese ball appetizer that I got was good BUT...the hummus was nasty, I think it had gone bad. Seriously, it was so gross. I loved the hummus last time, I wonder what the deal was? They had an asparagus soup which I sampled a taste of and I am glad I asked for a taste prior to ordering it. Ummm, it was a strange salty taste, I wasn't a fan. I won't take a star off now, I will wait and try it again because my other visit was totally a ten star visit.
(5)
Art H.
Back in Portland for business. On a whim, was booked a place at the Jupiter Hotel, an old motel turned mod-punk-rock place. More on that later. Fellow yelpers talk of Farm Cafe, 1 block away. Yes, yum. Really attentive server (Thanks A! Sweet smile!) who helped with the Albacore Tuna special to be more seared than pan fried. It was excellent, served on a veggie dish with crispy beans. I had a small bowl of potato leek soup - tasted fresh, with bits of leek that were a yummy surprise. Totally low key place to have great food, a favorite combination.
(4)
Pamela D.
We were seated immediately at a small table in the middle of the restaurant. Probably the worst table, everyone kept brushing past my husband and it was really uncomfortably cramped. Looked at the menu, nothing really stood out. While we were perusing the menu, no one bothered to check on us. After 15 minutes we left.
(1)
Jennifer M.
Fresh. Local. Delicious. What more could you want?
I love Farm and had a great dinner there last weekend. We were seated on the patio and had cocktails before dinner. I just loooved The Joanna - so refreshing on a hot, humid evening. Our waiter was extremely nice and friendly, the food arrived quickly and everything was just delicious. We shared a cup of black bean & corn soup and a hummus plate for starters and I had a grilled goat cheese salad for main course, my husband had the trout. The trout was very tasty, while the goat cheese salad was just ok - the cheese did not have very much flavor to it and the dressing was kind of bland. I had a glass of local pinot rose with my sald, which was actually a disappointment, waaay too light for my taste. All in all, it was a pleasant experience and we will definitely go back.
(4)
Adam R.
Went here on a Friday night with seven other people and they had a table ready for us in about 25 minutes. While we waited, we sat in the heated back patio area and felt slightly guilty about taking up almost all of the space. They have a great selection of custom made cocktails and impressive wine list. For dinner I had the Herb Crusted Tofu with Mushroom Marsala. My girlfriend had the Dungeness Crab Risotto. Both of these were fantastic. I love tofu and the way they prepared it was perfect, crisp on the outside and slightly firm on the inside. Under the tofu and mushrooms was a layer of delicious mashed potatoes. If you want to try something really different, give the maple whiskey a shot. It tastes like maple syrup and packs a good punch. Even though most of their menu has seafood items on it, which I am not a big fan of, I would definitely come back to try some of their other plates. Come prepared to wait, but you wont be disappointed.
(5)
Nick M.
The Farm is fabulous. Its focus on local and organic with a large vege selection makes it our location of choice for a great meal out. It's also a fantastic place to take non-vegies, because the food is outstanding whether you eat meat or not. The staff are friendly, the atmosphere is fun, and my only quibble is that it would be nice to change the menu up a little more often.
(5)
Chris B.
Stumbled in the first time in 2005 on a recommendation from a stranger (I didn't talk to him long though), and went back again 3 years later. This place is great in a non-showy, quietly confident way. Like Philip Seymour Hoffman. The Farm Cafe is like PSH.
I'm a meat eater, but their eggplant veggie burger was the best burger I've had in a while. The setting is classy and the food is fresh and natural. Great value.
(4)
Steve W.
Oh, man. Giving this 3 stars really sucks. So much promise, so much hope. This is a place that you enter and you want to just give a great big hug. It seems so deserving. The ambiance is so cool...the bar area with the blues music (from the 50s...stuff like Willie Dixon and Howlin' Wolf). The outdoor patio looked really cool. Man, this place has a great vibe! Then the servers came and dashed all hope of this being a great experience. They did everything in their power to suck the stars out of this review. Seriously, the food was great, but a bit overpriced for what you get. Ok, I can deal a bit with that...I am willing to cough up a few more duckets for quality cooking and presentation. But the service! Jeez, what a let down! Rewind: The hostess who seated us was quite nice, but a bit flighty. Served us warm water in a jug with a couple of glasses, which seems to be in vogue with many Portland area restaurants. Fine. But then the main waitress came out (which looks to be one of the owners from what I can see on the Internet). She acted a bit snooty from the get-go. She asks what we want to drink. I order 7-Up, the wife orders root beer. The root beer comes with a glass with ice in it...interesting. I guess more people are using ice for root beer nowadays than water...I must be getting old. Anyhoo, when she comes back for us to order, my wife orders the trout and I order the manicotti...well, except I was then told (rather abruptly) that they were out. What else would I like? Well, considering that I normally don't have a backup order waiting, I asked for her to come back while I looked over the menu. She seemed put-off, but quite frankly, I should have been told when I was seated what was available (as others have mentioned). That could have saved all of us some time and what appeared to be heavy grief for the waitress. Fine, I get the encrusted tofu and potatoes. Wow!!! This was freaking amazing! I mean amazing! My wife's trout was fine, but she did get some bones, which, for the premium prices they are charging, should have been completely removed. I mean, I have left a bone or two in a fish, but I am not charging anyone that I am serving. When the waitress asked if we wanted to save the fish, my wife declined, which was met with a bit of disdain, as though we were wasting a fine meal. While nice, you can only take so many bones before you are done. Then came the desert round. As we ordered the tart, we were told that it was not available. OK, 0 for 2 on the "we are out of that" scoreboard. Ugh. As we left, I mentioned that I felt so disappointed. That place should be 4 or 5 stars easy, but the service just left a bad taste in my mouth. There are plenty of places to eat in Portland, and if you own or serve in a restaurant and you think that you are above being a server, find another occupation. You are not doing the chef any favors by ruining a dining experience. I can cook at home, and I go out to eat so that I can get some good food, but more importantly, so I can be served. If you are not capable of doing that, then I simply can't recommend your restaurant. If you are only into food and could care less about service, then this place is for you. Otherwise, save your money and go elsewhere. Damn you, Farm Cafe. I want to like you, but you are such an A-hole.
(3)
NYC T.
I still dream about this veggie burger. Tried making it at home but not the same!
Great food and service. Delicious seasonal & local menu with options for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. I can't say enough good things about this place. It's a bit spendy but so worth it for a special occasion.
(5)
Ema C.
This place is excellent. Excellent as in: I would eat their cheese sampler plate even if it meant that I'd suffer the consequences of it later (lactose intolerant here, hi!). My god, the cheese. It's local and fresh and oh so tasty my now non-dairy diet is crying out for the cheese sampler plate here. Of course, everything else is great too. But try their seasonal cheeses. It's so, so, so tasty and stinky and delicious!
(4)
Pamela S.
I have been to the Farm a few times and have always had a wonderful time. This past weekend we went and our food was good, not amazing as I remember but good. The service was wonderful, a very helpful server with a great wine knowledge which I appreciated very much. Great timing and over all a beautiful date night spot!
This has become my favorite place to come when I have a few extra bucks to spend on a nice dinner. I've come here for birthdays, Valentines day, Mothers day, I will use pretty much any excuse I can think up to come here. Instead of waiting for a table, my boyfriend and I usually go straight to the bar and drink cocktails and order food at our leisure directly from the bartender. The service is great, the drinks are always amazing, and the wait staff is always friendly and happy to see us back.
(5)
Abe I.
Hurry up and put Farm at the top of your list for great date places! The interior makes for great ambiance with it's dark, warm, and cozy atmosphere, and it's perfect mix on not too casual, not too fancy lands you right in the middle of good taste land. Speaking of good tastes, you really can't error here. The food is mostly vegetarian, with some fish, and nearly everything is locally and seasonally grown.. Everything is delicious. Everything. Throw a rock, (or maybe a chunk of tofu - don't want to hurt anything here) and you'll hit something good to eat. Service is always great (with the exception of one guy whom my my entire table wanted to beat up, but in his defense no one could point to a particular reason. Perhaps I should change my screen name to abelovescruelty? abelovesfunandsometimescruelty?...) I will warn you that Farm gets packed around 8, so if you don't want to wait I'd get there a little early, (although with the charming bar, a wait isn't so bad). Either way, get going!
(5)
Nathan B.
Limited menu, but ingredients were very fresh and food was unique. The staff was very friendly.
(3)
Anjali M.
I had never been to The Farm Cafe before, but was really excited when my sister-in-law took us here a few days ago. Their food is all organic and locally sourced, and very veggie friendly! I'd highly recommend dining here if you ever visit Portland - the restaurant almost has a Chez Panisse-esque feel with a bit more casual, homey vibe.
(5)
K G.
Best mushroom risotto in the world!! All the dishes we had were delicious. Hadn't been in a few years and the renovation is nice. The service at the bar was a tad haughty but the food and drinks are delicious. Fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. I dream of that risotto...
(5)
Jenn S.
i will echo the reviewer before me--you will regret not going here. hands down the very, very best veggie burger of all time. the waits are typically long, but the gods were in our favor on our visit this past friday and we only had a 20 minute wait (they take your name and number and will call you twice to try to put you in an available table). first friday is not a bad time to walk around the hood and check out the shops, but we had to get back to what was going to be an amazing meal. they'd run out of mussels, so we ended up with the mushroom appetizer which was so good, with a fantastic savory sauce and chewy bread. now, i'm gonna go ahead and say that i had complete and utter meal envy when my asparagus-leek tart showed up (it was tiny) and the legendary burger sat in front of my boyfriend and not me. i was as green as my tiny salad when we took a bite and stopped cold, eyes closed, to moan over this burger. i took a bite and YEAH. IT'S THAT GOOD. this would have to be the one place where i condone getting the same thing as your dinner partner, since one should not be left in the cold as i was...it won't happen again. we capped off our meal with their tasty strawberry rhubarb crisp, which i would definitely recommend. not too mushy, not too sweet, just right. pro tip: our waiter tipped us off that the food network was coming the very next day because of that very burger. my guess is 'the best thing i ever ate' and one of their fancy pants chefs is coming to pounce on this burger. get it now before foodies all over PDX descend on farm cafe!
(5)
Sam O.
I took my wife here for her birthday, and had a pretty good meal. The food seemed fresh, and very reasonably priced compared to many other places that serve similar fare. Overall, tasty, but it didn't knock my socks off. The chocolate souffle for desert we just 'OK' as well. The service was not the best, and the waitress rarely checked on us, and by the time we got second drinks, we had been done with the meal for awhile. We were not in a hurry, so it was not a big deal, but I think they may need more servers. afterward, we did mosey on to the bar for another drink, which was very enjoyable. They have a pretty nice drink menu, and the drinks we had were good. I had considered giving this place a 3-star, but overall the experience was good enough to nudge it up a bit. I just don't if I'd back any time soon with all the other great places in PDX.
(4)
Lauren B.
Love the concept here, loved the outdoor patio, loved the food. For me the food was just missing more of an edge. Still delicious though and I would absolutely eat here again.
(4)
Brandy S.
Most of my friends love the Farm, and I must say that I was impressed when I went. There was a great vegetarian selection, as well as having some meat on the menu. The chocolate souffle with coffee ice cream was heaven. And I love the darkened interior that feels very comforting and relaxing. Only downside: price and the wait
(4)
Kelley N.
I love this place so much that even though I moved away and no longer live in Portland, whenever I come back for a visit, I always make sure that my friends take me here. The best dish I ever had here was a wild mushroom stroganoff and I never again saw it on the menu after that, but I still dream about it sometimes. Luckily I have also enjoyed all of the other dishes I have tried here and feel good about eating them. I now live in a place that is not that big on the local and sustainable, as well as organic foods. They're just a little behind I think. So I really long to have that in a restaurant and really look forward to my visits to The Farm Cafe. I do sometimes wish that you didn't have to stand and wait for a table every time though.
(5)
Marci C.
I went here with my food pal a few months back. I was told by a handful of people to check it out. Luckily my pal is refined and paired our wines with each course. Lovely, I should not have had all courses paired cuz girlfriend was sloshy and had a date later that night. OOOPS! I will most def go back here maybe the next time with my date?
(4)
melissa y.
I used to like this place but it has gone downhill. The food is alright, not great. But the service was horrible! I don't think our server said more then 3 words to us throughout the whole dinner. Never again.
(1)
Mikalina W.
Some friends were in town this evening from North Carolina and they wanted to eat someplace "local- that they couldn't find elsewhere" so after a little looking around in right here in yelp, decided on The Farm. What better than a restaurant that specializes in locally sourced organic fare? Now I have gotten pretty used to getting all excited about going to new places, and ending up disappointed. But I gotta say, The Farm was anything but disappointing. It totally lived up to all the wonderful things I had already read. The wine list and cocktail selection is great, and while there are only four beers on tap, it was a nice selection, of again, local brews. We were lucky enough to get a spot on the small but not-cramped patio...and quickly. As soon as our companions showed up we got a great table. I had a great special- red snapper with creamy polenta and seasonal veggies. Nothing was blah nothing was dry nothing was over or under cooked...it was just damn good! My partner got the goat cheese ravioli which I thought was great. He liked it "pretty good" but sometimes he gets overwhelmed by cheese... Oh, and we also had an edamame starter which was wonderful...and I never like edamame Another great thing about this place is that they're open til 11:30, and late night dining in Portland can be kinda slim pickins. The place has a great atmosphere, subdued lights and dark wood. Folks were eating both in tee-shirts and date-y attire, so its a really comfy spot that you don't have to perform for. I'm definitely going back!
(5)
Mark S.
Awsome menu, prices and service! Love the huge back porch to hang out in summer! The specials vary and are super fresh and delicious, not super pricey! Love the old homey atmosphere, the staff are friendly and it feels as if they are there as part of a family dinner...try the BEET SALAD -- soooooo good - best in all of Oregon - or beyond!
(5)
ashley s.
As as tourist this enchanting cafe located in the most unlikely part of the area, but very much impressed when I walked in. The ambiance is top notch. Its very romantic/intimate. This particular night I chose the Halibut. Having traveled up the coast of CA to here I had some pretty high standards of freshness. Coupled with grilled brussel sprouts that actually tastes nothing like they did in my childhood, and some super creamy garlic/onion flavored scallop potatoes, the Halibut dish I chose was nothing short of AHHH--Mazzzing and well worth the $$. I was so sad when I was too full to finish the dish. If I close my eyes I can still taste it and it makes me happy. Salem, my BF chose the crab risotto which was soo decadent. He enjoyed it so much that he passed up my Halibut offerings, which never ...ever happens. The portions are just right, the prices are reasonable for the quality and the atmosphere is such a nice welcome. You want to go to there.
(5)
Claudia B.
I LOVE the Farm. I had my birthday here last weekend and everything was divine! The service, the food, the ambiance. Especially their food. It is always good. They have great bloody marys too. I come here on special occasions and on have also come here on casual nights to catch up with friends too. I've never been dissapointed.
(5)
Abby S.
Hands down my favorite place in Portland (well, one of). Consistently tasty food and drinks. Friendly service. Amazing and numerous vegetarian options. My go-to for dinner with visitors and for special (or not so special) occasions.
(5)
Alisdair M.
To start we had beet carpaccio and a plate of heirloom tomatoes and both were amazing. For an entree I had crispy trout, which was really good. And dessert was a peach cobbler, which was also great. All in all an very good meal. The people working there were really friendly too. The atmosphere was dark and intimate as others have said. There is outdoor seating too.
(5)
J S.
My experience at The Farm was phenomenal and it sits at the very top of my list of best restaurant meals. The concept of fresh, seasonal, farm-to-table is pure Portland and it's housed in a lovely, Victorian-style home. The food is amazing and for a dining experience of this calibre, is very reasonably priced. Standouts include the baked brie, the pan-fried Idaho trout, and a crab, blue cheese risotto (that may not be on the menu anymore). It's definitely a must for any Portland visit.
(5)
Brian S.
Always great food at the Farm. Last visit I had a "burger" made from lentils??? that was incredible. I'd go back again and again. It was over a month ago so it could have been made from something else but I remember ti being amazing.
(5)
Richard D.
This is strictly a review of the 2 Manhattans my wife and I had: if you think your serving glasses are too big, buy smaller ones. No self-respecting bar should underfill their cocktails. Glasses only 2/3 full? A total disgrace to drinks! At least trick me with a smaller glass rather than show me how much I'm not getting!
(2)
Jessica W.
I was tasked with finding a restaurant to take my in-laws for dinner during their recent visit. My husband is vegan, my mother-in-law is very meat and potatoes but also picky about what she'll eat, and my father-in-law is adventurous but with a Southern/Midwestern palate. And it was Valentine's Day to boot. Thank goodness for the Farm Cafe! Not only did their menu accommodate every single one of us, we all agreed it was incredibly delicious. The staff was welcoming to all of us and it has a comfortable atmosphere. This was only my second time here and we'll definitely be back.
(5)
Tejal V.
The patio is really gorgeous. The corn gnocchi is fantastic. One of the best things I ate in to Portland. The service was just a little bit subpar that's why I gave four.
(4)
Jo G.
Simply put: you're in an episode. I wanted to ask for my trout's certificate of authenticity, but I refrained. Waitstaff? Can't tell them apart from the diners. Quintessential pdx. Gaggle of late-20s to middle aged white people -- dudes in plaid, women half in tattoos and high-waisted full skirts with princess leia hair, half in tapered corduroys with clogs and with all the time (and encouraging, gentle smiles) in the world to check back in on your slow ass who's talking too much to even open the menu. The service? Impeccable (pretty sure they would have produced the cert, had we asked). The wine? local. The food? absolutely delicious. Go here for catchup dinner with your girlfriends, for a romantic date, with your visiting parents.
(5)
Paige V.
Great food! Loved the broccoli fritters, and our trout dishes were great. LOVE the lighting and the atmosphere. Have dreams of opening a place very similar some day. Our waitress was a little stand-offish, but I never hold that against anyone on my first visit, since who knows what kind of day she was having. She did suggest a really great local red wine (per my request), that I was very pleased with. We'll certainly be back---a great place to take family/parents when they are visiting.
(4)
Sherry S.
Summertime! Patio time! This place knows how to patio. Been here a few times and have really enjoyed their food inside the building, such things as winter squash and risotto with cheese for an example. This time we had to be out in summer and went with their happy hour food. Most of it comes with bread though. We had cheese with bread, white bean with crostini, mushrooms and bread. I think they need to add some salads at this point. Also, their soup was chili. It really is here folks so let's bring out more salads, some cool soups and celebrate!!
(3)
John H.
Delicious, but smallish portions. A bit disappointing, really, because the food is phenomenal and brilliantly presented. For the price it's a fair quantity of food, I suppose, but I do wish that there were more of it. It wasn't particularly prompt either. I ended up having to get food elsewhere to satiate my hunger. Again, though, delicious food.
(4)
Brenna M.
Cute restaurant with a great/quiet patio area. Definitely recommend reservations but they seated us in the bar on a friday night as walk ins no problem. Food was delicious but everything had a little kick to it. It was ok for the meat but the spicy risotto was a little off. Even the drinks were all a bit spicy, nothing to calm the spices. Still I would totally recommend this place to friends looking for a laid back place with upper scale food.
(4)
Luanne S.
A dinner group of ladies that dine out every month or two went here for a birthday celebration. The one negative I would say is they put the 5 of us at a table for 4. This is a pretty common practice at most restaurants, but it always annoys me. We made reservations... common on. The appetizers were great: clams, broccoli fritters, beet salad. Kale salad was so, so. The trout and the ravioli were wonderful, but the polenta cakes were not. The cocktails were great. The service was pleasant, but the waitress had to be reminded to bring utensils and other little items. She did bring a mint with a candle for the birthday girl. It was reasonably priced and I would return for a second dinner.
(4)
Elaine L.
(Thank you to the Farm's bartender who introduced me to Hood River's Double Mountain Brewery's India Red Ale. I'm forever in love!) As for the food side of things: for most folks, yummy looking menu items, good, thoughtful ingredients, and while the vegan options are limited, they are willing to accommodate. The ala carte menu can become expensive. The space is cozy and lively at the same time. Overall, this is a great place.
(4)
Wendy S.
Great. Ambiance. Wonderful service. Must be patient. We waited only about 30 mins on a Saturday night and then had a 3 hour dinner. It was good but not great. The broccoli fritters were yummy. The greens stuffed ravioli were good and the beet salad was on par. Crab cakes were mushy and served with a bland pureed squash. Could have been better. Limited menu. Creme brelee desert was actually meh - too runny. Waiter knew and comped it. I'd go back for the ambiance. Lovely courtyard. But I'm thinking there are better places in town.
(4)
Gregory S.
Great food. My wife and I split the Enive Salad. The flavors were very unique, mostly due to the dressing and the pickled young (green) strawberries. I had the trout and it tasted wonderful. It was cooked well and the vegetables it came with were also very tasty. My wife had the veggie burger with fries. It was huge and delicious. We highly recommend people try this place out.
(4)
Ian Z.
Excellent specials - both the duck and lamb were terrific. Good suggested wine pairing and relaxed ambiance with quick efficient service. Actually snagged a spot in their minuscule parking lot and got seated immediately without reservations, so this dinner started out in a high note. All in all a very satisfying dining experience, as I've come to expect at The Farm.
(4)
Carmen L.
I was a Farm Fan for two years, gloating about this place nation wide, since I travel 70% of the time with my husband and his job. But, we will NEVER go back. IF you are having a good time and want to have a couple drinks in the BAR area....better whisper and think your in church! Be the best of your behavior or you will get kicked out. Don`t you dare have fun here or you will get hauled out like a two dollar whore!!!! TO Farm, You have lost our business and also will ensure EVERYONE we travel with or come in contact with , you will be targeted as a HORRIBLE and never visited establishment. There are ample other places in Portland with just as good if not better food, that we can offer recommendation to tourists and local transplants. Again, do not go here if you want to have some drinks with friends!!!!! Go to Knoble Rot a bout a block and a half down the street for a great view, service and food!!!
(1)
Elizabeth M.
This place used to have the best tofu marsala ever. They've taken it off the menu and now there are really no vegan options. This place used to be such a vegetarian-friendly place.
(2)
Alison B.
Loved the building and the ambience! Great use of an old place and just so cozy inside! We started with the herbed mushroom appetizer - SO delicious! I literally wanted to lick the plate clean. The bread was amazing! Move onto the main course - I had the crab risotto and wasn't really impressed as I thought it was too salty (and my brother agreed) and I wished that it had more chunks of crab - I think it was just kind of shredded into the dish and so it kind of blended into the risotto. My brother on the other hand had the mushroom gnocchi - AMAZING! Loved it! I wished I had gotten it but my brother was only willing to share small bites:) Dessert was the apple tart which was very good. And I also got the marscapone cheesecake. Loved the cheesecake but I had to wipe off the sauce as it was way too sweet but the cheesecake was perfect on it's own. I'd definitely come back just so I could try a few other dishes!
(4)
Kira B.
I'd give 5 stars but service was very slow and rather indifferent. Anyway. We sat on the back patio - perfect for a warm night. Started with corn fritters - amazing! Bf had ravioli and I had their veggie burger. I love it when restaurants make their own veggie burgers and theirs did not disappoint. The fries were homemade as well. We finished with a berry tart with vanilla ice cream. It was a perfect meal. If our waitress had provided a bit better (faster/friendlier) service, it would have been 5 stars.
(4)
Sabrina D.
Make sure to make reservations before hand. Had the Farmhouse Veggie Burger, it was tasty and filling! The Pan-Fried Idaho Trout on top of some quinoa & mixed vegetables were flavorful and perfectly cooked. The ambiance is very dim, almost hard to see the menu lol. But the service is very fast and friendly!
(4)
Ethan D.
My wife and I had one of the best meals of our entire lives here on New Years Eve right before a show next door. And then, a few months later, we returned to Farm Cafe with friends and yet again had one of the best meals of our lives. The food, the atmosphere, the drinks, everything about this place deserves 5 stars. My only wish is that they had more beers on tap, but they serve outstanding local wines and cocktails made from local spirits in place of the variety of beer, and that's okay too. My wife and I are total foodies, and the food at Farm Cafe is some of the highest quality meals we've ever had. I'm a total carnivore, and I rarely order a meal that is vegetarian, but both entrees I've had from Farm Cafe have been totally vegetarian! It's not like me to rant and rave about a fully vegetarian meal but MAN!! I recommend their homemade ravioli. I've had both the butternut squash and the asparagas raviolis and they have been, as I said above, some of the most enjoyable entrees I've ever had!
(5)
B R.
First time here and so many things I wanted to try. Had the pickle plate with pickled peppers cucumbers squash beers carrots and chard. My favorite dish which I rarely find. Will be back for more
(5)
Matthew W.
If you can get a seat and you can find it, the Farm Cafe delivers some pretty good food created with local ingredients. The service was a little spotty on our visit and meals seem to be either good or excellent, so your miles may vary. We went on a weeknight and had to wait about 15 minutes at the bar before being seated. The bartender was less than attentive and seemed to be more concerned about playing records (yes, real records) than serving his customers, but we were there for the food, so he gets a hall pass. We started with the Baked Brie, but it was just OK. The bread from Ken's was very good, though. I had the Blackened Wild Coho Salmon and it was excellent! The fish was perfectly prepared with a good flavor and it paired well with polenta/grit cakes, kale and a creme fraiche dollop. My fiance had the Dungeness Crab Risotto and she felt it was lacking in flavor. In fact, she remarked several times that she wished she had gotten the salmon. The service was decent, though a bit lacking due to what seemed to be a lack of staff. Overall, I was debating a 5-star rating due to my meal, but knocked it down to a 4-star since the other meal and the appetizer were not up to the same level. Great place, though. A real Portland gem.
(4)
Peri P.
My wife and I were looking for a good quality restaurant one evening and decided to try Farm Cafe based on reviews. We were not expecting an upscale dining experience, but based on the ambiance and food quality it ended up being more of a fancy dinner than we were expecting. We were seated at the bay window seat which was picture perfect and romantic. We ordered the trout, ravioli, and pear salad. All the dishes were excellent and we cleaned our plates quickly. There are a variety of little rooms and there is actually a parking lot, which is rare for this area. Service was very good and helpful when we asked for recommendation. We weren't expecting a date night, but ended up being a nice date night.
(5)
Katoune B.
I originally heard about Farm Cafe from a friend who had seen it featured on the Food Network show so I decided to check it out for my belated birthday dinner with an old boss. I have to give myself a pat on the back for this pick because it was a good find. The location was central, staff was friendly, the food was great. My boss ordered trout and I ordered a mashed potatoe dish. It was very fulfilling and even better after I chased it down with a glass of Reisling. I wouldn't mind coming here again, except with a date. :)
(4)
Sara C.
I've been here twice now, and loved my meal both times. The first time we went my Mother from out-of-town wanted to eat here just to try the veggie burger, and she loved it. We also had the baked brie appetizer which was amazing! We went back a few weeks ago, my friend I had the goat cheese ravioli which was heavenly. The food here is great, and I would definitely come back again. My one complaint from the last time was the service. It was pretty slow, and our waitress was kinda reserved and a bit snobby. My friend asked for a diet coke and she huffed that 'we don't serve soda here' as if she had been offended we even asked! Oops! Overall a yummy place to eat!
(4)
Danni D.
This update is looooong over due. There has been some remodeling going on at the Farm Cafe, and I like what they have done with the place. The bar is now located in the back portion of the house, and it is one of my favorite places to sit and unwind. The bar area now opens up onto a fabulous outdoor patio that is large and quickly becoming more and more private as their greenery quickly climbs the wrought iron fencing. Umbrellas shade diners from the sun and soften the space. It's truly a relaxing space, yet only a stone's throw off Burnside. Their menu, ever changing based on availability of local produce, continues to strike a wonderful balance of both carnivore and veggie. I never have to think twice when recommending this place to vegetarian friends as they will have numerous options from which to choose. My current go-to nibbles include the corn fritters with green tomato jam ($5 on the happy hour menu), and the oh-my-God delicious cheese ball. It is seriously a homemade ball of cheese comprised of 3 different cheeses, some horseradish, herbs, and rolled in nuts. It is a fancy version of the cheese that we all buy from time to time at Freddies, even if we do not admit to it in a public forum. Farm Cafe's blows away anything you would purchase at the store. Usually I can end the evening inexpensively by ordering the sauteed goat cheese salad as my entree. If you start with nibbles, this salad is just the right size, and the bread crumb encrusted, lightly sauteed goat cheese is wonderful in both taste and texture. Basically, I would make a terrible vegetarian, subsiding on fritters, cheese, and bar cocktails. But I would do so happily if I could eat here more often.
(5)
Enrique S.
This place was wonderful! I could not take any photos because my battery ran out of juice but it was one of the best vegetarian cuisines I had ever had. I order a vegetarian burger and it was out of this work! The service was amazing!!! The beer I order was a pear flavor very tasty but filling! Definitely 5 stars!!!
(5)
Monica F.
I have never had a nasty bite of food at The Farm. French fries, broccoli fitters, ravioli, chicken, chocolate souffle... It's no wonder that I bring every one of my friends who visits Portland in for either dinner or a dessert. Patrick might be the best bartender in town and always plays music that makes me happy to be there. The mural outside is also pretty sweet. Take a picture.
(5)
Liz C.
I absolutely loved my experience here. The food was fantastic. The prices were very reasonable. And the cocktails were delightful. They have a great happy hour as well!
(5)
Sarah S.
This was easily one of the best restaurant experiences I have ever had. I came in with my mom late on Mother's Day and we were seated right away in the bar area. The clams and fries were amazing and the sauce was so delicious. A great appetizer to start with. We each had specials- lamb and halibut and both were so delicious. The meats were cooked perfectly and the side dishes were delicious. They topped it off with a free nightcap. The service was great and very attentive. The servers recommended delicious dishes and drinks and we're knowledgable of the menu and of the food on it. Such a great experience. A must eat in portland!
(5)
Stacy G.
After looking forward to trying this place for so long, I feel sad to rate Farm Cafe so low, but my hands are tied. I didn't like our food. I feel good about the local sustainable sourcing, but kept wishing that I could have all this AND enjoy the food I was eating. Maybe we got the wrong things. The veggie burger was ok, I guess - it was my first so I don't have anything to compare it to. Mostly I remember the overwhelming flavor of mustard. My mixed greens were bitter and combined with equal portions of cabbage. If I wanted cabbage, I would have ordered coleslaw, people. The fries were good but the homemade catsup tasted inexplicably like curry. With so many amazing choices of restaurants in Portland, many of whom are right up there in terms of responsible sourcing, I was kind of disappointed that I wasted a meal on the Farm Cafe.
(2)
Gene B.
I like the Farm Cafe quite a bit. I always make a point of eating there when I'm in town. It's light industrial, business location and plain Jane exterior belies a very beautiful interior of dark wood and candles. It's one of the better house conversions I've seen. It never seems like it was a house, once you step inside. I like their approach to food, simple fresh ingredients and not a lot of fussiness, letting the food speak for itself. It seems like they are always attentive to vegetarian diners with a lot of different options. I like the Happy Hour at the bar. The menu always has quite a few delicious options and It's quite cozy in there. I had some arrancini there my first visit and still think about them from time to time!
(4)
Allison M.
I would argue that this is one of the greatest patio dining places in Portland. I love the back patio. It's beautiful and you'd never know you're sitting right off Burnside. Most of the food is absolutely amazing. I highly recommend happy hour. I would give them 5 stars if the service was a little friendlier.
(4)
Christy H.
This place didn't impress me much? Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing but I just didn't leave there satisfied at all. I ordered a cab wine from California that was amazing. That was the best thing. The arugula salad was just way to heavy on the arugula. It needed a little jazz up of something else. It was just the arugula with blue cheese and vinaigrette. I did however tell the waiter I wasn't satisfied and she said she was really sorry. She didn't charge me for the wine and asked that I please tell them next time if I am not happy so they can get me something else. I was really pleased with the service which can be so hard to find in Portland! I think I will give this place a second chance because it does seem to have good reviews. Till then....
(2)
Sarah B.
A couple of my friends took me here for a birthday dinner and it was super-nummers. Oh my, the risotto! Oh my, the everything else! So good! Everything on the menu is great, and among our group we had a vegetarian, an omnivore, and a gluten-free person, and there was something for each of us. The atmosphere was quaint and homey, and the service was superb. The drinks were tasty and very well-made, and the little dessert they brought out with a candle? The perfect topper to a perfect meal.
(4)
Anna N.
Six of us had a reservation at 9 pm last Saturday and it took half an hour for a table to finish and for us to be seated. I won't put that against the place too much though. The place had a nice ambiance to it and our server was nice, but it was hard to get her attention whenever we needed her because the place was organized into small separate rooms. I thought it was nice that she gave us a bowl of seasoned chestnuts because we were hungry, but they were really strong tasting and a bit spicy. I think these were eaten more because we were hungry rather than tasty. In general, our food came out salty. The herb mushroom appetizer was really good. It had a good flavor and large chunks of mushrooms. The bread was okay; it came out cold, hard on the outside and soft on the inside as thought it was toasted and left on the counter for a while. The trout had a nice crust on it, well cooked, had a nice subtle herb flavor, but the crust was a bit too salty. The Brussels sprouts that the trout came with were thoroughly cooked with some crunch to it and were not bitter. The ravioli had a good flavor to it and came with a sweet and sour sauce (I'm not referring to the Asian sauce here). I think the ravioli tasted better with the sauces that came with the other dishes though. The tofu was crispy with a soft inside and came with a nice sweet sauce. The slightly sweet and salty mashed potatoes were delicious and the mushrooms on top of the dish were sweet and had a nice texture to it. The herb and crab risotto was a little bit undercooked, salty, had a strong taste of wine, and came with shredded bits of crab rather than chunks. None of us liked that dish. The duck was cooked medium rare and really juicy with a nice crispy crust to it. It came in a tasty sweet and tangy sauce. The cabbage that the duck came with was overcooked, squishy and slightly bitter. I really did enjoy the other vegetables on the plate, one of which was the spinach and this orange vegetable (pumpkin or carrots? - I couldn't tell due to the dim lighting) added a nice texture to it. The salad was a bit salty with small chunks of salt spread about the dish. However, the salad was really fresh and crisp overall and the goat cheese and chives were a nice touch. The beets were sweet, delicious, and firm and the dressing was sweet and bitter but good. Overall, the room layout made it hard for tables to be attended to, the servers were really nice, and the food was okay. I thought this place was an experience especially since the food is local but I don't think it was worth the price since generally the food came out salty, and there were inconsistencies in and between the different dishes.
(3)
Marybeth S.
Was looking for a great place to take some friends in town from ATL and of course, searched Yelp for a casual restaurant in a location that we could walk to a lounge afterwards and Farm Cafe came up with good reviews so I made reservations. We loved it! Service was great at both the bar in the back and at our table. Two of us had the trout, ordered based on reviews, and it did not disappoint. It was cooked perfectly and was a perfect portion to fill us up. We had the squash and basil fritters for an appetizer and they were delicious as well. Really impressed and will be back!
Wonderful farm to table restaurant. Everything we had was good. Ambiance was terrific; in a former private house. However, the flounder I had was about on the flavorless side. The rabbit my wife ordered was too sal for her. We switched dishes and were both very happy.
(4)
Niusha S.
I cannot articulate how delicious the soup of the day was. It was a cheese, beer, and leek soup and after my last spoon I was so satisfied I thought I could just call it a day. And yet, I still had an entree and dessert. The veggie burger is an eggplant based patty, nicely crisped on the outside giving you a nice crunch to bite through before getting to a soft inside. It's served on a bun that reminded me almost of a doughnut, or more like a piroshki I should say. My only criticism would be that the dijon was a little too much for me; it overpowered and took away from the other flavors. But still, you can tell everything that came out of the kitchen was prepared with high quality ingredients. The baked brie is sinfully sweet- it could pass as a dessert with the strawberries melting on top. It's not your pastry wrapped brie, no, it comes in a dish molten and covered in pine nuts and seasonal fruit, in my case, strawberries, with bread on the side. But that soup. My lord. I would go back for that every lunch and dinner for the rest of my stay if it was a permanent menu item. theintuitiveeater.wordpr…
(5)
Betsy B.
This place is so good. And the 3 other people with me agree. I had the goat cheese ravioli and I have to say it was the best fresh ravioli I have had at a restaurant. The sauce was so tasty and was a hint spicy as well. My husband had the trout and could not get over how crispy and tasty it was. Our friends had the vegan burger and breaded tofu and mash potatoes. Both devoured their meals and were so happy to get such great vegetarian and vegan dinners. I had the chocolate souffle for dessert and it was unbelievable. This place makes for the most pleasant and satisfying dinner. If you have a chance to try it, go.
(5)
W C.
Been here many times and the food is always good. Farm uses good quality ingredients that are prepared well.
(4)
R. T.
Love the food here - it is all delicious, great quality/fresh ingredients and flavorful. I highly recommend: BEETS CLAMS THE TROUT*** I potentially would subtract a 1/2 star from the rating if I could - I've noticed they have been increasing the price of the trout since I have been going there. Its up to $20 now and I remember when it was $16!
(5)
Nina M.
Such good food, but it took a very long time.
(4)
Jose C.
I want to start this lengthy review by saying that I've been a fan of the Farm Cafe since it first opened. Its always been a place I've recommended to out of town visitors and any Portlander who states they've never been. My experience last night has changed all of that forever. I wish there was a way to rate the quality of the food and the quality of the service separately. If this were possible, I would give the food a 4-5 star rating. The quality of the service however..... So I went to the Farm last night to celebrate a friend's birthday. We made reservations and requested a table on the patio. This was waiting for us when we got there but that's pretty much where the good service ended. I'm exceptionally patient with servers, especially when it's busy. I've worked in service industries all my life so I know how horrible it can be, especially dealing with people who are hungry. However, our server was exceptionally slow and there were only 4 tables of people out on the patio yet it still took us 25 minutes before we got our first drink order taken. Our server never came by to see if we needed anything after taking our order. But the real issue was when the woman who brought us our food was so outright rude to us. She brought the food to the table and saw me looking at the drink menu. I had no intention of ordering a drink from her because I knew she wasn't our server but she asked me if I needed another drink. Since she offered, I said yes. 2 of the other people i was with also ordered a drink and the woman began to walk away without acknowledging the fourth person we were with, who happened to be the birthday girl. Before she could get too far, I asked my friend loudly if she wanted a second cocktail. The woman ROLLED HER EYES and as my friend was trying to order a second dry martini, the woman cut her off mid-sentence and said "I'll just look at the previous order" walking away as she said it. We fell silent at the table. I've never been treated so rudely in a dining experience before. The rest of the service from our initial server was pleasant but very, very slow. The only thing she seemed to do quickly was come back and get our signed credit card receipts before we even finished our beverages. I felt like she was trying to rush us out, which I couldn't understand because there wasn't anyone waiting for our table. As we were leaving, I waited by the bar to talk to someone directly about our less than quality experience but after standing there for 5 minutes without being acknowledged by any of the 3 people behind the bar (there was only one person sitting at the bar), I decided to just leave and call (or Yelp!) later. So...speaking of the credit cards...when we got our bill I wrote on the back how we wanted it split up. It seemed easy enough, put $25 on one persons card (I wrote the name) and split evenly between the other two. I handed our cards with the written instructions to the server and even verbalized what we wanted. It didn't seem that complicated and she indicated that she understood. On our way home, my partner mentioned how much he was charged and I realized that she hadn't split the bill evenly between us at all but charged his card $30 more than mine. That instigated me to turn the car around and return to the restaurant. I spoke with a guy who seemed to be the manager although he never introduced himself or gave his title but he seemed to have some sort of authority and, very calmly told him of the disappointing experience we had. He apologized and kept saying that it was the server's first day. What I don't understand is why they would put someone new on a Saturday night. That sounds like a management issue and poor judgement to me. I felt satisfied with the apology although I do think he should have offered to comp at least our second cocktail order since that woman was so unnecessarily rude. Like I said, the food is great, although they do need to change up the menu. The last time I was there was a year ago and the menu was the exact same, delicious, but the same. However, because of the service, I probably won't go back there. There are hundreds of restaurants in Portland with similar quality food, much better service and at about half the price.
(2)
Justin R.
My girlfriend and I went to Farm on our first night in Portland and were pleasantly surprised by the food. The service was a little lacking at first but turned around once we were finally seated and ordered our food and drinks. We only wanted a light meal so we split a salad which was super fresh and crisp, then we had a cheese plate that came with a really tasty jam and some pickled veggies, and then we had a very satisfying bowl of mussels, which had great flavor and were fairly well portioned for the price of the dish. Good restaurant, definitely would visit again if and when I end up in Portland again.
(4)
Colin B.
I got the ravioli, i can at leas say : i wish there was a bigger portion. I enjoyed the goat cheese ravioli, it was slightly spicey and very well prepared, I got a cherry coke with my meal and it was also good. I appreciate the cafe for getting local food and a unique menu.
(3)
Bryan I.
An unassuming vintage house surrounded by busy & industrial Burnside buildings...one would hardly think this is a classy, beautiful restaurant serving the best local, fresh dishes you'll find in PDX...but looks can be deceiving! First off, they had the best veggie burgers I've ever seen! A PHat, nearly 1" seasoned veggie patty on a fresh chiabata bun with delicious toppings & delicious, sweet homemade fries. If you like Jamaican Jerk seasoning, their Jerk Chicken is delicious, as was the Braised Greens and Toasted Pecan Stuffed Ravioli (handmade 3" raviolis tender with a complex sauce that compliments them perfectly) Oh yeah, and if you like fresh, warm brie & hazelnuts on fresh bread, that appetizer is highly recommended, as well! Be ready to spend up to $20/plate, but it's well worth it if you have the extra cash. I haven't tried their 5-630 happy hour yet, but given the quality of their dinner, I'm anxious to go back for it!
(5)
Tracie C.
Recently visited on a trip to Portland. Had seen reviews on Food Network and a Portland Travel magazine. I wasn't as impressed as I expected. We had to wait about 20 minutes for a table for 5 and then was seated a table sized for 4. I had a salad that looked and tasted like it was made before the rest of my tables entrees. It was soft and wilty. The portions were quite small for the price. My husband had the veggie turnover that ws more puff pastry than vegetable. Disappointed in this cafe that came so highly recommended.
(3)
Brandon T.
I don't know how to rate this place because I have had both good and bad experiences here. My main complaint is a lack consistency. On my second visit here I ordered the pecan stuffed ravioli which comes with a few greens as a additional filler. These things were just were amazing! I had no complaints during or after my meal. I got five or six huge pieces and the flavors of pecan were pronounced and unique and I was excited that my second trip was as good as the first. Just a few weeks later I made another trip back, didn't see anything new that I wanted and I decided to go for the same dish. It is a decision that I regret. They advertised pecan stuffed ravioli and delivered spinach ravioli. I happen to love spinach ravioli and I would forgive this mix up in a heartbeat had it tasted any good, but it didn't and I cannot. The disappointment alone was upsetting, even at the table I scoffing at the unexpected affront to my taste buds. I had expected pecan stuffed packets of heaven but instead I got grossed out. My second issue with consistency is the drinks. They make mean drinks here, I will give them that much. However when I order a particular type of alcohol, watch the bartender pour a cheaper type of alcohol, serve it to me and charge me for the more expensive brand, I cannot help but to be a little angry. This unfortunately took place on two of my three trips and I am starting to think that it must be a policy of theirs.
(3)
Joe B.
Frankly, I feel as though I'm missing something. Many other reviews were ravingly good, and it's always great to find a place that's vegetarian- or vegan-forward that also has a pretty good wine list (like Portobella in SE, for example). I'm no 'foodie,' but I think I know when a dish is balanced and when it isn't. First, a shaved fennel and kale salad: Great idea, great texture, but a dressing that's way too sour for the other ingredients to really shine. Second, summer vegetable timbale. Again, good idea, but way too little vegetable, way too much quinoa, and for some reason, it's over a tapenade that simple overpowers everything else. For the atmosphere component, our server didn't help. Whether it was having too many tables or just adult ADD, she seemed distracted. While technically efficient, there was no eye contact and no warmth. Case in point: After the entrees were served, she came around to ask "Is everything OK?". And literally by the time we were able to answer, she had turned away to her next table. So overall, pretty average, in a town where average doesn't really cut it. (The one thing I will say that was memorable were the roasted hazelnut appetizer!)
(2)
Minda B.
I always love this place when we come to town. Friendly, relaxed, delicious. Recommend the oysters, the Steve McQueen (drink) and sitting outside if the weather is nice. The pickles were a little too strong for me, but my husband found them delightful.
(4)
Mike M.
My wife and I were killing time on Burnside before seeing a show at the Doug Fir. We just happened upon a house that looked like it might be a restaurant. It was. We took a chance, and wound up hitting the jackpot. I don't remember what they called my entree. It was suggested by the waitress, and it was unique. I do remember the taste. And I remember how my wife's dinner tasted. We loved our meals, the service, and the ambience. We'll be back there again.
(5)
Will V.
I was in Portland for Christmas and met a friend from Chicago and four of his local friends here for dinner. We sat at a table in the bar area. The atmosphere is excellent, with some very interesting art adorning the walls, nice lighting, and a patio area that looks like it would be perfect in the warmer months. I started off with some local Pinot Noir and was not disappointed. I used to dislike Oregon Pinot, but now I count some among my favorite wines. Drinks were delivered promptly, and we ordered some yummy appetizers, including hummus and roasted garlic. They were fantastic, but were whisked away a little too soon in my opinion. I had a whole pan-fried Idaho trout, it was served with some excellent roasted seasonal veggies. The trout was amazing, it was whole, but completely boneless. I'm not sure how they do it, but it was the first time I've ever had a whole fish that had been de-boned. It was lightly pan fried and dusted with sea salt. I loved it. At this price, Farm Cafe did not disappoint. I did feel the service was perhaps the weak point of the meal, but it was not bad service by any means, it just could have been a bit better. If I lived in Portland, I could easily see Farm Cafe being one of my favorite hangouts.
(4)
Dawn C.
Wow. A friend of ours casually suggested this place for dinner one night, we strolled in and the place was hoppin'. I can sure see why. Farm is what a restaurant experience in the PNW should be: friendly staff, well-decorated but not at all stuffy, and good ingredients prepared to highlight our local bounty. We were seated in the bar quickly, despite the rush, and enjoyed some tasty drinks. My favorite was the gray goose martini with the spicy pickled bean garnish (they were willing to part with a few additional beans, too). Dinner was great. Waiter gave us fried oysters instead of fried green tomatoes, but comped the mistake graciously and without fuss. Chicken dinner was great, cooked perfectly. It was nice to see several, real, vegetarian options too. Keep up the great work!
(5)
Jason W.
one of my favorites in town. a must go if you are visiting. very true representative of the portland food scene. My wife and I have never had a bad meal here.
(5)
Warren C.
Came here last night for my Girlfriends sister birthday today. I was a little reluctant cause the menu didn't seem to peak any interest for me. Since this obviously wasn't my birthday and its a new restaurant I can review I was still happy to go. We arrived with a party of 7 people. I got here early and waited in the bar and ordered a glass of their Cabernet. I don't recollect what brand it was but I do remember it came from Washington. The bartender asked what I thought about it and it just wasn't doing it for me. She was more then happy to exchange it along with giving me a few tasting of their other red wines they offered there. I ended up getting a carafe of the Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir and was rather impressed with its flavor. The rest of the party arrives and we get seated fairly shortly. Drink orders get taken and we decide on appetizers. We ordered The baked brie, Hummus, and the manila clams. The brie was wonderful with its arrangements of berries and nuts. The hummus was nicely blended together and served with jalapenos, olive mix, and roasted red peppers. The red peppers went very well with the hummus and definitely a must for an appetizer here. As for the clams, its another must for an appetizer and with the grilled bread soaked in the mix of white wine, garlic, butter, and red chili flakes it was a match made in heaven. After some time after finishing our appetizers our meal arrives. I did get a little ancy from the wait and did notice it was somewhere between a half an hour to forty five minutes between the appetizers and our meal. Hard to say if it was well worth the wait but the food was very enjoyable. I ordered the herb crusted tofu with mushroom marsala. As some of you may know I do enjoy tofu but would rather have meat for dinner as my main source of protein. I was a little skeptical and will admit a bit of a nazi when it comes to tofu. I asked the server in the beginning where they get their tofu at and he proudly says they purchase their tofu from Ota Tofu over on Stark and 8th. This pleases me very much cause my father is friends with the family and often times barter freshly caught fish for their tofu. The dish was very artistic and I also noticed that the physical appearance of the tofu looks good. Definitely obvious these guys know how to cook tofu. Took my initial bites of my meal and it was much like a symphony in how all the instruments seem to compliment the other. The flavors of this dish worked really well with the tofu and the garlic mash I will say almost stole the show. It was that good. My girlfriend orders the fire roasted corn Gnocchi and had a couple bites of hers and was really good. Once again the flavors seem to compliment eachother rather well. My girlfriends mom ordered the Carmelized mushroom and leek tart and after having a bite of hers I was almost regretting not ordering the tart. I had noticed it on the specials initially perusing the menu but I was so attracted to the idea of trying the tofu that I had to order it. My girlfriend dad ordered the goat cheese ravioli unfortunately never got a chance to try that. May have to order that next time around! We finish our meals and go through the dessert menu I ended up ordering the sunken chocolate souffle with coffee ice cream mainly for the ice cream but wow for 7 dollars for a souffle it was worth every penny. Just wish it had a little more ice cream but man was I happy camper after dessert! Overall, I was rather impressed with this restaurant. I do see what some of the other reviewers have mentioned about snotty service. I did notice it with some of the staff but a majority of my contact with the staff was rather pleasant. Their follow up was really good and what I was really impressed by was the fact my girlfriend sisters orders a specialty drink from the bar. Once she gets it the bartender comes out a minute later and asks for the drink back mentioning she forgot one ingredient and asked to redo the drink for her. Now how many bartenders will do that? Although the lapse between the appetizers and meal was slow, the overall experience was A+ in my book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. Happy Eating Everyone!
(4)
David K.
The Burnside restaurant is in a middle of a bustling dining district. The restaurant is a converted house, and the owners have done a nice job of using home elements, like stained glass windows or chandeliers. What was really missing for me, though was good food. What is their theme? Is it a farm menu? If so, I failed to see the farm or produce-centric menu that highlights the local cuisine. The menu was all over the map, including broccoli fritters and risotto. Risotto? I know my fried goods, and was disappointed to find that broccoli fritters was all flour and barely any broccoli. And apart from the selection, the taste was oh-so average. I probably won't return. There is a separate dining and bar areas, partitioned by kitchen staff space.
(3)
Ian L.
I got a chance to go here recently while visiting my cousin and her husband who recently moved to the area. They had both been here before, and it worked out well because he's vegetarian and this place offers quite a few options for vegetarians. Upon arriving we had to wait outside for about 30 minutes or so before getting seated, but it was definitely worth the wait. We all shared the Farmhouse cheese ball to start, which was good. The waitstaff gladly brought out extra bread for us so that we could eat up every morsel. As for entrees, my cousin and her husband shared the heirloom tomato plate, which was The Farm Cafe's take on a caprese salad if I recall. They also enjoyed the fire-roasted corn gnocchi and the Farmhouse veggie burger, which looked very appetizing despite being vegetarian. The girl got the pan-fried Idaho trout, which was nicely done such that it was crispy on the surface. I opted for the rabbit dish, which was absolutely scrumptious. Rabbit is a delicacy in many different cuisines, and I always jump at the chance of having it when it's on the menu. Anyways, the rabbit was served in roughly bite-sized pieces, and was accompanied by spinach, and perched on top a bed of polenta. It was tender, and the sauce was just perfect. The rabbit dish was also a huge hit with the two girls, and yet there was more than enough to go around, so I had no hesitation sharing. The Farm Cafe is a nice place to bring someone for dinner. The prices are very reasonable as well, as is normally the case in Portland. Each of the entrees were under $20, and we were stuffed when we left. This is definitely one of the most memorable meals I've had throughout my handful of visits to Portland. Portland, I'll definitely be back to try more of your delicious and very affordable food!
(5)
Janessa P.
The newly remodeled Farm Cafe will blow your mind. It's huge, it's spacious, it's beautiful. Drinks are divine--try the Elderflower Champagne Cocktail--and the patio is killer. The menu is the still the same as before the remodel--herb-crusted tofu with mushroom marsala, seafood dishes, the yummy nuts, that molten lava chocolate cake--you know, the oldies but goodies. My only complaint? I do wish that they had added a few more vegan options on the new menu.
(4)
Pria P.
Very solid meal here- of course I had to order the veggie burger as soon as the waiter told me it had been featured on The Best Thing I Ever Ate. It didn't blow me away, but was absolutely delicious and hearty. The simplicity and fresh ingredients stood out in all the dishes. We kicked off our meal with the mushroom and roasted garlic starters- both were good, especially the garlic. The leek soup was just the perfect amount of creamy, and I also tried a bite of my friend's homemade goat cheese ravioli (yum). So reasonably priced too- I think I paid around $40, including a cocktail. The service was friendly, but a bit absent though we ate at a NY hour (10) and the place was winding down. My cocktail was the only disappointment- it was reminiscent of a citrusy cleaning agent.
Had a horror story - went with 7 friends on a Saturday night. Had reservations made before hand. When 6 us got there, they refused to seat us until the entire party arrived. So we went to the bar to get a drink. The bartender decided to have a conversation with one of the other patrons - not a big deal, except it was a 10 minute conversation, trust me I timed it on my phone. Finally she comes over to order our drinks, only bothers to order one at a time. Before she has a chance to even serve the first drink, which took another 10 minutes, we're finally seated. The rest of us order drinks at the table - or rather attempted to, but alas our server seated us and left menus at the table and immediately left. I guess we must have offended her by not having the entire 7 person party show up all at once. It literally takes another 15 minutes before she comes back with a bit of an attitude and finally takes our drink orders. Followed by another 15 minutes before drinks are actually served. We're starved and pissed at this time. Not piss drunk in the good way, but hangry (ie hungry angery) pissed. So we order the food. Yet another 30-45 minutes. And you'd think that being as hungry as we were the food would seem delicious. Nope, it was as salty as a fisherman's wharf prostitute and not in the good way - more in the I need to drink as much water so that this saltiness will get washed into my stomach where the acidity of the gastric acid will neutralize the salty chlamydia which is in my mouth - salty. Seriously, it wasn't just my plate, but everyone at the tables. They must have confused us for horses or something - and no Sarah Jessica Parker, god bless her soul, was not among us. Needless to we shall not be returning in the future.
(1)
emily r.
My husband and I were staying at the Jupiter hotel a few weeks ago, and decided to eat at the Farm Cafe since it is right around the corner. I was so, so, so happy we did. We had broccoli fritters with creme fraiche as an appetizer. mmm! Even though they were fried they were not heavy at all. I had a fiddle-head fern and leek tart that almost made me get up and dance. It was so, so, so, SO amazing. Who knew ferns could taste so good? The drinks were delectable. We finished our meal with the chocolate souffle and coffee ice cream. It took a while to prepare, but it was totally worth the wait. Melt in your mouth heaven. The one star off is for the somewhat slow service on a not incredibly busy night. (It did get busier as our long meal continued, and there was a crowd waiting near the door.) I was a little disappointed that they seated us right near the door, but we didn't ask to move so that's our own fault. They did have a nice little curtain to keep the draft from the door to a minimum. I would absolutely go back!
(4)
Richard W.
We had a great time at this restaurant! The place was super busy, but we were seated in a great bar in the back while we waited a brief period for a table. The cocktails were super, and the bartender was extremely knowledgeable. Our table was out on the patio, which was perfect as the weather was just right. To top it off the entire meal (appetizer, main and dessert) was worth writing home about! Highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
D D.
We had been travelling a bit and being on the road, we don't get good options for good food. As soon as we got back into town, we came here to eat on a Sunday night and it was such a relief for my tastebuds and tummy to have good, delicious food again. We started with the mussels and also had the salmon and the asparagus ravioli. It was all very good. The kids wanted butter noodles and parmesan. I hate to say that I judge the qualify of a restaurant by their kids meals, but you know when restaurants make the extra effort. There is such a huge variety in a simple dish like butter noodles and parmesan and I think the Farm Cafe makes one of the best around. The desserts, cocktails and wine list were good. The wine list had a lot of good wines that were different from the ordinary, typical wine list. Again, this is an area where you can tell that a restaurant makes the extra effort to find good wine to put on the list.
(4)
Katherine K.
I am a Farm fan...have been for years. Although before the expansion, getting a table was all about timing, now it is much easier with the bar area and patio. With that, there has also been improvement in service. But the food has always been good. Their ravioli in sage brown butter is so yummy, and I always get the goat cheese salad. I really like the new ambiance and will continue to be a simple Farm girl for years to come.
(4)
Jenn W.
I love this place. Love. If I lived in Portland, I would eat here all the time. What did I love so much? My food: The majority of the food is locally sourced, farm fresh, and organic - and you could really taste the freshness. My husband and I started with the featured cheese plate (sampler of local cheeses w/seasonal fruit and bread). We received 3 decent sized chunks - a raw blue, a raw cow, a goat - of cheese. The cheeses were really nice, but I think they should serve it with more bread (I'm sure we could've asked for more, but for whatever reason we didn't). For dinner, I had the flame grilled king salmon. It was SO fresh and flavorful and came with a great pesto and a delicious orzo w/roasted veggies side. I chased down every last bit of orzo and licked my plate clean. For dessert, we had a rhubarb (I am seriously loving rhubarb these days) crumble with vanilla ice cream. So good. The decor: It's in a cute remodeled house. I like that it's split into different rooms - definitely gives it a cozy, intimate feel. The service: Our server was friendly and not overbearing. When we mentioned we needed a cab, she called one for us. Nice. What didn't I love? My husband's food: He ordered the pan fried Idaho trout and it came with rice and roasted veggies. The veg tasted better than any veggie has a right to, but the trout was way too salty. Not salty enough for him to complain, but then he's not really a complainer. My husband would take 1 star away for the oversalted trout, but he's not writing the review and I loved everything about my meal. 5 stars stand. Eat here!
(5)
Mark A.
Fantastic food. I loved it. It's that simple.
(5)
Chris B.
The food was good, but I wanted to go there specifically for the lamb. They had run out. I understand that since it was the special for the evening and we were dining late. I ended up having the veggie burger, which my husband loved, but was a little much for me. It fell apart. I would have preferred some other meat choice was available. All in all, I'd go there again, but it wasn't my favorite.
(3)
Al C.
It's a beautiful place. I am a sucker for dimly lit restaurants. The waiters are somewhat pretentious. Aside from that, the food is delicious. Great location and worth going more than once.
(4)
Neil W.
Finally a place my wife and I can both enjoy!!! Too bad it is in Portland. We came here for a New Year's Eve dinner with limited expectations because it was so busy. We had to wait about an hour for a seat; no problem, they took our phone number, suggested a bar around the corner (they were packed) and gave us a call when the table was ready. I loved the warm homey feeling of the place. It had great art on the wall and they were playing wonderful music. The outdoor patio looked like it would be a great place to dine in the warmer days of summer. The menu was perfect for us, my wife doesn't eat a lot of meat and seafood. We started with green salads (perfectly dressed), broccoli fritters (light and fluffy) and a shrimp and black bean croquettes (a bit too salty, but still damn good). My wife had the butternut squash ravioli. She describes them as rich and quite tasty. The duck breast was mine dinner and it was good. The cherry compote complimented the breast, which was served a perfect medium rare, great. The couple sitting next to us suggested the chocolate souffle and we were not disappointed. Rich and creamy with a scoop of coffee ice cream. Our server was very nice. She was quite busy, but it never showed. She made great recommendations (especially on the wine) and was quite knowledgeable about the menu.
(5)
Charles R.
Went to farm cafe for dinner last week. My mother and I had just arrived in Portland for a wedding and I went online to find a good place for dinner. We found farm cafe with a 94% approval rating on urbanspoon. We found out it was for good reason. The service was absolutely wonderful, something I don't get back home in minneapolis so it was quite refreshing. The food however was the best part. We had the spicy hazelnuts and clams to start, both wonderful but the clams were incredible and the sauce they were in was simple perfectly executed and mouthwatering, we soaked up every bit with the bread provided. Yum! Next we had the salmon and goat cheese ravioli. Two very different dishes. The salmon I can safely say was the best I have had in memory, not dry at all and the vegetables it came with just worked to compliment the delicate and refreshing flavor of the dish. The ravioli was also wonderful, it hard to describe now a couple days later but also a perfect dish. Finally we finished with the chocolate souffle. And let's just day it didn't last long :-) What a great first experience of Portland food. Thank you farm cafe you really made it special.
(5)
Matthew L.
Absolutely amazing cuisine! The hazelnuts were very tasty. I got the lamb special which was a giant lamb meatball... flippin crazy good!!! So much more than just a "meatball". Must go!
(5)
Louise G.
You suck Farm Cafe. Over-rated and non-special food. It's supposed to be farm fresh but the menu was pretty lame. Chicken, pasta, fish. . . come-on I can get that at any other american chain restaurant. I had sautee'd mushrooms. . .bland. . .hummus. . .runny. . .and clams. . .decent. Entree. . . Salmon. . .nothing special. . .and ravioli. . .the only good thing. The creeky floors inside are g-dam irritating and those people clomp around like they are wearing clogs. Service is poor and they sit people they don't like in the corner. We were given the choice of two corner tables. I saw other tables which seated 4 people and I thought they were reserving those for parties of 4, but then 2 couples walked in after us and they were seated at the 4-person tables. Oh and we got there at 5PM so I'm sure we would've clear out before their next rush. . .but of course we had to sqeeze onto the tiny 2 seater table. They rushed out the food to us so we would clear out quickly. Our bill was $70 which I think wasn't too cheap either. Food. . .good, but I wouldn't go back.
(1)
Lin N.
What can I say that hasn't been said? Farm Cafe is easily one of my favorite places in Portland. The service was fantastic, and not the least bit pretentious. The menu was like a good book that I didn't want to put down, and the food really is wonderful and very well prepared. The interior was comfortable and seemed roomy, even on a packed weekday evening. Didn't get a chance to see the patio because it was full, but outdoor seating is available. The baked brie is a must order and the veggie burger (if you knew me, you'd know I'm not a veggie burger person) was excellent. They take reservations for groups of 6 or more, and they didn't even pressure me when I was the first at my table of 7 (everyone else was 15 minutes late... damn friends).
Portland's unique culinary identity is held aloft by places such as the Farm. Sustainable food expertly prepared in a cozy, "neo-retro" setting, there is something on the menu for virtually all members of a dining party. I have visited twice now, and both times I have been more than happy with the Farm's offerings. The Veggie Burger, rightly featured on Food Network, is quite literally the perfect sandwich: savory, rich, and filling, you really don't care that there is no meat to be found in the dish. I also enjoyed my lobster risotto a great deal, which was rich and perfectly cooked - if ever a risotto stood as an example, it would be this one. Of course, mine is but a small voice amid many praising the Farm for its exceptionalism, but I assure you that it is a well-deserved series of 5s and 4s that are credited to them. Enjoy your visit: you will not be disappointed!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Ashley E.
Meal and appetizers were delish. Husband had veggie burger and said it was okay. I had gnocchi and it was delish! Service blah. Barley can hear waiter speak. Wasn't really happy to be there. Drinks Great so good. Nice and strong. Restaurant it's self is good place to try
(4)Nicole C.
This place is great! The food was fantastic- everything local and fresh and very flavorful. My guests and I were not disappointed with one thing... besides our server. If I could give the food 5 stars I would but the service we received, I would say, deserved 1 star. I won't name any names but the guy was very pompous and aloof and really left a bad taste in our mouths. He was not warm or welcoming- very cold and borderline rude; so much so that he rolled his eyes at us when we asked to split the bill between two cards. All of the other staff we encountered were super friendly and accommodating but he was just a sour puss, which really is unfortunate when the food is really great. I would go back but honestly would request not to have this guy as our server again. If you're going to be in the service industry at least act like you are happy to help your customers!!
(4)Eric N.
I'm a newly minted vegetarian. After two days of getting dragged to restaurants that treated me like a second class citizen, or an afterthought... When I saw the menu here I knew that I was WELL considered. Absolutely Vegetarian Friendly! A sumptuous meal that felt deeply satisfying. I had the grilled Tofu, it was well seasoned, the mashed potatoes it was served on were delicious and it looked fantastic. It was served like state, complete, and filling. Something I've been having a hard time with lately. Our waitress was lovely and the space was soooo cosy and intimate. Other restaurants take note! This is how you do it!
(5)Julia L.
The food was great, Todd was not. I had high hopes for this place and decided to reserve a table to celebrate my anniversary with my boyfriend. We were seated and I made a joke to the waiter about getting accidental drunk at the Burnside Brewery while waiting. I in fact didn't even finish a beer. Upon making this quip our waiter, Todd, stated that it was illegal for him to serve me and that he could be fined $10k for serving someone while drunk. I felt extremely uncomfortable with his comment bc I clearly had all of my faculties about me and was simply making a joke. He apparently did not take it as such. Todd washed his hands of us and we were then served by a different waitress. Todd served all of the surrounding tables. This was a terribly uncomfortable setting and I felt judged there. Thankfully, our food was phenomenal and we got a good laugh out of this awkward experience. Also, shout out to the sweet waitress who took our order.
(4)Rich H.
Food was excellent. Service was poor. Brie is amazing, pickled veggies average, fritters light and tasty. Ravioli highly recommended
(3)Lauren P.
This is a place I have wanted to go to for so long! Finally made it here on a date night and wasn't disappointed. The bones of the old house make it fun to look around and ponder it's past. The food was all delicious. There were some large groups here but I wouldn't say its a great place for groups.
(4)Kristina D.
We came here with friends on a visit to Portland. We called Saturday night, but they were fully booked up and we couldn't even make a reservation. We ended up with a reservation for Sunday night via Yelp, and they were still fairly busy. We arrived early and the hostess greeted us right away and offered to seat us at the bar while we waited for the rest of our party. The hostess, bartender, and servers were all friendly. We didn't get any sort of judge-y stares even though this seemed like a fancier restaurant and we were pretty casually dressed since we'd been out shopping all day. We also had a baby in our party, and they were very accommodating. Overall, the service was quite good. For appetizers, we ordered the pickle plate (pickled mushrooms, beets, fennel), the fritters, and the clams and fries. Everything was delicious. The fritters were actually pretty light for being deep-fried and the clams were very fresh. For the main course, we had the ravioli, the trout, the risotto cakes, the gnocchi. Everyone really enjoyed their food and the portions were decent-sized. I had the ravioli in brown butter which had great flavor and wasn't too heavy. We liked that there were a lot of veggie and even vegan options, but there were meat and seafood dishes, as well. People are saying that it's pricey, and I guess if you're expecting a true cafe, maybe it would seem so. This place reminds me of Flea Street Cafe in Menlo Park, which is the same general concept of fresh, local, organic and well-prepared food and makes a bigger impact on your wallet. So, to me, this place doesn't seem overly expensive at all. We didn't order desserts since nothing seemed really special but the appetizers and food were interesting and tasty enough for me to recommend this place to others. I guess the only cons would be the dessert options weren't great and the lighting was quite dark. I suppose that it was meant to be that way to be more intimate and elegant, but I felt like I could have used just a wee bit more light to read menus, etc.
(4)Adam R.
Found this place because of it's awesome yelp reviews and close proximity to my hotel, and it is definitely a find! In my usual fashion for eating on business trips I sat at the bar where I received excellent service. My Order Cocktail - Bonny Star - If you like scotch or whiskey and don't want something to too sweet you will like this, it was tight up my alley. White Bean and Cabbage Soup - A lot like a Minestrone, warmed me up nicely. Lamb Meatballs & Taragon Tagliatelle - This was 90% awesome, the meatballs, sauce, and homemade pasta where the highlight of my day! The only drawback to me is inclusion of radicchio (which can can be really bitter and was here). However I want to say that because everything else about the dish was so delectable I decided to eat around the radicchio. My suggestion would be to change that ingredient out for something more palatable. (Maybe for some of those wild mushrooms I saw on the polenta cakes, that dish looked amazingly good). Despite the use of a hated ingredient (I'm sure there are people out there who like it), this place is totally cool. I was looking at what other people were ordering and you will probably want to save room for the CHOCOLATE SUFLE, which I sadly was not able to do:(. The bartenders are great at suggesting drinks, so I would engage them if you are in the bar.
(4)Emily M.
Delicious dinner on the patio. For appetizers we got the beet carpaccio, tomato soup, pickled vegetables, kale and fennel salad. Three of us got the trout with summer vegetables (awesome), one had a salade nicoise, and one got the lamb meatballs. We also got a carafe of the Pinot Gris. For dessert we shared a chocolate soufflé (sooo delicious but a little undercooked) and a blackberry bread pudding. The soufflé was the better choice! Good server, nice night, definitely one to try again. A good amount of vegetarian options too.
(5)Heather C.
Loved this place! Had to make reservations - pretty easy - luckily there were plenty of spots since it was a Thursday evening at 6 pm. The server was super friendly, patient, knowledgable. There are vegetarian options and you can request items to be vegan (they omit the cheese). Pretty rad! That night their soup of the day was French Onion, which was made with veggie broth, nice! We ordered the following: Curried Cauliflower Fritters (tasty), Baby Lettuce Salad with Pickled Ramps (yum), Fried Polenta Cakes with Seasonal Veggies and Morels (yum!), Veggie Burger with Fries (yum but heavy). To drink I ordered the Duke of Earl -- super tasty! It consisted of Earl Grey tea infused Monopolowa vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup and lavender tincture, served on the rocks with a lemon twist. My bf ordered the Huston, which was supposed to be spicy but he said it wasn't at all (I tried it too, and agree) - Black peppercorn-infused Buffalo Trace bourbon*, Bonal Quina-Gentiane, and honey syrup served on the rocks with a lemon twist. Sadly, we didn't order dessert since they have vanilla soy ice cream (vegan)!
(5)High S.
Completely unsatisfying, bland and disappointing. Someone brought me here after raving about the dishes. I was expecting something that matched the hype and quickly realized they were easily satisfied by complex descriptions. Balance is a big part of successful dishes and these are completely off.
(1)Linda H.
The clams are amazing and the Brie is also amazing. Be sure to start with those. I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious the food is here. The back outdoor seating area is great for a clear and warm night. The clams with lamb sausage is savory and left me mopping up the broth with the bread. The brie was creamy, savory, sweet and perfectly baked. The sliced apples added a nice sweetness and I drizzled that all over the bread to soak up the flavors. Their smoked salmon ravioli was delicious and came with a creamy sauce which complemented it perfectly. I'm pretty particular when it comes to how I like fish and I loved their pan fried trout. It was perfectly salted and very crispy. I just wish they served it with something other than lentils. The pinot gris served in a carafe complemented everything really well. Overall, I really loved this place. Next time, I will definitely try their chocolate souffle.
(5)Alex B.
I was not expecting Farm Café to be as "fancy" as it is when we stopped by on a Tuesday evening. Between the "$$" designation and pictures of burgers with fries, I was expecting a slightly upscale cafe that we would be in and out of in 30-40 minutes. It's not. This place is excellent, but I'd like to take some time to clear up some potential misconceptions. This is a perfectly acceptable white tablecloth establishment for a nice date or special occasion. Atmosphere is fancy in a very Portland sort of way. Expect to spend $15-25 on an entrée, around $10 on any appetizers, and more if you're planning to get a drink or a dessert. Realistically, each person is looking at spending $30+, so I'm calling this a "$$$" restaurant. All that said, it's a great place! Most everything is local and they're vegetarian friendly in a gourmet sort of way. They have daily specials which keep things interesting. My biggest complaint is that the portions seemed small (perhaps just because they were so delicious that I wanted more). Make no mistake, I'll be back. But when I return, I'll know what to expect. I'll dress up a bit. I'll set aside a couple hours and make it a leisurely meal. I'll bring my dad and let him pay. And it will be a great time.
(4)karen r.
Delicious dinner. I brought colleagues (one from LA and one from NY) and they both loved it. Sat outside and enjoyed a great meal, great wine. Good veggie options too!
(5)LJ B.
Came for a birthday dinner. We had reservations. It was fine but the service was not good. We were ready to spend some money but I don't even think we were offered a dessert menu. They do have a fair amount of vegetarian food, so that was good, but it was not amazing and whenever I have crappy service in what is supposed to be a fancy restaurant that makes me think the food is not good even when the food probably is.
(3)Mandy S.
Portandia has a ton of highly rated restaurants but I highly recommend this for anyone who loves veggies fresh from the farm. This place has a nice rustic, candlelit charm with a cute outdoor patio style dining area. The menu is short and simple with special items of the day. We got 2 of the items from the specials: - Curry carrot soup with paprika orange oil: This soup was pureed to a creamy consistency with just the right blend of ingredients. The orange oil highlighted the curry and complimented the pieces of toasted baguette. This soup would be yummy served cold as well! -Albacore Salad- perfect portion to share before the main course! I loved every bite of this as well! there was a generous serving of albacore on top of a heaping pile of spring greens and unique blends of lettuces I've never tried. I loved that it contained farm plucked plants - it tasted sweet and crunchy! The apricots were marinated in a nice vinagrette and in the darkness I thought it was a farm fresh tomato that made it so sweet and juicy. I exclaimed this to the server and she said "those are actually apricots" lol whatever else is in that salad, I want the recipe! -we also shared the infamous Food Network "best thing I've ever ate" Veggie Burger which was a vegan pattie made from eggplant and other tastebud enlightening ingredients. The bun was perfectly toasted/homemade and the olive oil was infused through every bite. by the end of the dinner, I was happy and in a state of veggie nirvana.
(5)Nicole S.
I came for a birthday dinner with my dearest carnivorous friend and vegetarian friend, both were impressed with the assortment of options and very pleased with their meals. I was the impossible customer that came in on a Saturday night during the holiday season without a reservation and a handful of requests. The staff was exceptionally accommodating and gave me a delicious slice of chocolate carrot cake with a candle. The bar is tucked back behind the main dining hall and is the perfect mix of comfort and class with strategic lighting and insulation from the noise of the kitchen and main dining. All in all, highly recommend.
(5)Ashwini T.
This place has okay food and good cocktails ; not great food. It had good vegetRiAn options but flavorless. The food does not give you a wonderful mouth of flavors or fresh tasting veggies. The mushrooms were blah, the gnooich was not special and polenta didn't have any flavor. If you are looking for great food I would skip this place.
(2)Patrick M.
Great gem on the east side. Really fresh, lovely farm to table dining that's a bit of a secret and that's just fine with me. Wonderful vegetarian options- a top three pick in my book for a special occasion. Their tempeh stuffed pepper recently was divine. The service here is a tad off, but they seem to know what they're doing either way :) I prefer to go in the summer and sit in the back part of the restaurant as the front half is nice but leaves something to be desired.
(5)Stefanie N.
Small yet seasonal delicious menu.
(4)Travis N.
Beautiful atmosphere, staff who care, AMAZING Food. Quality quality quality. I would go back in a heartbeat, this restaurant is phenomenal.
(5)Vivian H.
I love cheese. I love Brie. I love baked Brie. This is the best baked Brie I have ever had. The big block of cheese with toasted sugar, hazelnuts, and blueberry (or whatever is in season) sauce on top... Heavenly. Super rich and kinda too sweet but if you take it as a dessert it's perfect. Even the baguette (Ken's) was good. Pair that baby with a couple cocktail from their creative menu and you are good to go. Was kinda sad we had to go get dinner elsewhere bc their menu and all the dishes I saw coming out of the kitchen looked bloody amazing.
(5)Ryan S.
Meh. Food was good, but skimpy, oversalted, and overpriced. The service was incredibly rushed, even though there was nobody waiting for a table. The host was downright rude. It seemed like all the staff did a big line of blow before we walked in. There's much better options in Portland, especially in that neighborhood.
(3)Sandy A.
Delicious! These guys know how to cook. I had the green beans and the squash appetizer with oregano. Wow!
(4)Christina B.
Pros: - Vegetarian options. - Entertaining atmosphere ( I love people watching) , if you are looking for a "Portlandia" themed place, this is definitely it. - Enjoyed the art work on the walls and the music was up beat - The server was very friendly and the wait for the table and food wasn't bad at all Cons: - The flavors of the food were overwhelming, with to many miss matched flavors. I tried the polenta with winter veggies and was not impressed. - My date had the beet salad, I wanted to ask if the beets came out of a can they were so bland. I really wanted to like this place! I am bummed my experience was much less than expected especially after multiple recommendations from friends.
(2)Gina S.
We ate at The Farm Cafe for the first time this past weekend. We had been looking for a restaurant with vegetarian options and the reviews we read were really good. The Farm Cafe is wonderful, the people that work there are nice and care about the quality of their service, our server had great recommendations regarding our choices and the atmosphere was really nice and not stuffy in the least bit. We will be back for sure and will be recommending The Farm Cafe to friends.
(5)David R.
Tried this a second time, after having not been overwhelmed the first. Second time was no more impressive. I don't understand how a restaurant that tries to play off that whole "farm to table" theme can deliver an overdressed, wilted salad to the table as an accompaniment to their veggie burger. Service was well-intentioned, and staff was reasonably pleasant.
(2)Joe C.
The butternut squash ravioli and veggie burger are legit. The waitstaff was outstanding!!
(4)Ainsley D.
Called to make a reservation and after 12 minutes of being on hold, hung up and called back. The lady who answered the phone was apologetic and put me on hold to grab the hostess who was taking reservations, but while taking another 5 minutes and in the process of doing so I heard them bicker. AHHHH just take our reservation! The girl was a total brat when she came onto the phone and told us the wait was "only 30 minutes...maybe 60" and suggested we come in. That's a huge gap, but whatever, I lived down the street and I was hungry, so my friend and I walked over. Once arriving, all it took was about 5 minutes and maybe 3 employees to walk past us simply waiting for someone to acknowledge us, but we were sat almost immediately after that. We began with the cheese plate, for $10 I was disturbed that it only came with one kind of cheese? I ordered a lemonade and it was overflowing with ice, I think I got maybe three sips before the entirety of liquid was gone! Of course no refills and I wasn't about to spend another $4. (the picture I posted proves it, how absurd!) The sauteed mushrooms with herbs were incredible and my pan-fried trout was delicious (a little salty, but flavorful nonetheless), all of the other food we got was good enough for me to give this place a second chance... but service is a huge deal and I was sorely disappointed with every aspect of it. Bummer.
(2)Christopher S.
Beet salad, mushrooms, quinoa...perfect. My palate prefers the healthier side of a menu and this menu had me smiling all night. Delicious and healthy.
(4)Greg R.
We found out about the Farm Café from the food network on the go app when looking for places to try on our visit to Portland. After watching the episode of the show called "The best thing I ever ate" all about best burgers that featured the establishment we just had to try it. You'll drive right by the place if you're not careful. It just looks like an old house from the outside, but once in the front door you see a warm, welcoming place. We opted for a seat on the beautiful patio to enjoy the nice warm summer evening where it was a little less cramped feeling that the tables inside. We started with an heirloom tomato plate...I gave in and let my girlfriend order the signature veggie burger...and I had the trout with greens and vegetable orzo. I rank this as one of my favorite restaurants I've ever been to. They keep the menu small with lots of seasonal specials, a mark of a fine restaurant in my book. Everything was delicious and not overly expensive, making it a perfect choice!
(5)Scott E.
Had the pan-seared trout, clams, and heirloom tomatoes this time. All were excellent and well worth the price. They must remove the skin of the fish, remove the bones, then put the skin back on. Cooked in a blazing hot pan, sea salt, crispy skin. All 4 people at the table tried mine and lived it. This is the way trout should be cooked. The tomatoes lacked a little flavor, but the portion size was very satisfying. Nice balance with the cheese and basil. The clams, and the sauce they were in, were fantastic with lots of garlic. The bread was also nicely seasoned and shouldn't be forgotten. We sopped up as much sauce as we could and kept asking for more bread.
(4)Sarah P.
I would have given Farm Cafe four stars on the quality of their food alone, but the disappointing service landed me on a three star rating. First, let's start with the food... I started with the Cheese Platter and Sauteed Mushroom appetizers. Both were delicious, though the Cheese Platter only came with one type of cheese. Maybe it should be called a cheese plate? Both appetizers came with an amazing loaf of bread, which I gladly lathered in butter and dipped in the mushroom sauce. For the entree, I ordered the Paella, which was served with a lamb sausage--quite tasty. I highly recommend this dish mostly due to the delightful lamb experience. My friend ordered the Pan-Fried Trout, which was beautifully plated, though a bit salty for my taste. Once I got past that, the flavors in the fish were enjoyable and the skin offered a nice crunch. The trout came intact with bones and fins, which I appreciate because it ads rich flavor to the dish. Now for the service...one of the worst I have experienced in Portland thus far. I called the restaurant twice to ask about the wait. The first time, I was placed on hold for 10 minutes so I hung up. The second time, I waited another 10 minutes before the hostess got back to me. She informed me that the wait was approximately 30 minutes...maybe 60. Wow, that's a huge time difference. When I got to the restaurant 15 minutes later, the wait was only 15-20 minutes; however, I had to wait 5-10 minutes for the hostess to take my name, even though there was no one in front of me. Though the food was delicious and the restaurant beautifully set in a craftsman home, I do not plan on returning due to the low quality service.
(3)A B.
Very nice staff but the food was disappointing and overpriced. Portions were small. My gnocchi was lumpy and cool. I really wanted to like this place since I really like the idea of local and organic. Maybe they were just having an off night?
(2)chris t.
Loved the outdoor seating. Had a delightful meal. Great staff. They also provide postcards prepaid postage to send to relatives !
(5)Cassie G.
I have nothing bad to say about this place! My husband and I have been here twice and both times the food and service blew us away. The servers happlily help each other out (from what we could see) making the service above and beyond. The food is seasonally fresh and portions just right...we will be back for sure!
(5)Dan H.
It took my friend coming out from NJ for me to finally get to the Farm Cafe. Why oh why did it take me so long to come here? The Farm Cafe makes some solid food and have been doing so since 2003. Or at least that is what the menu said. I'm not sure if a meal should ever start with anything other than Rosemary Roasted Hazelnuts ($6). These come from a farm somewhere in the Willamette Valley and only a few restaurants in Portland actually carry them. Mental note. Must do a Google search to find out where these magical hazelnuts come from and then I must rent a car and go there now. Or tomorrow. Beets. Can't wrong with those in a salad. The Roasted Beet Salad ($9) comes with all your usual suspects. Tossed pecans, baby greens, hazelnut oil vinaigrette, goat cheese and chives complete the scene. To say this salad is good would be a complete understatement. Risotto. Never tried to make it, but I sure do love eating it. Dungeness Crab Risotto ($20). Fresh Oregon crab blended with creamy Arborio rice then finished with Meyer lemon and Parmigiano Reggiano. This is upscale comfort food. A good stick to your ribs meal on a slightly chilly evening and a good way to end a Sunday. I think I had heard that the service here wasn't very good. That was definitely not the case on the night we were here. Everything was brought out in a timely manner. We were waited on with precision and a smile. If you like your food from the farm to the table, Farm Cafe has been doing this for almost 10 years. You know you pass by it on your bike on your way home from work everyday (by you I mean me). Maybe it is time to stop in and give it a try. I already did. I look forward to my next meal here.
(5)Elaine N.
In Lieu of Le Pigeon (because we couldnt get in), we tried this place. Service and food were really good, however they dont serve beef. No a big deal for us, but just an fyi. Also it's not right in downtown Portland, you have to cross the river, but again, not a big deal. Place is small and intimate. I would go back (right after Le Pigeon:).
(4)Jane D.
Baked brie is the best!
(4)Gabriella H.
This place is phenomenal. My boyfriend had the lamb special and I had the polenta pancakes and they were DELICIOUS. We also had the Brie and white bean spinach dip for appetizers and they both were absolutely mouth watering. I'm still dreaming about the Brie. This was our first farm to table experience and we can't wait to come back!
(5)Kristen M.
It is always so hard to pick just one entree from their menu! I usually get the trout because it is cooked perfectly and the vegetables are amazing. The beet salad is also a must have item. I've never had a bad meal here.
(5)Anita H.
Asparagus ravioli was rich, creamy, flavorful, and amazing! There is ample asparagus in this dish, but it tasted great. If the weather is nice, sit outside since they have a nice quaint patio. I don't know why I haven't heard about this place earlier - will definitely be returning again.
(5)Georgie K.
I Used to frequent the farm often and loved it! Then stopped going for no reason. In the last year I have gone a few times and I have realized it is has lost that allure it once had for me. The service was good and we sat outside on a great patio. The food is just average. It used to be very good, but now has lost that extra something special it used to have. I just always leave thinking to myself that food wasn't all that good. I hope that get that quality back up there to what it used to be.
(2)Carlos Felipe F.
Great organic food! Found this place via Yelp while traveling through Portland and was impressed with the quality tasting food. I had the Lamb Meatballs and the beet salad, which were exquisite and very fine cuisine. Also, the host was a very accommodating and respectable "hipsterish-looking gentleman" (said without any disdain), who helped secure the desired seats my wife wanted, after having been seated already. The servers are relatively friendly, in that they are quick, but impersonal. Other than that, the ambience is pleasant and the food is superb. Will grant five stars ONLY because of the very helpful and rather understanding host, since the wait staff is, as stated above, impersonal; otherwise a four star rating would suffice.
(5)Alison C.
Everything about this restaurant is fine. The food, service and venue were okay, but nothing was above average. The menu was very small. This is a good thing when the few items offered are amazing and diverse. My dish, the cod, was good, but boring. The venue itself is a small house that has been converted into a restaurant. We sat behind a curtain that separated us from the entry - this isn't ideal when seeking a nice restaurant atmosphere. As far as the service, our waitress was delightful and knowledgeable, but the host that seated us was dismissive and abrupt. With all the excellent restaurant choices in Portland at this price point, I won't be selecting the Farm Cafe again anytime soon.
(3)Dita O.
I was there with 10 people. Everyone had to use their phones to see the menu, it is too dark. Most were happy with the dinners, the Lamb was a little too spicy and salty, the pasta was undercooked, the brie appetizer was good but they serve small bread portions to go with it. Nice wine and cocktail selections. The service was not good. the waitress was aloof and snobbish. Service was slow. When I made the reservation I wasn't told about the 4 credit card limit/table. This was a problem for our group. Over all I wouldn't recommend it for a nice dinner, but maybe happy hour and a drink. There is a nice off street patio in the back .
(3)Amy B.
It had been forever since I was here last. The food was spectacular. The portions were nice sized so the price seemed right. The service was great. We even made it in time for Happy Hour. Even though we didn't order solely off of there, we did take advantage of a few good deals on one appetizer and some drinks! My quinoa crusted rositto cakes were perfect, filling and very flavorful.
(5)Lucy S.
Really cute place that doesn't get too crowded. The place is divided into different rooms, which gives it a more cozy feel. The food is good quality and you never feel rushed or out of place. It's a nice place for a relaxed meal with close friends.
(4)Stacy J.
I highly recommend! Visited for a business dinner and picked it because it offers something for every dietary limitation. The baked brie was my favorite dish. I ordered fish - which was yummy - but the tofu & potatoes looked even better. The ambiance was great, and the little house look is cute. I would definitely go back.
(5)Benjamin P.
Very nice and cosy restaurant. Intimate and would recommend for romantic dinner. Tried the Veggie burger, and as a meat eater I was really surprised how tasty it was! Will come back!
(4)Linda C.
Cute place in a converted house. I think most people make reservations here but we were walk-ins looking for dinner after a day at the Fruit Beer Festival. Very welcoming staff and a nice, quiet atmosphere. Would be a good place to go on a date. I had the polenta cakes and hubby had the veggie burger. Both were good-sized plates with quality ingredients. The sauce around my polenta was a little acidic but the rest was good. Hubby's plate was piled high with fries and the dipping sauce was nice. We both enjoyed our meals but weren't wowed.
(3)A. Jesse Jiryu D.
High-quality, rich, interesting food. "Nouveau American" but not "haute cuisine", a nice balance of the familiar and the innovative. Friendly service. Can be crowded, and hard to get a table on the back patio on a nice evening.
(4)Andrew C.
Coming from Seattle, I'm not totally familiar with the Portland food scene, but had heard from a friend that when in Portland, this is one place I have to go. And we were not disappointed. To start, the ambience of the Farm Cafe is homey and yet modern, with tasteful pieces of artwork scattered on the walls. Having once been a house seems to add to that air. We started with the fried anchovies and baked brie... both were unbelievable. The fried anchovies satisfied my grease desires without being overly heavy, and the baked bried was delicious. For the main entrees, we ordered the trout, the veggie burger, and the duck. The trout was definitely the highlight of the meal - perfectly moist, and the skin was crispy with notes of garlic. The veggie burger lived up to our expectations - the flavors drowned out any preconceptions of how a veggie burger can be done artfully. The duck was surprisingly the least favorite of ours (we had wanted the lamb but they had run out!), but that's just because everything else was so good.
(4)E G.
Make sure you order your own chocolate soufflé. You won't want to share.
(5)Laura F.
I had heard alot of really good things about this restaurant before I tried it, so I think my expectations were a little high. It's a small space but they accommodated our large group very well. The food was good - don't get me wrong - but the price was a little high and the options are pretty limited. If you're looking for a trendy place to go for a nicer dinner then you're in the right spot. It's just not my usual choice of atmosphere.
(3)Ben D.
This place is excellent. My wife and I went here for our second time last night, and the food once again was outstanding. We are both vegan and I am gluten free, and we are both able to eat very happily here. Service is good, food is great, and we are fans.
(4)Will S.
What a disappointing dinner. A few of the lowlights: Veggie burgers that were essentially mush, trout that was burned to a crisp, and first courses that couldn't have appeased a 5 year old. The staff are extremely nice and efficient, nothing to complain about there at all. It's just that after all the good reviews and the hype from trusted friends this place really fell flat. When I'm in Portland next time I'll steer clear of Farm.
(2)Dan R.
My 6th or so time here, beginning when the place was fairly new. The building has evolved--still the cute house but now with a bar in back and a covered patio. One of the first in town to focus on locally sourced ingredients. Excellent service, a fine wine. I had the lamb special (they butcher the lamb themselves) very tasty, with polenta & spinach. The mushroom and cheese ravioli intense with flavors. My only complaint is not enough choices in the menu--they cook so well here i want to see more. Considering the freshness of the food and how well its prepared, in such a pleasant setting, the prices are very reasonable.
(5)Kristi K.
The setting and the food were exceptional. The service, however lacked dramatically. As a friend pointed out, our group was made to feel like our existence was a major inconvenience to the waitstaff's evening.
(4)Don B.
Farm Café is a solid restaurant. For some reason it's not on my usual radar of high-end spots in Portland, but every time I've been in for a meal it has delivered in more ways than one. From the cozy, converted-house feel to the multiple vegetarian and vegan options on the menu to the quality cocktails, this very "Portland" spot has plenty of goods to offer. But you'll definitely pay for it. My most recent visit was a while back but I made sure to take the opportunity to sample a bunch of dishes and of course a few cocktails. From the trout to the herb crusted tofu, there are plenty of dishes on the menu that pack in creative, savory flavors. The gnocchi is also tasty. In fact, there is nary a dish on the menu that I'd be unhappy with. The portions are decently substantial for the price, as well, which is a nice change of pace from the whole "less is more" philosophy of many higher priced restaurants in PDX. However nothing at the Farm has impressed me enough to want to rush back. At what can end up amounting to $30-$50/person (if you include drinks and maybe apps or dessert) you're getting in to the range of just about any high-end spot in PDX. For that price I might round the corner to Le Pigeon or similar. Not to say that's even a good comparable (as you'll never find a vegan option on the Le Pig menu) but still, Don only gets a limited number of nights out per month at this price point. What may also be lost on me is the quaint romance of Farm Café. A quick read of other reviews shows that I may be alone in this notion. But that's okay. Farm Café is a solid 4-star spot with tasty food and a great atmosphere. Be sure to make a reservation (it's small and gets packed), and class it up a bit. Your date will appreciate it.
(4)Courtney B.
A wonderful dinner spot. Four of us went, each of us ordering different entrees and all of us loving them. Great outdoor seating if weather permits, friendly staff, yummy cocktails and great options for vegans, vegetarians, gluten free, and carnivores alike. Highly recommend.
(5)Thomas C.
Loved the pan fried trout and lamb. They butcher their own lamb in house. The trout was very clean of scales and fresh. Both had the right amount of seasoning and tasted healthy.
(5)Ayley J.
Lovely date night spot, which exactly what we were there for. The farm-to-table thing always catches our eye. I ordered the veggie burger and my husband ordered a duck special. My friend ordered the ravioli and her husband ordered some soup and bread. Everyone enjoyed whatever they were eating and it was a very nice evening! We even requested that they bring out a candle for our table and they obliged. I found myself picking pieces off my husband's plate because the duck was so good. The veggie burger was huge and could have been split between two people. If the weather is nice, make sure to eat out on the patio... with a candle. :)
(4)Abraham G.
Good overall experience. I loved the deviled eggs. Nice atmosphere and great server.
(4)Meg S.
This place was delicious! The gnocchi was tasty--amazing pillowy texture with rich, tangy flavor! We also had the trout, polenta, salmon ravioli among us, and all were delicious. Highly recommend it!
(5)Kandace B.
There are few moments more perfect than sitting outside on a Portland summer eventing, slight breeze through the trees, glass of rosé in hand. The Farm Café's patio is the perfect spot for such an evening. This past Saturday, my dinner included heirloom tomatoes with chèvre and basil, deviled eggs with salmon and lamb bacon, an outstanding trout, and a molten chocolate cake with coffee ice cream. This was accompanied by a lovely Elk Cove rosé and, later, a glass of Port. I was delighted by all of the dishes, with the deviled eggs and trout being especially noteworthy. The Stones were playing and our server was entertaining. Couldn't have asked for a better night.
(5)Tony T.
This place is very good in my opinion. The only bad things I've ever heard about this place from my friends is regarding the wait times. It wasn't bad for us even though we went for dinner on a Saturday night. There were 4 in our party and we probably got there around 6, they had a seat for us immediately. Everything we had was good! I had the Halibut with a Fennel puree. Hmmmmmmm, it makes my mouth water even just thinking about it. This place is small scale so not terribly great for groups. I believe they take reservations for larger parties. The restaurant is in a old house so there isn't a whole lot of room in there. The only downside to this place but it's pretty typical to most upscale restaurants is the portions. You definitely don't come here when you are absolutely starving, you would leave with much lighter pockets. Even so, this place was VERY memorable and I would definitely go back again.
(5)J. K.
I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a long time and, now that I have, I've failed to experience the hype that gave this place 4 stars. We went there on a Sunday evening so there was no wait. So far so good (I've encountered a 1.5 hour wait here before). When the menu came, it was disappointing how small and expensive it was. While the appetizers sound good, there were only 8 entrees to choose from (and only 1 burger, which was vegetarian). What really upset me was how the baked brie dish came. It came with about 10 slices of bread, which was not enough to consume all of the brie, even with generous applications. Upon request, the waitress brought over seconds of the bread, containing only 4 slices. No good, as there was about 1/3 left of the brie. So I asked for more. With a little displeasure, the waitress obliged but said she will bring a "basket" of bread. Great, it was nicely warm and flavored. So it was to my surprised that they charged me for that "basket" of bread. Did they ask if I want the special bread at additional charge? No. Was it my fault that they miscalculated the pairing amounts of the brie and bread? No. Ok, so it only added $1 to the bill but it surely gave me no pleasure of dining there. It's surprising how such little differences can make or break diners' experience at a restaurant, no matter how highly regarded it may be by others. What's worse is that the rest of the meal wasn't anywhere near spectacular neither. I recommend finding another restaurant to spend your dollars.
(2)Leslie K.
I was pleased to be seated so quickly though we did make a reservation for our party of 6. The service was good but I anticipated a different energy with the quaint country farmhouse venue. It was noisy. And noise level impacts my dining experience. I had my eye on the gnocchi but they couldn't make the dish without the cream and cream and cheese is just too heavy for me so I opted for sides -- the french lentil soup and roasted garlic. Two of my friends had the gnocchi and one really didn't like it and was easily replaced with the risotto which seemed to be the table favorite. I enjoyed my dishes but they weren't outstanding...in fact I added globs of the garlic to the soup and that was yummy but perhaps not the intention.
(3)Mel S.
Fantastic dining experience. Loved the bar area. Had a drink there and ended up staying for dinner. Food was delicious and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
(5)Jazz M.
I ordered take out and didn't have the luxury of dining in, hence the 4 stars. It's a charming restaurant, the staff was pleasant and cheerful. I ordered the lamb chops with couscous succotash. They were tender and moist, the couscous was equally delectable. I'll definitely return, hopefully to dine in to experience the service.
(4)Judith P.
It breaks my heart to leave a 2-star review for a restaurant with such consistently delicious food but the last time we were in for a business meeting with clients, two people were having trouble parking and they would not seat the rest of our party in the table that we had reserved outside! Excuse me? I made a reservation, the majority of our party is here, we will probably need to pay for MORE drinks while we wait 10 measly minutes for the other two people to park ( they will probably be here before the server shows up anyway)??? Ten minutes later it was gone and they squeezed five of us into a four-top in a corner, inside, across from the kitchen pick up window. So embarrassing. We have been regulars and sending others to Farm for years but I doubt we will be returning for a while. The management at Farm needs to realize that this "precious" little practice is losing them customers.
(2)Claire S.
I don't have any significant complaints about Farm Cafe. But with so many amazing food options in Portland, Farm Cafe just isn't anything special. The service was great, and the ambiance was nice--especially for a date night...until a family sat down with two loud children. The best part of our meal was an appetizer special: duck confit over house-made spaetzle with mushrooms and other delicious seasoning/sauciness. I'd like to give Farm Cafe another try...
(3)Matt G.
Food was very good. Sweet potato fries (I think?). Service was very good and people are friendly. Lots of space, and a variety of rooms to sit in, including a nice patio. Rockin'.
(4)Jeremy J.
My better half had been here once before and liked it enough to go a second time so she could take me (I suspect her motives were less selfless than she made it seem). We were early and were the first people seated, the restaurant did not fill up super quick but most places don't in the early evening on Tuesdays... The inside of the restaurant is nice and the servers are very friendly and attentive. The service was trying to be a little too upscale for what I expect for most places in Portland but that is nothing to complain about. I liked how they left a carafe of water on the table, as I go through water quickly...what I didn't like was that the carafes sit pre-filled on empty tables. How long is that water sitting before consumed?! We started with the baked brie, which we should have probably had for dessert. It was a generous portion with fresh strawberries and a sweet strawberry sauce. Absolutely divine. They provide a healthy amount of bread to load up. All around a wonderful app/dessert. We also had a cup of their zucchini parmesan soup. The cheese flavor was a dominant but the soup was tasty. For our salad we split the beet carpaccio. Nice presentation and a decent portion. I enjoyed the salad (I love the beet and cheese combination) although the vinaigrette was in contrast a bit too much for me. We then had an order of the curry chicken skewers and the mushroom polenta. The chicken has a beautiful curry scent and were plenty good. Nothing mindblowing but definitely yummy. The polenta was also really good. The polenta cake was perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. I was really disappointed with how few mushrooms there were though...if you bill it as a mushroom dish you should add more than 1 sliced mushroom! Overall a solid experience and I place I might return sometime if I'm in the area!
(4)Jessica P.
I wanted to try something very "Portland" for dinner, since we were only in town for a couple of days and this place delivered. It is an adorable converted house, but man was it loud inside. There were quite a few large parties and we waited a bit to be seated. It seemed like they may have been understaffed last night as there was literally 1 person running the entire dining room, including the hostess stand, but we didn't really suffer because of this. We started with the beet salad and had one of those experiences where you are literally fighting the other person because it is so good. The beets were fantastic and everything worked so well together. The pecans were fantastic and I am not a huge fan generally but they added a much needed crunch. The goat cheese was creamy and delicious. I also got a fantastic saltiness in this salad which was much appreciated. The entire thing was so well balanced I wish I had a never ending plate. I had the Dungeness crab risotto which was cooked perfectly. The crab was very delicate, but maybe overpowered a bit by the cheese and lemon. I did appreciate that the crab was fresh and not canned, I could tell because I had a large piece of shell in my dish. I loved the lemon flavor and the creaminess of the dish. It was perfectly portioned, I finished the dish and was perfectly content. My husband had the trout and again it was cooked perfectly and the breading was fantastic. It also came with some delicious roasted vegetables that I continued to steal while he was preoccupied with the trout. A really great plate of food overall. They need to work on service a bit, but this place serves some seriously delicious food.
(4)Kay L.
Food: five stars. Service: four stars. Ambiance: two stars. OK, so maybe 31/2 would be more fair, but this place was so loud that we had to lean across the table to hear each other. I don't know about you, but when I go out to eat, I want to enjoy the food *with* people. We had to work way too hard to have half-decent conversations, to the point where it really tarnished the evening. Service: friendly, knowledgeable server who moved at her own pace, sashaying across the restaurant. There were four of us; a significant lag between the arrival of the first two entrees and the second two made for some discomfort at the table. Clearing seemed random and haphazard. It's just odd to have three out of four entree plates taken and not the fourth. Food: YUMMMMMM. Salmon deviled eggs topped with lamb bacon were rich to the point of being positively sinful. We couldn't imagine one person eating all three of them (11/2 eggs total) but we sure enjoyed sharing them. The kale fennel salad was lemony-light and refreshing. The salmon ravioli was sauced beautifully, pasta was thin and so fresh. The trout was perfectly cooked and delicious. The special of braised smoked lamb with spaetzle was not to my taste at all-- reminded me of BBQ sauce gone wild, and the lamb was so finely shredded and mixed up with the spaetzle that it was hard to distinguish them. My daughter enjoyed it, though. Me, I had the special of sole, Brussels sprouts, & fingerling potatoes in parchment with lovely butter-lemon highlights. Superb flavor, perfectly cooked fish & potatoes. The Brussels sprouts were a tad soggy and there were only two, but the flavors were so great that I didn't care. We passed on dessert, although there were several choices that called our names. The coffee was yummy. We'd go back and hope for a quieter spot.
(3)Michelle C.
I was a little skeptical before going to Farm Cafe last night because of some of the reviews but I was beyond impressed. My boyfriend and I went there for our anniversary and I dont think we stopped raving about it yet. We sat outside on the patio and it was the perfect setting. Very relaxing. Our server was friendly but not overly so. We ordered the clams for a starter which were so so so delicious, my boyfriend ordered the Rockfish special that was tasty but the real winner last night was definitely the polenta with vegetables. It was really one of the best meals I have ever had. The wine list was lengthy and very generously priced. We had a good carafe of Rose for 12 dollars. I would definitely check out Farm Cafe. It did not disappoint!
(5)Mike L.
AWESOME food. One of Portland's top restaurants, consistently. Cramped, hard to get in, and a little inconsistent on the service. Tolerable, but something to plan ahead for - don't just show up at prime time and expect top-notch service.
(4)Ray I.
Fresh local ingredients are the cornerstone to this institution. The menu itself is not remarkable, the execution is venerable in its French tradition. Portland has its' own Chez Panisse in the Farm Cafe. In a word, exquisite. A meal could be made from the cheese plates alone. In my wife's search to find a dinner wine the server graciously allowed three generous tastes. I will recommend all in Portland and those who visit to dine here.
(5)Robby R.
I have been a long-time fan of Farm Café for what seems like a decade. Their marsala tofu was amazing. Their goat cheese salad.. was fantastic. Then I find myself visiting in January 2013 and my favorite dishes are no longer on the menu. I ask the staff about the missing menu items and they have odd responses like, "yeah, we know. probably won't be back on the menu." Why? These were never seasonal items and we've all come to love them over the years. Did someone lose a bet? Was this because Obama got re-elected? Is this Sam Adams' fault? How do I get the recipe for the tofu marsala? Fine, so I'll try something new. Tonight, I tried the "Quinoa Crusted Risotto Cakes" for the first time. It came to the table and it *looked* tasty. However, it was actually really bland. The root vegetable purée wasn't warm.. the best part of this was the Brussels sprouts, but I'm not sure it was worth $15 for the equivalent of five (5) halved sprouts. As someone who has defended Farm in a number of PDX Foodie debates over the years, I have to concede that it may no longer be one of the better restaurants in town. I'll give it another go once I know the seasonal items has changed, but feel like something great has left us.
(3)Joe G.
I highly recommend the Farm Cafe. My friends and I were in town for work during a horrible snow storm by Portland standards. We were very happy to find the Farm Cafe was open and it was well worth the 20 minute walk in the snow to get to them. We had a variety of appetizers (mushrooms, pickled veggies, baked brie, smoked salmon deviled eggs and broccoli fritters) and everything was delicious. The cocktails were amazing (Hot toddy especially) and our entrees were delicious. I had the braised lamb shoulder and it was melt in your mouth goodness. I'll be back when I am in Portland next.
(5)Sarah C.
I love restaurants in old houses, restaurants that serve locally grown food, and gnocchi. So basically, I was just about perfectly happy with this place!
(4)Spencer L.
One of our favorite places to have a nice dinner in Portland. When family or friends are in town, this is where we go. The excellent, locally-sourced food is prepared with care yet without pretension. The menu changes with the season, so don't get too attached to that Asparagus Ravioli (which was amazing). The Farm Café is not only good, it's consistently good - time and time again. The service is solid. I prefer the outdoor porch and the bar area to the main dining area.
(5)Victoria M.
Food was great, but the noise! It was so loud in there it was almost impossible to carry on a conversation. We had dinner reservations on a Saturday night it was very crowded, I understand a lot of people equals noise but realize when you go that if it is a busy night you are not going to get romantic by any means. Service was ok, our waitress was efficient, did her job well, but not so friendly. We had the baked brie, it's delicious but very sweet and it would have been nice to have something to spread it on, was surprised it came with nothing. Luckily we save our bread. Had a good salad, and the trout, which was wonderful. I say go if you like good locally sourced food, but do it on a weeknight when you can hear yourself think.
(3)RIchard Y.
Delicious food, great views, awesome staff!
(5)Donald E.
I don't usually get excited about food, but last night I found a reason. Looking for a new place to eat, I came upon The Farm by way of recommendation. And we were not disappointed. Knowing full well that they are relatively small, fill up quickly and don't take reservations, we showed up within an hour of opening (on a Wednesday night) and had our choice of seating. I'd say by 6:30 there were very few tables left open, and this was the middle of the week. The food was amazing. And you can believe the hype around the herb crusted tofu with mushroom marsala. While my food was delicious, I kept looking across the table with longing, wishing I had ordered it. OH! And the soufflé! I'm not a huge chocolate fan, in that I enjoy chocolate, but not when it's overwhelming. On a whim I opted for it. Not disappointed. Holy Hannah. My only complaint would be that the portions are not very large, so don't expect to be stuffed when you leave. Instead, expect the tastes to be sensational. And make sure you get there early enough, or be prepared to wait.
(5)Liz H.
I have eaten here at least 4 times and most of the food was pretty good. Even though I am not a veggie right now I mostly eat that way. So I am loving the menu overall. I am not even a fan of Salmon but there Salmon Ravioli was to die for! SO there food is honestly pretty darn yummy! Its not overly complicated and I can pronounce everything on the menu. My only criticisms are that they do not take reservations and the space is terribly small! I took my mom there the night before she had to make a flight home the next morning. It was a bad call because we had an hour and a half wait!! YES! 90 minutes to wait! That was too much! They told us they thought the wait would be 45 minutes. So that kind of sucked honestly. The food was good but my mom was kindof frustrated. I have gone in since then but also had a very long wait. AND I dont always have 2 to 3 hours to eat. So I pray that one day THE FARM might consider expanding a little and taking reservations like most good restaurants. If they did I might give them another try or only go on a Tuesday night when I have all night to eat.
(3)Ash. A.
Yummy delicious localness (is that a word...now it is). The Farm Cafe' is an adorable little house, off busy Burnside, that is sandwhiched between a strip club and a sprinkling of vintage clothing shops. Although among seediness, the Farm Cafe' still has a sophisticated air and a small town feel that will charm your pants off. The food isn't bad either. With a strictly pescatarian menu, meat eaters and vegetarians have equal opportunities to eat at this fine establishment. Also, since their menu is seasonal and local the produce is extremely fresh and full of flavor with every bite. Gone are the days of the flavorless tomato! Try anything and everything here. I assure you it will be awesome. However, I think that some of the veggie dishes lack variety. Call me picky but if I order some polenta I would like it to have some mushrooms, tofu, and or a bit of crunch to break up the monotony of the mush. All in all, this is a great place for an intimate foodie experience. Update: The Farm also gets brownie points for the free brie they gave me the other night and the awesomeness of the tofu marsala! x-tra star now!
(5)Naomi D.
I very much enjoy eating out no matter what. However, I also enjoy cooking. So when I go out to eat at a "nicer" restaurant, I enjoy feeling like I had a creative and tasty meal that I could NOT have done better myself. I really thought that the Farm was one of the best restaurants that I have been to in Portland in a long time. I can't believe I didn't come here sooner..... I am an omnivoire so I was sort of not-as-excited-as-I could be about a place that mainly served vegetarian and seafood fare. However, despite that fact, it was still fabulous. It has a dark, old fashioned and homey feeling that I was immediately a large huge fan of. It feels classy without the trendy pretension that often accompanies the gourmet scene here in Portland. The drink menu was short but impressive enough for me. I had a wonderful "blood-orange" margarita that not only got me generously nice and relaxed but tasted very fresh and amazing. We started off with a vegan mushroom soup that I was hesitant about to begin with (no cream in my mushroom soup, whaaaat?) but ended up being very tasty; it was in a flavorful broth dashed with carrots and celery. Then we shared two plates; a goat-cheese and hazelnut stuffed ravioli and a sesame crusted tuna with a fennel-risotto cake. The fennel-risotto cake tasted like it was blessed by the butter gods of heaven and I could have eaten 12 more if my stomach would have allowed. My friend and I were inconspicuously eyeing it as we rotated plates to make sure the split was fair on that one..... The tuna was cooked all the way through which made me throw a suspicious eye but ended up being just as juicy and tasty as a medium-rare tuna steak. We ended with a fabulous blackberry/pear cobbler that we could not keep our forks off of even though we were already stuffed to the brim. My friend, who was visiting from out of town, was very impressed with this place and thought it was hands down the best meal she had since traveling between here and Vancouver BC. I feel like this place was pretty darn amazing and reasonable in price. And I feel that I can be hyper-critical at times. I mean, if I am going to actually get out there and spend my hard earned money (social work money nonetheless) on a nice meal, it better be damn good. This place gets my vote all the way!
(5)Lindsay H.
I was excited to try Farm Cafe on a work week to Portland based on a rave review from a friend. My expectations were met. All of the food was exquisite. I sought out Farm Cafe in large part because the restaurant focuses on locally grown produce & supporting local and organic agriculture. We had the baked brie with berries to start and it was out of this world. We then had the goat cheese & hazlenut ravioli, the grilled corn and blue cheese risotto, and the blackened cajun albacore tuna. All three dishes were very good, but the risotto was stand out -- and I am not, in general, a risotto fan. We didn't have room for dessert because the food is so rich and delicious. But, I would definitely re-visit Farm Cafe if I were to find myself in Portland again!
(5)Jen S.
WOW! WOW! WOW! you must go here if you are in town. no, you must go here if you are in the state. no, you must go here if you are on the west coast. no, just go there if you are alive and love food. service was top notch. drinks were on point. and the food. THE FOOD!!!!! we ordered the baked brie with sugar, hazelnuts and bosc pears. holy shit this was divine! next came our meals- *butternut squash raviolis with shallots, browned butter and sage. let's just say there was not one drop of anything left on my plate. insanely good. *spaghetti squash tart with goat cheese. another big WOW. i would have never thought to make a tart with spaghetti squash, but now i want to try and recreate both dishes. we've decided to make a pilgrimage here at least once a year. this is baby makin food so watch out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Mackenzie B.
I've been here a few times and the food has almost always been near perfection. They always have some amazing Vegetarian specials. Last Summer I had an amazing Pinot Noir "H" there. On this particular visit I ordered the Eggplant Veggie Burger. It was delicious if not a bit salty. Our dinner was interrupted by a loud dude at the table next to us. The restaurant was playing "AIR ~ Walkie Talkie and though I like the band, I would hardly call that dinner music.
(4)Wendy C.
My inner monologue at the Farm Cafe usually goes something like this: THIS is absolutely the most delicious tomato I've ever eaten. No, wait, THIS is the most delicious bowl of mixed nuts I've ever snacked upon. Hold on, this is TOFU? Why is it so very delicious? The grandpa part of me is pleased that it's difficult to spend over $18 or so per entree for, what in my opinion, is some of the best food in Portland. Expect an hour plus wait whenever you show up. The gal on date night part of me is pleased with the coziness and wine specials and the mood lighting. The pescatarian part of me is pleased that I can order any darn thing I want on the menu. So why the four stars, Wendy? This sounds like a five-star place. Nitpicks from last visit: *Charming Boy Companion and I were told a 30 - 45 minute wait for a table (which is a SCORE at the Farm). We ended up waiting at least twice that long, and no one ever thought to check in with us about it. *Waitress was Wall of Silence. She removed my empty wine glass without asking me if I'd like another (I did). She took away my half-eaten dinner without asking me if I wanted it boxed (I did). She silently kept lighting the little candle on the table, even though I kept blowing it out (as it was roughly 90 degrees inside the place). Silent Waitress and I were having some serious Communication Issues! *Finally, It's August. Why was something called Spring Vegetable Nest on their menu? (However, it was delicious!)
(4)dan l.
This is a truly charming restaurant with fantastic food, friendly staff, and wonderful atmosphere. By now it was a couple of years ago that I ate here but as I remember, our entire meal was exceptional. It's a bit on the pricey side but they make it worth your while. Set in an old house on Burnside St. you feel right at home. I hate to write such a general review but it was so long ago that I can really only remember being satisfied and eager to come back in the future.
(4)nicole y.
I have seen some pretty bad reviews of farm cafe, and the people i have mentioned it to have had some gnarly experiences there. for me, i really enjoy it, and since i respect my opinion the most, here's my review: THE BEST VEGGIE BURGER I HAVE EVER HAD! i'm not huge on egglant, nor do buns make me salivate, but the farm veggie burger has got it going on. i've tried lots of veggie burgers out there, and i give respect to a restaurant that makes it's own, but i give even more respect for doing it well. for me, a cheeseball should be renamed a goodball. is there a way to mess it up? i did have one weird experience with service here, regarding the sun and some umbrella shades, but other than that, it's been fine. maybe not amazingly magical, but i'd rather have space and not feel rushed to leave, even if there is a line.
(4)John B.
Delicious food. Interesting. Courteous service.
(5)Willow H.
We drove to Portland for a day trip and loved our meals at the Farm Cafe. I am vegetarian and my husband eats fish, they had local and delicious options for both of us. The atmosphere is a comfortable and elegantly understated home, and their staff was great. I must say that my only disappointment and the reason I did not give them 5 stars was because of my tea. Yes, Tea! I ordered some tea and they brought me out STASH tea. I almost fell off my chair in surprise that a restaurant boasting local fare did not have local tea.
(4)Alisha P.
This is a restaurant any vegan should know about. I went here for my birthday last year, its a causally fancy place. I first went years ago with my aunt for one of our dates we do when she comes to visit. I've loved it since. Their crusted tofu marsala sounds underwhelming but I swear to you I dream about it, I'm not even a mashed potato person. Their salads are good and they always have at least one vegan special. So, I can choose the AMAZING stand by or try something new -or- share! I wish they would take the egg out of their veggie burger, because its always on the top veggie burger lists. When I was with my parents both got different fish dishes, both said they were the best fish they'd had in over a year. Thats saying something because my parents eat alot of fish. I love this place!
(5)K B.
My friend is avoiding fat and oil. Why go out to dinner with such restrictions? It cramped my style a little since we wanted to split an entree. We had the tomato plate to start, which starred some of the most delicious heirloom tomatoes ever. It was served with goat cheese (which my friend scraped off) and usually comes with basil oil (which we left off). Then we had grilled fish (I think cod) over a succotash. They were great about preparing the fish without oil and it was still moist. Over all a good experience, but I would like to branch out into the menu a little more. The drinks were delish. I will definitely get the Herbito with the tarrgon-infused vodka again and again and again...maybe even all in the same night.
(4)Tim H.
Some say that the true test of a chef is how well they roast a chicken. It's a simple dish to make but to do it well is truly an art. Farm Cafe's roast chicken was simply spectacular. Perfectly seasoned throughout, crispy skin and juicy, delicious meat. They also took the extra time to bone out the breast and the thigh. Excellent. The wife had a goat cheese ravioli that was also perfectly cooked. She did an excellent job of describing all the flavors and little details in the dish but I did a poor job of paying attention as I was too absorbed in the chicken. Regardless of how much we would have paid, Farm Cafe is a five star restaurant, the fact that we had an appetizer, two cocktails, two beers, two entrees and desert and it cost all of sixty some dollars is unbelievable. We'll come here every time we're in PDX.
(5)Girl W.
Its a very nice restaurant. But something about it went wrong in my stomach and it came splashing out in a liquid form faster than it went in! I had ravioli with some kind of veggie filling, squash maybe. The sauce was a clear yellowish light sauce with a weird flavor. Maybe all of it was too rich for me. Atmosphere was really wonderful! We sat in a room that was a little dark and it had a bar in it. I personally enjoy darker rooms. Wish I would have ordered a cocktail, I hear they are fantastic. Too bad the food did not agree with me. Maybe next time.
(3)Elizabeth S.
So delicious! It is such a cute little restaurant. Great service. The gnocchi was insane!
(5)Jeremy R.
This is our new favorite place! Great food! Great service! Excellent vegetarian/vegan options! Had a really nice evening out with friends. The noise level was just right for conversation with the old house giving that cozy feel. Just an all around great restaurant!
(5)Yousuf M.
specials are always good!! Also it's a good place for dating and drinking. Moreover, the customer service is great!
(5)Iselin N.
At Farm Café we had the best meal of our 3 weeks long road trip down the U.S West Coast. Order the fried fish. And order the chocolate Sufflé. It will make your day!
(5)Shannon J.
My family and I enjoyed a late dinner on the outdoor patio. The outdoor space is quiet and romantic, especially when illuminated by the outdoor lights. I was very impressed by the chartreuse cocktail and the corn gnocchi - both were light and refreshing. The buffalo wings and mushroom appetizer were also hits for the group. I will definitely return when I'm next on the west coast.
(4)Rachel G.
Everything about this place is lovely. The service is friendly, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is charming. Make sure to make reservations and get the baked Brie. Great place for a date or a special night out.
(5)Khari L.
I can't say enough about this place, it's food nirvana. The smoked salmon deviled eggs with the house made lamb bacon, were the best deviled eggs I've ever had in my life. Plus, the farmhouse veggie burger is the only time I've ever really liked anything that was eggplant based, the fries were even amazing. Also, the blue cheese stuffed figs were amazingly balanced with the balsamic reduction, honey and hazelnuts, again, blue cheese is not something I'm usually a fan of. And the desserts did not disappoint either, definitely take the time to eat here.
(5)Melissa S.
I took my parents here on their first time visiting me in Portland. I could not ask for a better dinner service. Our drinks, appetizers, dinners and dessert were fabulous. I love the ambience in this restaurant. There is nothing better than a quiet nice house restaurant! My trout was perfection! I will come back here many times!
(5)Alan W.
Fun Evening...! Great service, the waitress' recommendations for drinks and dinner were spot on. The drinks were excellent, creative and ....potent.... The dinners' presentation was good but the food was excellent, well prepared The atmosphere is a little dark, but pleasant. We're going back ...!
(4)Angus R.
Food was good had a couple of starters that were both extremely salty. Had the ratatouille for a main it was excellent. The highlight was the sunken souffle for dessert.
(4)Akshata R.
Lovely family restaurant with a seasonal menu! I've tried the veggie burger and the quinoa dish at different times - the taste has been good and the portions just right. Very friendly staff to boot. It can get crowded so be patient at the bar :)
(4)Erin F.
As a vegetarian, the Farm Cafe is by far one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. Although the menu is not exclusively veg, I can always find something and it's always delicious. The atmosphere is pleasant and cozy, and service is top-notch. Great spot for happy hour, too!
(4)Mary L.
Fantastic meal. Wish we had time to come back before we had to go home. Charming people, great atmosphere, fresh delicious food. Mmmmm.
(5)Lena H.
This is legit Portlandia cuisine.
(5)Lori F.
Ho-lee-Cow! (In a good way) Friends sang the praises of the Farm Cafe for years and I never went for it, I thought it was all hype but as I learned, it surely wasn't. We were greeted by a lovely waitress who was kind and let us know that we had just snagged the last seat on their patio... Which was perfect and inviting. Food was mostly veg but there were plenty of great options which included a special of salad Nicoise. I usually have a giant boner for Nicoise salads so I went for it. Gentle Jehova! It was like no Nicoise I ever had. Carefully seared tuna, hard boiled egg and some sauce that was divine. It was thoughtful and richer than any Nicoise in my life and it truly shot me dead with deliciousness. So dead that I just revived and mustered up the courage to post this post, this very instant. We had a wonderful carafe of Pinot Gris and the atmosphere was summery and delightful. I will be back for sure, and will look forward to another memorable evening, :)
(5)Deepak G.
We went here on my wife's birthday. Food is absolutely amazing. We tried all veggie options and they were great. We liked tamale a lot. Definitely will go again.
(5)Julie F.
Simply put: amazing food and dining experience expertly managed by great service staff. We had a reservation and the restaurant ran late on having an available table. Very kind and apologetic, before we were even past our time slot, the host made sure we made our way back to the bar and selected a drink. Then, while there, he continually checked back with us and as our reservation window passed, he bought us an appetizer. Not only was it delicious, it was a joy to watch two talented bartenders seamlessly move between high - maintenance cocktails and entertaining the few of us at the bar. By the time our table was ready, two bartenders, the host a server and a bus person had already chatted us up and helped out. Then, we met our waitress who described the food in strange, passionate ways, yet after the first bite, we both realized she was spot on. The meal was perfection. Beet salad and a greens salad and then a featured lamb shoulder special that was truly amazing. I had the pan - fried trout and don't know if I'll have a meal that tops it. Again, all this great food is going on with truly incredible service and Bob Dylan playing on vinyl at the bar. This was one of the best choices we've made in a long time. Don't miss it.
(5)Wendy C.
I was surprised at how upscale this restaurant is--several men in sport coats and most men in khakis, women in dresses (although our waiter was in jeans). Definitely a date-night place, not kid-friendly at all. I also expected more vegetarian food, since this restaurant came up with that search term, but it isn't a vegetarian restaurant (my mistake). The food was pricey, and while the veggie burger was tasty, it almost seems like cheating to make a veggie burger out of breaded and fried eggplant. We ordered 2 entrees, the veggie burger with fries (huge), and the ratatouille, which looked more like a side than a main and didn't stand on its own. Had to ask for bread, which seemed to be on everyone else's table. Waiter incorrectly identified the peppers in the gnocchi as not the hot kind, which was not the case. Not a big deal for most adults, but a total deal-breaker for a kid (and we did ask if the peppers could be left off, and the answer was no). Lastly, we were seated under a fan that my husband described as "hurricane," and when I asked them to turn it down, it went to tropical storm.
(3)Haroun K.
One of the best meals I've had in Portland so far. I had a dish comprised of quinoa, kalamata olives, seaweed, salad greens and edible flowers, and my god was it good. It was so so so good. The ravioli and the beet salad were also enjoyed around the table. The chickpea dip is a good way to start, the rhubarb crisp (with either dairy or vegan ice cream) is a good way to finish.. There's a refined, respectable beer and wine list. And sitting on the patio on a nice summer evening is a great idea. Service was informative and friendly. I'd definitely return.
(5)Joe K.
Love this place! My wife and I have been here twice now and it hasn't disappointed at all. Where to start? The food is excellent, the wine is excellent, and the atmosphere is great, and the service is wonderful. The first time I had the risotto, that my mouth still waters when I think about it. Probably the best meal I have ever had, and that is saying something. Their wine selection is great and their house tempranillo is phenomenal for the price. My wife and I love checking out the great food scene here in Portland, and I have to say this is at the top of our list for restaurants here. My wife did complain of being a little cold the second time we were there due to sitting next to some glass french doors. It wasn't bad at all and I was totally fine. Beyond that the atmosphere is nice. The last thing is the second time we went we felt like we went to town ordering and figured we were going to have a pretty hefty bill. I was shocked when it came in at $82 without gratuity. What you get for the price is amazing. Love it here and cannot recommend it enough!
(5)Kirsten H.
Pretty mediocre restaurant. I went to try the veggie burger that I saw on a food show. It was tasty but fell apart on the first bite which makes anything a challenge to eat. No amazing food, just a typical Portland restaurant. Service was very thorough too.
(3)Rebecca C.
I think this place is hit and miss with the food. The brocolli fritters were excellent and the fries were perfect. My date also really enjoyed his fish and the desserts looked amazing. What I don't understand is the hype over the veggie burger. Now, i'm not a vegetarian and I don't eat a lot of veggie burgers, but this was disgusting. It was mushy and squished all out of the bun in the first bite. The eggplant tasted like it hadn't been cooked properly and there was still some bitterness to it. Normally I wouldn't have gone for the veggie burger but two things drove me, first everyone raving about it, and second I just had a tummy bug so all dairy was pretty much out. Which is a bummer since everything else on the menu either was dairy, nuts (allergies) and mushrooms (gross). So frankly, if you can't eat nuts, dairy or mushrooms, this place is definitely not for you. I will say that service was not as bad as I expected. We did have a bit of a wait between our waiter coming by, but it wasn't bad. The water person was good, and kept our carafe filled.
(3)Michael H.
This is a great date place as the ambience is romantic and the people were super friendly. Other than that, it is a toss. We had the brie appetizer which I thought was very good. My date thought it was too sweet. She then tried the kale which was okay and I had the tofu. The tofu dish was nothing more than a heap of mashed potatoes with three (four?)wedges of tofu which were crisp on one side. The entire dish was so bland that I may as well stayed at home and made my own.
(2)TheBucketOfTrut H.
Tried this place tonight. I almost never write Yelp reviews, but I was thoroughly disappointed with this place with it being rated 4 stars here. Had the "BeeT Carpaccio" and was underwhelmed. The white bean and spinach dip is a definite skip. The crackers weren't crunchy at all, and the dip just wasn't anything special. I got the roasted duck entree which I can say is something I could probably cook as good or better in my own kitchen if I followed a recipe, and I can't cook worth a damn. I'm not going to waste much more effort just wanted to put a warning out there for anyone thinking of trying this place for the first time. I will say It has a nice relaxed atmosphere, it's in a great spot, and the staff were all nice. It's just a shame the food isn't better. Either it was an off night or a lot of you folks are nuts.
(2)James O.
Great place. Cool, cozy atmosphere with excellent rotating dishes. I came here with my family on Xmas eve and they to us we were out of luck (no reservation) but then the manager came up and told us to come with him and he said merry Christmas and gave us a perfect table. Everything I have had here has been amazing. I highly recommend coming here.
(5)RJ H.
Where else can you have a farm a block away from your loft space. And true to their name "Farm" is dedicated to a from Farm to Table mentality ...you can recognize it in many of their dishes...the have an attention to detail. The space totally says farmhouse, with a warm inviting bar and a great back patio when weather allows. Although usually crowded they have ample tables for walk ins...although I'm usually at the bar or at one of the high top tables adjacent . Service is efficient , a full bar, wine ,cocktail and a small but diverse beer selection. What's not to like? My vote is still not in regarding the dinner menu.....The Tomato Plate, Brie both good small plate/ appetizers, but nothing has yet to cream "eat me " on the entrée side. I come here often for a drink ...connect with a friend and the experience is great. I'll follow up with a full review once I'm compelled to eat there.
(3)Gina F.
We were visiting friends in Portland, and they were kind enough to take us to dinner at Farm. Thanks to the restaurant's location in a house, it is a pretty cozy & bustling establishment. We started at the bar, where we sat briefly while waiting for a tabe to become available. The bartender was friendly, and knew what he was doing. The drinks were all delish. Next we moved to our table in the front of the house near the windows. There we were greeted by a friendly server who really knew the menu well & was able to give great guidance. We nstarted with the cheese ball & mushrooms, both of which were excellent. For entrees, we had the gnocchi, the veggie burger, & the lamb. All were delicious, except the veggie burger, which was far beyond delicious. It was the most amazing veggie burger ever--and I've probably had 100. It has apparently been documented on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" or some such reality/food TV show. I'd give everything a solid 4, but the burger gets a 7, so overall. :)
(5)Jaime R.
Smoked salmon ravioli was incredible. Also, the lamb bacon that came with the deviled eggs was a great surprise. we read a lot of reviews about the veggie burger, but was unimpressed due to the lack of structure to the patty, it fell apart fast. The burger and fries were massive compared to the rest of the plates our table ordered, which seemed odd. Very good flavors on all the dishes. Definitely will be back when we're in town.
(4)Carolyn E.
This place is amazing. We were there for the first time to celebrate. Our anniversary. Despite being busy and a bit loud it was a great evening with a wonderful meal. The beet salad was one.of the best things I've ever eaten. The squash ravioli was also excellent. Only complaint was that the garden burger was mushy. But far from inedible. We'll be back. Attentive service nice am incentive. I highly recommend.
(5)David B.
Had a cup of soup and Risotto. Both were *superb*. I really wish I knew how to describe the dishes better, but they were just perfectly balanced - flavorful without being heavily spiced.
(5)Jenny C.
The whole concept of changing the menu everyday to fit the kitchen's freshest ingredients is a godsend. Every restaurants should follow suit. Now it doesn't make sense for restaurants to have static menu but adaptable ones to ensure the best quality and healthy food for customers. Not only are their ingredients fresh, but also the food is amazing. The chef definitely knows what he/she/they are doing.
(5)Mandana S.
Dear Farm Cafe, Thank you for being a pillar of consistent excellence. You're a great role model for other restaurants, and spouses, alike. Love you long time, Mandana
(5)C-pher M.
I found this place on my Food Network, "On The Road" app. HOLY MOLY I was impressed with not only the menu, but how reasonable the prices were for what they were serving. I HAD to start out with the Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs. These things are insanely tasty, and made with their house-made lamb bacon. Speaking of house-made lamb bacon, I was impressed that their meats are butchered and prepared there onsite. It really makes a difference to have fresh ingredients and it doesn't get much fresher than this. They also said that they farm source all their products, so they are coming right from the person to the location...so no wasting time letting the food age with a distributor. I was torn between the Goat Cheese Ravioli and a Salad made with local Artisan Blue Cheese...but the Ravioli sounded too good to pass up. (That and our waitress suggested I go with the pasta) I wasn't disappointed. I have to say, I hope to get back to Portland again so I can go back and try some of the other dishes that they have available. If you're in the area, I suggest that you go there to eat. It's pretty damn amazing!
(4)Mike P.
I almost never leave reviews, but this was fantastic. One of the best burgers I've ever had in my life, and it was a vegetarian patty. (I'm not vegetarian, either.) Usually I can dissect what spices or flavors were added. This time, it was such a great mixture, I couldn't even place it. It just simply "tasted great" and was a great portion.
(5)Jenny C.
We sat at the bar which had a great atmosphere. Dim lights and friendly wait staff, and a happy hour that starts after 9pm every night. Score! We ordered a lamb burger (awesome), fries, and melon salad and drinks. The fries were a little salty. The drinks were on point and the salad was as well. I would definitely come back here during happy hour because the prices were so good.
(4)Joe G.
Came to Farm Cafe during a trip to Portland. It is located in an area of town with a lot of food and foot traffic. The place wasn't too busy, although I made a reservation since that's what all the previous yelpers recommended. Ordered the veggie burger since that was also recommended. And the burger was fantastic! You could hardly tell that it was a veggie burger. The bun was crisp and the lettuce was fresh. The party itself was tasty and filling, mostly tasting like a mix of veggies, grains and protein. Totally worth the visit to Farm Cafe and would definitely come back on my next trip to Portland.
(4)Denise H.
My favorite food place in Portlandia!!! Came here for a late Sunday dinner with a friend. Easy nearby street parking. This is a great place for vegetarians, which my friend likes to pretend to be sometimes. Made reservations just in case, but there was plenty of open tables at 9:30pm. Chose to sit outside in the patio which is really cute with string lights, very romantic if you're on a date. We shared the clams and fries as an appetizer, which was delicious!!! I had to fight every urge to drink the broth afterwards. These clams were amazing and accompanied by yummy fries and a nice dollop of aioli. The fries were so good drenched in the broth! I got the veggie burger with house salad which was sooo good! I can see why other people might be put off by the texture as it is a little on the mushy side, not sturdy like a black bean burger. But I love eggplant and don't mind a little bit of mush. It tasted excellent! Also the salad was great too! My friend got the ricotta/lemon ravioli. I tried it and it tasted very fresh, but I still liked my food better :) Would definitely recommend it! If I ever come back to Portland would also try a bunch of stuff on their happy hour menu.
(5)John L.
Late at night, Portlanders are hunting our elusive white whale--that great late night menu. No, Farm Cafe doesn't serve white whale. That was a Moby Dick reference. Anyway, after 9pm you can get great food and fancy atmosphere at an incredibly reasonable price. And the people were nice too.
(5)Glenn P.
I didn't know this was a *Fancy* restaurant. Sure doesn't look that way from its exterior. WOW is this place PRICEY! The name is definitely misleading as there doesn't seem to be much 'cafe' inside this place at all. While the food and service was good, I did get the impression that they were trying to hurry us through as we didn't order any alcoholic drinks (at $10+ apiece!) The vegan thing is very pronounced here - and that's fine if you're into it. You'll get the stink-eye if you don't make a reservation! I guess we were lucky to walk in and get a table on the weekend.
(2)Mandy N.
Vegetarian amazingness!!! The herb crusted tofu with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and mushroom Marsala was to die for and the Potatoe Gnocchi was the best I've ever had. We ordered the rhubarb crisp with coconut ice cream, which was a delicious ending to the most wonderful meal.
(4)Erin R.
Delicious food, clearly sourced locally. The meal was amazing, but the service was a bit spotty. Our waitress was flighty and kept forgetting things. Thankfully, the lovely atmosphere and the food in general made up for it. Also had a phenomenal wine selection - best Pinot Gris I've had in a quite a while.
(4)Sima M.
This is the first time I've felt compelled to review a restaurant. From start to finish, staff was welcoming and attentive. Every item we ordered was flavorful and delicious. I'm not a big fan of tofu, but I tried the crusted tofu with mashed potatoes and mushroom marsala...sooo good! My husband had the ravioli which was equally tasty. This is a good restaurant esp if you have folks in your party who are not into vegetarian dishes...easy place to please a variety of palettes. Enjoy!
(5)John L.
Not sure how this place has escaped my notice for so long. It has it's own parking lot!! Although only 4 spaces. There are plenty of spaces along the street at dinner time. The mushroom appetizer was good 4 stars. The baked brie was supposed to be really good, and it was pretty good, but didn't seem much different from what my friends make at home all the time. 3.5 stars. The halibut cakes were quite delicious, especially with the aioli 4.5 stars. The pan crusted tofu with garlic mashed potatoes were ok. The tofu was good but the mashed potatoes were just so so 3 stars. The poletta was decent. 3.5 stars. The veggie hamburger was pretty darn good for a veggie burger. 4.5 stars. The halibut was pretty good. 4 stars. The kids cheesy noodles were actually pretty good. 4.5 stars. The green ravioli was quite good. 4 stars. All in all I would go back. Most of the dishes were ones that I would order again. The service was good. Great place for vegetarians. Not exclusively vegetarian but lot of vegetarian choices.
(4)Nancy B.
Quaint building and excellent service only add to the experience of great food and wine. We stopped in during happy hour and found ourselves satisfied with corn fritters, white bean and basil spread, roasted peppers and lamb dolmas and the lamb burger slider. They offer a creative cocktail menu and tried several of the choices.
(5)Jskilicious S.
We walked in without a reservation and were able to be seated at a table near the bar. It's an old time saloon type feeling with a little farm table action. The deviled eggs with salmon were pretty good. My husband liked them so much he ordered them twice! I got the feta ravioli which had kalamata olives and feta cheese with a brown butter lemon sauce. That was delicious. There was also an albacore tuna dish served with rice and snap peas that was also great. The desserts are something you can skip. We got the homemade ice cream which I didn't care for. Overall the chef is very talented. I would have liked to see a little more menu selection. We would go again.
(4)Bailey m.
What wonderful service! The food, the atmosphere, quality, everything! Perfect place for a date or romantic evening with your boo.
(5)Idil T.
This place has been around for 15 years, all ingredients from max 10 mile away local farms. Our favorite appetizer is beet salad. Main dish we had braised lamb meatball on polenta from a very close by farm, all grass fed lamb. Amazingly delicious and very well slow cooked.... For desert, do not skip ordering the chocolate soufflé , it is hard to find a good soufflé, so do not miss the chance of having a very good soufflé here at The Farm.
(5)Lucero B.
Lovely birthday meal. Just what we were looking for. Vegetarian with flavor. Loved the baked Brie with blackberries! Loved the melon salad. So tasty. I had the ravioli and it was delicious, not too heavy. We are Farmers Market shoppers and enjoyed the creativity and simplicity that was given to each dish. Great ambiance. I dressed up -- lol Portland everyone dressed down! Enjoy. We left feeling full but not heavy! I will return.
(4)Paul S.
Had the trout, very good. Nice atmosphere, like eating in a home. Not too crowded or crazy on a Sunday evening. Good service. Wish the menu had a few more items.
(4)Michael K.
I was skeptical at first based on some of their prices, but ended up really enjoying everything. Service was great, patio was comfortable, prices actually pretty reasonable, and food was excellent. Will def return
(5)Desiree D.
My husband and I were looking for something to eat last Friday night around 9pm. We knew our options were limited for a couple of reasons: it was late and we are vegetarian. He found this restaurant on google and we decided to give it a shot. We were seated in the bar and given both the regular and happy hour menu. While we only ordered a butter salad off of the HH menu, it looked pretty great. The regular menu was what caught our eyes, though, and we got the fantastic baked brie to start with. Ugh, if I could only eat that forever, I would be a happy camper. My husband got the marsala tofu dish he loved it. Crispy tofu, a mountain of mashed potatoes, and an amazing mushroom marsala sauce. I ordered the preserved lemon and feta ravioli. You only get four ravioli, but it is obvious that they're handmade and seriously worth every penny. Freaking amazing. The bartender was awesome and very attentive. We didn't get a chance to try desserts this time around, but they looked amazing (some people next to us were eating the souffle and the rhubarb crisp.) We can't wait til we are back in Portland again so we can try more of their menu!
(5)Laura P.
I really like The Farm Cafe. My BF and I have been 3 times in the past couple of years and have always had am exceptional experience. All three times we were seated outside on the patio. Its a beautiful and intimate patio. We were greeted and quickly seated. They have good local brews on tap as well as a full bar with of great drinks. The menu changes frequently which is great and it follows what's in season and fresh. Last night we shared several starters including the baked brie, the beeT Carpaccio(yes beet), the mushrooms and the ficoide glacial salad before turning to the crispy Idaho trout. Everything was do good. We finished with the peach and raspberry shortcake and a small glass odd madiera. Service was attentive and she knew the menu. All in all a great meal.
(5)Derrick P.
Excellent vegetarian menu. If miss real vegetarian burger (not from costco) go there. BIG FAT veggie Patty satisfied me completely. Real cut potato fries. And the fried tofu. So yummy. 100%recommended.
(5)Michael W.
PRO: The staff was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant overall had a warm and friendly feel to it. The food presentation was good as well CON: The food was mediocre in taste and the menu was not very creative. Portion sizes were very small and most of the meal was fillers like pasta and polenta. I had the gnocchi entree and it was appetizer size. Come on guys, it's potatoes and sauce. My first visit here was disappointing overall and I would not go back.
(2)Aldwin C.
Plenty of vegetarian options. There is fish and pork too No fuss foods yet tasty They have a number of home made drink concoctions. I will definitely try a few before I return to Chicago The restaurant is a converted house. So each table feels intimate
(4)L L.
Always a delightful experience! The food is superb and caters to my vegetarian diet. I usually get the encrusted tofu with mash potatoes but tonight I had the gnocchi with ramp sauce with nettles loaded with garlic. It was delicious! The wine list is impressive and the waiters are skilled choosing the appropriate wine pairing. The spinach bean dip was mediocre, But you must try the baked Brie and the seasonal pickled veggies! Yum! Reservations are helpful if you come in the later part of the evening.
(5)Mary H.
We've been wanting to try the veggie burger at The Farm Cafe ever since it was featured on a Best Thing I Ever Ate episode (burger edition). Unfortunately, it was a little disappointing. It's your standard farm-to-table experience. The restaurant décor is pleasant, a little hipster for me (OK, a lot of Portland was a little too hipster for me) but fine. The service was good. My disappointment rests with the food itself. As a pescetarian eating at a veggie-friendly place, I was super excited to try the side dishes. Alas, the sautéed mushrooms with herbs ($9!) were, well, pedestrian. We also had a couple side dishes from the specials menu. While I appreciated the diversity in the pickled vegetable plate, it was hit or miss. The pickled asparagus was bland, the pickled radishes were too strong and spicy. My favorite pickled item were the fern buds. Very unique, visually interesting, and a good size for popping in your mouth. The asparagus fritters suffered from its ratio; it could have used a little less dough and a little more asparagus. The veggie burgers had a good flavor, but I did not care for its texture. It was very mushy and could be spread almost like a pate. I prefer a crunchier, sturdier burger. In short, the idea and description of items on the menu were better than the execution. I'm grading stiffly because of the high expectation and because we ate at other places in the PNW which were quite good. I'd say this is more like 3.5 stars.
(3)Julie S.
Overpriced vegan food. The word Farm In the name evokes meat and large portions but you won't find much of either here.
(2)Ben H.
The Farm is top notch on all fronts. First, the ambiance is is every thing you would expect in an upscale restaurant. The exterior is an inviting Victorian house conversion which is standard for many eateries in Portland, but there is a lot of thought put into the layout and decorations in the interior that make it stand out. The bar area and outside seating have warm lighting that accentuates the modern decor. Next, the menu makes good use of seasonal flavors. Although distinctly vegetarian, the dishes are hearty and generously portioned. Even a carnivore will feel amply sated after dinner at the farm. Lastly, the drink menu is creative and intentionally supplements their menu. The wait staff does an excellent job in suggesting drinks that pair well with your food.
(5)Sam N.
Had an incredible experience and lots of good food at The Farm Cafe. After having been in Portland for 2 months (moving from the east coast), and hearing "Portland is good for food", The Farm *finally* put Portland on the Food Map. The building looks unassuming, but the ambiance was nice - not too fancy, but also well decorated. The servers were all extremely pleasant and helpful, including the bus-staff. Our meal started with the heirloom tomato salad and the kale and white-bean soup. The salad was pretty great - probably the best tomatoes I've tasted in 2015. The soup was to die-for. I didn't expect a dark soup with kale and white beans, but they balanced it well. It was a little over salted for my taste, but I'm sensitive to that. The delicious bread they served went so well with the appetizers. For entrees, we got the crusted tofu and mushroom dish, and the veggie burger. The tofu dish is what put this meal on the map. The mushrooms and sauce were complex, light, and done to perfection. The tofu was the perfect temperature, seasoned well, and fried just right. The mashed potatoes on the bottom were the iconic example of garlic spuds! This is a dish that you MUST try. The veggie burger was good, but not incredible. I was happy enough with it to take it home (as the rest of the meal was beginning to be a bit much food). The meal ended with some homemade coconut ice cream. We were wondering if it was from coconut milk, or cream, but it was certainly the former. The richness of the coconut taste pervaded every part of each spoonful, and the $3 serving was very plentiful! In all, for $46, we made out with one of the best meals of the year, a great time, and a place that we'll certainly be going back.
(5)Vi B.
So many good things to say about The Farm Cafe. Service: Fabulous. We had a very attentive (but not obnoxious) server who walked us through the menu's servings. Ambiance: Very Portland--like so many other hotspots here, TFC is in a converted house with multiple rooms to walk through. This adds to the intimate feel for the whole dining experience. We sat in the bar area, which was pretty quiet. However, the rest of the restaurant seemed loud/bustling. Most importantly: The food! I ordered a charcuterie board, autumn salad, and ravioli. You can really taste how much care went into each dish. We spent our time enjoying every bite and every sip of wine. It was a bit spendy but well worth the experience.
(4)J M.
The lighting and ambiance is spot on. Everything was delicious and fresh. Had a beet salad that was to die for and a quinoa dish I would order in the mail to Seattle yuuuuummmmm
(4)Dan M.
The feta ravioli there was incredibly fresh, you could tell they made the pasta themselves. Actually, everything tasted fresh! I would recommend sitting outside if it's not too hot or in the bar if it is. The bar was quiet and intimate whereas the other in door part of the restaurant has more of a typical restaurant atmosphere.
(5)Marianne R.
Love this place. We had a reservation for 7:15 and were promptly seated. I had called the restaurant to let them know we had a special occasion (daughter's birthday) and they said they'd do something special like a candle on her dessert. Well that didn't happen. And we had to hunt the waitress down to get my husband's drink - she said she forgot. The food was fab, the service was meh. But we've been here many times before and had better service so I won't hold this one incident against them.
(4)Seth F.
I didn't even make it as far as the food. I was beyond excited to eat at this restaurant, but I was turned off to the point of leaving by the way the owner treated me. He was overly rude about my not having shoes (despite my politely explaining that without it being posted on the door it's not required). You'd think the owner of a place like this would be much more down to earth, or at least friendly. I would have loved to try the food but I refuse to support people who aren't the least bit personable. Went to Clarklewis and got a MUCH better experience!!
(1)Leslie W.
I've been here a couple of times. The food is good and there's a nice selection, especially for those who like many non-meat items to choose from. My first visit here was with a group of four and we were there for Happy Hour, which was just about perfect. My second time here was with a large group, and I know large groups can be difficult to accommodate and it's rare to get good service and good food because of the technical difficulties faced by the kitchen and staff. So I try to be gentle when reviewing a restaurant based on a group experience, but I will say this was one of the best meals I've eaten _in a group_ at a restaurant, ever. The service was off but I think our server was new and frustrated by having to serve a big table. I sometimes wonder why restaurants even allow big tables. They can't get a dozen dishes out at once and you can't talk to the folks at the other side of the table, so why be seated at the same table as someone you'll never see? Side by side tables would solve a lot of problems re: billing and service. But nobody asked my opinion, except maybe Yelp, so I'll just try to live my life in small groups whenever possible. Since the food was good and served at the right temperature, and pretty reasonable for the quality and preparation, it gets four stars despite a few issues.
(4)Robin T.
Kudos to a chef and restaurant that pays attention to every detail, every bite, every flavor. What a delicious dinner we had! When you start with the best quality food, cook it properly, and add herbs and sauces that truly complement, then you create a memorable meal. Well done! The server was polite, informed, and unobtrusive . Perfecto. Dinner for two was $75 ( no drinks) which I think was quite reasonable for such high quality food. I highly recommend this friendly place.
(5)Becca J.
I had dinner here, and it was amazing. I absolutely want to come back. First bonus - they take reservations!!! (I hate that a ton of restaurants in Portland don't do this.) They also have a small parking lot next to the restaurant; there are only about 4-5 spaces, so it is likely that you will have to do street parking. We started with the Williams Baked Brie appetizer. It was warm, and sweet, and the hazelnuts on top were like the icing on the cake. For my main dish I had the Parisienne Gnocchi. Rather than being heavy and potato based, this gnocchi was actually cheese-based and very light. The pesto sauce it came with was so good that the waitress brought me out some extra bread to sop it up and eat every last bit. For dessert we had chocolate pound cake with home-made whipped cream. I'm not really sure how to describe it, but the chocolate seemed more like carob than milk or dark chocolate, and the whipped cream was the perfect sweetness. There was also some sort of berry sauce on top that was really tasty. Overall, I'd love to come back here. Everything was so good that I really want to try other things on the menu. The inside ambiance was a little dark and intimate, and it had a slightly upscale vibe.
(5)Nicole O.
Excellent resto for a business dinner or pretty much any other event. The food and service are wonderful. We had the sautéed mushrooms, pickle plate and fritters to start. They brought us endless fresh baked local bread too that was served with their high quality oil and vinegar. I had ordered the lamb meatball plate but was brought a different lamb dish with spaetzle and it was fab. My colleague ordered the tofu in a Marsala sauce and it was really good too. We shared an orange and something cheesecake and my colleague went bananas over it and said it was one of the best cheesecakes she's ever had. We also got the soufflé which was really light and rich. I liked that the wine was in different sized carafes and reasonably priced. I really liked this restaurant and will be back.
(4)Ronald A.
We had a very nice dinner here on Friday. You enter through an old house, but they are linked to a bigger building behind. It is nice appointed inside, with lots of wood paneling and wooden booths. It feels very comfortable. The treat here is the outside patio. This restaurant is just off Burnside, but you would not know it sitting outside. We liked their salad selection. Rebecca and Phil loved the beet salad; I skipped it. The heirloom tomato salad was balanced just right with oil and balsamic. The figs on my salad made everything else worthwhile. We paired an Eyrie Rose of Pinot Noir off the wine by the glass menu. It was just right to start the mean on a warm Fall evening. Nice color and good acid to go with the food. We also enjoyed our entrees; Phil had a fabulous gnocchi and Rebecca and I split the duck breast. He had the better dish; our duck could have used a bit more spice. The wine list is all local and focuses a lot on Pinot Noir; as a result it is expensive. Since Pinot Noir is not our favorite red, we looked at the other choices and picked a Cabernet Sauvignon from Walla Walla. We were assured it would go well with our dishes; it did not. It really needed a big bloody steak. It was a bit harsh and too much wine for our dishes. I think we will bring our own wine next time. We enjoyed this dinner and will come back.
(4)Jim C.
Great service, great menu, great location. Well, everything was just great. Thanks.
(5)Judee M.
I loved finding this little place. The ambiance of a wonderful Victorian house (remember being in it when it was a residence years ago--so added to the intrigue) My hubby is one picky eater. When I saw "vegetarian and seafood"as focus, I thought I'd take a chance. We were delighted with the trout and a very yummy ravioli. I was crazy tired, so can't remember the ingredients, but it was soul comfort food for me. Relaxing, intimate atmosphere. A little girl was having a birthday with Mom and girlfriends, a table over. The waitress catered to that delightfully, still keeping within the romantic/intimate feeling of the restaurant. A European feel to this place. We had attention from waitstaff but not the overbearing type which is so rampant these days. My picky hubby gave it a big thumbs up. The price is up there a bit, but a great value for the $, and we are usually cheap eaters. I will take several girlfriends for their birthdays...ideal!
(4)Allison S.
TOURISTS- I'm sure this is great if you need a quick bite to eat on lunch at work. But found it on yelp and was super disappointed because I'm here as a tourist. Not a regular sit down restaurant. This is a tiny cafe in an office building. We turned around and left because it's not what we were looking for.
(3)Lorrie M.
This place is pretty phenomenal and highlights one of the main reasons I love Portland. The food here is epic and when you get the bill you will wonder why San Francisco charges 3-4x as much! I came here with some friends after a full day of eating, so we were kind of tapped out already but wanted to try some dishes here so decided to order 4-5 things to share. We had 3 appetizers and 2 entries between the 3 of us and it was a pretty good spread. We also had a bottle of wine, which was surprisingly delicious despite what I have been told about PNW red wine. Their bread pudding, meats, and amazing selection of cheeses, baked brie, short rib, duck ... I could go on but now I am just hungry. Definitely make a reservation, and this place is totally worth it.
(5)Mao T.
We came here for a special little dinner after we moved to Portland. It looks like a little house from the outside and the ambiance is nice. Service was timed well, our server was there when we wanted her to be and she left us alone to enjoy our meal. We did a whole three course meal, apps, entree and dessert. People are stating how expensive this place is....for their presentation and elegance ...I think this place is a steal. This place seems to fly under the radar but it is definitely worth checking out.
(5)Michelle K.
With a 7pm reservation on a Saturday evening, we were seated at the front of the restaurant, which, with a bay window, definitely felt nice and cosy. The food was hit and miss. For starters, the Williams Baked Brie, served with apple slices and bread, was super delicious; the mushrooms, on the other hand, were not very exciting and even a bit too salty for me - didn't feel like it was worth $9. As for the entrees, I had the quiona crusted risotto cakes, which were quite nice - the crust had a nice nutty flavour but the risotto inside was a bit lacking in flavour, though that was made up in part by the squash puree. The side salad of micro greens was really refreshing - yummy. My dining companions had the veggie burger, the potato gnocchi and the roasted lamb. The veggie burger was a real disappointment - the patty, which I tried, was really mushy and strange. I didn't try the other two dishes, but the gnocchi was apparently okay while the lamb was raved about.
(3)Paul G.
It was crowded, and after seeing some other reviews I was worried that there might be a long wait, but our waitress got to us quickly and was extremely professional and attentive. The food was delicious and unique - we ordered a bunch of small dishes and enjoyed every one.
(5)Linda M.
So good - perfect, attentive service, great atmosphere on the patio, and the food was fresh, original, and so delicious. Outstanding experience.
(5)Chelsea Laine H.
Was in town with my boss and we wanted something close to our hotel that had good vegetarian options. We found this place! The decor is super cute, cozy, and very homey. It's a good date night spot but also good for meals with friends. We started with the Brie...always a great option! I had the mushroom risotto and my boss had the asparagus ravioli - both were delicious! It looked like they might have a patio in the back?! Would definitely try this place again when in the area.
(4)Ashlee L.
Ate here for my 30th birthday (right before Christmas) since it looked like it was really vegetarian friendly. Unfortunately we were 30 minutes late for our reservation because of a train (which forced us to eat quickly to move on to the next item on the agenda), the service was almost non existent, no paper towels in the bathroom, and the food was just ok (between the two of us we had the Fritters, Risotto Cakes [under-cooked], and the lamb). If I lived in the area I would probably give it a second chance by trying one of the salads. We had a cute table in the front window, but not much of a view (just an ally type street).
(3)Jeanine H.
The building is beautiful anyway, but right now it has Christmas decorations in all of the wonderful old windows. My friend and I were seated at the front of the restaurant, which felt private, even though we were visible from outside. The wait-staff was very prompt and helpful throughout our meal, without being omnipresent in a spooky way. My friend and I chose three hors d'oeuvres to share and a salad for each of us. The fritters were tender and flavorful, with a creamy sauce that set them off without being overpowering. We had clams and fries in a delicious garlicky broth and aioli atop - a scrumptious treat. And...then deviled eggs with smoked salmon were creamy and rich tasting. My lamb bacon accidentally fell in the clam broth, which only enhanced the flavor! Our salads were very fresh and perfectly dressed, meaning the dressing didn't fight with the flavors of the ingredients. I love beets, but they were even more delicious with their partners, pecans, greens, and chevre. Yep, it's pricey, but for a special holiday evening out on the town, it's worth it.
(5)DizzyIzzy D.
Delicious! We ate dinner there with the kids early last night and ate dessert there with friends later in the evening. Clam & Fries - So delicious that my 9 year old daughter ate all of the clams except for the 2 she generously spared for her parents. Lol. The fries were super yummy. I tasted a subtle hint of truffle. Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs - The bacon on top makes this dish divine. Caramelized Onion, Fried Sage and Gruyere Fritters - Kudos for hitting the right internal and external texture. I was pleasantly surprised that they made fritters without being oily. Pickled Vegetable Plate - Perfectly pickled. Not too acidic. Braised Green Ravioli - 4 extra large sized raviolis with pasta made from scratch. This pasta could not have been made any better. The texture and flavor were on point. I wanted to drink that tarragon butter sauce after the raviolis were gone. Sunken Chocolate Souffle - I cannot review this since it was gone before I could take a bite. It must've been delicious. Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée - This may be the best vanilla creme brulee I have ever had. Sadly, I only had 2 bites before it had been devoured by others. We should've ordered another once we realized it was a big hit, but we were on a time crunch. Cranberry Apple Crisp - I cannot give an honest review about this dish. I was still pouting about the disappearing creme brulee while eating the crisp.
(5)Jamie C.
I guess it all boils down to what you order. I came with some girlfriends and enjoyed the ambiance... cute little restaurant, nice crowd.. Service started off a little snarky but ended well so no complaints there. The table enjoyed the Brie appetizer with bread, but I felt like no one (including me) was overjoyed with their meal. Two of us got the famed veggie burger. The taste was excellent, but the texture was off-putting. Mushy... blech. The accompanying fries were outstanding, however. A friend got the quinoa risotto cakes and while she didn't love the taste, I thought it was fantastic. I finished my meal with a very tasty souffle. I would definitely give this place another shot... need to try other things. The trout looked yummy.
(3)Jo B.
Read great reviews about this place so was looking forward to eating dinner here. Unfortunately it didn't quite deliver. Baba ganoush was quite possibly the worst I have ever had...blended to within an inch of its life and bearing none of the deep smokey flavor that a good blistered eggplant skin should impart. Poor seasoning too. The sauteed mushrooms were a bland buttery pile of plain old brown button mushrooms...I was at least expecting some variation in there. The kale salad was pretty good and the veggie burger decent. The wine list looked great but the server had no idea what to recommend when we asked for a good local Pinot. Overall disappointing.
(2)Christine W.
The service was excellent and there were a lot of vegan options. We ordered the pickle plate, mushrooms, and toasted hazelnuts as appetizers. They were all yummy but the pickles and nuts were the most memorable. My dad loved the lamb dish he ordered and it was a ton of food. My mother and husband ordered the ravioli and were very happy. I got the vegan dish (quinoa cakes in squash purée) but I felt it needed more spice and salt. For dessert the family ordered chocolate soufflé. It took a while to come out so our server very kindly brought a creme brûlée on the house. I had the apple crisp with coconut ice cream, which was absolutely divine. *And* we got continuous refills of our coffee during dessert, which was much appreciated! I'll definitely return with my folks when I'm in town again. It was a great atmosphere, very affordable, tasty, and super service. A+!
(4)Renee R.
Manila clams with French fries - a thought process Dish arrives: "I don't get it." Eat a clam: "mmm, clams." Eat a fry: "good fry. Hmm, these fries are getting soggy!" Start to eat fries with the clams: "ok, but this is weird" Start mixing fries and clams with broth: "tastes ok" Eat more: "tastes better." Eat more: "oh, this is a soup? Okay. I THINK I get it." Eat more: "yum." Eat more: "YUM...but still weird."
(3)Steven M.
I had been wanting to try this place for a while and I was not let down! It is a cool vibe when you enter and feel like you are entering someone's home. The only draw back was that we waited for about 5 minutes before we anyone greeted our group. That would be the biggest complaint is the disjointed service. The meal made up for any lack of service. The autumnal oriented menu was a wonderful experience and very thoughtfully executed. There is a strong compassion for the food which is a reason why I will prioritize the Farm Cafe as one of my go to places w/ family and friends.
(4)Chelsea M.
This place was just A-OK for me. Here are the great points: The polenta was amazing, the broth that it was in was so flavorful and they managed to put a warm salad on top (I am not sure that's what they called it, but it's what I am going to refer to it as) that made the polenta dish complete. Tons of veggies which was a very nice touch. Decent size wine list for the size/style of the place. Spicy, roasted hazelnuts were delicious! Just spicy enough that I kept wanting to eat them and then I would remember they were spicy and then want more! Vicious cycle! Trout was enjoyed by all in our party, no one left a bite on their plate, and they ate it so quickly I did not get a chance to try it, so I can only tell you it must have been good. Beet salad was delicious! I only wish the cheese was mixed in a little more instead of just spread on the plate at the bottom. (Details) But the beets were at the perfect temperature, cold and perfectly roasted. Here is why they did not deserve 4 or 5 stars in order of importance (1- most important, 4- least important) 4. They spelled McMinnville wrong on their wine specials, details. 3. Williams Baked Brie - both an appetizer and a dessert.... Hmmm.... I don't know why this bothered me, but it did. I am okay with brie being a dessert, I love cheese as much as the next person, but it was the same thing, on the menu twice, for the beginning and end of the meal. Make a decision. When should I eat it? 2. Chick Pea Spread - Well, it was called chick pea spread for one, so hummus. It was put on a plate that was difficult to pick up, even the waitress commented on it, and the hummus was placed on top of mixed greens so towards the end you had to scrape around the lettuce and lost a good portion of the delicious hummus to the lettuce. It showed a lack of attention to detail (again) that I found annoying. 1. Gnocchi - Gooey gnocchi with pesto that was flavorless and swimming in butter and parmesan. It was utterly disappointing. I left half of it uneaten. This is the primary reason that knocked this place down a full star for me. Overall: I probably will not go back. Maybe if I spent more time planning my meal, I would have had a better dining experience. Notes: You will need a reservation at this place, space is limited. Unless you want to try and squeeze into the bar, please make a reservation, you will be happier!
(3)Shawn C.
Fine dining in the Northwest at its finest!!! Its not cheap, if you want cheap go somewhere else!!! If you you are tired of Ringside and El Gaucho, go to The Farm! I highly recommend sharing a bottle wine with your meal. Want something more casual? Go to the bar at the very back, its great. Pro Tip; Great for a date or anniversary, make reservations and show up on time! There is no place to wait and the lines can get long.
(5)Kelly B.
I guess I'm a "regular". Miss the fried goat cheese salad(bring it back) They make great food. Like any good restaurant, they get BUSY yet handle it better than most places. I've liked the lamb dish every time I've had it! Service is usually spot on and cocktail/wine suggestions never fail to compliment the food.
(5)J S.
Wow this place is amazing!! Sit in the outside patio. Great ambiance. Tofu potato dish was awesome - didn't think the combo would work but it sure does. Several vegetarian options. Yummy salads.
(5)Rachael M.
I think Farm Café is WONDERFUL! I've come here a few times for dinner with my fiancé, and it's always amazing. Easily the best veggie burger in Portland. Seriously, it's delicious!! I crave it on a regular basis. Also, if you get dessert here, be sure to go for the chocolate soufflé! It's worth the wait :) Farm Café is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner, or dinner and drinks with friends on the patio.
(5)Hion L.
How often is it that a handful of nuts become the center attraction of a dining experience. The rosemary-roasted hazelnuts appetizer is such a fantastic item, that I could picture myself sitting in front of the television all day eat them hand to mouth. Slightly sweet and slightly spicy, they are an addictive eat to say the least. We also ordered the WIlliams baked brie which was a wonderful, rich appetizer. It is a bit on the sweeter side. The farmhouse cheese ball which is a blend of 3 cheeses reminded me of the cheeseballs that you would order from the fundraising catalog in elementary school. The dungeness crab risotto was very good with a good deal of crab essence. The only detraction was that the crab meat had dissipated into the risotto so it was hard to find. I was expecting chunks, but at least the flavor was there. The real reason we had come here though was that we heard their Farmhouse Veggie Burger was one of the best around. It was more substantial to other veggie burgers and the fact that they had used breaded eggplant as the patty made it even better. The real sell in the dishes is that everything tastes fresh.
(4)Annetta B.
Been on my radar for a whole year as I love in Seattle. It was just as I hoped it would be. The waitress even mixed a wine for me to make it sweeter.
(5)Jim A.
We were early for the reservation but were immediately seated. The drink delivery was slow. The starters were excellent. A most interesting wine list, the Gramercy southern Rhone style was outstanding with the lamb dish. The only complaint would be the noise level. Way too loud.
(4)Vanessa M.
I came here before moving to Portland for a business trip. I sat at the bar in the back solo and enjoyed every minute of it. The bartender was nice and attentive. I head so many reviews about the veggie burger that I had to try it myself. It was so decadent. I love the layout of this place as well. It is in what was a house probably and each room is unique and comfortable. There is even an outdoor space that wasn't opened when I was there but looks nice. I am so glad I stopped in this place for a solo dinner as it was worth every bite!
(4)Emily F.
Absolutely delicious. The ambience was lovely. We shared baked brie, the watercrest salad, and a bottle of wine. My partner got the trout and I had the lamb shepards pie. Both were wonderfully seasoned and cooked well. We were shoked by the bill only coming to 40 each. I would return in a heartbeat.
(5)Jacob M.
Service was great and the ambiance is good too. Unfortunately they lose a star for a rather uninspired, although well executed, menu.
(4)Carolyn M.
We were able to get a reservation before a show on Saturday night and were pretty excited. Parking was okay; there is decent street parking. The "back" door was u inviting; I wasn't sure it was truley an entrance. Once inside it was warm and cozy as described. My only suggestion about ambiance would be to improve the lighting! Our little two top had no direct lighting and only a votive candle. I had to use the flashlight on my phone to see the menu (getting older sucks). I ordered a cocktail; Tangaled up in Blue. Good flavor of bourbon with hints of mint and lemon. Worth it if you like the combination. Dinner for us included salads; beet and butter leaf. I LOVED the beet salad even though I don't adore goat cheese. I stepped out my comfort zone and went for it; delicious and well proportioned. The butter leaf was fine but unremarkable. The salads came with homemade bread served with olive oil and balsamic. I saw huge "wheels" of bread being cut up by the servers. Entre's were pan roasted rockfish over fingerling potatoes and Brussels with a caper aoli; the fish was delicate and yummy. My Brussels were tough so I skipped them. We also ordered the trout; a first for dining out. The server said it was "sustainably" farm raises...hmmm. Big fish salt crusted and pan fried after being deboned. Yup- not a single bone to be had! It too was super good and served with roasted seasonal veg. If they stepped it up a bit by improving the lighting and softening up their garnish Id be happy to bump my rating. Oh, don't be misled on service. The women were on the ball and friendly (guys must all be in the kitchen?).
(3)Liz A.
Pretty yummy. Drinks were good too. We got there on time for our reservation and ended up having to wait because the party at our table was taking their time leaving. They hooked us up with our first round of cocktails while we waited. Pretty awesome service.
(5)Erin J.
Hubs & I stopped in for a late dinner. Place was packed, however we were able to get a small table straight away in the front room by the kitchen. It was LOUD... definitely not the place for a quiet intimate dinner. Our waiter was friendly, attentive & helpful in answering our questions. The menu is somewhat limited, however, it'd be nice to see a burger as a staple on there for those that may be less adventurous. I had the halibut... hubs had the ravioli. Both delicious and appropriate serving sizes... this is a quality not quantity place. We shared the baked chocolate souffle.... order when dinner arrives as it takes extra time to bake. Food was all fantastic.... 4 star rating due to noise & lack of an artisan style burger.
(4)John Mark J.
Cute, very veg friendly, and chill yet nice. Great find. Had the risotto cakes, butternut squash salad, Gruyere fritters...so many things on here that sound very interesting and scrumptious. Would love to try them all. Next time!
(5)Jane F.
Serious yum
(5)Kelly L.
Excellent food--Chef Kelly Weiss is a food wizard. Rather inexpensive prices for fine-dining and the quality you get. Ingredients are farm-to-table, natural and very high quality. Chill and professional staff. Owners Fearn and Guy are super rad. Dishes frequently change, oh and the veggie burger is to die for. There is are many reasons this restaurant is so well-established yet still relevant. Great for dates fyi.
(5)Darcie A.
I love this place. Reasonable prices, great food, generous portions, delicious cocktails and easy no matter the dietary restrictions in your group.
(5)Frank C.
I am still congratulating myself for discovering this place myself! (on my way to my favorite bike shop). I am so glad I noticed this place while walking up Burnside and made a note to try it out. My wife and I finally had the chance to eat here one night. I had the Duck and my wife had the Trout. The duck was delightful, tender, rich, with a sauce that complimented it perfectly. It came with a delectable crepe-like side. I totally cleaned every bit off my plate! (oh yeah, Trout was great too. Very tasty). The cocktails were magnificent. We were lucky enough to meet the bar tender and I'm really glad we did. I could tell she took her craft seriously. We tried the specials and we really enjoyed the results! We arrived late, so the Lamb was out. We must go back!
(5)Jess M.
I've been coming to this restaurant for several years now, it is definitely part of our rotation. Stellar food, great drinks and attentive staff. Their bread- oh lord, it's some of the best fresh bread it town. The only things holding me off from a 5 star review is their menu can be a little boring. Also, portions are often on the small side. That said quality ingredients speak for themselves!
(4)L C.
1st time in Portland and wanted to eat at a good organic resto so I chose Farm Cafe... Had the hazelnuts based on reviews from others.. Blah blah blah. I bought a lot better at the University Market on Sat. I highly reco those ... Not the hazelnuts at Farm Cafe.... Waste of money. Next, was the veggie burger... I asked if they could give half fries and half salad but that was not possible! Imagine how difficult that would be to ask the kitchen staff to do in order to please the customer? Anyhow, soggy fries and slightly undercooked, veggie burger was soggy, sloppy and cold and the bun was crispy. I think it was an eggplant burger??? I also tried the trout with lentils and something pickled mixed with the lentils. I was not happy with any of this. The trout was the best part and I would give it 3/5. If u have high blood pressure then stay away as it is drizzled with salt chunks. I don't understand the other reviews and what people thought was so good about this place. I do not recommend farm cafe. Look for other alternatives as Portland has many. Oh, I almost forgot, they have nice little peppermint chocolates in a tiny bowl at the entrance... Grab a couple on the way in and out. Should have gone to Chipotle... It NEVER disappoints and it would have cost me a lot less!!!
(2)Bowdoin S.
I was in town for business and wanted to check out the place based on the general positive reviews. When I arrived, I was presented with different seating options. While the outdoor patio seemed appealing, it was in the 90s even at 8 pm so I opted to stay inside to bask in the air conditioning. I started out with the beet carpaccio which was good, but not great. There were thinly sliced roasted beets which were tasty, but the seasoning was a little uneven and the dish was quite unmemorable despite being a beet dish (I love beets!). For the entrée, I opted for the grilled salmon which was accompanied with green beans and a dill potato salad. The dish came together and the salmon was perfectly cooked (medium rare) and properly seasoned. The dill of the potato salad worked well with the salmon and the green beans had a nice crunchy texture. I decided to pass on the dessert but I had a fair experience overall. Service was fine. GIven the overall positive reviews I was a little disappointed, but maybe my expectations were set too high.
(3)Justin P.
My three favorite things about Farm Cafe: 1. The Williams Baked Brie (Slice of brie served warm with toasted sugar, roasted hazelnuts, seasonal fruit, and Ken's baguette... mine had apple slices!) 2. The old house converted into a restaurant - great ambience! 3. The host was quick to acknowledge that I was early for my OpenTable reservation. He seated us promptly and thanked us for being flexible. No worries on my part, I was the one who showed up about 10 minutes earlier than my reservation time. :)
(4)Kristen G.
Abso-freaken-lutely AMAZING. For once, an ALMOST vegetarian restaurant that isn't afraid of flavor! I was able to take my non-veggie mom and her meat-loving bf here and they LOVED IT because the food is just impeccable! We started with the roasted garlic -- which was delish! (because, hello, it's roasted garlic!) Then had the pear arugula salad -- which was quite tasty. I got the wild mushroom gnocchi for my entree -- and it was heaaavveeennn... Light and delicious... I stuffed myself silly.. But still.... I decided I had to try the marscapone cheesecake -- and wow, I was so glad I did. It was light, not heavy like "regular" cheesecake and they put a pumpkin-y type sauce on it... woooowww. I can easily count this as one of my most favorite meals EVER (along with Gary Danko in S.F. and Patina in L.A.... which both have michelin stars.... if that gives you any idea) The price tag for the meal was unbelievably reasonable for the quality of food! I love that this place is in a super cute house... and the service is friendly and not incredibly formal. For not living in Portland, I would have never noticed it, or probably found it... but I'm so glad I checked yelp before venturing out... Just amazing! Go... NOW! (my meal here makes me want to fly up to Portland every month just to eat...)
(5)Helen H.
This place was perfect to grab a nice dinner before catching a show at the Doug Fir. Fresh, simple, and amazingly delicious food! I loved my fish baked in parchment paper with vegetables, and the wine was great too. The atmosphere is cozy and warm; I sat at the bar. Great service and friendly people; everyone should come here!
(5)Edward J.
The Farm is very romantic and cosy. I can't wait to go back there. Though, the wait is tedious and long. I would go half to one hour early and sign your name up. Go down a block to Ron Tom's or Doug Fir for a drink. Anyways, I highly recommend the roasted garlic and bread. My boyfriend and I shared a gnocchi mushroom dish, delicious! Though small but still, good! The white wine sauce is unique. My friend and her boyfriend got the tofu and smash potato (the only vegan dish). The gravy looks really good. They also have a wide selection of seafood and meat dishes. The dessert looks really good too, but no vegan that night. Ask for the special! PS: You can wait in the back patio with a drink.
(5)Andrea V.
Yee-haw, I love The Farm. Some of the best grub I've had in Portland and also ever-so-handy for the vegetarian friends. High points: the wine list, which had some affordable bottles, the cheese ball (it lives up to the hype), the mushroom gnocchi (so good I almost licked my plate), the chocolate souffle (worth waiting the 15 minutes), Stumptown coffee. The bites I had of my dining partners' trout, herb-crusted tofu and BBQ tofu were all fabuloso. I also had the spinach salad with shaved fennel, mandarin oranges, pomegranate seeds and citrus dressing which was just heady. Service was good - there was a rather large gap between the salad/appetizer and main course but our server brought us extra bread so we were pretty happy. I wouldn't expect to get out of here quickly - our visit spanned about 2.5 hours, although to be fair, we chatted a fair bit and had appetizer AND dessert. After 6, there were consistently people waiting in the very small front hall (on a Thursday night) so I'd get here early if you want to be seated promptly. My new favorite place to go!
(5)Danphi V.
Very cozy little joint with a unique menu and friendly staff. Nice bar area for us to hang out in while waiting for a table to open up. The menu changes seasonally and the trout I had was delicious. GF had halibut special and that along with the accompanying brussell sprouts were excellent. Our friend had the tofu Marsala and she said it was good, albeit a bit too salty. Our deserts were top notch as were the adult beverages. Jeremy was attentive server who was always on the move taking care of his guests. A big kudos for keeping us well hydrated with water, a person would come by when our carafe was low and top off our H2O.
(3)Lauren P.
There is a reason Farm had an hour wait. This intimate, hip restaurant did not disappoint. As everyone else has already commented, the menu was simple.. the ingredients fresh.. and the execution impeccable. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal, and even our hour wait on the back patio where we sampled a few of their signature cocktails.. also delicious.
(5)Koshka C.
This cafe was located not far from the hotel where we stayed. It is a victorian style house transformed into the restaurant; therefore there isn't much room for big parties and families, but it is perfect for small groups of people and couples. The dark wood and warm colors create a comfortable and cozy atmosphere with a hint of romanticism. The menu has vegetarian, meat and fish dishes; all of the ingredients are fresh from local farms. We started dinner with a cheese ball served with a warm herb baguette on the side. Creamy goodness with garlicky undertone and a nice crunch of the hazelnuts, spread over a warm peace of bread was devine, and the size was just right to share for two people and not get full. I ordered a pan seared trout with herb risotto. Outside the fish was crunchy and coarsely salted with sea salt and inside the meat was juicy, tender and sweet. Simple, scrumptious and very pleasant. The risotto was soft but not mushy with smooth, rich flavors of herbs. The meal was polished off with a glass of fragrant rose from a local winery. I didn't get the pleasure to taste the duck breast my boyfriend ordered, but he said it was the best prepaired duck he ever had. he is quite demanding when it comes to duck meat. In overall we had a very pleasant experience, tasted delectable, simple, vibrant and fresh food accompanied by crisp wine. The restaurant doesn't take reservations; they open at 5 and get filled up pretty fast. The atire is casual, nice casual.
(4)Marilyn H.
Went last night after not visiting for a while. They had completely remodeled the bar and built a fantastic looking patio dining area in the back. Can't wait to go back when it is warmer and use it. Food was excellent. Braised chicken special, veggie burger, and duck were wonderful. Wait staff were friendly and fast.
(5)Harry S.
Great fish.
(4)Dan G.
Excellent earthy spot. Fish was all good. Salmon entrees especially. A great stop is quintessential Portland. Good wine list, too. I would recommend reservations. Locally grown food spot. Vegan menu, too (of course, its Portland after all).
(4)Samantha S.
Amazing food, fabulous customer service & great atmosphere. Went here on a Wednesday night with a group and everyone was very pleased with what they ordered. Loved everything about this place and they have an outdoor area which would be great on sunny days.
(5)Kayt d.
My husband and I came to the Farm for dinner on a Sunday night and only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. I had a GIN-ger cocktail while we waited-- it was really tasty. We were visiting from San Francisco and purposefully sought out restaurants that served up local and/or organic foods. (I heart the Pacific Northwest!) The Farm fit the bill and did not disappoint. Our meal was terrific. The wine list was short, but inexpensive. We'll definitely be back.
(5)K S.
Love the ambiance. Really nice employees. The bottle of wine we got was excellent. The food was good. I wish I would have gotten the tofu. It looked really good. I got the trout. Mom got the salmon. Beet salad was good. The dessert we asked for was their coffee ice cream with pecan and camel topping. Kinda a combination of 2 desserts (yes, we were those people) Our waiter checked and rechecked with us and what we got was cheesecake and vanilla ice cream. We just laughed... I will probably be back, though most likely for lunch.
(4)Tina B.
I came here when I was in town and stayed at the Jupiter Hotel (right down the street). The space is very cozy and comfortable. The menu had a lot of delicious options...from cocktails, main courses to dessert. The food was delicious. Everything tasted very fresh. I made sure to save room for dessert! Also, the prices were very reasonable.
(4)bailee. ..
When my man and I want a special date night, our failsafe is drinks at Rontoms, dinner at Farm, and, uh, entertainment at Union Jack's. Every meal I've had here has been simple and delicious. The trout is my go-to (the salt crust really makes the dish), the gnocchi is super savory, the crab risotto (which I believe is a winter special) is life-changingly delicious (though I recommend sharing it, as an entire plate of the richness may be too much), and even the vegan tofu dish is rich and flavorful enough to win over meat eaters. The service is always really good, even though the place is normally busy. The servers and bartenders have great knowledge of wines, and we've discovered a few new favorites here. Cocktail list is interesting, they have Fernet for a digestif, and the atmosphere is über-sexy. What's not to love?
(5)Brie P.
why why why?? ever since the farm expanded...it's kinda sucked. Been there twice but i just seems like the upped the space but didn't hire any new staff...or maybe the didn't make the kitchen better. it makes me sad
(2)Alexandra A.
This place is a yummy! I've driven by this place several times and always wanted to go. I'm glad I finally did. The food is great! So flavorful and well designed. I got the crab rossito with blue cheese. It wasn't over powering but it was a little rich but that is to be expected with those ingredients. We also had the baked brie as an appetizer. The only suggestion there, is that the crust of the baked brie should be cut off before it's baked because the crust is so bitter it really tarnished the flavor for me. If I picked that off, it was great. I also tried the cajun salmon with creme fresh polenta & greens. That was out of this world! I'm not a person that likes spicy but this was amazing and the creme fresh cut the spice really well. That dish was the bomb!
(4)Chris W.
The food is seasonal, primarily local (extending to the spirits and brews), and the ingredients are cooked at their prime. My only complaint would be the wait time, though in this time of season it is understandable considering the outdoor patio is closed. For the quality of food, the prices were very fair. Three drinks, an appetizer plate, extra bread, and two entrees for 50$ sans tip.
(5)Stacey J.
Went to Cascade brewing and the waitress told us this was one of her favorite restaurants. I'm so glad she told us about it b/c it was amazing. I am in shock that there was space b/c in Seattle I don't know if you would have gotten in to a place like this on a Friday night without a reservation. We started out with drinks... my drink was pretty strong, which I didn't care for, but can't say it was bad. The beer selection was good. We then ordered the baked brie, which was amazing. I loved the sugar added to it. For someone who doesn't eat beef or pork this place was great. Unsure if there menu is always like this, but I would say it was a pescetarian's dream restaurant. The main dishes we got were raviolis with pecans and browns butter sauce and risotto with crab, lemon and blue cheese. Yummy! Dessert: Mascarpone cheese cake with pecan crust and dulce de leche sauce. Amazing! Atmosphere was nice and you could hold a conversation without yelling. It is in an old home. Prices were also reasonable. Definitely would go again.
(5)Evelyn L.
Love the decor in Farm with nice service. We ordered veggie burgers based on the review. Definitely recommend it!
(5)Dusty T.
The Farm features simple northwest fare done very well. The menu is simple and brief and the food never disappoints. Their wine list is huge and unpretentious and they pour a nice sized glass. The ambiance is charming and cozy and the food is very very good. The crusted goat cheese salad is my favorite salad in town. There tends to be a long wait most evenings, so don't show up starving.
(4)Emily S.
I came here for dinner and drinks with a friend on a Wednesday evening. We got there at 6pm and I was worried that we might have to wait to get a table but it was nearly empty. I think our waiter was bored because he kept coming back to our table entirely too often to check on us. It was a little irritating but I suppose I would rather have a waiter who is overly attentive than one who disappears! The food was wonderful! We had the baked brie, braised greens and toasted pecan stuffed ravioli and the vanilla bean bread pudding, all of which were outstanding. The cocktails were also palate pleasing. The restaurant did get busier and filled up as the evening went on. I am looking forward to going back for a date night! Great atmosphere, even better food!
(4)AiLien T.
I had the Spring Vegetable Timbale ($15). The exact description of the entree is "Miso cured spring vegetables with wild mushroom-Israeli couscous, nori wrapped then oven roasted, served atop coconut-carrot and lemon grass puree with micro greens and a mild, sweet chili oil." I found the dish to be weirdly smoked flavored and rather salty. There was not enough texture--only mush with flavors that did not complement each other well. I was unimpressed by the price, food, hipster waiters, and drinks there. Go to Clyde Commons for the farm-to-table taste and feel. My friends who had the Farmhouse Veggie Burger ($11) loved their entree. The description for the veggie burger is "burger-style sandwich made with eggplant, bread crumbs, cheese and spices served with caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, and Dijon mustard on a rustic bun with choice of French fries or a mixed green salad" ( thefarmcafe.com/menu/food ).
(3)Elizabeth C.
Oh dear. I might be the only person who tried the Farm Cafe was not impressed by the food. I love pickles but their pickle plate was an odd assortment of bitterness (was that a pickled orange rind? It was awful), the mushroom appetizer was uninspired and bland, and the goat cheese ravioli was also bland. Thankfully the very nice waitress allowed us to try the orange Rose before we bought a bottle because it tasted like the winery was trying too hard to be clever. She thoughtfully suggested the carafe of Pinot Gris which was half the price of the bottle I was going to order. However, we were served so quickly that it was like being in a factory line. The appetizer arrived almost as fast as the server could go to the kitchen and turn around. The main course was served before half the appetizers were finished (although that pickle dish would've sat there for a long time), and our main dish plates were whisked away as soon as my dining partner put down his fork. I kept wondering if there was a line at the door because it felt like we were being rushed to leave (I promise we were not unpleasant guests). We did get the dessert menu rushed to our table and it was also pretty lackluster so we left for Papa Hayden's instead. I honestly didn't get much of a chance to look at the rest of the restaurant because it felt they wanted us out of there as soon as possible and that I had to keep eating or it would be briskly removed before I finished. No one was unpleasant and the prices were fine, but I doubt I will return.
(3)Billy B C.
It's rare that I experience la petite mort when I take the initial bite of a dish, but it's happened here on more than one occasion. I'll never forget the first meal I ate here -- the gnocchi made me weep with pleasure. Since then, this charmer has been remodeled and expanded (and I do miss the original bar) but the food remains ridiculously good for the price. And like Vermont, The Farm is for lovers and is a fantastic choice for a first or second date.
(5)Bean B.
Great food & cocktails! Vegetarians-you won't be let down!
(5)Leigh D.
If you're vegetarian and sympathetic to vegetarians, this is the place for you. Positives: Atmosphere was nice. It was a bit crowded but still, very cute. I wasn't full when I left, after a 4 course meal. Negatives: Didn't like it. Hollier than thou politacally motiviated clientelle. Who cares? I'm not paying those at the next table to preach to me, I came to relax and enjoy some good food, that didn't happen.
(2)Jim B.
This was our first official dinner in Portland and I must say I was quite pleased. For starters, the place was bustin' out all over with charm. The building itself looked to be a single family residence at one time and it had an inviting, homey feel to it. The menu was equally as inviting, featuring an assortment of locally grown and organic items. We opted to start with the sauteed goat cheese salad. So tasty, so very tasty. For my main course, I had the special: Parmesan encrusted snapper. The fish was perfectly cooked: tender but substantial, and the crust provided a great deal of flavor to a relatively mild type of fish. The service was very friendly (something which we found quite common in Portland.)
(5)Jaime A.
Beautiful building, great atmosphere and fabulous food. I don't believe it's possible for ingredients to be of higher quality or more local than what you find at The Farm. I found a new favorite on a recent visit when we ordered the elusive Broccoli Fritters. Wow! I heard they frequently sell out of this menu items and I certainly understand why. Once we had a couple fritters, shared a salad, we could hardly finish the house garden burger fries. No complaints at all.
(4)Sara P.
This place was amazing. Went with a good friend last night and had an amazing meal with a slightly entertaining waiter. The scallops were perfectly prepared and salad yummy ... wine was affordable and people were interesting. Tiny space with intimate feeling though it can be a bit crowded if people are walking by you to get to the heated patio. On a Saturday night we had an hour wait but it was worth it and the patio was comfortable ... I think we were seated before expected or else time went quickly. For the salads I recommend the one with goat cheese, although the others were good as well ... didnt have a single bad dish that we tried.
(5)Katherine A.
Wonderful food, nice ambiance, and decently priced. Best veggie burger I've ever had. Will definitely return!
(5)Art V. B.
The food is certainly good. Nothing too complex or too special to make it memorable. Yet everything tasted good and it is always nice when menus get updated regularly with local and seasonal ingredients. The restaurant felt cozy although it was too dark for my taste. Service was friendly, but very, very slow on a Sunday night. They could benefit from one extra server during peak hours.
(4)Erica B.
I love the Farm. I love their Food. Last two times I was there I had the risotto and it was amazing. My daughter ate their brussel sprouts and LOVED them! And for dessert we had a to-die-for warm chocolate cake! Heaven. The only thing that is a down point is the service. It's not that they aren't nice, they just seem understaffed every time I am there and they aren't able to offer a very personable service.
(4)Matt B.
I love the look of the Farm's interior (it's a repurposed old house). I loved the roasted chicken dish I ordered here. I recommend sharing an appetizer between 2-3 people as the entrees are very generous portions.
(4)Bob M.
Nice ambiance, 30 min wait turned out to be ten :) sauteed mushrooms were great, special appetizer that night of fish cakes was great. Herb encrusted tofu was ok (the sides were good, rosemary mashed and mushroom marsala). The duck special was amazing (potato croquettes, brussel sprouts, and a cherry/orange sauce). Good beer and wine selection.
(5)Randee S.
We had driven from San Diego to drop our daughter off at George Fox University in Newberg and went to Portland for a couple of days. I had heard about the Farm Cafe and it did not disappoint. I love the house, each room is very unique, excellent servers that are excited about their fresh food which was refreshing and the food was wonderful as well. From the starters all the way through dessert. FYI - the veggie burgers are huge and enough for two. The fish was tasty as were all the sides.
(5)Tyler B.
The evening started off on the right foot when the waitress suggested Aviator Gin for my Martini. It was totally unique and I loved it. My wife and I split an appetizer, then we had two salads and split the gnocchi. Over the food was very good, not great, hence the 4 stars. The overall experience matched our dining expectations exactly and I will be back.
(4)joe r.
I think this is a solid choice for a night out. Not in my top 10% of restaurants, but certainly in the top 30%. Good food and service.
(4)Preston P.
Liked it before but now I love it. They have completed an expansion and now have a larger bar area and outdoor deck with great sunset views of downtown. The halibut was grilled to perfection. Don't forget to leave room for the sunken chocolate souffle for dessert. Service seemed a little slow but they were quite busy.
(4)michelle c.
They had this special...it was sesame crusted tofu with a side of lightly dressed greens and spring rolls wrapped in rice paper. It was the best tofu I had had in a very long time (this from a girl who will eat tofu right out of the box...cue the "ewwwws"). The vibe of the place was really cozy and intimate. Maybe a little too intimate since there were two couples intermittently making-out between bites of their food. Good for them, but maybe they should have gotten it to-go and headed to the Jupiter Hotel a couple blocks down. While waiting for the loo, it got a bit crowded as there's no where to really stand once the line is longer than one. I found myself staring at one of the chefs and trying not to get in the way of the server fetching plates of food. They also have a drink called the Gin-ger, which was out of sight! Grated ginger with gin and, I think, lime. I have to try to make that here at home!
(5)Joshua M.
Had a fantastic piece of salmon with fingerling potatoes. Finished it off with a pear dessert that was pretty good as well. RC Cola instead of Pepsi? Hmm... Furthermore, service was good and I enjoyed the ambiance. On a late Thursday night it was pretty quiet, perfect for conversation.
(4)Leah K.
I was in Portland for one night, found this place on Yelp, sat at the bar by myself and had a delightful evening. Tofu with mushrooms was amazing. I substituted fries for the garlic mashed and it was delicious as ever. Good wine list. The speciality cocktails looked fantastic although I did not try any. Bartenders were cute and friendly. Atmosphere was welcoming with all kinds of people - gay, straight, families, couples, singles. I will definitely go back if I'm ever in Portland again!
(5)Jason K.
Went here while visiting from out of town, thought it was very good- I had the ravioli which was solid if not mind-blowing. Cozy ambiance, and the staff (bartender) gets high marks for being able to answer a lot of questions about the menu form allergen info to GMO.
(4)Steph C.
Went to Farm Cafe for dinner yesterday and was a little bit underwhelmed with the food. This would be solidly in the 3.5 star type range, if I could give half stars. Standout for me was the watermelon salad (on the specials list) - really quite excellent. Served with with two types of watermelon (yellow/red) and over a bed of cactus-type lettuce (which added an interesting texture to it). Topped with just the right amount of vinaigrette. Very refreshing and tasty- perfect summer dish (I'm still in denial and refuse to believe it's fall). My friend ordered the cheese ball which was a bit too rich for my tastes- it really did just taste like a ball of cheese- nothing more nothing less. None of the nut-infused tastes came out, like we had hoped. As for mains, I ordered a salmon, which was served over a bed of seasonal vegetables (corn, beans, etc.). Salmon was fresh and fairly well-executed, but nothing really spectacular. My friend's main was the chicken marsala, which is a large piece of chicken marinated in a dry marsala-style sauce with a bit of a kick to it. Tasty and not overcooked- although wasn't a big fan of the sides mustardy greens (a bit too salty for me) and some thing else that resembled polenta. Service was attentive and friendly. Overall, a solid experience and would likely go back and give it another chance. Nice atmosphere- restaurant is in a converted house, which I really quite liked.
(3)Neeva D.
Farm Cafe at first seemed like one of those places that I hate, the kind of place with a small, spendy menu that doesn't have food that I enjoy on it. Having heard good things, however, I decided to give it a shot and, as you can see from my rating, I was pleasantly surprised. We were told the wait would be about half and hour so we decided to get a drink at the bar in the meantime. It took a little while before anyone took notice of us for a drink order, but after that they were very attentive, even offering to check with the hostess to see how much longer our wait was going to be. We ended up waiting for about an hour, but it was pleasant. Good company, good drink, and good ambiance will make any wait pretty bearable (and I wasn't starving, so that helped too). We started with the broccoli fritters and the roasted garlic. and both were amazing. I did feel a little silly ordering basically a bulb of garlic and some bread for six bucks, but it was done extremely well and was delicious. The fritters were like deep fried broccoli essence. They were soft and tender on the inside, crunchy on the inside and yummy the whole way through. For dinner I had the butternut squash ravioli. The pasta had a delightful texture, the filling was sweet and smooth with just a tiny bit of hazelnut for texture. I would order it again and again. Good food, good service, and I loved loved loved the atmosphere. I will definitely be back.
(5)Cathy M.
I really enjoyed their menu selections, and wish I could've ordered more! I ordered the cheese plate appetizer and ravioli entree. The cheeses were wonderfully different than any I've had before, which I always love. The ravioli was one of the best I've had. A few things we didn't enjoy--as always, this could've been a fluke, I would still go back, and still recommend it to others. This was only our first time there. Our server was very stand-offish and didn't really seem to care that we were there. Very hands off. And I was so sad we couldn't sit outside. It was a Wednesday evening, but they were packed, and the outside seating was at least an hour and a half wait. We sat in the bar area, which was better than waiting, but not the experience I expected. But as I said, I still very much enjoyed it and would recommend others go.
(4)Michelle P.
Service was excellent, however, I immediately developed intestinal distress after consuming the saffron cauliflower risotto which I've been fighting for two days. Hmmm.
(2)Jessica M.
Went here at 6:30 on a Friday night with out a reservation. The waitress said it would be a 30 min wait but it was only about 12 minutes. Menu is rather limited but all the ingredients are very fresh. Everyone loved their meals, I highly recommend the True Cod the brussels sprouts and grits were amazing. If your in the mood for a cocktail the margaritas were the best I've ever had. Forgot to mention there salads are amazing as well I tried the pear and beet salad and they were both winners!
(5)Joselyne P.
We have been here three times and each time was wonderful. It's in a kind of funky location, but the restaurant itself is a lovely old house with tables throughout the various rooms. They have a large outdoor patio which was too hot to eat at when we were there but looked wonderful Our waiter was not the most knowledgable about the food (didn't know what the sea beans were, didn't know where the beer was brewed) but was very friendly anyway. The food is really what makes this place. I have never been to a restaurant where I would feel comfortable having any random person order for me and enjoy it - but truthfully everything on the menu is good. Fresh local ingredients are what I've come to expect from Portland, and Farm cafe delivers. Go there! Stop suffering through crowded, overhyped tiny restaurants and check out the Farm cafe.
(5)Clarke W.
Cozy romantic atmosphere. Knowledgeable staff, overall great service. The food was truly incredible and creative, without being over the top. Everything served was fresh with an eye toward local seasonal and sustainable ingredients. Amazing cocktail pairing! Impressive wine selection. With so many awesome restaurants in Portland, The Farm is definitely one of my favorites! Tip: - If you are curious where the food on your plate has come from, if you ask your server, they will know.
(5)Mavis B.
When it is cold outside, they have the heat cranked up. When you need a stiff drink, there is 3 minutes left for happy hour. If you have a blazers game to make, they will get you out the door, but not Until you have eaten a ton of really tasty grub.
(5)Lily S.
How I missed this restaurant is beyond me. I guess it's been open since 2003...which is when I left Portland, so I guess that explains that. Blue cheese stuffed figs drizzled w/ honey? Yes. Roasted corn & gorgonzola risotto? Yes. Eggplant parmesan w/ sauteed vegetables? Yes. Chocolate molten lava cake w/ coffee ice cream? Yes. A bottle of white and a bottle of red whose names escape me? Yes. Outdoor patio seating? Yes. All this can be experienced by you as well if you go to the Farm Cafe, which we will be making a trip back to.
(5)Clare G.
I just had a wonderful expense account dinner for one at The Farm Cafe. Because I believe in blowing my perdiem on a single meal, and because everything looked so good, I enjoyed a 4 course meal. Most of it was vegetarian and some of the courses were vegan. I had sauteed mushrooms as a starter with a phenomenal local bread. Next a kale and fennel salad with a bright citrus vinaigrette, balanced perfectly with lightly sugared pecans. The main was mushroom ravioli with braised greens in a brown butter sauce, and finally a chocolate souffle with vanilla Tillamook ice cream to accompany my coffee. As to the place, the decor was offbeat but inviting, the lighting subdued but not so low you couldn't read the menu. Only cons were two and slight: some of the dishes were just a bit on the salty side, and the music, while at an appropriate, unobtrusive volume,was 2 hours of the same artist and he was surely not everyone's cup of tea. It was quiet (as far as noise from other guests) when I visited on a Monday evening. The Farm Cafe will definitely be on my shortlist when I return to Portland.
(5)Reed C.
Farm is one of our go-to spots. Anytime you put a restaurant inside a funky old house, you're already high on the points scale with me. The menu is varied, and I have yet to be disappointed with my order. We almost always order the brie (do this when you sit down, as it takes a few minutes -- and dive in gently when it arrives, it's HOT.) The risotto is almost always wonderful -- get the dungeness crab when it's offered, you can't go wrong. From halibut to chicken to the specials, it will be easy for everyone at your table to find something sure to please. The wait staff is friendly, laid back, and the right amount of attentive. Beer and wine list is extensive, and well drinks are creative and the perfect touch. Farm sprouts high marks (sorry, couldn't resist one pun...)
(5)Lee S.
OMFG...the tofu masala! Dark, romantic, and the perfect spot for my meat-averse sweetheart. Not sure about the body stuffed above the bar, though. Love the Farm!
(4)Toobab T.
My husband and I came here on a quick trip to the city. Wow. This place is great. We were seated quickly despite the fact that we didn't have reservations. The staff were friendly and informative. Decor - subdued while still vibrant. The food is what got us though. We shared the broccoli fritters to start. My husband, who's a real carnivore, meat and cheese kinda guy, loved them. They're fried and fluffy but not heavy. For entrees, we recommend the gnocchi and/or the butternut squash ravioli. Both are pillowy and delicious. We wish we'd had room for dessert, but by the end of this we were way too stuffed to try it.
(5)Stanley T.
After last night's visit, it's clear to me that a review update is in order. Service was still excellent. The zucchini fritter appetizer was a real disappointment. Were those green and yellow flecks within those doughy, rather flavorless balls zucchini? Fish cake appetizer was wonderful again. Roasted garlic was great - how could you mess that up? My roasted chicken entree was over-salted but otherwise OK. I heard good reports about the herb-crusted tofu entree, though I didn't try it. For the price, this should have been a better experience.
(4)Albert L.
I fell unwitting victim yet again to uber-casual Portland restaurant service, where the first thing our jeaned-and-sneakered waiter said to me was "Talk to me." Well, I talked to him, and it would have behooved him to listen more closely as he mixed up my order and gave me halibut instead of cod. This resulted in a 20 minute delay; fortunately, my girlfriend and I were in the midst of a big argument so 20 minutes felt like 20 hours. But that's neither here nor there. We ordered also the roasted garlic appetizer, the heirloom tomato salad, and the trout. All were ok -- good, not great. The garlic was roasted a little too gently, so that it wasn't quite amenable to spreading onto the accompanying bread. Likewise, the heirloom tomatoes were topped with too much goat cheese which, when mixed with the tomato juices, became a sort of cheese gruel in which the 4 tomato slices bathed unhappily. Bleh. The highlight was the complimentary dessert we received after our waiter's error. We had the chocolate soufflé topped with coffee ice cream which was simply fantastic. Under other circumstances I could see a meal here being terrific. I guess we caught some bad luck with the mix-up and the particular dishes we ordered. I loved the home-like space, the large outdoor seating area tastefully adorned with a string of lights, the simple "FARM" neon light sign identifying the restaurant on the outside, and the free peppermint patties available on your way out. Next time I'm in Portland I'll try it again.
(3)Corey F.
I'm a little behind on recording my gastronomical adventures in Portland, so I must be brief as I have a lot of catching up to do. Farm was fantastic. I've eaten at a number of different 'establishments' since my arrival in Portland this past January and this was the first meal that satisfied all my foodie desires. Fresh, local, salty, buttery and sweet were all there. Oh and the wine was delicious. The food was excellent. We started with the cheese ball. I know what you're thinking but yes, it was good. This is not your average potluck at work cheese ball either. Crusted in a fine powder of nuts, with aged cheddar, laced with horseradish and herbs, this thing is delicious. However, it was eclipsed by the trout. Coated in cornmeal, pan fried in butter and sprinkled with sea salt it was simple, delectable and fork tender while retaining a crisp crust. Yum. The bed of winter veg upon which it was laying was also roasted to perfection. Wine and dessert made the meal complete. I had a glass of fantastic Oregon pinot noir. The selection was impressive and I look forward to future tastings off their wine and drink menu. We finished it all off with a carrot cake that was the best I have ever had. Seriously. Not too much frosting. Not too moist. Chunky, candied walnuts on the outside. Tart berry on the inside. It was just right. Very pleased with Farm Cafe and I will happily return. I've been missing SF and this place made me feel at home.
(4)Dorothy M.
Lamb dish of the night: lamb meatball with white beans and sautéed spinach. Pretty good. The lamb is very, very gamy. I like lamb tasting gamy, and even I was a little put off by how gamy it tastes. However, the restaurant is set in a very nice old house. You can just imagine what that house used to look like; how it feels to live there. There is a huge balcony in the back. Parking, not so great. But the overall dining experience is good.
(3)A C.
Very fresh and satisfying meal every time. I really like this place. I would recommended it. Its hard to review any of the menu items because their menu changes often according to what's on season. Last time I was there I enjoyed the beet salad, lamb sausage plate, brie cheese platter and eggplant soup and of course a bottle of Patton Valley deClassified pinot noir. Everything was delicious!!The waitress was very friendly and patient, she gave us samples of the wines that we were trying to decide on before ordering which was very helpful in making the decision.
(4)Matt F.
I guess the veggie burger here was talked up a bunch by someone (I forget who) on Food Network. Well worth it. It's one of the best I've had. More often then not a veggie burger consists of a frozen grocery store veggie burger grilled up real quick. The veggie burger at The Farm was definitely hand-made. Delicious blend of seasoned vegetables, mashed together on a ciabatta bun. The dijon mustard on it complemented it perfectly. Even the fries and ketchup were obviously hand-made and good, and I hate ketchup.
(4)Dawn M.
Went with co-workers to this restaurant. Everyone enjoyed it. Menu consisted primarly of vegetarian or fish based food. (I don't think there was any beef/pork/lamb on the menu.) I enjoyed my pan fried trout. This is the first restaurant I've had trout at that properly deboned it - so I appreciated that. (Trout is the easiest fish to debone, so I never understand when I get trout with bones!) The veggies were great - cooked to perfection and well combined. I tasted the vegetarian lasagna, and it was delicious, though the naming of it as lasagna was misleading - there was no pasta involved, with egg plant used in place of noodles. Also tasted the tofu and crimini mushrooms dish - I'm not a tofu fan, but it was pretty tasty. Small but nice selection of wine/beer that matched up well with their menu. Desserts were amazing - best part of the meal - tried the cheese cake and the swedish chocolate cake. Servings are a reasonable size - not oversized, but more appropriate for what people should actually be eating. Cost was ok - with tip/tax, bill for 4 people came in at about $100, including a drink and a dessert for everyone. Quality of the food was great, so I thought this was a pretty fair price. Outside of the building is misleading - doesn't look like much. Inside, decor was warm and friendly. Noise level is perfect for enjoying conversation with friends, without being overheard. Probably a nice place for a date. I wouldn't be likely to go there with more than 4 people total. Would I recommend - yes, but I'd note the vegetarian and fish based menu. Would I returne - yes, if I lived here, I'd return. (Since I'm a visitor though, I'll keep going with my quest for the best food in Portland.) Note: Doesn't currently accept Amex, but does accept other major cards.
(4)kelly s.
Very lovely veggie friendly eats are easy to find here. I had the clams, and goat cheese salad, and was unadventurous in ordering the veggie burger, but was so in the mood, and to be honest- it did not disappoint! Service was sufficient, if I was a pickier woman, could have been a little faster and more attentive, but over all good. The space is intimate and romantic, all in all it's worth a visit to the Farm.
(4)Michael S.
After my first trip, I was prepared to give the Farm Cafe 5 stars. After taking my foodie friends, including one celebrating her 40th birthday, I'm a little embarrassed having raved so much about this place. My first night here, everything that everyone got was exceptionally delicious. It was delicious and creative. I got an English Pea and Blue Cheese (Stilton?) Souffle. It was rich, decadent, savory, creative, and all around yummy. I was ready to declare this my favorite restaurant in Portland. Where else can you get a meal of this caliber with local, seasonal ingredients but without a pretentious atmosphere and astronomical price? My return trip, however, was very disappointing. Looking at the menu I had very high hopes. I bypassed the risotto, which looked like an easy win, for the more creative chicken with wild mushrooms and red currant. Currant is my new favorite berry to cook with (in sweet or savory dishes). What I got, however, was a very uneventful, unimaginative rosemary chicken. I couldn't find any currant. I don't know if they ran out and quietly made a substitution, or if the dish just wasn't executed very well. I'm in culinary school and this dish tasted exactly like the first chicken I roasted in my 101 class. Not bad, but not worth paying someone else to make. Besides the food being disappointing, service was incredibly slow that night. I was with friends and wasn't in a big hurry, so I didn't mind the two and a half hours it took us to get through dinner and desert, but even in good company, it got a little ridiculous. Five stars for the first trip. Three for the second. I will give this place another try and hope that my 3 star night was a fluke.
(4)Sara W.
We didn't have a reservation but walked in and got bar seating right away which was great for a Thursday night. We were greeted right away and then told a lot of the menu was sold out...which was discouraging but luckily didn't affect us. I asked the bartender for a Pinot Noir recommendation and I was torn on two so he let me sample both, and of course his #1 recommendation was the best so that was really nice! The Sokol Blosser '08 PN was dynamite and worth the $12 price tag. We also enjoyed an appetizer of roasted garlic...2 bulbs for $6, so that was awesome. I had heard great things about the veggie burger and even though i am a carnivore, i was curious enough to try it. They were out of buns unfortunately so we had it in a pita instead...now i'm told the bun is delicious so that's disappointing, but the pita was SUPER delicious so i didn't care one bit. the fries were great and the homemade ketchup was pretty good too. I saw this place advertised on Food Network: Best thing i ever ate, Burgers! and it really was the BEST vegetarian burger i've ever tasted. it was so unique with the eggplant, roasted bell pepers, sauce, etc. And i thought the pita was an outstanding compliment to the burger personally (thought a friend in our party said the bun is divine too, so another time!) Even if you eat meat like me and are curious/skeptical, just go for it...it was simply divine! Plus i love supporting local so this was a no-brainer. i would gladly come here again for it, it was a wonderful experience!
(4)Tan N.
One-word impression: LEVITY One of my colleagues told me when we first met and found out about our mutual foodie-ness that her favorite restaurant in Portland was The Farm Cafe. I tucked the name in my bank of go-to restaurants at the time, but I always forgot about it when thinking a getting a fine meal. So when my birthday rolled around and I was to choose where to go, The Farm Cafe just popped in my mind. And I was glad it surfaced, as I had a very nice experience. Regarding the atmosphere, I found it to be very charming and comfortable despite the fact that the tables were somewhat packed together. The small house feel of the place was very homey and got me relaxed without needing a drink. Regarding the service, it was overall very nice and full of levity. I felt like we were well-waited while being given the space to lounge back. It all contributed to a great start to the dining experience. For the food, we started off sharing the Williams Baked Brie. I really love baked brie, and the version they served with the apple slices, melted sugar and hazelnuts was quite nice. Suffice to say, we had to fight over the last bites. I then had the Dungeness Crab Risotto, which the girl sitting at the table next to me raved about and convinced me to get. I must say that I really liked the dish, though it was close to being too salty. I'm a guy who can handle salt, but to lighter palates, it might have been overwhelming. Regardless, it was creamy, full of great crab flavor, and was filling without being heavy. Of all the wonderful dining experiences in Portland, I can totally understand why my colleague chose The Farm Cafe as her favorite of them all. The overall experience was simply charming, as the combination of the great food and good ambiance with lovely company left me feeling light on my feet and glad that I was born on that day many years ago.
(5)Jessie S.
My husband and I ate dinner here last night. We were in the neighborhood, it was dinner time, and so we yelped it up to find something great. We didn't have reservations, so we were happy when there was a table available. We sat outside, and they have a nice patio area. Our server was attentive and nice, though he did not mention any of the specials that I heard other tables discussing after we had already ordered. We started with the baked brie, which came out relatively quickly and tasted delicious. After that things went downhill a bit. After we finished the appetizer we waited 45 minutes or more for our entrees to arrive. The server came by a few times and asked if we were doing ok, and he apologized for the wait. He did offer to buy the hot tea that I ordered as we waited, and that was a nice gesture which we appreciated. That said, there was no acknowledgement by anyone but our server of the fact that we waited a ridiculously long time for our food to arrive. I would have expected a manager to stop by and thank us for waiting, or maybe to have received some kind of complementary bread service. We were really excited when the food arrived, and my husband really enjoyed his lamb. I ordered the polenta cakes, and the flavors were nice, but the dish was small, and there was a really brothy sauce that made everything sort of soggy. It also wasn't very hot, which was irritating considering the fact that I waited an hour for it to be delivered. We didn't order dessert because we wanted to make it home before the sun came up. All in all I'd say the menu was interesting and the service was fine, but the preparation of the food was not well executed and the wait was almost unbearable.
(3)Kimberli R.
I love this place. Romantic, quiet, low light. Try the trout as well as the hazelnuts. Good veggie and vegan options if you ask. Great back patio in the summer as well. I highly recommend them.
(4)Rad S.
This place is amazing. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. The wait staff is friendly n efficient, they have a great wine list, the ambience is right on, the food is yummy, and in the summers they have a killer outside patio. So far everything I've had has been amazing. I've had the baked brie appetizer which is really good, and always comes with seasonal fruits n nuts, the sautéed mushrooms, and roasted garlic. For an entree I usually either have the herb crusted tofu with mushrooms which is super yummy, or the wild mushroom gnocchi which is sooo good. And a few days ago they had a mushroom veggie lasagna as one of the specials, which was the best lasagna i've ever had (next to my moms lasagna :) )
(5)Evelyn M.
First time here. Very very nice ambience. Delicious Oregon pinot with unusual (yumm) hummus (great olives, peppers and pita), unique mushrooms sauteed with herbs, and a palate-cleansing refreshing tomato bruscetta. Nice service. Unfortunately the Herb Crusted Tofu with Mushrooms Marsala ($15) was sooooo salty that the marsala was blunted and the roasted garlic was lost. Were there mashed potatoes? (Perhaps the tofu might be better prepared with a silken medium firm?) I brought it home to see if perhaps tomorrow I could get a sense of what was intended. I know what I expected and don't think my expectations were over-the-top. I'll come back and hope it is better. (NOW I'll read the other reviews.)
(3)Mallory T.
Yummy and cozy. This is the place to go on a drizzly Portland evening to warm your spirits. Small menu with something for everyone. Great service. Save room for dessert. Didn't get 5 stars because they ran out of several dishes by the time we were finally seated, and they kept playing with the lightswitch on the wall by my dads head.
(4)Lisa H.
This restaurant is one on my top 5 faves in town. I love the flavors, creativity and combos on each plate. it is lovely to be able to eat seasonally and feel confident that the food I am ingesting is healthy sans the odd flavor enhancers/ long winded preservatives. The food is also (mostly) local and organic and that is also on my criteria. I would gladly eat here more often if I had more moneysss
(5)Debbie Chiou S.
Great service. Great ambience. Great food. We both got the pan-friend trout. Nicely salt-crusted. Served with seasonal vegetables and a warm quinoa salad. The seasonal vegetables when we were there were broccolini and asparagus. Weird combination, but turned out really well. The warm quinoa salad was also good, but I found it a bit too salty, capery, and tomato-ey. Otherwise, I'm a big fan.
(4)Andrew H.
Wow, talk about overrated. In an effort to keep my left-brained personality from wandering, I'm going to bust out the bullet points. - The food: was tasty, buuuut (and there's always a but) - The portions: were extremely small. The portion sizes here make a tapas bar look like an all-you-can eat buffet in Vegas. I got grilled halibut, it was maybe 4 ounces. - The prices: were RIDICULOUS. I don't mind pricey food as long as it's high quality and decently filling. I could have easily ate five or six halibuts here. At $22 a pop, this would've cost me a LOT.* - The concept: is a bit pretentious and holier-than-thou. Yeah, organic, sustainable, blah blah blah, I get it. But guess what, this is not a unique thing in Portland, there are many other places that do this and have food that is just as good and half as expensive. They don't serve red meat because it's "not sustainable"? I won't mention the fact that the two-button toilet in the bathroom uses more water on the "low" setting than a urinal would...or that a hand drier is more sustainable than paper towels but...whatever. - The staff: was actually pretty nice and quirky. - The crowd: when hipsters finally land a corporate job at Dad's company and have exactly two kids, they go to Farm Café. If you want to get an idea of the crowd here, check this website: unhappyhipsters.com - The beer selection: was surprisingly good. About 10 tap selections, all very good and relatively unique. Synopsis: if the prices here were cut in half, I would love this place. As it stands I'm not really into paying $22 for two bites of fish, no matter how cool I think I am. *Maybe this is what makes this place so gosh-dern "sustainable", the portions are so small they could feed an entire elementry school off of a single halibut fish. Suddenly Jesus' fish and loaves trick doesn't seem so impressive.
(2)Laurence W.
Great little bar in the back room, with excellent mixed drinks. Not so impressed with the menu, but they certainly pack a lot of people in there on a Friday night.
(4)Laura N.
Something was amiss my first shot at the Farm. After all the great reviews I was left feeling quite underwhelmed. ...Cue the questions. Was it you? Was it me? I mean...I've never had complaints in the satisfaction department...and from your yelp-utation, neither have you. So why was our chemistry off? And then it hit me...romance. Intimacy. You needed me to give back...to pull my weight in the relationship. Ahhhhhhhh... The Farm is seeping with quaint charm...and it was utterly lost upon me as I forcefully assembled 4 virtual strangers into an environment oozing with passion. Granted, my strangers were all beautiful, and no doubt both romantic and passionate in their own right...but it's not like the four of us were planning on getting a shared room at the Jupiter later if you know what I'm saying. This is a "dirty little secrets" type of establishment, a place where you will indulge in one too many cocktails and make eyes at your companion over a small round table. You will devour the fresh organic ingredients that are beautiful in both taste and presentation. This is *not* a meet 'n greet, bust out 'yer ice-breakers, let's chit chat and get to know each other venue. So I went back. And I returned all the romance and intimacy that the Farm demanded. And our chemistry was spot on. The second time was absolutely heavenly, (but the second time usually is, right ladies)?
(4)Erin M.
Make a reservation! My friend I ate here for the first time and the food was out of this world, fresh and full of flavor! Worth every penny!
(5)David M.
We were staying at The Jupiter just a couple blocks away. There were 2 of us, and we didn't have a reservation. We were told it would be a while. We sat at the bar on a warm sunny evening. I got the Blood Orange Margarita, and I had hoped for more zing. Not enough tartness. The Rosemary Roasted Hazelnuts were fantastic. So tasty. The Tobasco spiciness added an extra dose of flavor that really worked. I wish it weren't a secret recipe, because it would be such a treat to make for a cocktail party. For dinner I had the Farmhouse Veggie Burger. Awesome! Probably the best veggie burger I have ever eaten. I enjoyed every bite. We sat out on the patio in the back and enjoyed the sun as it went down and our bellies were so full. We enjoyed our walk back to The Jupiter after an excellent meal.
(4)Zach G.
After eating at the Farm Cafe last night I feel like I don't even want to ever taste anything else. Wait, no, scratch that. I feel like I CAN'T even taste anything else, since my tongue is still recovering from the chemical burn caused by the insane amount of salt in the food. Now, I like salt as much as the next person, and am all about well-seasoned food. But this was overpowering. I couldn't taste the salmon, I couldn't taste the grit cakes (ok, to be fair, grits don't really have all that much of a taste. But these sure were salty!) I couldn't taste the greens, although I'm pretty sure they actually didn't have any salt at all, so. My tongue was literally tingling for a good half hour after my last bite. Service was a bit marginal as others have noted, and they've stocked the bathroom with a particularly foul smelling and heavily perfumed hand soap, a mistake I just don't understand at a restaurant like this. Ok. Where's that extra star coming from? Well. The bread was good! And they have a well-edited selection of taps; lots of serious beers worth drinking. I think I'd come back for drinks in the bar, which is an appealing space, but I can think of better ways to spend fifty or sixty bucks than to come back for dinner.
(2)Paul S.
In short: decor and staff were great, food was not, though it's well presented. Both my wife and my dishes were really heavy handed with the seasonings and salt, and we both didn't sleep very well the night following. And much of the other patrons, I can't put my finger on it, had this bland Midwest whiteness to them. The bar in back looked very charming, a fun place to hang out. We don't drink so I can't speak for the quality of the drinks, but people seemed to enjoy it.
(2)sara w.
The food here is some of the best I have had in Portland. The Clam appetizer was incredible. I'm thinking of it now and my mouth is watering. Had the Goat Cheese Salad for dinner, which had a delicious Caper vinaigrette drizzled on top. Husband had the Goat Cheese Ravioli. All was very tasty and complex. We split a carafe of Cab, which was very good. The prices are also reasonable.
(5)Jenna R.
I'm trying very hard to understand why this place gets such RAVE reviews. I really am not a nay-sayer for the hell of it. I try to enjoy myself anywhere I go. You could call me a half-full Yelper. The only thing I enjoyed about this place was the baked brie. It was absolutely delicious, and recommend to everyone. The other plates I've tried have been.. okay. Like "Meh, alright, I was hungry so this is satsifying". The food is fresh, but there are SO many other places in Portland for the same level of fresh for tastier and wayy less expensive. This place may be "all organic" but they rape you with their prices. If you're trying to impress an organic vegetarian on a date, I'm sure this place would do the trick. However, I am a serious carnivore with NEEDS and this place didn't fill it. There's no real style or unique atmosphere to the place, the staff is hoity-toity, and the wait is long. I'm going against the organic grain here and saying, Pass on this one.
(2)Elizabeth H.
Had an absolutely terrific dinner last night at Farm Cafe with a good friend. We shared a plate of beet (not a typo) carpaccio first: thinly shaved beets with crumbled goat cheese, herbs, and just the right amount of crunchy salt. Really fresh and distinctive. The serving was huge, so it was fine to share, but it was so delicious and light I could easily have eaten the whole plate myself. Then I had wild salmon simply grilled, on a bed of spinach, with a side of grit cakes that were flavored with (I think) chipotle pepper and something else. The salmon was done impeccably - moist, flavorful, just the right amount of char on the outside. Spinach was fine, and the grit cakes were fabulous (of course, I'm a sucker for anything made from corn, but these were really great). We also had cocktails (a rarity for me, although you wouldn't know it from this week's reviews). My friend had the Calavara, with tequila, gingerale, lime juice, and something else, and I had the GIN-ger, with gin, ginger liqueur, and tonic water. Both were really nicely done. Service was very good from our waitress. She was attentive in just the right degree. There was one snafu; I got there first and was seated in the back by the bar (I love how they have the space divided up - keeps the noise down and offers lots of choices. They appear to have a nice patio too.), and told the man who seated me that I was expecting a friend. When she was 10 minutes late I got a text from her wondering where I was. Turned out she'd been sitting up front having been told by another person that I hadn't arrived yet. Communication is a good thing... Overall, this has jumped right up on my list of places to go back to. Lots of vegetarian options on the menu, too, which is a big plus for me (well, I'm a pescetarian, actually).
(5)John K.
I've found the Farm to be one of the most enjoyable places in a town full of good eating. Small seating areas in the comfy old building give most tables a pleasant amount of privacy. And the food has always been fresh and beautifully prepared, no matter what I've ordered. On my most recent visit, our group had the trout, sturgeon, salmon, and the veggie burger - everyone was thrilled with their choices. This isn't the place to go when you want a big ol' steak, but everything that they do have on their menu is a winner. Their bar looks wonderfully inviting - I have a feeling there's a happy hour in the near future, though.
(5)Ashley C.
I don't know if it's because I was with friends or because the food was that good, or maybe a little of both. I'm not a vegetarian but this place works for me. My friends and I came without reservation, and ended up spending an hour at the bar. At first, it seems annoying, but after a few drinks and lively conversations, it was fine. The wait seems short. By the time we sat down to eat, we were ready to devour everything. Again, not sure if it's because we were starving or because the food was that great; but we licked the plates cleaned. There were six of us so we tried a little of everything on the menu, and everything was delicious. You really can't go wrong.
(4)Matt D.
First off, I absolutely ADORE the atmosphere in this place. There's something sophisticated and homely about it (unlikely combo, yes?) that makes you just want to LIVE in there! We were seated fairly quickly and the bartender/waiter came over to help us right away. Niether of us were very hungry, so we opted for something reasonable on the menu: a gardenburger. Now, can be very picky about gardenburgers (as I eat them quite often) and I absolutely hate it when one is overly dry or bland. This was easily the best gardenburger I've ever had. It was moist, flavorful, and EXTREMELY filling. I only ate half of it and felt completely satisfied. The bell peppers were cooked to perfection, and the roll it came on was slightly crispy on the outside, yet fluffy and delicate on the inside. Yum! The fries were quite flavorful as well, but unfortunately they had way too much salt on them. I would have given them 5 stars if it weren't for this minor flaw. I will be back though, that's for sure!
(4)mary s.
Lovely, intimate interior. The baked brie with hazelnuts & strawberries was absolutely mouthwatering. So delicious. As an entree I had the salmon with grilled veggie orzo. Probably safe to say it was one of the freshest, most perfectly cooked & tasty salmon dishes that I have ever had. Would definitely go back!
(5)Lester L.
The service is bland, slow, and dismissive. Inside, during the evening, it is way too dark (could barely read the menu). The drinks are overpriced BUT the food is good. I was thinking to myself, after standing in the doorway for a long time, all alone, on a sparse night for them, that the food must be their saving grace if people keep coming back. Indeed, the food is quite good and very fresh. However, there are low notes, such as the baked brie, but there are soaring high notes such as the trout, snapper, and rabbit stew (for example). I will come back again sometime ONLY for the food. Someone obviously knows what they are doing in the kitchen...could they please transfer some more knowledge to front-of-house??
(3)Tamara Y.
wonderful thoughtful food. Best beet salad I have ever had. Oh so good we wanted to go back after for a whole different meal. Only advice is our server did not pay attention to us. She was more focused on her larger tables and made some mistakes. Totally forgivable but when fine dining you want the service to match the taste!
(4)Mike K.
We stopped by during Happy Hour (literally one hour, 5-6) for just a drink and a snack. I think we're spoiled in Portland, because a lot of local happy hours are ridiculously cheap for what you get. This place isn't as cheap as some, but still definitely worth the money. We got fancy cocktails for $5 each, and they were awesome...probably could have gone for $10 or more normally. The sauteed mushrooms were around $7 and were very tasty. Our server was pretty nice, but we did have to flag her down our way a couple times. On the upside, she was cool enough to ask us at 5:57 if we wanted more drinks at the happy hour prices. Of course we did. The dessert menu didn't look like anything to write home about, but that alone isn't enough to judge a dessert on. So I'll reserve judgment until I come back for dinner/dessert, which I definitely would like to.
(4)Seth M.
they shouldve just called the bake brie "the orgasm", because after i ate it i had to excuse myself from the table and change my underpants the heirloom tomatoes were very good. fresh. the goat cheese tasked like ricotta, and that was fine with me. the veggie burger was like an eggplant patty. it was creamy and great.
(5)Anika K.
Yum... from the delicious bread, to the salmon, and finally the fantastic poached pear dessert: I am a fan. The atmosphere is a lot like Eastside Cafe in Austin, with many more veggie-friendly eating options. Also: a great beer list, all reasonably priced. Nice for a special night out - we spent our last night in PDX here and it was a perfect end to a great few days there.
(4)Faffy L.
You can pretty much count on other people's reviews on the great food that Farm offers cuz I am really not gonna say much anything much different - but! I can offer you one tip: They have the BEST walnuts on their arugula salad. THE BEST. So good that I asked for a side of it, that I wrapped up in tin foil and offered it to bartenders I've met on the rest of my roadtrip up the Pacific NW. I was even given the recipe to make it! But I know they'll never be as good. Yes, it was THAT good. p.s. Their veggie burger was pretty bomb too. I'd hold the horseradish sauce if you aren't into that kinda thing, cuz they slap a good bit of it on. p.p.s. This place may seem small upon entrance, but it's a good size and they have a nice cozy bar too.
(4)M.E. O.
So good. Every time, every dish. That's about it.
(5)Lillian G.
The herb-crusted tofu with mushroom marsala was the best tofu dish I've eaten. Ever. I shared the meal with an out of town friend and it was such a perfect place for us to discuss long forgotten topics, aborted life plans and every other little thing you can think of. We shared the poached Bartlett pear with vanilla Tillamook ice cream and a ginger cookie. The Farm is such a sweet highlight of my year already.
(4)charlene a.
Warm, hearty - AHHmazing food. Charming decor. It felt like I was just dining a friend's house. The crab risotto melted me with delight. Glad I used Yelp to look up restaurant info b/c my friend had just moved there. Great way to end my first Portland visit....
(4)A E.
Amazing. Had a fantastic solo dining experience at Farm. The host (a male, so I think hostess is inaccurate, no?) suggested sitting outside, and led me through the restaurant to the cutest outdoor patio that reminded me of one of my favorite wineries/restaurants in Santa Barbara. The waitress promptly got me started with a glass of wine and appetizers and made some great recommendations for my meal/beer pairing. And I must admit, when she initially delivered the beer she suggested with my dinner (a stuffed brioche that was so good I wouldn't dare screw up the memory by trying to capture it in words), I thought it was too earthy/piney. But when the entree came out, it was such a fantastic compliment. Overall, the service was top-notch. I was a waitress from the age of 14 to 21 so I know how demanding and unreasonable some people can be (e.g. most of the low-rated reviews, whose whining say more about the reviewer than the servers/restaurant), yet I also know what poor service looks like. That was not the case here -- I found the servers to work in concert together to offer me very attentive and personalized attention, and for that, I was very thankful. The only not-so positive thing I will say is that I took the cheesecake dessert to-go and when I ate it later that evening, I wasn't overly impressed. I found the dulce de leche to be grainy and didn't love the cheesecakes texture. Perhaps that's a reflection of it having sat in my refrigerator for several hours or due to the last month I spent in Argentina, often eating their "national treasure" straight from jars sold everywhere in the country.
(5)NessaBelle H.
Yum yum yum, la la la la... Love The Farm, da da da da.. Great food, quality ingredients, seasonal menu, daily specials, good wine list, decent cocktails, service is nothing to bitch about (usually), it's pretty much all Portland, and all good! There's been a few inconsistencies, but over all The Farm Cafe is a real gem. My boyfriend and I are frequent customers and almost always order the arugula pear salad to share and entrees from the specials menu, and are always pleased. We'll share a bottle of wine, usually red, but depending on the food/season. I highly recommend the Love and Squalor pinot noir. mmmm.. Desserts are good too, but you'll have to ask my man about those, he's the one with the sweet too.. er.. grill.. If you haven't been, go! I think it's definitely worth the coin, but be prepared to spend anywhere from $60-100 for 2 (including wine). You could spend less if you skip the starters and/or the booze, but who wants to do that? I considered giving it 5 stars, but that's asking a lot from me, and they're not perfect. Definitely a solid 4.5 but that's not an option and I don't round up. ;) Happy grubbing y'all!
(4)amii c.
We came in here just wanting an afternoon snack, unaware that it's a pretty fancy looking restaurant inside. Could have fooled me with the unpretentious exterior and the name Farm Cafe. I had a Super Wonderful cocktail (Portland 88 vodka, pomegranate juice and ginger-ale on the rocks with lime for $7) which was actually mediocre. Don't remember what the BF drank, but I think he enjoyed it more than I did mine. We both loved the Williams Baked Brie ($8) for sure, though. Slice of brie served warm with toasted sugar, roasted hazelnuts, warm gooey strawberries and baguette. We already love brie, but never had it like this. If we lived in Portland we'd get this all the time. Didn't try the main courses because we weren't hungry enough, but the prices looked a little high to us anyway.
(4)Liz C.
Their hummus is some of the best in town, and everyone else enjoyed their meals, but I got FOOD POISONING.. Must have been the gnocchi which tasted sour. Ou friend's asparagus flan was amazing and very rich - and vegan! Halibut also got raves. But it's not worth the night of pain and agony I dealt with afterward. Farm has been a favorite of ours for 5+ years but we won't be back any time soon. Bummer.
(2)Michele L.
The Farm Cafe is my new favorite restaurant in Portland. We have been there several times and they never fail to amaze. The food is inspired...the ingredients are fresh and prepared expertly. Tonight I had the summer squash and basil fritters and the goat cheese ravioli. They both melted in my mouth. The service is wonderful and the atmosphere is relaxed. We bow to their genius.
(5)kristin e.
Over the summer, I took a birthday boy here for dinner. There were 2 menus: an everyday (seasonal) menu and a nightly specials menu. I remembered ordering a roasted white corn risotto with some blue cheese whose name now escapes me. The dish was pretty good actually, if it were eaten THIS season: cold, rainy, overcast. In fact, the night we dined here was during that week when Portland was in the 104 F+ temps and the restaurant inside was humid and sweltering, so I kind of made a bad choice in ordering a thick, creamy stick-to-your-bones-warm-your-soul-type of dish. The cocktail I ordered, the Gin-ger wasn't that great either. The ginger bite was nice and sharp, but I felt that the other flavors weren't balanced. It was like taking a shot of gin and chasing it with a piece of raw ginger. Anyway, I went here again over the weekend and my experience was better. Deciding what to order was difficult: it was a toss up between cioppino or chicken from the nightly special menu. I LOVE cioppino and really wanted to see how it was done in Oregon (it is a dish that originated from San Francisco, after all) but I didn't take my chances so I ordered the grilled chicken with brussels sprouts and polenta and it was delicious. The size was more than generous (you get HALF a chicken), more generous than the piddly portioned ravioli dish that was eaten across from me. Better yet, the drink experience redeemed itself in the form of the Goldenrod (St. Germain, sparkling wine, orange and lemon). Definitely habit forming status. Best yet, the bread pudding with caramel and vanilla Tillamook ice cream was one of those dishes were you'd feel extremely thankful for having taste buds (and a penchant for dessert, of course). It was that good.
(4)Kayla M.
I brought my mom here on her first night visiting from Texas, and we both loved it!. The white and red wine is great and decently priced. The Mussels appetizer was amazing, especially the white wine sauce it came in. We split a salmon dish for the main course, which had to-die-for pesto on top, soft but crunchy on the outside polenta cakes, and the best cooked greens I've had since I've moved to the Northwest (from the South). The fish was also perfectly cooked. - 1 because they messed up one of our drink orders. We didn't correct because the wine we got was good anyways. I'll be back here to try the veggie burger soon.
(4)Julie H.
The Yelp dilemma; do I write a review for a restaurant that already has several hundred? Yup, I guess I do =) Went to Farm Cafe last night and very much enjoyed it. Recommended items; -Blood Orange Margarita - YUM! -Sautéed Mushrooms - The sauce is DEE-licious -Mussels & Clams - 2 die 4 -Warmed Goat Cheese Salad - Mmmmmm Super super yummy food, really cute setting; in an old house, great cocktails (was really hard to choose just one from their amazing menu) and an awesome patio in the back with a huge exposed brick wall (would be perfect for a private party on a warm summer night!) Overall a great experience! Absolutely recommend!
(4)Katrina W.
So no, they don't take reservations and yes, there's always a line, and yes, sometimes you feel like a sardine while waiting (and sometimes even while seated), and yes, sometimes they really make you aware that if you're done eating, it's time you maybe gave up your seat, but the dishes are unique and delicious and the crowd and staff you find yourself pressed up against are kind despite it all, so yes, it's definitely worth a trip and several return visits.
(4)Natalie M.
Farm Cafe is pretty much one of the cutest places that I have ever been to. It's an old farm house that is in the middle of the city (sort of) that has been converted into a restaurant. I had made a reservation because I had seen on yelp how popular it was and we were sat right away upon arriving. I hadn't realized just how big this place really was until I got up to use the restroom and saw the outside patio (so cute for a date night) and the other 2 dinning room areas. We ordered the baked brie that was covered in a strawberry drizzle, steamed clams/mussels, and roasted garlic for starters. I think the brie was one of the best things I've ever eaten...no lie! I ordered the Veggie burger because I had seen it on the food network and had to see what the fuss was about. Fuss on food network becuase it was delicious....I think it was a bit overlooked because I was fairly full from the appetizers, but still hands down, best veggie burger I've eaten to date. I plan on going back the next time I'm in Portland to treat my tastebuds.
(5)Rock D.
My favorite restaurant in Portland. Period.
(5)Andrew C.
I am a connoisseur of fine cuisine, especially after having worked in a five-star hotel/restaurant environment. After moving back to Portland in 2006, I "accidentally" happened upon the Farm because I made a wrong turn off Burnside and turned around in their parking lot. Their sign aroused my curiosity, so I walked in the front door. Hooked. All I can say is, "If you don't try the food, libations, and experience the hospitality for yourself, you're cheating yourself out of a wonderful dining experience that I'm sure will repeat itself for years to come."
(5)nm l.
The happy hour prices were really great, so my friends and I ordered lots of appetizers. The choices were kind of boring and bar-food-like, but it's nice to have more sustainable options in that genre. So, the hot wings. They were essentially raw - and it tricked me, because I was thinking "oh, maybe free-range chicken has a different consistency or something" and I tried to be a trooper about it because I was hungry. I tried to blame the weird taste on the sauce, too. I actually ate three raw chicken wings before noticing that there was blood on my plate. At that point I panicked, and asked the other folks eating the wings what they thought. They had all stopped eating them after the first wing, and we kindly let the waitress know to inform the cook to leave them in the fryer for a few more minutes before serving them again. The waitress was nice - she offered us more chicken wings. None of us wanted to eat chicken ever again at that point, though. The price of the wings was removed from the bill, but we weren't comped anything else and I kind of feel weird about that. I think if you inadvertently feed your customers something that could make them really sick, you should do whatever it takes to save that customer relationship. With the amount of people who love this restaurant, I imagine that the prospect of our tiny table of four not returning to the restaurant doesn't put a dent in profitability, but let's be real: I've never heard of a restaurant forcing you to pay for any aspect of your meal after serving you improperly cooked meat. I like the idea of The Farm, but I was unimpressed by how they handled this situation.
(3)San N.
We were excited to try this place because of the rave reviews and fresh ingredients. Service - Horrific. Our server was not friendly whatsoever. We asked for recommendations and he just picked the first one that I mentioned that I was interested in. We had to flag him down for refills on our drinks as well. Food - Fresh and plentiful but missing some oomph. 1. Sautéed Mushrooms with Herbs - I was impressed with the amount of mushrooms! The tarragon was pronounced and tons of bread to soak in all that goodness! 2. Dungeness Crab Risotto - Shredded crabs. I didnt see chunks like others were saying. However, a sprinkle of lemon cut the richness and made this dish really light. 3. Herb Crusted Tofu with Mushrooms Marsala - Nice crust on the tofu. Huge portions. They give you a MOUND of mashed potato and a heap full of mushrooms.
(2)Uyen T.
I really REALLY really wanted to like this place! I hate it when I go try a new place when the "b" team is on. The service reminds me of service in Europe - snails pace. I really don't mind waiting for my food if it's really good. I really hate waiting for my food only to be very disappointed by it. I've heard great things and I'm not a fan of inconsistent food. Why couldn't it be good when I went? =( best thing I ate was the baked brie.
(3)Lisa S.
Yummy flavors, cozy, great atmosphere. This place is very, very popular (with good reason). I love how small it is...it feels very "family". My date and I ate dinner at the bar rather than wait for a table. Our vantage point was great for flagging the waitstaff for more bread, or for people-watching. We munched on the heavenly sweet-n-salty roasted hazelnuts while waiting for our dinners. I had a green salad and Brie appetizer - both wonderful. My date had a seafood stew that he was praising as well. Dessert was a squash tart, better than any pumpkin pie I've ever had. The wine recommendation was superb and I will definitely be back.
(5)Brandi W.
This is a very difficult restaurant to rate because the good things about it are incredible, but the bad things we experienced were really, really bad. Good things included the atmosphere of the place. It is a darker restaurant that feels casual with all the rough wood and some interesting artwork pieces. The music was just on the not too-loud side of loud. And it was some great blues music, which I loved. The food, for the most part, was absolutely excellent. We had the herbed tofu with crimini mushrooms and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. The flavor they somehow managed to weld into that tofu was just amazing. I had the trout which was butterflied, breaded, fried and topped with some sea salt. It came over a vegetable orzo that was perfectly fresh and tasty. But the cheesecake for dessert was possibly one of the best cheesecakes I've had. Perfect crust, smooth and creamy, and topped with a melt in your mouth soft caramel sauce and 3 pecan halves... mmmmmm Problem one: my trout was full of bones. About halfway through the fish I was picking them one by one out of my mouth and finally I just gave up and left about a third of the fish on the plate. Problem 2, the service. Ok, so the waitress we got had zero personality, but unlike some reviewers have mentioned, service wasn't slow. Of course, we were there at about 10:30pm, so the place was none too busy. A different guy brought out our entrees, and had a bit of an odd, sardonic personality come through when we called him back to ask for silverware. But that was no biggie. Then, towards the end of the meal, a different woman came out to wait on us. She had her chin in the air the whole time and had an obvious attitude from the first moment she opened her mouth. I mean, I don't know if she was having a bad day, but I don't think I have ever seen a server like this. You could tell that the whole time she was thinking something along the lines of "screw these customers, I want to get the fuck outta here". She may have been a manager, she kinda had that vibe. When she asked if we wanted dessert, I asked her about the almond tart. Immediately she said they were out of it (this happened at the beginning of the meal as well, but at least the waitress told us up front about what entrees they were out of). So I asked her about the cheesecake, it seemed to be a standard on their menu. She immediately misconstrued what I said, very snarkily replying, "there's nothing STANDARD about it, it is to die for." I was a little taken aback, and explained that I meant, it was a regular on their menu as opposed to the many desserts which were on the specials list (and I'd read some good reviews about it). It got worse from there, with her basically ignoring my dinner companion and being very abrupt and almost mean. This is a woman that was either having a really bad day, or should immediately, without any hesitation, remove herself from any job that involves customer interaction of any sort. It left such a bad taste in my mouth, despite the awesome food, that I don't know if I ever want to go back there. There are many, many restaurants with good food in Portland, but good service is what begins and ends every meal. Without it, I could just as easily take my business elsewhere.
(3)Taisha R.
If you come to Portland and do not eat here, you will miss out on one of the best meals of your life!!! Thankfully I had a couple of people with me so I could try several dishes. Here it goes. Sautéed Mushrooms with Herbs (Crimini mushrooms sautéed in olive oil, white wine, butter, fresh tarragon and Herbs de Provence, served with bread.) - Tasty! Braised Greens and Toasted Pecan Stuffed Ravioli (Hand-made ravioli stuffed with braised greens, caramelized onions, pecans, sharp white cheddar and ricotta cheese then drizzled with tarragon brown butter.) - Insanely fantastic! Herb Crusted Tofu with Mushrooms Marsala (Breaded and herbed tofu cutlets served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and Crimini mushroom Marsala.) - I tried to make this dish a few years ago...needless to say...unlike me, they get it so right. Crumble Top Apple Pie with vanilla ice cream. Divine. The prices are excellent and if I lived in Portland, I would stop cooking and dine here every night. Really...that good.
(5)Melissa S.
Farm cafe, the small place around the corner with a great patio. On the days when the sun in shining in portland it's hard to beat this patio, and happy hour. Farm table has a great happy house menu and and excellent veggie burger.. we also sincerely enjoyed the roasted garlic but you should be prepared to share the garlic with your loved one, otherwise No Kisses for you! Service is a little slow, particularly the bar... but it's still a great find.
(4)Emily H.
Had a wonderful dinner with some local friends. It is so refreshing to have dinner at a restaurant that focuses on being fresh, local and seasonal. The Veggie Burger was beautiful. I tried the special for the night, Duck Confit Manicotti. To describe the Manicotti, it was rich in sauce and didn't have too much duck confit in the filling. All in all though it was a heavy dish (as I was expecting) but not what I was truly hoping for; however, everyone else I was with thoroughly enjoyed their meals. Our waiter was great - informative and wanted to know about our dining experience. Thanks for a good experience!
(4)Angela P.
Wonderful fresh, local, artfully prepared food in a cozy Victorian home. Emphasis on vegetarian food, though this seems to be evolving into more meat options. There is always an excellent fish dish on the menu, and they have the best veggie burger in town, maybe the world!! The sunken chocolate souffle with coffee ice cream is off the hook. Wonderful, creative specials & faster seating / service since they've opened up the back room / expanded. Upscale but not pretentious. When my family visits, this restaurant is always first on their list.
(5)Joe B.
An evening with business friends invited an onslaught of creative dishes to share and feast upon. Starting with baked brie, roasted garlic, and fresh hummus, I immediately ordered the draft IPA. Not typically a fan of brie, Farm Cafe rekindled an old flame. Dipping my spoon between a delicately toasted apple and buttery hazelnut mixture, I found what took the form of baked apple-brie pie. It was awesome. Our server recommended the duck and I obliged. The locally farm-raised duck breast was perfectly flame-roasted with just enough sweet gooey sauce to accompany. I'll be back.
(5)Tim B.
YUMMM! This place is nice! This is a great "first date" spot, it is romantic and the food makes you feel good. The portions are perfect! So many places seem to "super-size" everything, not here. The serving sizes are just right so don't expect to use a doggy-bag here (poor Fido). The Farm does not take reservations, which was not a problem, I was seated in under 15 minutes, but I know the wait can sometimes take up to an hour (it is WORTH the wait). Having to wait so long is a pretty good indication of the quality of the food! The food is mostly vegetarian, but there is fish on the menu; and everything is locally grown and organic (and the fish is not farmed). I had baked brie which was topped with honey, pears, and hazelnuts (Mmmm!). For my main course, I had the seafood risotto; it was so damn good! Personally, I do not think this is a good place to bring kids, the place felt very intimate and romantic, more of a special occasion kinda place. Nothing against kids, but they would have killed the vibe of the place.
(5)Mietsko B.
This place SHOULD be great, but sadly, it is not. The food and cozy atmosphere post re-model is gone and apparently by my last visit, so is the service and any attempt an customer retention. I no more than sat down with the person I had brought to the Farm (after having raved about it's wonderful food) than did we up and leave, our server was so unbelievably rude and condesending. I realize that there is a Portland snobery, but this woman was down right mean. She made a snarly repugnant face to my guest right in front of me, did not even bother to turn her back before making faces at us; we had not even ordered our drinks. We immediately left, and can say with all authority that we will NEVER return, there are too many other joints in town with at least the heart to hide their distaste for their customers. Horrible, terrible memory, Not coming back.
(1)Jolene B.
The food is worth the wait. We waited for an hour but it's a fun city to walk around in. WOW...
(5)Mya R.
My brother recommended this place so I had dinner here on Monday. All the food was really good, and some of it was amazing. Our table of four split 3 different appetizers: -steamed mussels & clams (tender shellfish, rich & delicious broth, slightly salty) -beet carpaccio (it sounds weird but was amazingly good & loved by everyone at the table) -baked brie w/ strawberries (I didn't try this one, but others seemed to like it) For entrees we had: -trout (very fresh, very good) -the lamb special (tender, really delicious, slightly salty) -risotto w/ peas (I didn't try this one, but my friend said it was rich & flavorful) Dessert: -cheesecake (devoured) molten chocolate souffle (oh my god rich & good! I scraped the dish to get every last bit!) -rhubarb crisp (tangy with a crunchy topping, just what I wanted). They also dished up a bowl of ice cream & strawberries for my friend who can't eat gluten, even though that wasn't on the menu. The service was good but really depended on who brought our stuff. We seemed to have several people dealing with our table so dishes didn't necessarily go to the right seat, & whenever the bartender brought out drinks he reached across the table directly across my face. I'm not a fan of someone's arm in my face during the middle of a conversation, especially when there's room to go around. Summary: excellent food, promising wine list, decent service that could use some polish. I recommend it & will definitely return.
(4)Mike A.
I've been to Farm Cafe 2 times now and both times I've had a great experience. The hosts and servers offer prompt friendly service and make you feel welcomed. The servers are well versed in the wine list and cocktail list and have no problem pairing your courses up by glass of wine, bottles or cocktails. The food is all beautifully plated cuisine with rich dynamic flavors and textures. It seems like their line cooks and chefs spent time in both culinary schools and art schools. It all tasted great and looked brilliant too. Most important, the menu has something for everyone. Vegetarian, vegan, omnivore what ever. There is something on the menu that you will love. I'll be back everytime I'm in Portland and I'll be sure to tell everyone I know how great this spot is.
(5)Ashley B.
I loved Farm Cafe. We went on a Saturday night around 9:30pm and were told we had a 45 minute wait to be seated. The bar was filled so we headed down to the Doug Fir and had a drink while we waited. I love that the host will call when your table is ready so you that you are free to explore the decent selection of bars around the restaurant (Rontoms, Doug Fir, etc). After a shorter than expected wait we got our call and headed over for dinner. To start we had the roasted garlic appetizer and mushroom appetizer and both were delicious, though if I had to pick a favorite I think the mushrooms were prepared better than any I have ever had (and I like mushrooms). Next I had a special of roasted chicken with greens and mashed potatoes, it was AMAZING. I finished every bite despite how stuffed I was. My dining buddy had the veggies burger and he really enjoyed that as well. Everything about Farm Cafe was great from the atmosphere to the drinks to the service and most importantly the food. Next time I go I promise to save room for dessert because if it is anything like the other food I tried, it will be awesome.
(5)Sherry Y.
This is one of those times (ok every time) that I wish I could give half stars. To give 5 stars or not to give 5 stars? The food is fresh and tasty--but can be a bit pricey. Happy Hour is served until 6:30 and they'll let you have it in the dining room (but beware no HH on Fridays)--but no HH on cocktails. I think it is a dollar off of beer and $5 wines. Our waiter was very nice today--sometimes they can seem a little pretentious. If only they had cocktails. . .
(4)carrie r.
Love their tofu & mashed potatoes! So good! Service super slow...wait staff friendly!
(4)Emily H.
Cozy atmosphere, tasty food, lots of vegetarian options for my non-carnivore dining companions. I had the trout, which was fresh and crispy. I tasted my husband's Dungeness Crab risotto, and it was quite good. I am a risotto snob, and I would order this one the next time I eat at Farm. Beet salad was pretty standard, but fresh and delicious. The factor that inspired this review is how great our server (I think his name was Patrick) was. He was friendly, low key, helpful, timely and gave some of the best service I've had in ages. We were a bit unorganized as a table, and he handled our indecisiveness with grace, not huffiness. He actually seemed to be enjoying his job rather than being put out about being in the service industry. Believe me, I've been there, but I don't want to be reminded how much my server hates me and their life when I am dropping $75+ on dinner. You know?
(4)Michelle H.
Is this where Belly Timber has been spawned from? I got that vibe instantly when I walked in the door. Gorgeous, revamped old house to make you feel comfortable and not at all awkward? Check. A small, but awesome menu that focus on what's fresh and local? Check. Super friendly service, coupled with amazing drinks from the bar? Check. It was my kind of date night in this place. It has ambiance without feeling stuffy. I didn't feel awkward in jeans and a band tee, but I still felt like I was classing it up a bit. Well, as classy as a stone cock (rooster, get your minds out of the gutter) in the entry way can be. Local art decorates the walls and helps to take the edge off the dark wooden tables and sheer curtains on the window panes. The prices lean toward that date night price range, too. You're not dumping money at the Heathman or Higgins, but you're still going to be set back $30 on a decent evening. You are worth it after all, right? The quality is just as good in my opinion. Pan fried trout. Done and done. As much as I love salmon and halibut, I'm all about variety, even if it's pan fried. I want to tap into my childhood roots when I'd go fishing and eat what we caught that day. Sure, I didn't pay $19 back then, but I also didn't have it pan fried, boneless, and served over a bed of delicious grilled vegetables. You get what you pay for. Dungeness crab arancini. Get this. Get. This. These little fried balls of crab are delicious. Each bite had a hint of crab, mostly of risotto, but it was amazing all the same. We ate the arancini almost as quickly as it hit the table. Then we waited for the fish. We waited a long time, too, like an hour's worth. It was a little ridiculous. However, great conversation (and eaves dropping on other people's conversations) passed the time so well that we hadn't realized how much time had lapsed until our server came back to offer us free drinks to compensate us for our wait. Yes, please! Any drink we wanted, too. I had some vodka, mint, and lime concoction. It was a little too minty, but appreciated. I had a drink of his whiskey maple syrup thing (I may have almost got some in my eye due to a freak straw accident, but that's neither here nor there). Unique. Interesting. Definitely a lot of whiskey. Complaint of the evening (and it's not the wait): TURN UP THE LIGHTS. When we have to use the small tea light to read the drink menu, and you are so kind enough to bring us another to be able to see, shouldn't that tell you something? Finally the trout came out. Fried perfection. It wasn't overly greasy, it was slightly salty. The grilled vegetables were divine. It was really a light and perfect meal. So light and perfect in fact that the dark chocolate souffle and coffee ice cream was needed. It was worth the 15 minute wait, too. It was decadent without being overly sweet. Even though I had to avoid the ice cream, it was lovely. Two hours later we walked out into the cool summer air comfortable and happy. It was the making of a perfect night. I love this place.
(4)Megan R.
This place is consistently very very good. Great food, great service. I go here frequently and am never disappointed. It isn't the most trendy or exciting place in town but for a delicious date night meal you can't go wrong. Only thing I wish they'd change is to update the menu a bit more frequently.
(5)Brandon B.
Great food! Great location! Mediocre service. In all fairness it was most likely just the waiter. Also a perk that they have their own parking lot. Made for a great anniversary celebration.
(4)Steve G.
I really enjoyed this place... They have a great local wine list... The sautéed mushroom, corn fritter balls we excellent tasting, and the goat cheese ravioli was excellent... The server was very friendly, knowledgable, and had great character... All around great experience... I left very satisfied =D
(5)Rachael J.
I have been here twice now and have had two great meals. The food is always fresh and local. I HIGHLY recommend the veggie burger. Take it from someone who is a big fan of meat and all meat related products--It isn't your average veggie burger. It is enormous and has flavor so great I forgot it wasn't meat. A few tips--this place is always packed on Friday and Saturday nights. The location is in an old farm house and there is not much space to wait--either in the waiting area or the bar. So do yourself a favor and go on a weeknight and avoid the wait. There is also a happy hour before 6pm. Also beware--they are hesitant to seat you until your party has arrived. So pester your friends to be there on time!
(4)Jane M.
I absolutely loved the asparagus ravioli. Small portion size, so be sure to order an appetizer or dessert. Although lacking in quantity, the pasta was not lacking in quality. The butter sauce was excellent, slightly sweet with a zing of lemon and salt. My cocktails were perfectly crafted. I was seated at the bar as soon as I walked in, had a drink, and my table was ready. My chocolate souffle and coffee ice cream for dessert were delicious, warm and melty-gooey. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable and gave great advice for ordering absinthe, which was surprising since it's such an unusual drink to order. The bartender was wonderful. Skilled and friendly, unlike other vodka + juice "bartenders," that plague many other bars. I will definitely be coming back and I'll probably have the exact same meal again before venturing onto other goodies.
(4)Kody L.
Farm Cafe is potentially a five-star restaurant, but I need to try it out a few more times. Getting a table for three at 8:00 pm on a Tuesday night wasn't too bad -- I'd say a 10 minute wait. So I would guess prime dining nights are quite busy! Be aware that they don't take reservations, which kind of baffles me given the size, quality and popularity of this restaurant. I've tried going in the past, only to turn around after receiving a wait time estimate of two hours. Arancini: So damn good! Try these large risotto balls. Trout: Very nicely prepared. Seriously, perfectly cooked and not dry at all. Boneless and on top of a variety of cooked, but still crisp veggies. Asparagus ravioli: Surprisingly the best meal of the night. I don't know what it was, but I wish I had ordered this dish. Try it! Gnocchi: Was okay, but I'm not a gnocchi fan, so it could have been excellent without me knowing. I loved sitting outside. It was spacious and I appreciate that despite their popularity, they didn't cram tables together. The servers were attentive, nice and genuine. I'll be back!
(4)Yan M.
After reading all the stellar reviews on Yelp about this place, we figured we'll give this place a try.... We arrived at 7pm and the place was packed! We snagged the last table in the outdoor patio and the indoor was completely full. This place sure is busy on a week night and at 7pm! We ordered the cheeseball, blueberry salad, snapper and tofu marsala! The cheeseball was flavorful although it was a lot to share for two people to share so we left half of it behind. The bluberry salad was delicious! The dressing and the fresh blueberries with greens went really well together, great and refreshing salad. Bf's snapper was delicious. I love the tofu marsala, nicely done although it came with a lot of mashed potato. Overall, a great meal and a nice ambience. Only downside that they only have 1 bathroom and it's a unisex bathroom so there was a line of male and female patrons waiting in line when I was there.
(4)Thilo W.
Went here recently with my wife and a friend of ours and we had a very nice meal. It was crowded for a Wednesday (but not the hour and a half wait we had been quoted at Toro Bravo!). We were seated in about 30 minutes and had some very nice cocktails at their bar while we waited. The space is an old house (which gets a bit noisy, but is otherwise charming) with a nice bar and patio area in the back. Our waiter was friendly, but not all that attentive -- overall OK. One plus (as in many Portland establishments) is a very reasonable $10 corkage fee, so I B'd my OB. As for the food, we had the: Spiced Hazelnuts -- fantastic, hot and sweet, couldn't get enough Cheese Ball -- much better than the Cracker Barrel version Roast Chicken -- very tasty, touch dry, nice orzo/tomato side Veggie Tagliatelle -- excellent, nice house-made pasta, veggies, and a tasty sauce Grilled Corn/Smoky Blue Risotto OK, this gets its own section. This is fantastic! Sweet roasted corn, blue cheese, and perfectly cooked risotto combine for one of the best examples of this dish I have ever had. Rhubarb Cobbler -- tart, sweet, crunchy, DEEEElicious! Mascarpone Cheesecake with dulce de leche sauce -- so often, cheesecakes disappoint -- not this one. Slightly airy with a rich dulce de leche sauce and a delicious crust -- very good indeed. All of the above, plus 3 mixed drinks, plus corkage came to $108. The quality of the food in most big cities would garner 50-100% more in price. An excellent deal for gourmet-on-the-cheap seekers! The only reason I docked them a star was for the mildly indifferent service, but I would definitely go again.
(4)Lucia C.
Lately I've been an avid reader of Michael Pollen's books. After reading his excerpt in Food Inc., I've become hooked on learning about sustainability and supporting local farmers. (and no I am not becoming a hippie!) That being said, this restaurant is special because most of their ingredients come from local farmers. If I had written this review without the knowledge I have today (thank you Michael Pollen!), it would have received a star or two less. The food was really good, but did not astound me or become a cause for revelation. I had the "herb crusted tofu with mushrooms Marsala" and tried my buddy's the veggie burger for reference. So the extra star is for the excellent example this restaurant is setting for the world to see. It is possible to make somewhat affordable and yummy food to the public from local farmers &ingredients. And if I had to recommend something, I would say, get the chocolate souffle with coffee ice cream and don't even think about sharing it! because I still dream about it today =]. It's so good, it added another star to this review.
(5)Gabrielle A.
CRAB RISOTO!! Giant pieces of crab in there to satisfy. And the gnocchi was awesome, I have never had a better gnocchi! Light, fluffy & melted perfectly in your mouth. I also love that they have such a great bar with desert wines. Service was great the place is clean... I could go on. Oh, and the price per plate was great, there are not huge plates of food but you leave adequately full.
(5)Caroline J.
I had meant to order the veggie burger, having bookmarked the farm cafe here on yelp way before I actually made the trip to portland. but instead ordered the goat cheese ravioli and goat cheese salad. both were good and this is coming from someone who doesn't love (or hate) goat cheese. I ate every bit of my ravioli and sopped whatever sauce that was left. mmm delicious. I left with a nicely full stomach.
(5)Keith K.
We were in Portland on our way to the coast and I had seen this restaurant on the Food Network on the show The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Duff (Ace of Cakes) touted their Farmhouse Veggie Burger as the best burger be ever ate. So we made sure to stop in for dinner. The food was delicious. The burger lived up to the hype. The fries were good and the spiced ketchup they served with them was outstanding. The reason my rating isn't higher is that this wasn't really a family friendly restaurant. It is small and cramped and has no kids menu. Their kids dish is a cheesy risotto which, while delicious, was a bit too adventurous for our son. We ended up boxing up our food to go as the kids weren't happy and it didn't seem like a very understanding crowd. It may not be fair to rate the restaurant lower for this as they don't say they are a family friendly establishment, but I'm rating my family's experience there only.
(3)jimmy c.
Been there twice, first time had the special which was chicken quarter with mash potatoes and some veg for like 17 bucks. It was pretty good, and I had enough to eat. So we took a friend from out of town there and I had the risotto with crab I think at 16. A tiny bowl came and the contents were sub par since you could not even taste the crab? What's up? Had a taste of what my companions had and did not think that this place was even in the ball park of a Portland joint worthy of a mention. The most hyped place in town.
(1)Vandana M.
Great spot to celebrate our anniversary with a romantic dinner on the beautiful patio at Farm Cafe. Perfect spot for vegetarians -- we wanted to order everything, but in the end went with some yummy corn frittery things, watermelon salad, a veggie burger, and ravioli. The appetizer and salad were outstanding. The veggie burger was pretty yum, but my ravioli was a little "eh." I would definitely go back the next time I'm in town to try some of the other menu items, because there were a lot I am still thinking about...
(4)DeathandFood H.
Best meal I've ever had in Portland. Granted I've eaten at maybe 20 restaurants in Portland but the food I had at Farm Cafe was as good as the food at Chez Panisse or other slow foods/california cuisine restaurants. Simply everything we eat was an experience of pleasure in our mouths. Vegetarian and seafood were all prepared perfectly highlighting all the elements that made the ingredients so good and taking simple food to even higher levels of taste. I ate here with a friend who was vegetarian for many years, my wife who was vegetarian for a decade and now eats some seafood and I've been vegetarian and vegan. Add to that our San Francisco trained snobby expectations of super fresh, super organic and tasty food and our expectations were pretty high. Farm Cafe meet our expectations and exceeded them. We arrived at 8pm on a Friday without a reservation and had an almost 20 minute wait. We were directed to the bar area but looked around helpless as the bartender ignored us. Turned out this was normal and the wait staff take the drink orders but it would have been great if the host had told us that. That was the only bump in an otherwise wonderful experience. We started with the Farm Cheese Ball which was a mix of three cheese rolled in Hazelnuts and served with bread. The bread was good, the cheese was yummy and it was soon all in our bellies. The good time really started with our entrees. The spouse has the greens and mushroom ravioli. At three ravioli it seems small until you bit into the rich brown butter coated ravioli with it's savory and intense filling. It was a complex and yet completely satisfying dish. Our friend had the trout, not just any trout but a trout that was crisp on the outside and tender and moist on the inside. A trout that has strongly seasoned crust that was the perfect companion to the trout's strong flavours. Served with the trout was Brussels sprouts, turnips and potatoes all roasted and they were as good as the trout. My dish was the saffron crab cakes served with parsnip fries. The crab cakes reminded me of cakes I've had in Maryland from fresh cooked crabs since they were all crab and very little filler and the sweetness and flavour of the crab was brought out even more by the seasoning with the saffron and other spices. None of the spices overpowered the delicate taste of the crab and the parsnip fries were a great update on french fries with just as much crunch on the outside but sweeter on the inside. Having had such good entrees we had to have dessert and the desserts were just as good as the entrees. We ordered the apple tart and the sunken chocolate souffle with coffee ice cream. The apple tart was a true tart, thin and crisp and not to sweet. It was served with a caramel sauce that wasn't too sweet either and seemed to have some savory herbs in it that brought out the apple Essenes. The crust was of course tender while crisp and the whole thing was perfection in dessert form. The chocolate souffle was actually a very traditional chocolate souffle and would have been great without the ice cream, with the ice cream, it was almost like a super rich Sunday with the cake acting as the fudge. The coffee flavour of the ice cream didn't add very much and I wondered what it would be like with perhaps maple ice cream. Another great thing about this place was the very reasonable prices. 13 dollars for the ravioli, 16 for the trout, nothing on the menu over 20 dollars. Without out a doubt the prices would have been more in comparable restaurants in the US and it still would be worth if coming here even if the prices were more. I'm only sad I don't live in Portland or we would be regulars there.
(5)Megan H.
SOOOOOOOO good. everything tasted fresh and was just perfect. I took my mom there for a late mothers day because she's tried to go a few times and could never get in, so we went early (like 530) and there was no wait. There were quite a few people waiting to get seated when we left, but our server definitely did not make us feel rushed to leave. I had the trout and both my partner and mom had the asparagus ravioli. I tried it all and it was all delicious! My recommendation is to go early and hungry!
(5)Kiera H.
This review is based solely on the vegan-tofu-mushroom-potato dish, their beer selection, select appetizers (roasted garlic, mushrooms, french fries), a berry tart dessert, and how much my meat eating family members have liked it. +1- for having one of the best vegan dishes that i have had from an otherwise meaty establishment. Although, I wish it came with something green. +1- for this amazing dessert I had. +1- for making my mom happy (she always has something to complain about and I didn't hear a single complaint from her... not about the seat, the cocktail, the food or the service) +0.5- for the beer selection. +0.5- for good desserts. I cant give this a full star because the portions are ridiculously small for the price. This is Portland after all. If I were employed, I would eat here bi-weekly. I have dreams about this meal. The staff are hit or miss. Once they were very friendly, Another time the waitress tried to tell my mother's husband that he wasn't using the salt grinder correctly when he told her it was not grinding. He told her that he does in fact have the mental capacity of at least a 12 year old and that we needed a new salt shaker. Even if the service was consistently horrendous, I would be there for this $13 vegan-tofu-mushroom-potato dish that probably cost them about a buck to make because it is SOOOOO good.
(4)Mark T.
Pushes the bounds of the finest, freshest dining in Portland while keeping the prices reasonable. The tofu marsala is spectacular, and a Wednesday night spring special- a spring pea risotto was one of the best dishes I have eaten at any restaurant in 20 years of dining out. If you like spring peas, it is worth calling ahead to see if they have this item on the menu- it is worth coming for this alone. Very nice wine and beer selection. This place gets alot of things very, very right.
(5)Marlana B.
I meant to write this earlier. I made a visit to The Farm Cafe - again - on Sunday evening and had a memorable meal - possibly the best meal ever. Unable to decide, three of us shared our selections so we got to sample from our top three wish list items . We started with sauteed mushrooms, amazing puffed squash fritters (can't remember what they were called) served with a cool, refreshing yogurt sauce for dipping and baked Brie covered with blueberries, raspberries & nuts. Yes, we did linger here for a few before entering the pearly gates. For the entrees, I ordered the Marsala Mushroom and Crusted Tofu over herb garlic mashed potatoes. The other two angelic beings about to touch on the divine ordered Goat Cheese Ravioli and Fire Roasted Corn Gnocchi!! I'm truly sad and sorry that my writing isn't good enough to capture just how good the food was, so I can't help you to imagine all the incredible surprises and layers of flavors lingering on our taste buds. Yes- died and went to heaven:) The chef was so ON FIRE Sunday night!! A true miracle worker - Thank you thank you thank you - love, love love! :))
(5)hello h.
The food is good, for certain. The veggie sandwich is full of complex well balanced flavors and the fries are an excellent crispy compliment to the sandwich. The Williams Baked Brie is mouth watering delicious! My out of town friends still talk about this incredible appetizer. My main gripe with the Farm is the service. The managers I have interacted with have been pleasant. The servers I have had, I've been there about 10 to 12 times now, have been inconsistent...they have varied from absolutely terrible to pretty good. I've managed and worked in casual to fine dining restaurants for over a decade and a major part of my experience at a restaurant is receiving decent to excellent service. One example of my service experiences there: During one particular time visiting the Farm, I brought my younger early 20 something out of town siblings. The server seemed annoyed with their requests for water, slammed the plates (literally dropped the plates) on the table and we saw him three times the entire evening. Once when he took our order, someone else brought the water, once when he literally dropped the food at our table, and last time to drop off the check. He never picked up the dirty plates and we were there for an hour and a half nor the check but I paid with cash so it didn't matter. My main mistake was still giving him a 20 percent tip because I grappled with service industry guilt. Luckily, I have been there recently due to my urging of my girlfriend to give it another try and the server I had during the happy hour time was redeeming of my previous experience. He was kind and professional but definitely not personable. But, my standards felt much lower as a result of my previous experiences. I would still give it another try but I will stick to the happy hour time as the ambiance and service was dramatically better.
(3)Katie K.
Incredible dinner! Thought the locally sourced restaurantwould be tasty but Farm Cafe exceeded my expectations! friendly, great service but not bothersome, sat on the patio in the spring and it has the perfect ambience. I ordered the baked brie for appetizer and it was rich, hot, and delectable topped with apples and nuts. My non-cheese loving partner even ate more than his share! I ordered the ravioli stuffed with ricotta + asparagus and topped with lemon butter-- very vibrant, unique combination of flavors that was comforting yet interesting. My stolen bites of quinoa, asparagus + pan fried Idaho trout were also to die for-- pretty standard flavors but executed to perfection-- light nutty quinoa, tender flaky fish, and well seasoned and grilled asparagus....I will be sad to leave Portland + Farm Cafe behind....
(5)susan f.
Best restaurant in Portland. Go here.
(5)Neill P.
One of my favorite spots in Portland. The food is always great, and it is in a very cozy building. A very good place to take a date, in my opinion. They have a good selection of vegetarian dishes, and they aim to serve local and organic food in all their dishes. You simply MUST try the desserts. They have a chocolate souffle that is to die for, and a pecan cheesecake that is equally delicious. There are two big drawbacks to this place. The first is that it usually comes with a very long wait (which speaks to its popularity). The second is that it's probably in the least interesting part of Portland, which really sucks when you have to wait 45 minutes to an hour for a table. At least they added a bar section where you may be able to hang out if that's not full.
(5)Bonnie N.
Oh, YUM!!! My sister took me here, a first visit for both of us, and a very positive experience. I love the focus on seasonal cuisine, and it was great to be so stuffed and not feel heavy or gross like sometimes happens when you eat too much at a restaurant. And we weren't gulping water post-visit either; the seasonings (salt) were perfect. We started with the baked brie with toasted hazelnuts, maple syrup and caramelized apples, served with bread. First bite, and we both closed our eyes and said a unison "yummmm." I had their soup special, parsnip-apple, and it was tasty, simple, yet exotic. Delish. Cocktails and wine were competively priced. I had the one made with pomegranate juice, ginger ale, and vodka. Yum, again, and mixed perfectly. My sister had the housemade ravioli, stuffed with pecans and wilted greens. She swooned. I had the special steelhead, served with wilted spinach and an AMAZING celeriac gratin. Another YUMMMM. And then there was dessert. I didn't want to share, and it was a good thing we ordered our own because the portion was perfect...a single approx 1/2 cup ice cream with cookie. Sounds boring, but nooo! They called it Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or something like that. Housemade cinnamon ice cream with almonds served on a bed of flaky almond cookie pieces (arranged like a flower). Fabulous. It tasted like...Cinnamon Toast Crunch, only WORLDS better, and balanced perfectly flavor-wise. I definitely recommend a visit here; I only hope I get the chance to go back soon!!!
(5)Ben S.
Reason: A friend in Portland recommended after the Alberta Arts Fair while visiting from Chicago. Order: The nuts, ravioli w/morels, halibut, and multiple desserts. Thoughts: Awesome. Went on a Saturday night and was seated outside right away. The food took a little while but had wine to tide us over. The waiter was a little slow returning with a second order of wine and beer but it was pretty busy. Fresh, tasty food and a nice place when the weather was 72 degrees out. Definitely recommend to others and would try again. Once again the nuts were outstanding.
(4)Liz S.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Portland. It is delicious and a great place to go if you are a vegetarian or vegan foodie. Meat eaters will also like this place. The menu is somewhat small, but each dish tends to be prepared very well. As mentioned before, the herb-crusted tofu with mushroom marsala is INCREDIBLE. This is gourmet vegan cooking. I haven't really had a bad dish that I can recall. The toasted hazelnuts is a great appetizer. I've also had good gnocchi here. It gets really busy and crowded so get there early if you don't want to wait.
(5)Jonas T.
Great food here. Nothing way too extraordinary that I'd go out of my way for , but i did really like their herb-crusted tofu. Overall, a great dining experience. JONASAPPROVED!
(4)Skylar L.
I can't believe I haven't written a review on Farm Cafe yet. Sometimes a place is just so good that I can't seem to adequately put into words the sheer perfection of it. Consistently good food at a reasonable price. That, my friend, should be their tag line. The menu changes with the seasons but retains an overall inventiveness -- not to mention deliciousness. The first time I went here was with Kimberly V. We were going to a show at Doug Fir and neither of us were looking forward to the food served in the DF dining room. Le Pigeon was too pricey for our blood, but both of us heard good things about Farm Cafe. Not until I got there did I realize I had passed it a few times before always thinking to myself, 'I don't know what restaurant that is, but I have to try it one day. It's just so cute and inviting.' Curb appeal is not everything, but it counts for something. Fortunately for my hungry eyes, the interior lived up to -- and surpassed -- the exterior. It takes a long second to catch that the modernist sculpture above the bar is actually a deconstructed mattress. It doesn't make any sense as the rest of the bar is so rich with dark wood and cool light fixtures, but it totally works. The rest of the restaurant is just as nice. It's one of those places that is perfect for two friends grabbing a bight to eat before a show or a guy proposing to the woman of his dreams (or vice-versa or versa-versa, or vice-vice, I'm sure they support equality here). The actual food is incredible. For the sheer disappointed I felt when I learned the beet carpaccio that made me want to sing the last time I had it was taken off the menu, I'm not going to mention (anymore) specific food items. Just know that I haven't had one bad thing there. If you want to grab a drink and an appetizer at the bar or a great sit down meal in the dining room, I defy you to name a better restaurant in Rose City. I'm waiting....
(5)J B.
Still great, after all these years.
(4)Jon R.
Oh man the food here is amazing. So simple and yummy, it's really perfect. They do sort of the California-style cuisine, with lots of organics, and focusing on using top notch fresh ingredients rather than a lot of seasoning. It's really the best way to go. I took my parents here when they were in town, and we ordered an enormous feast. Their housemade hummus is to die for, I highly recommend that as an appetizer. For my main course I had a half chicken which was cooked perfectly and of very high quality. I also tried some stuffed ravioli which was equally amazing (I forget what exactly was in it, but I know it was veggie). The service is great and I like the decor in the place....the art was pretty cool, not your standard PDX "I write a lot of shit on my paintings because they aren't very good" stuff. The only drawback with Farm is the wait, which can get pretty brutal on weekend nights (there aren't too many tables). Thankfully there's a wide variety of bars in the neighborhood...Rontoms is just around the corner if you want to grab a drink while you wait. I think Farm is my favorite restaurant in Portland, and it's definitely worth the wait.
(5)Meghan O.
I had the best meal of my life here. We had an heirloom tomato salad, the famous veggie burger (the best you'll ever have), and blue cheese risotto. I recommend this restaurant to everyone headed to Portland. The house is cute and cozy, the service is great (we were in a hurry to get to the airport and they were very accommodating), and the food was simply delicious. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Wes M.
Oh man, the Farm Cafe. My feelings about you would be so much more mixed if your food wasn't so good. The first time I tried to go to the Farm Cafe, I arrived to find that the wait to be seated would be at least an hour. No thanks, I said, thinking I'd come back another time, with a reservation. The time came when I wanted to go back (Valentine's Day) and I gave them a call. What's that? No reservations? Okay, whatever you say. So we showed up 15 minutes before the place opened, and there were already a few people waiting. By the time they opened there was a line down the block to get in. The time came, we entered, and were one of the first tables to be sat. Unfortunately, we were one of the last tables to have our order taken. The service was slow, but very polite. Our waiter did make time to stop by, make sure that we had some bread and drink, and warned us that the kitchen's ticket wheel was full. After a while he managed to stop by to take our order, and get some more bread for the wait, which we were assured would be long. Once we got our food, though, we were happy we went to the trouble. I got the grilled polenta, which was amazing. I'd had polenta before and hadn't really liked it but Farm managed to completely change my mind on the matter. My girlfriend had the herb-crusted tofu, which I tried, and it was just as amazing as my own food. We were just totally blown away by it. We finished up with their daily special for the dessert, which I unfortunately cannot remember the name of, but I assure you it was just as delicious as anything else I had that evening. If it had not been for the fact that they don't take reservations, Farm Cafe would have easily gotten 5 stars for that night.
(4)Sue S.
Adore, adore, adore. Best patio in universe. Lovely food. Order a few things and share and you will be in foodie heaven. Love the wait staff. Slip into PDX on a September evening and discover heaven.
(5)Mary E.
Maybe it was just a off night, but we found our entrees to be less than good. The apple crisp dessert lacked any crisp and was inedible because it was grossly over sweetened. Apple cubes in brown sugar syrup is what it was... Most of the salt encrusted trout was left uneaten because it was so salty. This dish itself is poorly conceived . The salted fish is draped over a warm quinoa salad which became horribly salty from the trout that is draped over it. We also ordered broccoli fritters which came unadorned on a white plate. Five fried balls on a plate. No creativity in the presentation whatsoever. The service is friendly but not up to the prices being charged for the dining experience. Our entrees were brought out as we were finishing our starters. I was astounded when the server pushed our collection of dirty plates to one end of the table, put our entrees in front of us, and walked away. Tacky. Gross. A waitress came shortly and removed them but they should have been removed before the entrees were brought out. I would not return to this restaurant especially when there are so many great dining options in the area.
(1)Victoria J.
went here on Valentine's day....the wait was 2 hours! Somehow through the madness the staff was mellow, attentive and positive! had a "My Bloody Valentine" gin drink that was way to small for 9$ but sometime's you gotta drop big money when you're lonely and single on lovers day. It was good, not 9$ good especially not for how much I got but I fixed that up later at a dive with a long island iced tea. arugula salad with gorgonzola cheese, pears and candied walnuts was wonderful! At first I was bummed they didn't put more cheese on it and then I had some cheese and realized how intense it was and that the portion was perfect! Cheese cake was just right. Basic cheese cake but dang. real good the crust was my favorite part.....graham cracker goodness to boot! Spanish coffee was excellent too. mmm-mm Farm why do you have to cost so much? I will probably never go back because of how much everything costs but it was darn good and super cute too!
(4)Thomas N.
As much as I love foie gras and red meat, I have many friends that just don't do the whole animal-eating thing. And it sucks to find out that some of the best reviewed restaurants on the Willamette Week's Restaurant Guide aren't exactly vegetarian friendly. Except The Farm Café. The Farm Café proves that you can experience culinary perfection without meat. My friend and I broke bread with a sweet and savory brie, walnut and fruit (apricot?) starter. I had the herb crusted tofu with mushrooms marsala and garlic mashed potatoes. The tofu was crisp and tasty on the outside, nice and soft inside. It went well with the tasty marsala and mashed potatoes. My friend had risotto with dungeness crab spritzed with a lemon. Risotto was a little tougher than I'm used to, but I think it went well with the crab and citrus taste. Okay, so they cheated and included seafood. But damn, it was a refreshing take on risotto. Something about the food reminded me of Vietnamese cuisine at home. Part of it was the tofu, reminiscent of fried tofu but so much tastier and healthier. Another part of it was the risotto, crab, and lemon juice; kind of like rice, seafood, and fish sauce. The atmosphere is like a more refined Pied Cow that realized it had responsibilities and started offering top-notch food and service. It's got some of that homely feeling, but feels much more intimate and romantic. And the service is extremely attentive and accommodating. I will definitely come here again.
(5)Lisa C.
The herb-crusted tofu with mushroom marsala was heavenly. Heavenly, I tell you! Totally worth going here just for that. Also enjoyed the cheese plate. Went here before a Saturday night show at Doug Fir and were able to walk in and choose our own table. And were able to get out in time to catch some of a (surprisingly) decent opener. I agree with a previous reviewer who said this place seems like it's in the same mold of Belly Timber on Hawthorne. Same vibe, and enjoyed my meal here just as well.
(4)sarah k.
A friend took us to the Farm Cafe for dinner one night while we were in town for a wedding earlier this year and I have to say that I LOVED everything about it. And let me just preface my review by saying that the three of us are big meat lovers and none of us missed the beef that night. Vegetarian, or not, the food is just plain good. From what we were told by our friend, the restaurant uses all locally bought, fresh, and organic ingredients which results in amazing food and a bit of that hippie kumbaya feeling of having done your body and the state some good. Yes, it's called the Farm Cafe, but I wasn't expecting the literal translation! The farmhouse looks old and rundown from the outside, but the interior is dark, warm, cozy and not at all what you would expect having seen the exterior. So, I was pleasantly surprised and somewhat relieved! We ate an early dinner and therefore missed the long waits though the restaurant was still filled with a diverse crowd of young, old, hippies, punks, families with children, and us tourists. The mint juleps were strong, flavorful, and probably the best I've ever had... which really doesn't mean much since it's not my drink of choice and I've probably only ordered this drink two other times in my life. Just being honest! We shared the Farm's cheeseball and though we were all trying to be polite and not take more than our share of cheese, we all ended up sneaking our forks back to swipe a bit more cheesey goodness onto our plates. The thing disappeared far too quickly. I ordered the grilled halibut with the warm red pepper lentil salad and grilled squash and it was amazing! The fish was fresh, incredibly delicious, and so perfect with the understated spiciness of the warm lentil salad. I tried a bite of my fiance's salmon, and a bite of my friend's crab risotto, but I have to say that the Halibut was my favorite entree ordered that night. A great sign since I always end up wanting what the other person ordered. My friend insisted we order dessert. "Ok, twist my arm!" I picked the dulce de leche mascarpone cheesecake for the three of us to share, but I have to admit that it was a little disappointing texture-wise. It was still good, but not as creamy as I had hoped it would be. All in all, I wish there was a Farm Cafe in the OC.
(5)Alfred K.
Really, really good. You wouldn't expect much when looking at the building from the outside, but inside the space is warm and comfortable. The food was pretty solid - we had the grilled corn and smoky blue risotto, which was less smoky and less grilled than I had expected, but the mild blue cheese added a great saltiness to the risotto. Pretty good. Also had a bit of the oven roasted chicken (special of the day) and it was perfectly roasted resting on a simple light black bean salad. Good, simple, Northwestern local food that is apt for the name Farm Cafe. Yup I'll be back.
(4)Ben D.
Overrated. My veggie burger was very bland and the pastas had an odd taste to it. Not at all what the reviews build it up to be. Much better locations in Portland.
(1)CeeCee P.
If you had asked me last week to yelp about Farm Cafe, I would've given it a five, no contest.. how could I have given it any less when wonderfully divine food had been served? I can easier devour a huge hunk of plain brie in one sitting, with that said, the baked brie here was addicting... I loved the sweet twist on the cheese, and the hazelnuts and seasonal apple slices nicely complimented the rich flavors... French fries, french fries, french fries!!!! I love french fries!!! && I definitely loved how Farm's french fries came out piping hot, crispy, and well herbed and seasoned... good thing there was other food on the table, or I might have consumed the whole plate on my own... :) I usually don't order soups on my outings, but I was glad I did on this visit. The soup du jour was winter vegetables in a tomato based broth, and my my my, it exceeded my expectations. There were a ton of yummy veggies and the tomato base nicely melded all the flavors together. On the happy hour menu during this visit, sauteed oysters were on the menu... and for five dollars, a pretty large portion of oysters and mini clams came out!!! I loved that the sauce didn't overpower the yummy flavor of good seafood. Now, if you asked me yesterday to yelp on the Farm, I would've rated it a three... what went wrong might you ask?? One- no oysters and clams on the happy hour menu... Now, before you get mad at me... I know that their menu changes and that oysters and clams can't always be on the menu, but that doesn't stop me from being disappointed ok? Two- I need to ask Farm cafe what went wrong with the winter veggie soup?!?!?!? What was once a delicious soup was now a bland one, filled with weird and unknown veggies like the yellow carrot things served at IKEA, yes, it was really yellow... Three- We came there near their opening time... so why were my fries lukewarm, and chewy from staleness?? Not even the ketchup could've masked the unpleasant taste.... Four- I don't think I like dense things in sphere shapes that are fried... like the broccoli fritters... It was honestly like eating a dense bread, with a few broccoli pieces scattered around it... and fried. Not my thing... and Five- First, let me mention that our server was super nice and patient while we decided on drinks... let's just say, though, that the boyfriend wasn't impressed with the draft beer... I'll trust the boy on this one because I'm not a beer person, whatsoever... So.. based on my last experience, why did I rate the Farm a four?? I like to think of the good experiences I had here with all the wonderful dishes, and I'm giving Farm Cafe the benefit of the doubt that maybe yesterday was an off-night... I'll likely come back here, but it won't be soon...
(4)Af R.
Had a good salad and nice fish dish with potatoes and veggies. It was very filling and reasonable for the amount of food. The place isn't big but it's in a cool house and on a Friday night at 7 the wait was only 20 minutes.
(4)Donte P.
I'll keep this brief. The atmosphere here is wonderful, perfect for a date night or something cozy and quiet. The salads are again delightful, inspired and delicious. The crab risotto was merely fine, but the gnocci is top-notch. I'd give this place 4 stars if I'd been the one that ordered the gnocci instead of the risotto. So yes, I blame the restaurant for my own mistake.
(3)Jubal L.
My girlfriend and I stopped by this place after a flight up from Long beach CA. We were hungry and did not want to eat at some low end fast food hole off the five on our way to Salem. We looked for a placing in Portland that had a lot of reviews on yelp as we were driving away from the airport. Another amazing yelp experience! The streets around this area are tough to navigate because there are many oneway roads, but parking was easy. The farm cafe has the feel of a house that was converted into a business. The decode is pleasant and the place has a mellow vibe. The serving staff was super friendly. I'm not sure if this is just how people are in Oregon or if this staff is just especially pleasant. Either way it was a welcome change from the usual almost hostile indifference of L.A. eateries. The food here is spectacular. Everything is locally sourced and absolutely fresh. We started with roasted garlic which is two large cloves of garlic cooked in olive oil and served with fresh bread. This was a little messy and required pulling the garlic apart to get to the center edible bits. Well worth the effort. As a garlic addict I loved this dish. The next dish was a salad with breaded and sautéed goat cheese pucks. The dressing was a little sour which perfectly complemented the warm creamy goat cheese. The final dish we had was the salmon encrusted in cajun spices over greens. Again an amazing dish. The salmon was perfectly cooked and seasoned to perfection. I was very sad when I looked down and my plate was empty. My only regret is that by this point we were both two full to try the bread pudding. The food and decor at the farm cafe are great. There were also a couple of little things I really appreciated. I tend to drink a lot of water, and having to wait for the server to come to the table to refill it can get a little frustrating. Here they leave a pitcher on your table. This is a nice touch in my opinion. The other thing that I liked is that our bill consisted of nice round numbers. All the dishes were priced at whole dollar amounts. I'm not stupid and I wonder if some placed don't think I can do the $4.99 math. I know that means $5. No need to play stupid mind games. Having a nice round number also makes calculating the tip that much easier. In this case for the three dishes I listed above the bill came to $35. $42 with a 20% tip. Very reasonable for such great quality food with such fresh ingredients. The two of us left full and very happy. Thank you again yelp! And a resounding five stars for Farm Cafe.
(5)Cathleen C.
When I walked in at opening time, 5 pm, I was "greeted" with, do you have a reservation? I was the sole person in the whole place and no other customers arrived for another half hour... For $16 I had a feta ravioli dish containing a mere 6 of them, each 2" x 2". The dish was served tepid. The sauce, if you want to call it that, was pinkish with no seasoning or flavor and certainly no indication of tomatoes. No salad, just 4 pieces of bread, very fresh though, and an undersized dish of oil with little vinegar. A very big disappointment.
(1)Bobi C.
I went here for a date night because it got really good reviews on yelp so I decided to go. I thought the place was really nice but our food was just ok. I had the ravioli which was really good except for the amount of salt, also we had the mushroom appetizer again very salty and then finally my husband had the Sole for his dinner and it was just not very flavorful.
(3)MC M.
First time at the Farm Cafe and wow! It was wonderful - beautifully presented, creatively composed flavors and textures, a joy to taste our way through the menu. Unfortunately, it was VERY noisy & the wait staff were scrambling to cover everyone. Perhaps because it was a Friday evening?
(4)Tom C.
My friends and I came here for dinner. I ordered the pan fried Idaho trout. The dish was unpleasant. The trout was extremely salty even after squeezing fresh lemon juice on it. The greens and salad were also very salty. One star added back in since they did mentioned the pan fried Idaho trout came with sea salt. The portions were extremely small. I finished the entire dish and was still very hungry and so is everyone else in my group. Other than the food, their customer service was excellent!
(3)Giggly C.
Why didn't I discover this sooner before moving? Amazing food, menu always changing. Haven't had something I didnt 'like (ate 4 times total so far). Love the baked Brie.
(5)James C.
Cute little restaurant in a little old house very cozy, good food
(4)Das K.
On a whim (and based on some friend's suggestions) we decided to get an early dinner (6pm) at the Farm Cafe. We have driven by the area but never noticed the little house right off the street... as soon as we found it (very easy) we said... ah this will be good and interesting. We entered into the restaurant where you immediately run into the bar and people waiting for their tables (no reservations taken). Ran into a co-worker waiting and he bestowed on me the fact that this place rocks and let me know what to not get. They offered us a seat in the back patio right away and let us know our table would be about 30 minutes - ordered drinks Herbitos, which were a quite tasty rendition of a mojito and enjoyed the back patio. BTW, they could make the back patio really be stellar if they added some shrubery and more plants to mask the fact that you are sitting on Burnside. The little house ambience plus a little backyard garded would make this a very cool back patio. Anyways after 40 minutes we were at our table ordering round two of drinks. We went for the warm brie special, bread with roasted garlic, delicious carrot ginger tomatoe soup, butter lettuce salad (omg), the halibut with vegetable sucatash, and the goat ravioli. Everything was very good, with just a few very small issues... the sucatash was a little too peppered, and could have been better with less pepper and maybe some cayenne instead. We were wondering if they were making a hint though when they brought us salt and pepper shakers twice (just in case we needed more pepper?). The goat cheese ravioli has a slighlty lemon-sour flavor, which we weren't expecting, but it was quite good. The soup was amazing, the bread excellent (Ken's I believe), and the salad and appetizers were delicous. And the ambience of the little house jam packed with cozy tables really made this place stand out amongst the norm. We will definately be back and be enjoying their changing menu. But for everyone else for get what I said above... it was terrible, please don't go you won't like it and the wait is like 3hrs each time.
(5)Paul W.
We've heard amazing things about the Farm for a while now, and for my wife's birthday, she wanted nothing more than a well cooked vegetarian meal. She got just that at the Farm, and I got some well cooked meat too!! We started with the broccoli fritters which were crazy good, lightly fried, and totally healthy since they're a veggie.... right? She had the butternut squash ravioli, which she claims to be fantastic. I, however, was far more enamored with my quarter salt rubbed chicken, roasted brussel sprouts and yam mash. Oh. My. God. So perfectly cooked, alone they were great, together.. heavenly.
(5)Marc K.
We started with a baked brie appetizer with toasted hazelnuts (which are featured local ingredients), local raspberries, and blueberries. It was good, but nothing spectacular. The same cannot be said for the entrees. We'll talk about my entree first the description from the menu - handmade ravioli stuffed with goat cheese, hazelnuts, basil, pecorino, Parmigiano Reggiano and ricotta served with blistered cherry tomatoes. Omitted the wonderful nectar that was the gravy-like sauce that the ravioli were bathed in. Ravioli can so often be turned into the token vegetarian dish with crappy red sauce from a can. Not so at the farm cafe - the sauce was much thinner than a standard tomato sauce, but it was packed with flavor. However, the real show-stopper was my wife's entree. Let's start with the description by letting all of you know that she ATE THE WHOLE THING. My wife weighs about a buck and never finishes anything - her entree was that good. Absolutely nothing was left after she had finished with the grilled corn and smokey blue cheese risotto. The smokey blue cheese gave the entire dish an extra layer of flavor that pushed it over the top. Bottom line - if you like food and you hit Portland, Farm Café is a must. I know we'll be back when we return to PDX.
(5)Jen S.
Five hungry foodie folks decided at 7pm Friday night to go to the Farm. I secretly questioned whether we would ever eat, but I also secretly jumped up and down since Farm Cafe has been on my list since I moved here in May. We had to wait for 1.5 hours but man, was it worth it. (Since there's really no place to wait inside, the hostess will call you when your table is almost ready, so we headed a few blocks east to Doug Fir for a drink.) Farm Cafe is tiny, quaint and cozy (although I'm not sure what the surfboards are all about). Almost everything on the menu was veggie-friendly and looked amazing. After much contemplation we started with the brie, mushrooms, roasted garlic and edamame. All were excellently and simply prepared but the mushrooms were particularly well-cooked and seasoned - perfectly hearty fall food. (We also opted for the pumpkin-tini, mostly for novelty's sake, which was more like brandy-infused brandy with brandy-infused cream and some nutmeg. Which also probably had brandy in it. The waiter joked that the bartender had never made one before, which we interpreted as "so far no one had been as dumb as us to order one." Anyway, avoid.) For dinner we opted for the goat cheese ravioli, herb-crusted tofu, veggie burger, fish (I believe it was trout?) and pot pie special. Everything was absolutely delicious (even the veggie burger, and I swore a while back I would never put another veggie burger in my mouth) but I must confess, I enjoyed my goat cheese ravioli selection more than anything else. It wasn't the most beautiful dish, but it was definitely the tastiest. Good thing, seeing as how I ordered it. We shared two desserts. One was the chocolate brownie molten cake thing, which took 15 minutes to warm and wasn't really worth the calories (tasted like undercooked brownie to me, and the coffee ice cream left a strange aftertaste on my palate). The pear tart, on the other hand, was lovely. And I don't describe food as "lovely" very often. Perhaps the most amazing thing was the teeny bill we got at the end of the night after all that fantastic food, ambiance and service... I'm already planning my next visit. PS If you're worried about the $1 for a side of bread, order an appetizer - most of them seem to come with bread that isn't absolutely necessary for appetizer enjoyment.
(5)Andy W.
I have to disagree with the conventional wisdom here. Maybe this is one of those cases where I came when the wrong staff was working or there were circumstances beyond my sights at play here. Or maybe they're so confident in their ability to draw a crowd that they don't feel they need to impress anymore. Whatever the reason, I was very disappointed in my experience at the Farm Cafe tonight. 1. The service. Our waitress refused to make eye contact with us. For example, at one point, I asked for a beer menu, made my decision, and waited 15 minutes before the waitress came by; when she did, she whisked past and took the menu without taking my order. Eye contact would have helped. Or some acknowledgment of my presence. 2. The food. I ordered the seared ahi. It tasted quite good, but the ahi was far from seared -- in my estimation it was cooked medium, if not medium-well. I'm very confident I don't have salmonella poisoning, and I appreciate that, but I think I would have preferred seared ahi. That is, after all, what I ordered. I'm definitely going to come back at some point, because there has to be something to all these fantastic reviews,and maybe I'll be able to give some more stars at that point. But for a place that usually has a line out the door, I expected much, much better than what I got.
(3)Shannon F.
Check it. Service is a make or break for places, particularly nice places, whether it's a restaurant, hotel, clothing store, anything that can offer service. Seriously. So when I walk into Farm and put down my name, and I'm told the wait's gonna be about an hour, I'm down to wait. When I'm pushed out into the cold for that hour without being told that there is actually a nuzzly little heated patio for wining while waiting for dining, and oh, by the way, the wait's actually an hour and a half, but oh wait, that's actually for a frigid table outside with no heat, otherwise wait longer, I'm gonna be a bit aggitated. Then, when I wait a little longer for the inside table, but I'm still not seated, then opt for sitting outside, and then I'm told that even if a table opens up inside and there is no one else waiting, they're not gonna move us, I'm a bit pissed. Yeah, the hostess was inconsiderate. Yeah, the waitress was flighty. Yeah, they both would walk outside, peer from about fifteen feet away, and then walk back inside without actually engaging in the "how is everything," dialogue, but, BUT the food was rather excellent. Appetizers: Baked Brie (kida weak, but came with tasty fresh bread). Cheese Ball (kinda tasty, but not the uber flavorfest I was expecting, but came with tasty fresh bread). Roasted Garlic (delish, could I make this at home?, yes, but well done, and came with tasty fresh bread). Main Course: Porcini Gnocci (freaking fantastic in a dumpling! Light, fluffy, melty dumplings in a flavorful, probably crack filled, butter sauce, and meaty porcinis). Tofu Marsala (say what now?! Yeah, that's right, it was some of the best Marsala I've ever had, and it was made with tofu! Booya!). Sesame Tofu (meh. This was one of their specials, and let me say, a special is supposed to be a dish you rock, that doesn't happen to be a regular on the menu. The tofu was kinda burnt, and not exceedingly flavorful). So that's the story of how I had one of the best meals in a while, and yet, I probably would consider going elsewhere before going back. Of course, that Marsala does deserve a second chance -- erm, I mean, hostess. ps. GO TO THE BACK OF THE RESTAURANT WHERE THERE IS A HEATED PATIO WITH CHAIRS AND TABLES AND GET DRINKS INSTEAD OF SITTING OUT IN THE COLD.
(3)Courtney S.
Went here last night with my husband and uncle. I have been wanting to try it for a long time. It was slightly more expensive than I was expecting but a good value for the money. The food was very tasty, the presentation left something to be desired and my husband commented that his was not just aesthetically lacking it was also difficult to eat because his fish was piled atop a lumpy mound of mixed vegetables. The mushroom tart was simple but good. The service was good and ambiance fine, about what I expected. We had the cheese ball appetizer and it was ok but blander than I was hoping for. It tasted like it was mostly cream cheese. We shared a cheesecake dessert which was ok also but the sauce kind of just tasted like flour for some reason. I will return for more.
(4)Bryan M.
Nice outdoor seating, upscale restaurant. Really tasty vegetarian dish; mashed potato with tofu slabs. The staff was pretty attentive. Everyone inside looked well dressed so I think I'd probably come here for a nice dinner rather than just a regular dinner. But the food was great and it was a nice venue.
(4)Noland H.
This place rocks! The margarita is strong. Will put hair on your chest.
(5)Ali G.
Really adorable place. The food did take a very long time to come out, but it was superbly tasty. You have to like salt, because they use alot of it. The clams & mussel appetizer is a must. Vegan style menu, no meats. Very hippie like atmosphere, very neat artwork on the walls.
(4)R. H.
We had a really great evening here. I don't tend to enjoy places that don't take reservations, especially if it requires a long wait, but we managed nicely in the bar while we waited the 45 minutes or hour for a table. By that time we were enjoying cocktails that were mighty fine. The wait for the table was worth it. We had a nice, cozy, dark intimate table and the food was really good. The old house that the restaurant is in is also very interesting (the bar is in a more recent addition and has a large patio off it that would be nice during the dry season). The entire experience was good, though I'd still like to be able to make a reservation...
(4)maya g.
Great atmosphere and food. The bar is fun (really good cocktails!). Romantic lighting and creative menu. Went for my birthday and loved it!
(5)Meg H.
The Farm has remained one of my favorite restaurants for several years running. It's the kind of place where I can meet a girlfriend after work and sit at the bar for salads or go out to eat with a new boyfriend and his parents.. versatile, comfortable, unpretentious but solid. They usually have a seasonal risotto dish on the menu. Always consistently amazing. I've ordered risotto at practically every upscale restaurant I've been to if it's on the menu, and The Farm is still at the top. I'm addicted to sautéed goat cheese salad with caper dressing - perfect every time. Simple but pleasurable. Great and diverse wine list containing several of my favorite reds. I also highly recommend ordering something from their specials menu - its apparent that the chefs LOVE what they're cooking. I've never had a meal that I haven't liked. They have also done a great job at retaining their staff - which means they keep them happy and that carries over to the experience of the customers. And if you have room, the chocolate soufflé is a must. If it seems a bit too much, share it with a friend. They serve later than most restaurants of that caliber - up until 11:30 on Wednesday - Saturday.
(5)Kimberly V.
My Laundry List of Allergies Alternate title: Why I Am a Mess, Part 96 - Peanuts - Most seafood - Pet dander. Actually, mostly just my parent's pet. My parents got a pet that could one day suffocate me with his army of fur. And you wonder why I'm messed up. - Eggplant. Actually, this is a lie. I just don't like it. - The herb-crusted tofu with mushroom marsala at the Farm Café. The last item makes no sense to me. I've eaten everything it contains before, much to my delight. And the Farm Cafe's dish was no exception. The tofu was the perfect amount of crisp on the outside and piping hot softness beyond the breaded layer. The potatoes and mushrooms made up for any bad meal I had previously over the weekend. How sad am I that my nose began to itch uncomfortably halfway through my meal*? And how awesome was the restaurant for discounting half the price of the entrée because I had that bizarre reaction? Besides my brush with anaphylactic shock, my time here was a class act. I'd live in the cute little house this restaurant calls home. I'd spend Sunday afternoons drinking Hottie Toddies (a hot beverage with whiskey, honey, and a lemon-wedge impaled with clove - thanks for the lip-smacking suggestion, Skylar!) from the mattress at the bar. I'd eat endless plates of the beet carpaccio. I'd give big kisses to the staff, who demonstrated politeness and concern even before my nose began its aggravating tingle, which for all I know had nothing to do with my dinner. I may steer clear from the tofu the next time, but I really hope the next time is soon. *Of course I took the uneaten portion home with me, anyway. If I'm allergic, I have to try it again to be sure.
(5)Roxie G.
This place is very cozy and I adore it. The food is different from my usual taste buds craving, but it's very satisfying. The bartender can fix up a refreshing fresh fruit non alcoholic beverage too!
(4)Sue M.
Tried this restaurant on a friend's recommendation and absolutely LOVED it! We loved everything about it from the decor and ambiance to the quality of the food. The bread was so addicting!! Had to keep ordering more and even thought about it the next day. The roasted chicken was amazing!! Seriously, everything we tried was really good. Would definitely come here again!!!
(5)Lauren L.
We went to the Farm Cafe after seeing it featured on the Food Network a while back for having the best veggie burger. And I gotta say they were pretty spot on. The veggie burger was delicious, light, and was served on a heavenly roll. I had a stuffed squash special that was equally as outstanding. What I loved was that both portions were just enough for dinner that you didn't feel so stuffed, and their outdoor patio is perfect for when the weather cooperates. The service was also friendly and they had a surprisingly large wine list.
(5)Yan Biao B.
tuna was delightful nom nom nom nom nom nom
(5)Michael Paul C.
Yelp comes through again. Upon landing in Portland a few nights ago, I knew I'd rather venture out into the city for some local grub than settle for expensive hotel food that's just mediocre. The journey to and through Farm Cafe pleasantly introduced me Portland and what it's all about. Located in a hipster neighborhood, it was obvious that the young and free roamed the night and owned this part of town. Being green is punctuated by dedicating mile after mile of bike lanes, and recycle bins glaring on every corner. While the restaurant was subdued from the outside, the inside was nothing short of impressive. Sustainability emanates from all angles. Reclaimed wood paneling. Dim energy-efficient lighting. Oh, and they only use local ingredients in their dishes, capping off a smaller overall carbon footprint. Nice. The bartenders genuinely love their job and it showed. By the time the fully recycled menu made it's way into my hands, I could have eaten an entire cow. I ordered the Arugula Pear Salad for $8. This consisted of fresh arugula greens tossed with sliced pear, Gorgonzola cheese, candied walnuts, and apple cider vinaigrette. This is no small appetizer and was definitely a hefty portion. My only complaint is that this was too much, and that isn't always a bad thing. My entree was the Herb Crusted Tofu with Mushrooms Marsala for $13. I was a bit skeptical for not having any real protein (red meat) in my main dish, but this was a highly regarded and recommended dish. It consisted of breaded and herbed tofu cutlets with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and crimini mushroom Marsala. Good dish overall, but a bit over hyped. A smooth glass of Pinot Nior complemented my dishes perfectly... and set me up for an awesome ride in the Mustang GT, through the winding roads from Portland into Hillsboro, on that cool calm night.
(4)Jav V.
Everything was great from start to finish (except the host who kinda just stared at us waiting for US to do something when we walked in). The roasted garlic appetizer was so good. I had roasted chicken with green beans and mashed potatoes. Everything was perfect. For dessert, we had chocolate souflee with coffee ice cream. The service was good. I like the atmosphere, though it did start to get loud as the place filled up.
(5)Christen M.
This place is a little too expensive for me to want to go to on a regular basis, but the food and atmosphere make it perfect for a special occasion. What the other reviewers say is true -- meat-eaters won't miss the meat, and vegetarians will be in heaven. I had some tofu cutlet-style thing (thanks, useless memory) with mashed potatoes -- spicy, rich and just heavenly. The drinks were also fantastic. The service was just a little slower than we wanted it to be when we wanted a second drink. We also ended up sitting a bit too close to another table (almost the long-table-style arrangement you find at the Montage at the Tin Shed, though there are several more private tables) and rather than become Best Buddies with the people next to us, as sometimes happens at the aforementioned establishments, we found ourselves irritated by them. Very upscale, very uninteresting, very loud-talking folks. Not the Farm's fault I know, but if I go again I'm going to insist on a table with more privacy and quiet.
(4)Adrian R.
This was the best meal that I had when I visited Portland. Me and my wife went there after hearing a few good things about it when we visited and we both walked out wishing we had something like this where we lived. The service was quality. Little slow at times but something about the place had conversation flowing like crazy so we didn't really notice. We got a cheese platter as a starter and was impressed with the quality of the cheeses that we got. My wife ordered the Asparagus Ravioli and was blown away. She kept raving about it for days later. As for me the Potato Dumplings were one of the best things that I've ever had. In fact I'm craving them just writing about this. The sauce was creamy and delicious. We ended up splitting the cheesecake for desert which was lite and fluffy the way cheesecake should be. We love this place and will be back the next time we're in Portland.
(4)Samantha H.
This was worth the wait. We just put our names in and walked around the corner to the Doug Fir for got a couple drinks. This made the time fly by and the bar was cool. I ordered the gnocchi with sweet potato and Dave got a fish dish. The food was amazing and the restaurant was pretty packed but it didn't take away from experience. Its a must!
(5)kristen p.
Oh, I just love this place! Very tasty, well thought out, fresh and, I'm not sure if I have the authority to say this but, gourmet? I had a vegetarian pot pie that was on special, so good! I've also never found a better garden burger in life. It's worth the $10. I didn't try the fish, but it looked very good. Get's a bit crowded.
(5)Courtney D.
Eating on the farm Although this is known for being an awesome vegetarian spot, they also have a great selection of fish on the menu. I loved their halibut, which comes griled with a yummy citrus sauce and my favorite side, basmati rice. What makes this place stand out, though, especially in its urban setting, is it's charming atmosphere. It's a converted old farmhouse with a unbelievable charming front deck and heated patio for outside dining. It's hard to beat a good cafe where you can eat out on the deck. But if it's a cold night, it's equally charming inside with its candlelit setting. It's a great spot for date night or a cozy place to have a good chat with your girlfriend. Tip: All their food is made with fresh, organic ingredients, so if you're into healthy eating, this place is a great pick.
(4)Brad C.
For being a 'vegetarian' place they serve alot of fish. Me and the finance went in for a late night snack and it was amazing. Maybe some of the best food I had while in Portland. I wish I would of been hungrier so I could of tried more. Price was fine and we had no wait (Sunday at 10pm). I wish there was a Farm Cafe in Chicago!
(4)jenny v.
Best meal I had in Portland! The food was fresh and bursting with flavor. I had the goat cheese ravioli, blood orange margarita, and blueberry cobbler. It was one of the tastiest meals I've had in a long time. The prices are moderate (actually cheap by NYC standards).
(4)David M.
WOW. Amazing menu. Fresh food bursting with flavor. This is one of my favorite restaurants. The recent renovation has expanded the dining room, which was highly needed because of long lines of eager eaters waiting to dine (although I miss the old bar!). Th new outdoor seating space is fantastic. Don't miss the chocolate souffle for dessert!
(5)William P.
Have to take it down one star for the too-glossy renovation which took a cozy homegrown atmosphere and made it overly spacious and, well, schizophrenic. Not to mention the apparently overwhelmed waitstaff in the back room. The cuisine is still first-rate, thankfully.
(4)Caroline R.
I love Farm. It's one of my favorites for reliably delicious vegetarian food. Once I did notice the food was over-salted, but otherwise that hasn't been an issue for me. Yummy, friendly, relaxed but pleasant atmosphere. I like sitting in the bar area for HH.
(5)S A R A H.
Food, environment and service are all spot on, down to the wild sprigs of plants in the table vases. We ordered the risotto and tuna on kale which we shared. They entrees were delicious alone and even better tasting when mixed with the other one. Wine and beer choices are excellent. Overall it's a lovely place and the food is top notch without the snobbery.
(5)Natalie B.
I'm a big fan of the Farm. It is probably one of my three favorite Portland dinner restaurants. Things you should try: the brie appetizer with seasonal fruit and simple syrup, the tofu and mashed potatoes with mushrooms YUM!, and, drumroll please... the AMAZING sunken chocolate soufle with espresso ice cream. This is one of best best best desserts I have ever encountered and they bake it to order. Seriously, what could be better? Add to all of this that the Farm is in a teeny little farmhouse surrounded by big brick buildings on Burnside, and you have a really really funky and cozy and wonderful dining experience for surprisingly few dollars. Yum.
(5)Ken N.
I came to Farm with high expectations because of all the 5 star reviews. I was not disappointed at all. The food was so good. The bread was amazing. I can't wait to go back. I'm not a vegetarian but the garden burgers were awesome.
(5)Charles N.
Terrific place - especially good for late night dining (not after hours, however) and it's worth going to just for an after concert house-made veggie burger, which I feel (as a carnivore) is just as satisfying as the moo-made alternative. Since I play in the symphony, I tend to hit the joint around 10:30 or Sunday or Monday night, and it's not a wait to get a table unless it's a nice summer evening, but then sitting on the deck in the back with a nice drink makes the time fly by anyway. Highly recommended!
(5)Tracy B.
I've been to the Farm multiple times. If you love cheese and especially goat cheese they feature cheese highly on the menu. The cheeseball is covered in hazel nuts and to die for. We've had the goat cheese ravioli twice and it's amazing, fresh home-made pasta! I tried the polenta lasagna and was a bit dissapointed because it was too salty. The service here has never been above and beyond outstanding, they are a bit slow, but that's typical SE Portland dining so you live with it. The bar is beautiful!
(4)Robert D.
Nice place. Waited forever for a table even though we had a reservation. I ordered the Pan Fried Idaho Trout. It was fried in sea salt, but I had to peal the skin off to be able to eat it. Otherwise it just tasted like salt. They put the fish on top of the rice and vegetable sides, which made them salty as well, which was not good. The menu said it came with a side of grilled veggies, which turned out to be just a few spears of asparagus and several large onions. Not what I had in mind. So the main course was hugely disappointing for the $19 they charged for it. My friend ordered the same thing, and when he complained to the waiter about it, they actually comped his entree which was nice. Others in our group were very happy with what they had. So it seems that it was just the trout was sub par. I ordered the strawberry tiramisu for dessert, and it was absolutely amazing. Cocktails were good too.
(2)Shelly C.
Wow- a great meal, subtle well combined flavors and interesting dishes. The thing I was most amazed about though? A couple of mess ups with our order were quickly rectified and taken off the bill with much apology. It's so rare any business does that anymore, and rather than souring our experience at all, we are looking forward to the next visit!
(4)Dustin B.
once you get past the smell of hippie (patculli-marinated BO with a hint of dirt), this place is fantastic. it's trendy, in a we're-not-trying-at-all-but-we're-actually-trying-Âpretty-hard kind of way, which means that casual clothing is a must -- you'd be judged by a room full of people who "don't judge" otherwise. despite the attitude of the patrons, the food is fresh, local and unpretentious. the wine list is totally reasonable and decent, and the prices are suitable for the quality. things that bugged me: 1. they don't take reservations (i chalk this up to the trying/not-trying attitude of the place), so you'll have to wait for a table. 2. while you're waiting, there's nothing to do -- the bar is too small to hold many people, and restaurants/bars nearby are just as crowded 3. someone at the restaurant parked a PT Cruiser outside. WTF? I don't care how many days it's been since you showered, you can't eat at organic/gourmet/hippie places and roll in a PT Cruiser.
(5)Claire K.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the excessive amount of salt used, especially in the roasted chicken dish my daughter ordered. Overall, we loved everything we ordered and the chocolate souffle and mascarpone cheesecake desserts were fabulous.
(4)Jes P.
I do believe this is one of my new favorites in town. Last week my co-worker and I decided on Wednesday that our week had already been far too long and decided to have a mid-week event- such event being a 3 hour sit down at the Farm Cafe. We started out with a bottle of Patricia Green Pinot Noir. Delicious and light- the perfect Pinot for any meal. We had the Baked Brie with sugared hazelnuts and apple slices baked right in- yum. Then the salad with breaded and pan fried chevre- double yum. Next up were the entrees- we split the salmon with braised greens and grit cakes (similar to polenta but slightly sweeter). Both the sides were delicious, but the salmon was a little over salted. You can always take more salt but you can't take it away. By this point our co-workers husband joined us and he ordered the crab risotto. It was very tasty although we all decided the risotto was a little too al dente. Finally, we ended the evening with lattes and dessert. The lattes were perfection. And the Chocolate Souffle Cake? Oh my, my. Baked fresh when you order and just perfect. Right up there with the Steamed Chocolate Pudding Cake at Paley's. I now have my two official favorite for chocolate dessert in town. (Favorite non-chocolate dessert: Cheesecake with Strawberries at Rose's deli.) The selection was excellent. Definitely a focus on vegetarian meals with some seafood. Another plus for me is that the Farm Cafe focuses on local and seasonal food. This always brings more flavor and better quality to the table, and supports the local economy to boot. Speaking of, I'm headed out on this beautiful Saturday morning to hit the farmer's market and visit my local plant nursery. Cheers!
(5)stykkisholmur t.
meh. we walked in on a friday night fairly early and only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. we ordered two glasses of wine that were listed on the specials board. they were just so-so. we ordered three appetizers: hazelnuts with brown sugar and chili (yum- our favorite), heirloom tomato salad (oversalted- yuck!), and a cheese plate (just alright-- the fruit that came with it could have been better). for the entree, i got the crusted tofu which was good but not amazing, and my husband got the corn/blue cheese risotto which he liked but i wasn't too crazy about. overall, i felt like the seasoning was off and that the produce could have been better. not sure what the fuss is about.
(3)Francesca J.
We didn't have to wait for a seat which was really nice. But what was really REALLY nice was the food. The drink menu made me chuckle...tango tarts & super wonderfuls anyone? The edamame was standard but good, and the roasted garlic appetizer with Ken's artisan bread was delish. What really did me in was the dungeoness crab risotto...cooked PERFECTLY and expertly blended with blue cheese. Yum. My friends had petrale sole cooked in parchment with brussel sprouts, polenta, and butternut squash...also very impressive. Dessert was some amazing chocolate cake (I don't really like chocolate cake, but the coffee ice cream on top made this one totally edible) and a cheesecake with dulce de leche and pecans. To die for! We sat and chatted over our meal for quite some time and didn't feel rushed out. As TQ pointed out, the waitress was perfectly unnoticable. She was right there to take our orders and check on the food, but did not hover whatsoever. A little pricey to frequent regularly, but a great place for a special night.
(5)Natalie G.
Can we talk? Good. Okay first things first - the wait was pretty bonkers and the hostess might have been frazzled or might have just not liked us but whatever the reason she failed to inform us of the delightful heated patio where drinks are served for those waiting to be seated. So instead we have to go to a HORRIBLY lame "lounge" up the street to grab a drink. We are eventually offered a table outside..in the cold..with no heater or we are offered to continue waiting for a table inside (though if we take the table outside we would not be moved inside - an hour and half we have waited thus far - spiffy, eh?). We are hungry and have a show to go to so we agree we will just sit outside. We order and the food is rockin. The garlic is roasted to perfection, the baked brie was not what I expected (and also a bit young for my liking) but still very good, and the cheeseball was also a bit more tame than I was hoping but enjoyable none the less. Onto the main course(s)...okay so I'm totally getting married. That's right you are the first to hear Tofu Marsala and I are engaged. This dish is ridiculously good. And the Gnocchi with Porcinis is going to be my not so secret lover. So all and all the staff was full of blunders and disappointments but that food was rockin. 4 stars for food 1 for service. Also a member of our party has sustained an injury and we request a pint of ice so that she might refill her ice pack..it never came. We had to ask again at the end of the meal. "Oops"
(4)Izabella d.
a small cozy house, four hungry bellies. started with the mussels and clams, cooked in some crazy tasty butter and garlic sauce,, the cheese ball on fresh warm bread... could have easily ordered the roasted figs as well. many good choices for starters. waited for the entrees. drank the good wine. crazy moist, juicy chicken glazed in a sweet berry sauce, somewhat boring sides of plain rice. simple goat cheese ravioli, pure tomato essence in the sauce. crazy light fluffy buttermilk cake, topped with fresh whipped cream,, hot hot chocolate cake with coffee ice cream. yuuum. not the cheapest, but it hits home.
(4)eve a.
The cocktail I had deserves a 5 star rating: gin, st. germain, and orange bitters...it was delicious! Moving on, the butternut squash soup was odd. Couldn't figure out what it tasted like, then it hit me: it tasted like bitters, the kind you put in your cocktail. The goat cheese salad was okay, nothing special. The new bar and outdoor area were great, serve good. All and all, a great place for drinks and appetizers. Will try it again soon for dinner.
(4)Lana R.
The veggie burger lived up to its reputation and the pasta dishes were delicious. Very pleasant atmosphere in a lovely old home.
(4)Jenny G.
I went once with a friend. We got there early so had no wait. The food was amazing!
(5)Kim B.
Holy hell, the tofu and mashed potatoes dish is so good it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. If I lived in Portland, I would eat that dish at least weekly, no doubt. I recommended this place to an omni friend and his mother and they loved it as well. The ambiance is great, the staff friendly and the wait is never long.
(5)marc c.
Ive been eating here since it opened. I have waited many years to write this review. It is always good. The food is great. The bar is great. The patio is great. Well done farm!
(5)Libby G.
Fantastic Food. Service is variable. If the service was consistent I'd give it 5 stars...
(4)Adam G.
Farm is one of the tiny jewels in the Portland restaurant scene. Great local organic food, homey atmosphere, affordable prices. (especially the wine: when was the last time you paid $13 a bottle for a good bottle of wine at a restaurant). The converted 1880's farmhouse is an intimate, quaint setting in the middle of downtown Portland. The warm of the leather chairs, handmade bar bathed in candle light extends to their wait staff as well who have always been personable and happy to offer honest suggestions. The great thing about Farm is the local exhibition of Oregon products. It has one of the most balanced menus featuring poultry, meat, pasta and an assortment of vegetarian and vegan dishes. While I personally am not a vegetarian or vegan, I like a restaurant that takes care to not just slap some vegetables together as their token veggie dish. I think is speaks volumes to how they care for the entire menu. Given that the season is upon us, I imagine they will be featuring their pumpkin ravioli which is wonderfully unique. They also have an eggplant veggie burger is better than any veggie burger I've tried (note: limited experience here :-) ). I have never gone wrong with either their halibut or their trout. And for dessert do the cheesecake, the chocolate souffl is good as well, but let your company order that one. One thing I will say though is that this is a small establishment so their service is best early in the evening. If you get there at prime time you may be waiting, especially on the weekends. Also, after you are done, if you are looking to continue your evening just go up a block to Doug Fir, fun little bar that usually has live music in the downstairs.
(4)Coral C.
It was a bit of a wait on a Monday night for 5 of us, but there was space at the bar, so it wasn't too much of an issue. It gave us a chance to narrow down our dinner choices, which wasn't an easy thing, because everything sounded so good. And while the service was disappointing once we got to the table, the food more than made up for it. We brought some out of town guests to give it a try, but it'll be a regular dining spot for me and the husband for sure.
(5)Stephanie C.
super cozy and warm. love l'ambiance! food was awesome. got seafood risotto (great flavor and texture! not too thick). butternut ravioli had lotsa hazelnuts and a lil spice. awesome brown butter flavor. also got the mushroom appetizer. everything delish! again, what a cute place!
(5)Morgan B.
Delicious dinner and out of this world desserts!
(4)Anna L.
While the food was good, it wasn't outstanding. The prices were generally $2 too high and the server was pretentious, which is just about my least favorite 'bad waiter trait' to have to deal with.
(3)Kylie S.
This place was great. I came with friends for my birthday (so I had high expectations!) It has a very unassuming exterior--I've overlooked it many times because it does not look like a restaurant. And I have no idea why they call it the Farm--the name really doesn't fit . Inside it is cozy and casually elegant. There wasn't a table available when we arrived, so we got to sit on their heated back porch and drink martinis (excellent martinis if you tell the bartender exactly how you like them) The wait wasn't too long for a table--there was a long wait for the food but we had bread and wine and the food was great when it arrived. To be honest, I liked what everybody else ordered better than what I ordered (the herb crusted tofu.) Next time I go, I'll probably get the squash ravioli or the salmon dish. Still it was a great birthday experience and there will definitely be a next time!
(4)Kate S.
Went on a Thursday night and only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. They have a nice heated patio out back. We had a caramelized onion and goat cheese tart that was really good. I liked the artwork (longboard decks painted with shipwreck scenes) and the cute victorian house. And I think our bill was only $40 or so? Can't really remember, but it wasn't expensive at all. Planning on going again soon.
(5)Violet T.
I went to the Farm Cafe last night for a birthday dinner and for the most part this place was great! The cheesball appetizer was fabulous! The wine we had was great, and somewhat reasonably priced. I have two reasons why this place didn't get 5 stars, 1st, the waitress accidentally broke the bottle off a glass filled with wine, the whole glass did not come crashing down, but enough spilled out that I had a couple stains left on my skirt, she gave me soda water and a rag that smelled like cleaner. If she would have credited us an appetizer or got me an extra glass of wine, I wouldn't have given this another thought. 2nd, my dish wasn't all that fantastic, I had the goat cheese ravioli, it was good, but not that good. The sauce was a little bland. However, all of the other dishes at the table were fabulous. My favorite tasted dish was the Grilled Corn and Smoky Blue Risotto, it tickled my taste buds. The desserts were pretty good as well. All in all, this is a really nice restaurant, and I would recommend it to a friend.
(4)Ryan L.
Rarely do you find a restaurant with such delicious food for such reasonable prices. Everything about the dining experience was top-notch, from the heated patio replete with wine (automatically added to our eventual bill) to the modestly sized (yet wonderfully flavored) entrees. Everything we tasted was delicious, and we will certainly be back. Plus, they use local ingredients - what's not to love! The only potential drawback is that the waitstaff is atypical in that they do not check in every 15 minutes to ensure that our experience is a good one (and thereby ruin the very experience they mean to enhance). I quite prefer to enjoy my dining companion's company, not my waiter's, and so we didn't mind this laid back attitude, though others might.
(4)cynthia t.
The Farm is great for late-night dining (open till 11:30, making them a rare gem by Portland standards!) They seem to vary their menu with the best of what's seasonal and regional although one of their stand-by's happens to my personal favorite: the Herb-crusted Tofu with Mushroom Marsala Mashed Potatoes. They also score big on ambiance, as it's very compact and cozy. During the summer, there's outdoor seating but overall the restaurant is small, so expect a wait if you come during peak dining hours! OR entertain yourself with a mixed drink from their bar. REALLY good!
(5)Reece D.
Fantastic food. Their watermelon gazpacho is amazing. This is a very tiny restaurant, so be prepared to come early to a get a table.
(5)Boll W.
Do you have someone in from out of town? Do you have a business deal you need to seal? Do you have a special someone you would really like to impress? Then possibly look no further than The Farm. This is definitely one of my go to spots in Portland. Tucked inside a cute little house that is towered over by the Viceroy Ballroom and a little pushed in from Burnside is a great restaurant(and often overlooked bar). Their menu isn't extensive but it is filled with ingredients from local farmers that are fresh from the field daily. The ravioli is divine, the roasted hazelnuts(or filberts if you're Oregonian) are the perfect starter, the Gnocchi is just about perfect and the herb crusted tofu is full of flavor. One thing I think gets overlooked at this fine establishment are their drinks. The bartender never fails to deliver me a top notch mixed drink. I don't think I've ever been questionable of the tender on any of the drinks I've had here. That says a lot. I never have to wait for my drink to water itself down and I never have to ask for "more alcohol". I like to make sure I visit here every once in a while to savor the flavor and look forward to my return every time. I just don't necessarily look forward to the wait to be seated(the place is kinda small). But, I do look forward to the divine drinks and food!
(5)marilyn g.
Menu selection was excellent from pasta dishes to seafood to chicken. We started with the broccoli fritters which were cooked perfectly and would make even an non broccoli eater pleased. My dish was the shitake mushroom lasagna with green salad, it was just right, you could really taste the vegetables, not just the cheese and sauce. The atmosphere of the Farm Cafe was very calm and inviting and I really enjoyed our server's friendliness, attentiveness and professionalism. I would definitely go here again, especially if I'm eating out with a vegetarian who wants a lot of different food choices.
(5)Doug and Anna W.
Absolutely amazing! The Brie appetizer and blackened salmon were to die for. Great place in a comfy house environment. Will definitely come again!
(5)syrus f.
This place didn't take reservation for party less than 6 people. And this was the last restaurant we tried before heading to PDX. So we arrived at 4:50pm (they open at 5pm). We waited a little and they opened right on the dot. We were the first one in. Not long after, more and more people showed up and within an hour or so, this whole place was packed. We planned to have dinner here but instead, we ordered everything on the Happy Hour menu (which we did not know about from the research we did prior). The mussels/clams were excellently good. The white wine sauce was so powerful (but not overwhelming) where I just wanted to slurp the sauce away afterward. We also had the corn fritters with green tomatoes sauce, crab cake, soup and hot wings .... I also asked if they had any fruity drink and my waitress came back with a drink called "fruit concussion". It was a simple strawberry/lime fruit drink that tasted so goooood.. I seriously didn't know what they put in their food and drinks, but whatever it was, I loved it...
(5)Matt S.
Only went here once so far, but wasn't blown away. Had a pasta dish that wasn't very memorable. Snacked on some appetizer someone else ordered and wasn't blown away by that, either. Just sat at the bar. Nice enough place and probably worth a second attempt at some point. But in a food town, Farm didn't impress on my first trip.
(3)Andrew S.
My wife and I tried Farm Cafe during a recent visit to Portland. Flavorful food, delightful service, all served up in a pleasant atmosphere. We sat on the still under construction deck, which is probably done by now. Highlights included the cheese plate and halibut.
(4)Eric A.
This is now a mandatory entry in our "where to take visitors to in pdx". Every entree I've had has been between good and incredible, and the Brie in fruit sauce appetizer is not to be missed. Cozy atmosphere, loud but not too loud to hold a conversation. Wait time can be long sometimes, but there's good beer to be had while you do so, at either the bar or tables out back if you've brought a large group.
(5)Tapatio S.
At first the place felt a bit too small/claustrophobic and dark, but the food was great as expected. The fish dishes were spot on, and the cheeseball appetizer was delicious.
(5)amanda r.
De-lish. They seem to put hazelnuts on everything, which is okay with me. The servers were helpful but stayed out of your face. Everyone's dish was good but it's really the atmosphere that makes you all warm & fuzzy. Perfect to warm your heart in that wet, cold, (Port) land.
(5)Sarah L.
Great service, great food. We have been twice since we moved to Portland in November and both outings were fantastic. On our recent visit Sunday evening we had 2 friends from out of town who are total food geeks like us, and they loved it as well. Oh and as a bonus, it is very well priced! We did not get there until after 9 on a holiday weekend, when the waiter announced they were out of several things I was a bit nervous. However, everything worked out great and there were no disappointments! Give it a try if you have not done so yet!!
(4)Eric F.
Sorry, guys, I don't get it. The food was average at best, and the service rather inattentive and somewhat sloppy. Can't go higher than 2 stars on both those counts, especially considering the price, which puts them in direct competition with the far superior Le Pigeon, just around the corner. As for particulars, we had 2 appetizers: broccoli fritters (daily special) and sautéed mushrooms with herbs. The former were decent, the latter salty and lacking in texture and depth of flavor. They also substituted button mushrooms for about half the order; seeing as how criminis were listed, that's not such a big deal. We also had the arugula pear salad, again decent, but nothing I couldn't whip up at home with equal success. The real disappointment, however, came with the entrees: we had the pan roasted trout and the porcini-crusted sturgeon (again, a daily special). The former was decent, but sat atop a bed of unevenly roasted root vegetables, the parsnips were unevenly cut, resulting in some being thoroughly cooked and others underdone. The sturgeon had no appreciable taste of porcini "dust," which had apparently been added to the flour prior to sauteeing, a simple act that overwhelmed the subtle mushroom flavor that might have been there; what residual flavor that might have remained was then pretty much masked by the creme fraiche sauce placed atop it. (Well, it was billed as a creme fraiche sauce, but came across more like a somewhat runny tartar sauce.) What thoroughly astonished me, however, was the apparent lack of care in the cooking of the accompanying vegetables: the "roasted" brussels sprouts beneath the fish were well beyond caramelized, with about half of them more or less burned black in spots. (I would have sent this dish back because of this alone, but did not do so out of respect for my dining companions, who would have been uncomfortable with that.) I cannot, for the life of me, imagine what sort of cook that cares about his/her craft that would allow such carelessly prepared vegetables to leave the kitchen. Black spots on brussels sprouts -- or any other vegetable, for that matter -- should be reason for embarrassment, if not shame. But maybe that's just me... or the fact that Le Pigeon is right around the corner, and the fact that we could have eaten a far superior and much more imaginative meal there at more or less the same price. Oh, and the service? Well, they do get bonus points for putting us at the top of the waiting list when I stopped by to inquire if they took reservations. But those bonus points more or less dropped right back off with other aspects of the service. The waiter was inexplicably slow and lacked attention to detail:our silverware was cleared after the appetizers and salad course, but then not replaced once the main course arrived -- this lack was only noticed by one of his colleagues, who rectified it for us, without a subsequent peep from the waiter himself. And one further demerit: the front door does not close properly. So, whatever you do, if you do come here, do not sit anywhere near the front door, especially if it's cold outside. People come and go and fail to realize the door has not shut. Unfortunately, we were seated near this door, and had to get up maybe a half dozen times to shut the door.
(2)Tom P.
warning - this place is PRICEY. good and sustainable and all that. but you pay for it. wowza.
(3)Maria L.
A great vegetarian-friendly restaurant with delicious gnocchi. Attentive but laid-back service, relaxed atmosphere. We tried the Splendor red wine blend and I loved it. The servers were great with my 11-year-old son and he loved their tofu marsala.
(5)Kelly M.
Farm is my favorite restaurant in the city. I crave their tofu marsala on an (almost) daily basis, and will put up with any ungodly amount of waiting time to devour it. The brown-sugar and tabasco sauce roasted hazlenuts are amazing, and I'm guessing that everything else on their menu is great too. I love that it's in a converted house and uses all local fresh ingredients. Nothing to complain about with Farm. I love it.
(5)Greg B.
Incredible food & casual atmosphere. I was pleasantly surprised that a combination of vegetarian dishes could be so fulfilling. We mixed soups, salads, beers and cheese dishes to create a great healthy meal under $40. Great place to take a date, as the service was friendly and prompt.
(5)Eli R.
Extremely mediocre... I had the crab risotto with blue cheese, which seemed like something I threw together in the kitchen. It was decent, but not what I would expect for the price in this town. The ambiance was very nice, however, they seated us by the door which was pretty chilly - again, for a place which is supposed to be fairly nice, not so great.
(2)Brenna S.
Vegetarian food never tasted so good! For strict vegetarians, or those who just enjoy a tasty meal, The Farm has much to offer. Featuring creative vegetarian takes on traditional dishes, an extensive wine list, and lavish desserts, this little house of a restaurant holds an ample gourmet experience. Tucked away off of East Burnside, The Farm is an idealistic setting for a romantic night out. Try the Tofu Marsala... you won't miss the chicken one bit!
(4)kate m.
We're just back from a really great dinner at The Farm Cafe. We had to wait about an hour for a table for two, but there were great cocktails and a patio area out back to occupy our time. They even have heaters back there so it was nice and cozy. My only complaint is that the service isn't the fastest. It's not the slowest either. The food was oh so good. We had the sauteed mushrooms, the blueberry salad, the tuna and the gnocchi. All of it was prepared well and very yummy. Oh and also the molten chocolate cake with coffee ice cream for dessert. The restaurant itself is very nice inside, small and intimate with dim lighting and fun art on the walls. I'm sure we'll be back!
(4)snood s.
Had a really great dining experience here. For some reason going into it I felt skeptical. We had an amazing salmon with caramelized leeks and a dreamy, melt-in-mouth ricotta ravioli with lemon accents. The desserts were good but I could have easily skipped them ... it was the main courses that made this meal so memorable. Good service. Highly recommended and I look forward to returning when I have some extra dough.
(5)Keith F.
Wonderful dinner of corn & bleu cheese risotto. I arrived early, and was promptly seated (and offered reading material (!)), though the place filled up by the time I left (7:30pm). The menu was short, as I expected, and included a number of fish dishes. My wine was pleasant, if pricey & the chocolate souffle was perfect.
(5)Hillary B.
I remember being sadly disappointed in my meal at The Farm Cafe. I did not finish my cup of the soup of the day, as it was overpowered by onion and cilantro, which should complement the flavor, not be the flavor. The edamame was good, but it's cheaper to boil and salt that at home. The ravioli sauce was not inspiring, not to mention that there was much goat cheese in the dish. To top it off, the pasta of the ravioli was almost rubbery. The food wasn't all bad. It just was, which is hardly the result one wants when trying to visit a fun, new place. Try it once if you want to, but also try some of the other good places on the Eastside. Oh...and be careful of the charge for splitting the bill when paying by card.
(2)Dawn M.
Very nice servers, great food. Love the setting and patio.
(5)J. S.
This was our first visit to The Farm since its renovation. We were impressed with the new space. We have mixed feelings about our visit. There were 4 of us. We placed our order and included some bread, which we didn't receive for 25 minutes. It took about 40 minutes to get our meals and even then one of the dishes took another 10 minutes. The food was mostly good, although the ravioli was minimal in size for the price. Just so so.
(3)April C.
oh, farm..i do love farm... i was very, very skeptical about 'tofu marsala' but oh, my, it's amazing - though sometimes a bit salty. the hazelnuts (rosemary/honey or maple, i think) are awesome. the place itself is adorable (very creative use of an old mattress as a wine rack; cute) in a not-too-shabby-chic way, and the waitstaff has always been knowledgeable and attentive no matter how packed. if not crazy busy, and you can get a small table off to the side, it's a darling little date place.
(4)C. R.
We had a decent experience here and I definitely would like to go back for a second try. The atmosphere is great, although we made the mistake of bringing a cranky toddler with us, so we spent most of the time trying to not ruin everyone else's nice atmosphere. That may be why it seemed like forever before we got our food. When we did, my tofu and mashed potatoes were a bit cold, but my husbands gnocchi was fine. The tofu was good although bordering on too salty, and the taters could have been creamier. Not sure what kind of potatoes they used, but they were a bit too watery for mashed potatoes. Our appetizer, a black-eye pea croquette was delicious, and the drinks were tasty so all in all it was a good experience. Next time we'll get a babysitter!
(3)Nick B.
One of our favorite vegetarian restaurants to hit when we're feeling a little fancy. Baked brie and trout is rockin' and you can't really go wrong with any of their fare.
(5)Kalindi T.
This vegetarian delight promises to do just that! They do serve fish stuff for those that can't live with Tofu, but man alive do they kick that tofu into sublime submission with their Mushroom Tofu Marsala! The baked Brie is delish. They've got a great bar with fantastic and creative drinks. It's bitty so expect a little bit of a wait, but it will be well worth every minute.
(5)Sarah T.
i love the farm cafe. the food, the staff, everything. i always get the marinated mushrooms to start (the broth is really rich, it's nice to soak the bread in it). last time i went i had the corn gnocchi, which was amazing! it was in a kind of corn chowder broth, with tomatoes and blue cheese. the flavors and textures were really good together. we couldn't decide on one dessert to share, so we had to get two--we got the cheesecake with caramel sauce and the peach crumble with vanilla ice cream. everything was absolutely perfect, i could not have wished for any changes.
(5)B'ma S.
i had heard about this place from a friend who was super-excited about trying it out. so i went to see what the hype was about and was not very impressed. don't get me wrong, the food was good but a little on the steep side, i like good food with good prices too! we ordered the roasted garlic for app, it was delish! then we had the tofu marsala and the vegi burger, tasted great! only giving three stars because i wish they had more to choose from and the cost was a little on the high side...you should try it at least once!
(3)Aaron L.
There is a common conception of vegetarian cuisine, which is not entirely untrue, that it consists entirely of faux-this and faux-that, wants-to-be-meat-this and wants-to-be-cheese-that. Sure, there is a lot of that out there, and it is not necessarily without merit. Farm, however, is of the rare breed of vegetarian establishments that does NOT seem to subscribe to the imitation-omnivorous-dishes approach. I have only visited this establishment once, unfortunately unable to revisit it on my most recent trip to Portland, but I look forward to returning upon my next. The meal made such an impact on my entire party, that I feel the need to give it a positive review even now, several years later... To put it very simply, everything on our plates was delectably divine, fresh, delicious, and wildly original... Just look at the cuisine contained in the photographs on this Yelp listing! Fancy-schmancy vegetarian gourmet hooplah! I don't remember the food being cheap, but I do remember feeling as though it was well-worth every penny... I look forward to being dazzled by Farm at least ONCE more in the future...
(4)Gveve C.
small overly expensive food and terrible service. never will i ever go there again
(1)Sara G.
This was one of the most delicious, fresh meals I have had in ages. Farm Cafe is in a restored Victorian house right on the corner of Southeast 7th & Burnside, just right for browsing at the cute vintage stores on Burnside before the restaurant opens at 5 pm. My boyfriend and I went nice and early to avoid waiting for a table, but since it was Monday night, we ended up sitting in a mostly empty restaurant the majority of the evening. The atmosphere is the reason this review is only five star- the emptiness of the restaurant left something to be desired in my people-watcher's heart. Sitting at the bar usually fills that void, but it had the total impression of being dominated by the staff and a couple of their friends- we watched our server as well as the bartender, a cook, and the other server linger on the barstools and graze on different plates. Not in an unprofessional manner, just a casual one, but it definitely made sitting at the bar an unattractive option. Anyway, the important part of this visit was the food. YUM! The cheese plate was delicious, if a little on the scant side portion-wise, and the bread from Ken's was perfect. We ordered a couple glasses of wine that were reasonably priced and delicious, as well as two entrees- a wild mushroom and grilled polenta special, and the gnocchi. Both dishes were perfectly sized, rich enough to feel indulgent, and full of flavor. The mushroom/polenta dish was just a little spicy. Again- YUM! Service was perfect, not hover-y in the slightest but very prompt and pleasant. Our bill came to $60 pre-tip, which seemed very reasonable for what we enjoyed. If it had been a more active night in the place, this would be a five star review; maybe I should learn to deal with my aversion to waiting for a table and go on a busier night. And hooray for a parking lot!
(4)Jill G.
Have been going to the Farm for 5 years now. It is always consistently tasty and friendly. Excellent cocktails too!
(5)Jenine R.
though the name "farm cafe" can lead to false presumptions, it is a quaint restaurant with lots of personality. its perfect for a date or a tourist who wants to really get the taste of oregon, literally. all of the food is home grown and this makes for a really nice environment. the wine selection was really impressive but what got me was... the cod, yummmmm!!! go get it guys!!!
(5)amanda l.
the farm cafe is my favorite restaurant in portland and the farmhouse veggieburger is the best ever. the baked brie is superyummy too. i always bring out of town vegetarian guests here. 5 hearts!
(5)Mollie M.
Fabulous vegetarian (and fish) restaurant. Had a bit of a wait, so my friend and i saddled up to the bar for a couple of cocktails. The Bloody Beet Mary was probably the best bloody mary i've had. A cozy restaurant, very atmospheric, with a feeling like you could be there for hours (which we were). We shared the beet and goat cheese capricio and the cheese plate as appetizers. I ordered the house smoked salmon raviolis, while my friend had the wild mushroom gnocci. Both were scrumptious! Actually everything was good except for the service. As an experienced waitress, i got the feeling that it was one of his first nights waiting tables, but maybe im just giving him the benefit of the doubt. Didnt know the menu well, didnt know what cheeses came on the cheese plate (and bullshitted his way through it-- i would have rathered he took a minute to actually find out), and merely plopped our plates on our table and scurried off with out even an "enjoy". I didnt let his frazzledness taint the delicious meal, but it will cost my review a star.
(4)JC R.
Remember that movie where that guy spends way too much time making a MASHED POTATO MOUNTAIN? You know 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'? I think they've got him in the back making the food. And some aliens too, as that mashed potato mountain dish they made me is freaking out-of-this-world delicious. Go here with a close friend, or someone who will soon be a "very close friend" as it's quite intimate and charming. It's pretty much like you're been invited to a carefully thought out private at-home dinner, with someone who's a good cook and spent all day getting ingredients at the farmer's market and..... probably wants to get in your pants i.e. a 'Close Encounter with their Third Leg' and you're not opposed to the idea - except well, oh yeah, there's other diners around. But there's no dishes to wash afterwards. Sounds pretty great right? So it's no surprise there's a wait.
(5)Mike P.
Food is Five Stars. Service is Two Stars. Most rude and aloof wait staff I've ever experienced. I was wearing a hockey jersey because I was headed to a hockey game. Sorry I didn't fit in. Forgive me?
(3)Alex T.
It was all right. I heard a lot of great things about it, but probably was so over-hyped to me that there was nowhere to go but down. Not that the food isn't good (it's real good), but I wouldn't consider it a go-to restaurant for me. It's always busy though which is a good sign. I'd recommend going there to try it out to see if you like it.
(3)Jonathan H.
I had a meal by myself at Farm Cafe while traveling for business. I sat in the bar area and had a very friendly waitress and bar tender. I had Cajun Tuna and broccoli fritters. Both were fabulous, and had some great fruity pinot to go with it(something Williamette, but I don't remember exactly), followed up with an after dinner brew. The fish was fresh and tasteful, and the fritters gave the meal enough of a causal feel to make this restaurant feel anything but stuffy.
(5)Mehul H.
Excellent food and atmosphere.
(5)Z Z.
I wish I could live at the Farm Cafe. Seriously. I want to be able to wake up and have the food from there are my disposal all day long. The food was fantastic, I think I may be in love with it. Went there last night with a friend who is visiting from NYC. We both loved how the restaurant is spread out over different little rooms in the big ole house. It is just adorable inside...very cozy. Thankfully we got a seat right away, it was pretty crowded, even on a Monday. I was just beside myself with excitement after looking at the menu, there were about ten different things I wanted to order! I started with the vegan leek and apple soup. It was delicious, the apples gave the soup a nice sweet taste which meshed nicely with the leeks. Delicious. I got one of the specials of the day which was this warm brie appetizer that had apples, brie, and hazelnuts in it. They served it warm and with this fresh baked bread from Ken's. So delicious. I loved it. I am such a big fan of any dish that adds apples to it, especially fresh crispy warm apples. So fantastic. I also tried the hummus, which was served with flat bread, olives, and roasted red peppers. So good and a huge portion! Enough for several people, that is for sure. My dining companion also ordered one of the appetizer specials for the day, the crab cakes or some type of fish cakes. She really enjoyed it and really enjoyed her main meal which was the braised greens and toasted pecan stuffed ravioli. I had too much of my own food to deal with to try it but it looked fantastic! Awesome food, I can't wait to go back! I loved it so much. I really enjoyed all of my leftovers today, so delicious. Update: my last visit was a disappointment! they totally had an off night. The edamames were quite good, that made us happy. My husbands mushroom appetizer was quite good (according to him, I didn't try it) and the cheese ball appetizer that I got was good BUT...the hummus was nasty, I think it had gone bad. Seriously, it was so gross. I loved the hummus last time, I wonder what the deal was? They had an asparagus soup which I sampled a taste of and I am glad I asked for a taste prior to ordering it. Ummm, it was a strange salty taste, I wasn't a fan. I won't take a star off now, I will wait and try it again because my other visit was totally a ten star visit.
(5)Art H.
Back in Portland for business. On a whim, was booked a place at the Jupiter Hotel, an old motel turned mod-punk-rock place. More on that later. Fellow yelpers talk of Farm Cafe, 1 block away. Yes, yum. Really attentive server (Thanks A! Sweet smile!) who helped with the Albacore Tuna special to be more seared than pan fried. It was excellent, served on a veggie dish with crispy beans. I had a small bowl of potato leek soup - tasted fresh, with bits of leek that were a yummy surprise. Totally low key place to have great food, a favorite combination.
(4)Pamela D.
We were seated immediately at a small table in the middle of the restaurant. Probably the worst table, everyone kept brushing past my husband and it was really uncomfortably cramped. Looked at the menu, nothing really stood out. While we were perusing the menu, no one bothered to check on us. After 15 minutes we left.
(1)Jennifer M.
Fresh. Local. Delicious. What more could you want?
(4)Jayne T.
Farm Café is a Portland staple in the foodie scene, however, it has taken me almost two years to make it here. Located in an adorable old farmhouse in the lively close-in NE Burnside area, it offers a wonderful ambiance. It is small and quaint, roughly 10-15 tables. The dark colored walls, mahogany wood furniture, and local artwork all combine beautifully to give a truly Portland vibe. The vintage chandeliers provide dim light throughout, providing one of the most effortless romantic interiors I have experienced in Portland dining. Service...oh how this can make or break a fantastic restaurant. We arrived at 7pm on a Friday night, and were told there was roughly a two hour wait. Not uncharacteristic and not a big deal if we could have waited here and ordered drinks/appetizers. The hostess, however, NEVER mentioned that there was an adorable bar/seating area in the rear of the restaurant! Even after we told her we were going to walk (in the rain) to another establishment to wait and to call us for our table, she still NEVER thought to suggest her own bar as the perfect warm, dry place to wait it out. This was the biggest miss in service I have yet to incur in Portland. Only after we were seated later in the night did I venture to the bathroom and discover the rest of the restaurant - I was more than disappointed. It gets better....we realized after sitting down there was only one waiter for the entire dining room, so we waited another 15 minutes to be welcomed. By the time we ordered we were starving, and knew exactly what we wanted. We order all courses at once, and told the waiter to deliver in order. Armando did eventually tell the waiter about the hostess situation, as it severely impacted our evening. He was apologetic (said they were in training?), and did "comp" our desert ($7). Nice gesture, but ultimately not enough to make up for the lack of awareness. In the end, we tipped well and were happy with our table service. One thing to note, do NOT sit by the front door if you can avoid it. It is constantly left open and lets in a horrible draft! Menu...It changes often and is seasonally based, ensuring the freshest ingredients. It is short and vegetarian focused, but created with true culinary craftsmanship. Drinks - They have an extensive wine list, with affordable options (white starting at $20, red starting at $29). They also offer desert wines, absinthe, cordials and various coffee choices. We chose the Anne Amie Pinot Noir, and it was pleasantly smooth with a sweet aftertaste. Food - Apps: We started with the Williams Baked Brie based on Yelp user reviews (Slice of brie served warm with toasted sugar, roasted hazelnuts, seasonal fruit, and Ken's baguette. Please allow 10 minutes as we bake this to order). Served piping hot, the combinations of sweet and salty were amazing, and the portion was just enough for two people. My dinner notes said "cheesy, ooey, gooey...happiness in a bite." Salad: We ordered the Beet Carpaccio (Thinly sliced beets with fresh goat chevre, mint, chives and walnut oil vinaigrette). Loved the thinly sliced beets, and the herbs tasted like they just picked them from the garden. Small in portion (and in goat chevre), but large in flavor. We ordered two fish dishes for entrees, as it seemed from Farm's website these may be their specialty. I ordered the Flame-grilled Halibut (Fresh halibut fillet flame-grilled with roasted Brussels sprouts, French lentil salad and fire roasted tomato-caper concasse). This was a dream dish for me, as the ingredients are some of my favorite foods. The fire roasted tomato topping gave it the kick it needed (the Halibut would have been a bit flavorless alone), and the lentils were cooked to the perfect consistency. Armando ordered the Pan-Fried Idaho Trout (Whole boneless trout dusted with coarse sea salt, pan-fried and served with seasonal vegetables). This was one of the lightest and well-done breadings I have had, and the seasonal vegetables here almost stole the dish. Chunky cubes of tender squash were the highlight. Desert - The sunken chocolate soufflé with coffee ice cream (a dense, dark chocolate with a molten center, served with coffee ice cream on top) was literally pure seduction. We ordered two Stumptown coffees (I love that they offered Stevia sweetener and real cream as condiments) to compliment the dish, and it was one of the best endings to a meal I can remember. The draw of Farm Café is that they serve the freshest, farm to table dishes, at some of the most affordable prices in the city. I left feeling perfectly content, not overly stuffed, and happy that I had experienced this restaurant. For food, they are indeed 5 stars. The overall experience as detailed above, unfortunately, can only receive 3 stars. Although we will pass on returning because of the service issues, I do highly recommend Farm Café for an affordable, romantic evening.
(3)Maarit P.
I love Farm and had a great dinner there last weekend. We were seated on the patio and had cocktails before dinner. I just loooved The Joanna - so refreshing on a hot, humid evening. Our waiter was extremely nice and friendly, the food arrived quickly and everything was just delicious. We shared a cup of black bean & corn soup and a hummus plate for starters and I had a grilled goat cheese salad for main course, my husband had the trout. The trout was very tasty, while the goat cheese salad was just ok - the cheese did not have very much flavor to it and the dressing was kind of bland. I had a glass of local pinot rose with my sald, which was actually a disappointment, waaay too light for my taste. All in all, it was a pleasant experience and we will definitely go back.
(4)Adam R.
Went here on a Friday night with seven other people and they had a table ready for us in about 25 minutes. While we waited, we sat in the heated back patio area and felt slightly guilty about taking up almost all of the space. They have a great selection of custom made cocktails and impressive wine list. For dinner I had the Herb Crusted Tofu with Mushroom Marsala. My girlfriend had the Dungeness Crab Risotto. Both of these were fantastic. I love tofu and the way they prepared it was perfect, crisp on the outside and slightly firm on the inside. Under the tofu and mushrooms was a layer of delicious mashed potatoes. If you want to try something really different, give the maple whiskey a shot. It tastes like maple syrup and packs a good punch. Even though most of their menu has seafood items on it, which I am not a big fan of, I would definitely come back to try some of their other plates. Come prepared to wait, but you wont be disappointed.
(5)Nick M.
The Farm is fabulous. Its focus on local and organic with a large vege selection makes it our location of choice for a great meal out. It's also a fantastic place to take non-vegies, because the food is outstanding whether you eat meat or not. The staff are friendly, the atmosphere is fun, and my only quibble is that it would be nice to change the menu up a little more often.
(5)Chris B.
Stumbled in the first time in 2005 on a recommendation from a stranger (I didn't talk to him long though), and went back again 3 years later. This place is great in a non-showy, quietly confident way. Like Philip Seymour Hoffman. The Farm Cafe is like PSH.
(4)Zachary S.
My meal at the Farm Café was outstanding. The trout delicious, the wine selection good, and the service excellent. A upper scale ambience, so you might want to make this your special date night restaurant, not your regular hangout. All in all very impressed.
(4)Brandi S.
I'm a meat eater, but their eggplant veggie burger was the best burger I've had in a while. The setting is classy and the food is fresh and natural. Great value.
(4)Steve W.
Oh, man. Giving this 3 stars really sucks. So much promise, so much hope. This is a place that you enter and you want to just give a great big hug. It seems so deserving. The ambiance is so cool...the bar area with the blues music (from the 50s...stuff like Willie Dixon and Howlin' Wolf). The outdoor patio looked really cool. Man, this place has a great vibe! Then the servers came and dashed all hope of this being a great experience. They did everything in their power to suck the stars out of this review. Seriously, the food was great, but a bit overpriced for what you get. Ok, I can deal a bit with that...I am willing to cough up a few more duckets for quality cooking and presentation. But the service! Jeez, what a let down! Rewind: The hostess who seated us was quite nice, but a bit flighty. Served us warm water in a jug with a couple of glasses, which seems to be in vogue with many Portland area restaurants. Fine. But then the main waitress came out (which looks to be one of the owners from what I can see on the Internet). She acted a bit snooty from the get-go. She asks what we want to drink. I order 7-Up, the wife orders root beer. The root beer comes with a glass with ice in it...interesting. I guess more people are using ice for root beer nowadays than water...I must be getting old. Anyhoo, when she comes back for us to order, my wife orders the trout and I order the manicotti...well, except I was then told (rather abruptly) that they were out. What else would I like? Well, considering that I normally don't have a backup order waiting, I asked for her to come back while I looked over the menu. She seemed put-off, but quite frankly, I should have been told when I was seated what was available (as others have mentioned). That could have saved all of us some time and what appeared to be heavy grief for the waitress. Fine, I get the encrusted tofu and potatoes. Wow!!! This was freaking amazing! I mean amazing! My wife's trout was fine, but she did get some bones, which, for the premium prices they are charging, should have been completely removed. I mean, I have left a bone or two in a fish, but I am not charging anyone that I am serving. When the waitress asked if we wanted to save the fish, my wife declined, which was met with a bit of disdain, as though we were wasting a fine meal. While nice, you can only take so many bones before you are done. Then came the desert round. As we ordered the tart, we were told that it was not available. OK, 0 for 2 on the "we are out of that" scoreboard. Ugh. As we left, I mentioned that I felt so disappointed. That place should be 4 or 5 stars easy, but the service just left a bad taste in my mouth. There are plenty of places to eat in Portland, and if you own or serve in a restaurant and you think that you are above being a server, find another occupation. You are not doing the chef any favors by ruining a dining experience. I can cook at home, and I go out to eat so that I can get some good food, but more importantly, so I can be served. If you are not capable of doing that, then I simply can't recommend your restaurant. If you are only into food and could care less about service, then this place is for you. Otherwise, save your money and go elsewhere. Damn you, Farm Cafe. I want to like you, but you are such an A-hole.
(3)NYC T.
I still dream about this veggie burger. Tried making it at home but not the same!
(5)Matt K.
Went to Farm Cafe for a work dinner with my cousin. This restaurant, situated in an old house with a nice outdoor patio just feels comfortable. We had a large table in the front of the house, right next to the entrance. Here is what we ordered: - Roasted Garlic: So good, the bread was very tough though - Baked Brie: Wonderful, and had a great berry sauce drizzled over it - Clams and Mussels: Great flavor, good portion size - Hummus: Big plate of hummus and pita wedges, very fresh tasting - Wild Morel Gnocchi: Get out of town, this was amazing. I love morel mushrooms! The sauce was flavorful with a little kick! - Green Pea Soufflé: Very light and fluffy. I didn't think I would like this but it was quite tasty. - Marscapone Cheesecake: Very rich cheesecake. Topped with pecans and a dulce de leche sauce, yum! - Chocolate Soufflé: Very good, worth the 10 minute wait. I was soooo full by the time it came out. - Strawberry Baklava: Very fresh strawberries, nice Baklava Overall, my experience at Farm Cafe was pretty good, the food was fresh and thoughtfully prepared. Service was friendly, although they did forget our Chocolate Soufflé order, but made up for it by giving it to us for free.
(5)V R.
Great food and service. Delicious seasonal & local menu with options for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. I can't say enough good things about this place. It's a bit spendy but so worth it for a special occasion.
(5)Ema C.
This place is excellent. Excellent as in: I would eat their cheese sampler plate even if it meant that I'd suffer the consequences of it later (lactose intolerant here, hi!). My god, the cheese. It's local and fresh and oh so tasty my now non-dairy diet is crying out for the cheese sampler plate here. Of course, everything else is great too. But try their seasonal cheeses. It's so, so, so tasty and stinky and delicious!
(4)Pamela S.
I have been to the Farm a few times and have always had a wonderful time. This past weekend we went and our food was good, not amazing as I remember but good. The service was wonderful, a very helpful server with a great wine knowledge which I appreciated very much. Great timing and over all a beautiful date night spot!
(4)Amanda K.
So Neill P. dragged me, kicking and screaming, back to The Farm with the promise that my previous experience had been an anomaly. How right he was! We were seated quickly and my water glass was filled often. The wild mushroom gnocchi was, to my delight, warm AND delicious. We saved room for dessert and shared the sunken chocolate soufflé and the pecan cheesecake. Yum. Hopefully my first experience at The Farm will become a fuzzy memory, softened and faded by future visits.
(4)Dinna R.
This has become my favorite place to come when I have a few extra bucks to spend on a nice dinner. I've come here for birthdays, Valentines day, Mothers day, I will use pretty much any excuse I can think up to come here. Instead of waiting for a table, my boyfriend and I usually go straight to the bar and drink cocktails and order food at our leisure directly from the bartender. The service is great, the drinks are always amazing, and the wait staff is always friendly and happy to see us back.
(5)Abe I.
Hurry up and put Farm at the top of your list for great date places! The interior makes for great ambiance with it's dark, warm, and cozy atmosphere, and it's perfect mix on not too casual, not too fancy lands you right in the middle of good taste land. Speaking of good tastes, you really can't error here. The food is mostly vegetarian, with some fish, and nearly everything is locally and seasonally grown.. Everything is delicious. Everything. Throw a rock, (or maybe a chunk of tofu - don't want to hurt anything here) and you'll hit something good to eat. Service is always great (with the exception of one guy whom my my entire table wanted to beat up, but in his defense no one could point to a particular reason. Perhaps I should change my screen name to abelovescruelty? abelovesfunandsometimescruelty?...) I will warn you that Farm gets packed around 8, so if you don't want to wait I'd get there a little early, (although with the charming bar, a wait isn't so bad). Either way, get going!
(5)Nathan B.
Limited menu, but ingredients were very fresh and food was unique. The staff was very friendly.
(3)Anjali M.
I had never been to The Farm Cafe before, but was really excited when my sister-in-law took us here a few days ago. Their food is all organic and locally sourced, and very veggie friendly! I'd highly recommend dining here if you ever visit Portland - the restaurant almost has a Chez Panisse-esque feel with a bit more casual, homey vibe.
(5)K G.
Best mushroom risotto in the world!! All the dishes we had were delicious. Hadn't been in a few years and the renovation is nice. The service at the bar was a tad haughty but the food and drinks are delicious. Fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. I dream of that risotto...
(5)Jenn S.
i will echo the reviewer before me--you will regret not going here. hands down the very, very best veggie burger of all time. the waits are typically long, but the gods were in our favor on our visit this past friday and we only had a 20 minute wait (they take your name and number and will call you twice to try to put you in an available table). first friday is not a bad time to walk around the hood and check out the shops, but we had to get back to what was going to be an amazing meal. they'd run out of mussels, so we ended up with the mushroom appetizer which was so good, with a fantastic savory sauce and chewy bread. now, i'm gonna go ahead and say that i had complete and utter meal envy when my asparagus-leek tart showed up (it was tiny) and the legendary burger sat in front of my boyfriend and not me. i was as green as my tiny salad when we took a bite and stopped cold, eyes closed, to moan over this burger. i took a bite and YEAH. IT'S THAT GOOD. this would have to be the one place where i condone getting the same thing as your dinner partner, since one should not be left in the cold as i was...it won't happen again. we capped off our meal with their tasty strawberry rhubarb crisp, which i would definitely recommend. not too mushy, not too sweet, just right. pro tip: our waiter tipped us off that the food network was coming the very next day because of that very burger. my guess is 'the best thing i ever ate' and one of their fancy pants chefs is coming to pounce on this burger. get it now before foodies all over PDX descend on farm cafe!
(5)Sam O.
I took my wife here for her birthday, and had a pretty good meal. The food seemed fresh, and very reasonably priced compared to many other places that serve similar fare. Overall, tasty, but it didn't knock my socks off. The chocolate souffle for desert we just 'OK' as well. The service was not the best, and the waitress rarely checked on us, and by the time we got second drinks, we had been done with the meal for awhile. We were not in a hurry, so it was not a big deal, but I think they may need more servers. afterward, we did mosey on to the bar for another drink, which was very enjoyable. They have a pretty nice drink menu, and the drinks we had were good. I had considered giving this place a 3-star, but overall the experience was good enough to nudge it up a bit. I just don't if I'd back any time soon with all the other great places in PDX.
(4)Lauren B.
Love the concept here, loved the outdoor patio, loved the food. For me the food was just missing more of an edge. Still delicious though and I would absolutely eat here again.
(4)Brandy S.
Most of my friends love the Farm, and I must say that I was impressed when I went. There was a great vegetarian selection, as well as having some meat on the menu. The chocolate souffle with coffee ice cream was heaven. And I love the darkened interior that feels very comforting and relaxing. Only downside: price and the wait
(4)Kelley N.
I love this place so much that even though I moved away and no longer live in Portland, whenever I come back for a visit, I always make sure that my friends take me here. The best dish I ever had here was a wild mushroom stroganoff and I never again saw it on the menu after that, but I still dream about it sometimes. Luckily I have also enjoyed all of the other dishes I have tried here and feel good about eating them. I now live in a place that is not that big on the local and sustainable, as well as organic foods. They're just a little behind I think. So I really long to have that in a restaurant and really look forward to my visits to The Farm Cafe. I do sometimes wish that you didn't have to stand and wait for a table every time though.
(5)Marci C.
I went here with my food pal a few months back. I was told by a handful of people to check it out. Luckily my pal is refined and paired our wines with each course. Lovely, I should not have had all courses paired cuz girlfriend was sloshy and had a date later that night. OOOPS! I will most def go back here maybe the next time with my date?
(4)melissa y.
I used to like this place but it has gone downhill. The food is alright, not great. But the service was horrible! I don't think our server said more then 3 words to us throughout the whole dinner. Never again.
(1)Mikalina W.
Some friends were in town this evening from North Carolina and they wanted to eat someplace "local- that they couldn't find elsewhere" so after a little looking around in right here in yelp, decided on The Farm. What better than a restaurant that specializes in locally sourced organic fare? Now I have gotten pretty used to getting all excited about going to new places, and ending up disappointed. But I gotta say, The Farm was anything but disappointing. It totally lived up to all the wonderful things I had already read. The wine list and cocktail selection is great, and while there are only four beers on tap, it was a nice selection, of again, local brews. We were lucky enough to get a spot on the small but not-cramped patio...and quickly. As soon as our companions showed up we got a great table. I had a great special- red snapper with creamy polenta and seasonal veggies. Nothing was blah nothing was dry nothing was over or under cooked...it was just damn good! My partner got the goat cheese ravioli which I thought was great. He liked it "pretty good" but sometimes he gets overwhelmed by cheese... Oh, and we also had an edamame starter which was wonderful...and I never like edamame Another great thing about this place is that they're open til 11:30, and late night dining in Portland can be kinda slim pickins. The place has a great atmosphere, subdued lights and dark wood. Folks were eating both in tee-shirts and date-y attire, so its a really comfy spot that you don't have to perform for. I'm definitely going back!
(5)Mark S.
Awsome menu, prices and service! Love the huge back porch to hang out in summer! The specials vary and are super fresh and delicious, not super pricey! Love the old homey atmosphere, the staff are friendly and it feels as if they are there as part of a family dinner...try the BEET SALAD -- soooooo good - best in all of Oregon - or beyond!
(5)ashley s.
As as tourist this enchanting cafe located in the most unlikely part of the area, but very much impressed when I walked in. The ambiance is top notch. Its very romantic/intimate. This particular night I chose the Halibut. Having traveled up the coast of CA to here I had some pretty high standards of freshness. Coupled with grilled brussel sprouts that actually tastes nothing like they did in my childhood, and some super creamy garlic/onion flavored scallop potatoes, the Halibut dish I chose was nothing short of AHHH--Mazzzing and well worth the $$. I was so sad when I was too full to finish the dish. If I close my eyes I can still taste it and it makes me happy. Salem, my BF chose the crab risotto which was soo decadent. He enjoyed it so much that he passed up my Halibut offerings, which never ...ever happens. The portions are just right, the prices are reasonable for the quality and the atmosphere is such a nice welcome. You want to go to there.
(5)Claudia B.
I LOVE the Farm. I had my birthday here last weekend and everything was divine! The service, the food, the ambiance. Especially their food. It is always good. They have great bloody marys too. I come here on special occasions and on have also come here on casual nights to catch up with friends too. I've never been dissapointed.
(5)Abby S.
Hands down my favorite place in Portland (well, one of). Consistently tasty food and drinks. Friendly service. Amazing and numerous vegetarian options. My go-to for dinner with visitors and for special (or not so special) occasions.
(5)Alisdair M.
To start we had beet carpaccio and a plate of heirloom tomatoes and both were amazing. For an entree I had crispy trout, which was really good. And dessert was a peach cobbler, which was also great. All in all an very good meal. The people working there were really friendly too. The atmosphere was dark and intimate as others have said. There is outdoor seating too.
(5)J S.
My experience at The Farm was phenomenal and it sits at the very top of my list of best restaurant meals. The concept of fresh, seasonal, farm-to-table is pure Portland and it's housed in a lovely, Victorian-style home. The food is amazing and for a dining experience of this calibre, is very reasonably priced. Standouts include the baked brie, the pan-fried Idaho trout, and a crab, blue cheese risotto (that may not be on the menu anymore). It's definitely a must for any Portland visit.
(5)Brian S.
Always great food at the Farm. Last visit I had a "burger" made from lentils??? that was incredible. I'd go back again and again. It was over a month ago so it could have been made from something else but I remember ti being amazing.
(5)Richard D.
This is strictly a review of the 2 Manhattans my wife and I had: if you think your serving glasses are too big, buy smaller ones. No self-respecting bar should underfill their cocktails. Glasses only 2/3 full? A total disgrace to drinks! At least trick me with a smaller glass rather than show me how much I'm not getting!
(2)Jessica W.
I was tasked with finding a restaurant to take my in-laws for dinner during their recent visit. My husband is vegan, my mother-in-law is very meat and potatoes but also picky about what she'll eat, and my father-in-law is adventurous but with a Southern/Midwestern palate. And it was Valentine's Day to boot. Thank goodness for the Farm Cafe! Not only did their menu accommodate every single one of us, we all agreed it was incredibly delicious. The staff was welcoming to all of us and it has a comfortable atmosphere. This was only my second time here and we'll definitely be back.
(5)Tejal V.
The patio is really gorgeous. The corn gnocchi is fantastic. One of the best things I ate in to Portland. The service was just a little bit subpar that's why I gave four.
(4)Jo G.
Simply put: you're in an episode. I wanted to ask for my trout's certificate of authenticity, but I refrained. Waitstaff? Can't tell them apart from the diners. Quintessential pdx. Gaggle of late-20s to middle aged white people -- dudes in plaid, women half in tattoos and high-waisted full skirts with princess leia hair, half in tapered corduroys with clogs and with all the time (and encouraging, gentle smiles) in the world to check back in on your slow ass who's talking too much to even open the menu. The service? Impeccable (pretty sure they would have produced the cert, had we asked). The wine? local. The food? absolutely delicious. Go here for catchup dinner with your girlfriends, for a romantic date, with your visiting parents.
(5)Paige V.
Great food! Loved the broccoli fritters, and our trout dishes were great. LOVE the lighting and the atmosphere. Have dreams of opening a place very similar some day. Our waitress was a little stand-offish, but I never hold that against anyone on my first visit, since who knows what kind of day she was having. She did suggest a really great local red wine (per my request), that I was very pleased with. We'll certainly be back---a great place to take family/parents when they are visiting.
(4)Sherry S.
Summertime! Patio time! This place knows how to patio. Been here a few times and have really enjoyed their food inside the building, such things as winter squash and risotto with cheese for an example. This time we had to be out in summer and went with their happy hour food. Most of it comes with bread though. We had cheese with bread, white bean with crostini, mushrooms and bread. I think they need to add some salads at this point. Also, their soup was chili. It really is here folks so let's bring out more salads, some cool soups and celebrate!!
(3)John H.
Delicious, but smallish portions. A bit disappointing, really, because the food is phenomenal and brilliantly presented. For the price it's a fair quantity of food, I suppose, but I do wish that there were more of it. It wasn't particularly prompt either. I ended up having to get food elsewhere to satiate my hunger. Again, though, delicious food.
(4)Brenna M.
Cute restaurant with a great/quiet patio area. Definitely recommend reservations but they seated us in the bar on a friday night as walk ins no problem. Food was delicious but everything had a little kick to it. It was ok for the meat but the spicy risotto was a little off. Even the drinks were all a bit spicy, nothing to calm the spices. Still I would totally recommend this place to friends looking for a laid back place with upper scale food.
(4)Luanne S.
A dinner group of ladies that dine out every month or two went here for a birthday celebration. The one negative I would say is they put the 5 of us at a table for 4. This is a pretty common practice at most restaurants, but it always annoys me. We made reservations... common on. The appetizers were great: clams, broccoli fritters, beet salad. Kale salad was so, so. The trout and the ravioli were wonderful, but the polenta cakes were not. The cocktails were great. The service was pleasant, but the waitress had to be reminded to bring utensils and other little items. She did bring a mint with a candle for the birthday girl. It was reasonably priced and I would return for a second dinner.
(4)Elaine L.
(Thank you to the Farm's bartender who introduced me to Hood River's Double Mountain Brewery's India Red Ale. I'm forever in love!) As for the food side of things: for most folks, yummy looking menu items, good, thoughtful ingredients, and while the vegan options are limited, they are willing to accommodate. The ala carte menu can become expensive. The space is cozy and lively at the same time. Overall, this is a great place.
(4)Wendy S.
Great. Ambiance. Wonderful service. Must be patient. We waited only about 30 mins on a Saturday night and then had a 3 hour dinner. It was good but not great. The broccoli fritters were yummy. The greens stuffed ravioli were good and the beet salad was on par. Crab cakes were mushy and served with a bland pureed squash. Could have been better. Limited menu. Creme brelee desert was actually meh - too runny. Waiter knew and comped it. I'd go back for the ambiance. Lovely courtyard. But I'm thinking there are better places in town.
(4)Gregory S.
Great food. My wife and I split the Enive Salad. The flavors were very unique, mostly due to the dressing and the pickled young (green) strawberries. I had the trout and it tasted wonderful. It was cooked well and the vegetables it came with were also very tasty. My wife had the veggie burger with fries. It was huge and delicious. We highly recommend people try this place out.
(4)Ian Z.
Excellent specials - both the duck and lamb were terrific. Good suggested wine pairing and relaxed ambiance with quick efficient service. Actually snagged a spot in their minuscule parking lot and got seated immediately without reservations, so this dinner started out in a high note. All in all a very satisfying dining experience, as I've come to expect at The Farm.
(4)Carmen L.
I was a Farm Fan for two years, gloating about this place nation wide, since I travel 70% of the time with my husband and his job. But, we will NEVER go back. IF you are having a good time and want to have a couple drinks in the BAR area....better whisper and think your in church! Be the best of your behavior or you will get kicked out. Don`t you dare have fun here or you will get hauled out like a two dollar whore!!!! TO Farm, You have lost our business and also will ensure EVERYONE we travel with or come in contact with , you will be targeted as a HORRIBLE and never visited establishment. There are ample other places in Portland with just as good if not better food, that we can offer recommendation to tourists and local transplants. Again, do not go here if you want to have some drinks with friends!!!!! Go to Knoble Rot a bout a block and a half down the street for a great view, service and food!!!
(1)Elizabeth M.
This place used to have the best tofu marsala ever. They've taken it off the menu and now there are really no vegan options. This place used to be such a vegetarian-friendly place.
(2)Alison B.
Loved the building and the ambience! Great use of an old place and just so cozy inside! We started with the herbed mushroom appetizer - SO delicious! I literally wanted to lick the plate clean. The bread was amazing! Move onto the main course - I had the crab risotto and wasn't really impressed as I thought it was too salty (and my brother agreed) and I wished that it had more chunks of crab - I think it was just kind of shredded into the dish and so it kind of blended into the risotto. My brother on the other hand had the mushroom gnocchi - AMAZING! Loved it! I wished I had gotten it but my brother was only willing to share small bites:) Dessert was the apple tart which was very good. And I also got the marscapone cheesecake. Loved the cheesecake but I had to wipe off the sauce as it was way too sweet but the cheesecake was perfect on it's own. I'd definitely come back just so I could try a few other dishes!
(4)Kira B.
I'd give 5 stars but service was very slow and rather indifferent. Anyway. We sat on the back patio - perfect for a warm night. Started with corn fritters - amazing! Bf had ravioli and I had their veggie burger. I love it when restaurants make their own veggie burgers and theirs did not disappoint. The fries were homemade as well. We finished with a berry tart with vanilla ice cream. It was a perfect meal. If our waitress had provided a bit better (faster/friendlier) service, it would have been 5 stars.
(4)Sabrina D.
Make sure to make reservations before hand. Had the Farmhouse Veggie Burger, it was tasty and filling! The Pan-Fried Idaho Trout on top of some quinoa & mixed vegetables were flavorful and perfectly cooked. The ambiance is very dim, almost hard to see the menu lol. But the service is very fast and friendly!
(4)Ethan D.
My wife and I had one of the best meals of our entire lives here on New Years Eve right before a show next door. And then, a few months later, we returned to Farm Cafe with friends and yet again had one of the best meals of our lives. The food, the atmosphere, the drinks, everything about this place deserves 5 stars. My only wish is that they had more beers on tap, but they serve outstanding local wines and cocktails made from local spirits in place of the variety of beer, and that's okay too. My wife and I are total foodies, and the food at Farm Cafe is some of the highest quality meals we've ever had. I'm a total carnivore, and I rarely order a meal that is vegetarian, but both entrees I've had from Farm Cafe have been totally vegetarian! It's not like me to rant and rave about a fully vegetarian meal but MAN!! I recommend their homemade ravioli. I've had both the butternut squash and the asparagas raviolis and they have been, as I said above, some of the most enjoyable entrees I've ever had!
(5)B R.
First time here and so many things I wanted to try. Had the pickle plate with pickled peppers cucumbers squash beers carrots and chard. My favorite dish which I rarely find. Will be back for more
(5)Matthew W.
If you can get a seat and you can find it, the Farm Cafe delivers some pretty good food created with local ingredients. The service was a little spotty on our visit and meals seem to be either good or excellent, so your miles may vary. We went on a weeknight and had to wait about 15 minutes at the bar before being seated. The bartender was less than attentive and seemed to be more concerned about playing records (yes, real records) than serving his customers, but we were there for the food, so he gets a hall pass. We started with the Baked Brie, but it was just OK. The bread from Ken's was very good, though. I had the Blackened Wild Coho Salmon and it was excellent! The fish was perfectly prepared with a good flavor and it paired well with polenta/grit cakes, kale and a creme fraiche dollop. My fiance had the Dungeness Crab Risotto and she felt it was lacking in flavor. In fact, she remarked several times that she wished she had gotten the salmon. The service was decent, though a bit lacking due to what seemed to be a lack of staff. Overall, I was debating a 5-star rating due to my meal, but knocked it down to a 4-star since the other meal and the appetizer were not up to the same level. Great place, though. A real Portland gem.
(4)Peri P.
My wife and I were looking for a good quality restaurant one evening and decided to try Farm Cafe based on reviews. We were not expecting an upscale dining experience, but based on the ambiance and food quality it ended up being more of a fancy dinner than we were expecting. We were seated at the bay window seat which was picture perfect and romantic. We ordered the trout, ravioli, and pear salad. All the dishes were excellent and we cleaned our plates quickly. There are a variety of little rooms and there is actually a parking lot, which is rare for this area. Service was very good and helpful when we asked for recommendation. We weren't expecting a date night, but ended up being a nice date night.
(5)Katoune B.
I originally heard about Farm Cafe from a friend who had seen it featured on the Food Network show so I decided to check it out for my belated birthday dinner with an old boss. I have to give myself a pat on the back for this pick because it was a good find. The location was central, staff was friendly, the food was great. My boss ordered trout and I ordered a mashed potatoe dish. It was very fulfilling and even better after I chased it down with a glass of Reisling. I wouldn't mind coming here again, except with a date. :)
(4)Sara C.
I've been here twice now, and loved my meal both times. The first time we went my Mother from out-of-town wanted to eat here just to try the veggie burger, and she loved it. We also had the baked brie appetizer which was amazing! We went back a few weeks ago, my friend I had the goat cheese ravioli which was heavenly. The food here is great, and I would definitely come back again. My one complaint from the last time was the service. It was pretty slow, and our waitress was kinda reserved and a bit snobby. My friend asked for a diet coke and she huffed that 'we don't serve soda here' as if she had been offended we even asked! Oops! Overall a yummy place to eat!
(4)Danni D.
This update is looooong over due. There has been some remodeling going on at the Farm Cafe, and I like what they have done with the place. The bar is now located in the back portion of the house, and it is one of my favorite places to sit and unwind. The bar area now opens up onto a fabulous outdoor patio that is large and quickly becoming more and more private as their greenery quickly climbs the wrought iron fencing. Umbrellas shade diners from the sun and soften the space. It's truly a relaxing space, yet only a stone's throw off Burnside. Their menu, ever changing based on availability of local produce, continues to strike a wonderful balance of both carnivore and veggie. I never have to think twice when recommending this place to vegetarian friends as they will have numerous options from which to choose. My current go-to nibbles include the corn fritters with green tomato jam ($5 on the happy hour menu), and the oh-my-God delicious cheese ball. It is seriously a homemade ball of cheese comprised of 3 different cheeses, some horseradish, herbs, and rolled in nuts. It is a fancy version of the cheese that we all buy from time to time at Freddies, even if we do not admit to it in a public forum. Farm Cafe's blows away anything you would purchase at the store. Usually I can end the evening inexpensively by ordering the sauteed goat cheese salad as my entree. If you start with nibbles, this salad is just the right size, and the bread crumb encrusted, lightly sauteed goat cheese is wonderful in both taste and texture. Basically, I would make a terrible vegetarian, subsiding on fritters, cheese, and bar cocktails. But I would do so happily if I could eat here more often.
(5)Enrique S.
This place was wonderful! I could not take any photos because my battery ran out of juice but it was one of the best vegetarian cuisines I had ever had. I order a vegetarian burger and it was out of this work! The service was amazing!!! The beer I order was a pear flavor very tasty but filling! Definitely 5 stars!!!
(5)Monica F.
I have never had a nasty bite of food at The Farm. French fries, broccoli fitters, ravioli, chicken, chocolate souffle... It's no wonder that I bring every one of my friends who visits Portland in for either dinner or a dessert. Patrick might be the best bartender in town and always plays music that makes me happy to be there. The mural outside is also pretty sweet. Take a picture.
(5)Liz C.
I absolutely loved my experience here. The food was fantastic. The prices were very reasonable. And the cocktails were delightful. They have a great happy hour as well!
(5)Sarah S.
This was easily one of the best restaurant experiences I have ever had. I came in with my mom late on Mother's Day and we were seated right away in the bar area. The clams and fries were amazing and the sauce was so delicious. A great appetizer to start with. We each had specials- lamb and halibut and both were so delicious. The meats were cooked perfectly and the side dishes were delicious. They topped it off with a free nightcap. The service was great and very attentive. The servers recommended delicious dishes and drinks and we're knowledgable of the menu and of the food on it. Such a great experience. A must eat in portland!
(5)Stacy G.
After looking forward to trying this place for so long, I feel sad to rate Farm Cafe so low, but my hands are tied. I didn't like our food. I feel good about the local sustainable sourcing, but kept wishing that I could have all this AND enjoy the food I was eating. Maybe we got the wrong things. The veggie burger was ok, I guess - it was my first so I don't have anything to compare it to. Mostly I remember the overwhelming flavor of mustard. My mixed greens were bitter and combined with equal portions of cabbage. If I wanted cabbage, I would have ordered coleslaw, people. The fries were good but the homemade catsup tasted inexplicably like curry. With so many amazing choices of restaurants in Portland, many of whom are right up there in terms of responsible sourcing, I was kind of disappointed that I wasted a meal on the Farm Cafe.
(2)Gene B.
I like the Farm Cafe quite a bit. I always make a point of eating there when I'm in town. It's light industrial, business location and plain Jane exterior belies a very beautiful interior of dark wood and candles. It's one of the better house conversions I've seen. It never seems like it was a house, once you step inside. I like their approach to food, simple fresh ingredients and not a lot of fussiness, letting the food speak for itself. It seems like they are always attentive to vegetarian diners with a lot of different options. I like the Happy Hour at the bar. The menu always has quite a few delicious options and It's quite cozy in there. I had some arrancini there my first visit and still think about them from time to time!
(4)Allison M.
I would argue that this is one of the greatest patio dining places in Portland. I love the back patio. It's beautiful and you'd never know you're sitting right off Burnside. Most of the food is absolutely amazing. I highly recommend happy hour. I would give them 5 stars if the service was a little friendlier.
(4)Christy H.
This place didn't impress me much? Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing but I just didn't leave there satisfied at all. I ordered a cab wine from California that was amazing. That was the best thing. The arugula salad was just way to heavy on the arugula. It needed a little jazz up of something else. It was just the arugula with blue cheese and vinaigrette. I did however tell the waiter I wasn't satisfied and she said she was really sorry. She didn't charge me for the wine and asked that I please tell them next time if I am not happy so they can get me something else. I was really pleased with the service which can be so hard to find in Portland! I think I will give this place a second chance because it does seem to have good reviews. Till then....
(2)Sarah B.
A couple of my friends took me here for a birthday dinner and it was super-nummers. Oh my, the risotto! Oh my, the everything else! So good! Everything on the menu is great, and among our group we had a vegetarian, an omnivore, and a gluten-free person, and there was something for each of us. The atmosphere was quaint and homey, and the service was superb. The drinks were tasty and very well-made, and the little dessert they brought out with a candle? The perfect topper to a perfect meal.
(4)Anna N.
Six of us had a reservation at 9 pm last Saturday and it took half an hour for a table to finish and for us to be seated. I won't put that against the place too much though. The place had a nice ambiance to it and our server was nice, but it was hard to get her attention whenever we needed her because the place was organized into small separate rooms. I thought it was nice that she gave us a bowl of seasoned chestnuts because we were hungry, but they were really strong tasting and a bit spicy. I think these were eaten more because we were hungry rather than tasty. In general, our food came out salty. The herb mushroom appetizer was really good. It had a good flavor and large chunks of mushrooms. The bread was okay; it came out cold, hard on the outside and soft on the inside as thought it was toasted and left on the counter for a while. The trout had a nice crust on it, well cooked, had a nice subtle herb flavor, but the crust was a bit too salty. The Brussels sprouts that the trout came with were thoroughly cooked with some crunch to it and were not bitter. The ravioli had a good flavor to it and came with a sweet and sour sauce (I'm not referring to the Asian sauce here). I think the ravioli tasted better with the sauces that came with the other dishes though. The tofu was crispy with a soft inside and came with a nice sweet sauce. The slightly sweet and salty mashed potatoes were delicious and the mushrooms on top of the dish were sweet and had a nice texture to it. The herb and crab risotto was a little bit undercooked, salty, had a strong taste of wine, and came with shredded bits of crab rather than chunks. None of us liked that dish. The duck was cooked medium rare and really juicy with a nice crispy crust to it. It came in a tasty sweet and tangy sauce. The cabbage that the duck came with was overcooked, squishy and slightly bitter. I really did enjoy the other vegetables on the plate, one of which was the spinach and this orange vegetable (pumpkin or carrots? - I couldn't tell due to the dim lighting) added a nice texture to it. The salad was a bit salty with small chunks of salt spread about the dish. However, the salad was really fresh and crisp overall and the goat cheese and chives were a nice touch. The beets were sweet, delicious, and firm and the dressing was sweet and bitter but good. Overall, the room layout made it hard for tables to be attended to, the servers were really nice, and the food was okay. I thought this place was an experience especially since the food is local but I don't think it was worth the price since generally the food came out salty, and there were inconsistencies in and between the different dishes.
(3)Marybeth S.
Was looking for a great place to take some friends in town from ATL and of course, searched Yelp for a casual restaurant in a location that we could walk to a lounge afterwards and Farm Cafe came up with good reviews so I made reservations. We loved it! Service was great at both the bar in the back and at our table. Two of us had the trout, ordered based on reviews, and it did not disappoint. It was cooked perfectly and was a perfect portion to fill us up. We had the squash and basil fritters for an appetizer and they were delicious as well. Really impressed and will be back!
(4)Brian Q.
I came on a rainy Monday night and still had to wait 20min for a table so I can only imagine what Fri/Sat nights are like. Here's what I tried: Baked Brie w/ apple and hazelnuts - I thought it was good but wasn't blown away by this appetizer. I've had baked Brie pastries elsewhere I much preferred. It came w/ a generous portion of Brie (probably enough for 4 people). Pan-Fried Idaho Trout w/ seasonal veggies - the fish was moist and well-seasoned. It came out looking whole but it was actually de-boned. It was served w/ a wide assortment of roasted veggies (brussel sprouts, carrots, fingerling potatoes, squash, and two others I couldn't identify) all of which I enjoyed. My first good experience w/ brussel sprouts. Sunken Chocolate Soufflé with Coffee Ice Cream - the best part of the meal! The melting ice cream mixed with the warm gooey chocolate cake is an a-mazing combination. Definitely try this one! Atmosphere - Built inside a quaint little farmhouse, low lighting for that romantic date, cozy little bar area in the back separate from the dining area. Service - A bit slow. It took about 30min for our entrees to come out. I actually ordered dessert before my entree came since the meal seemed to moving in slow-motion (it says to allow 15min for the dessert). I did not find the portion sizes to be small at all as Andrew H noted. My trout was about 1/2 lb. I left full but not overstuffed.
(4)Gary G.
Wonderful farm to table restaurant. Everything we had was good. Ambiance was terrific; in a former private house. However, the flounder I had was about on the flavorless side. The rabbit my wife ordered was too sal for her. We switched dishes and were both very happy.
(4)Niusha S.
I cannot articulate how delicious the soup of the day was. It was a cheese, beer, and leek soup and after my last spoon I was so satisfied I thought I could just call it a day. And yet, I still had an entree and dessert. The veggie burger is an eggplant based patty, nicely crisped on the outside giving you a nice crunch to bite through before getting to a soft inside. It's served on a bun that reminded me almost of a doughnut, or more like a piroshki I should say. My only criticism would be that the dijon was a little too much for me; it overpowered and took away from the other flavors. But still, you can tell everything that came out of the kitchen was prepared with high quality ingredients. The baked brie is sinfully sweet- it could pass as a dessert with the strawberries melting on top. It's not your pastry wrapped brie, no, it comes in a dish molten and covered in pine nuts and seasonal fruit, in my case, strawberries, with bread on the side. But that soup. My lord. I would go back for that every lunch and dinner for the rest of my stay if it was a permanent menu item. theintuitiveeater.wordpr…
(5)Betsy B.
This place is so good. And the 3 other people with me agree. I had the goat cheese ravioli and I have to say it was the best fresh ravioli I have had at a restaurant. The sauce was so tasty and was a hint spicy as well. My husband had the trout and could not get over how crispy and tasty it was. Our friends had the vegan burger and breaded tofu and mash potatoes. Both devoured their meals and were so happy to get such great vegetarian and vegan dinners. I had the chocolate souffle for dessert and it was unbelievable. This place makes for the most pleasant and satisfying dinner. If you have a chance to try it, go.
(5)W C.
Been here many times and the food is always good. Farm uses good quality ingredients that are prepared well.
(4)R. T.
Love the food here - it is all delicious, great quality/fresh ingredients and flavorful. I highly recommend: BEETS CLAMS THE TROUT*** I potentially would subtract a 1/2 star from the rating if I could - I've noticed they have been increasing the price of the trout since I have been going there. Its up to $20 now and I remember when it was $16!
(5)Nina M.
Such good food, but it took a very long time.
(4)Jose C.
I want to start this lengthy review by saying that I've been a fan of the Farm Cafe since it first opened. Its always been a place I've recommended to out of town visitors and any Portlander who states they've never been. My experience last night has changed all of that forever. I wish there was a way to rate the quality of the food and the quality of the service separately. If this were possible, I would give the food a 4-5 star rating. The quality of the service however..... So I went to the Farm last night to celebrate a friend's birthday. We made reservations and requested a table on the patio. This was waiting for us when we got there but that's pretty much where the good service ended. I'm exceptionally patient with servers, especially when it's busy. I've worked in service industries all my life so I know how horrible it can be, especially dealing with people who are hungry. However, our server was exceptionally slow and there were only 4 tables of people out on the patio yet it still took us 25 minutes before we got our first drink order taken. Our server never came by to see if we needed anything after taking our order. But the real issue was when the woman who brought us our food was so outright rude to us. She brought the food to the table and saw me looking at the drink menu. I had no intention of ordering a drink from her because I knew she wasn't our server but she asked me if I needed another drink. Since she offered, I said yes. 2 of the other people i was with also ordered a drink and the woman began to walk away without acknowledging the fourth person we were with, who happened to be the birthday girl. Before she could get too far, I asked my friend loudly if she wanted a second cocktail. The woman ROLLED HER EYES and as my friend was trying to order a second dry martini, the woman cut her off mid-sentence and said "I'll just look at the previous order" walking away as she said it. We fell silent at the table. I've never been treated so rudely in a dining experience before. The rest of the service from our initial server was pleasant but very, very slow. The only thing she seemed to do quickly was come back and get our signed credit card receipts before we even finished our beverages. I felt like she was trying to rush us out, which I couldn't understand because there wasn't anyone waiting for our table. As we were leaving, I waited by the bar to talk to someone directly about our less than quality experience but after standing there for 5 minutes without being acknowledged by any of the 3 people behind the bar (there was only one person sitting at the bar), I decided to just leave and call (or Yelp!) later. So...speaking of the credit cards...when we got our bill I wrote on the back how we wanted it split up. It seemed easy enough, put $25 on one persons card (I wrote the name) and split evenly between the other two. I handed our cards with the written instructions to the server and even verbalized what we wanted. It didn't seem that complicated and she indicated that she understood. On our way home, my partner mentioned how much he was charged and I realized that she hadn't split the bill evenly between us at all but charged his card $30 more than mine. That instigated me to turn the car around and return to the restaurant. I spoke with a guy who seemed to be the manager although he never introduced himself or gave his title but he seemed to have some sort of authority and, very calmly told him of the disappointing experience we had. He apologized and kept saying that it was the server's first day. What I don't understand is why they would put someone new on a Saturday night. That sounds like a management issue and poor judgement to me. I felt satisfied with the apology although I do think he should have offered to comp at least our second cocktail order since that woman was so unnecessarily rude. Like I said, the food is great, although they do need to change up the menu. The last time I was there was a year ago and the menu was the exact same, delicious, but the same. However, because of the service, I probably won't go back there. There are hundreds of restaurants in Portland with similar quality food, much better service and at about half the price.
(2)Justin R.
My girlfriend and I went to Farm on our first night in Portland and were pleasantly surprised by the food. The service was a little lacking at first but turned around once we were finally seated and ordered our food and drinks. We only wanted a light meal so we split a salad which was super fresh and crisp, then we had a cheese plate that came with a really tasty jam and some pickled veggies, and then we had a very satisfying bowl of mussels, which had great flavor and were fairly well portioned for the price of the dish. Good restaurant, definitely would visit again if and when I end up in Portland again.
(4)Colin B.
I got the ravioli, i can at leas say : i wish there was a bigger portion. I enjoyed the goat cheese ravioli, it was slightly spicey and very well prepared, I got a cherry coke with my meal and it was also good. I appreciate the cafe for getting local food and a unique menu.
(3)Bryan I.
An unassuming vintage house surrounded by busy & industrial Burnside buildings...one would hardly think this is a classy, beautiful restaurant serving the best local, fresh dishes you'll find in PDX...but looks can be deceiving! First off, they had the best veggie burgers I've ever seen! A PHat, nearly 1" seasoned veggie patty on a fresh chiabata bun with delicious toppings & delicious, sweet homemade fries. If you like Jamaican Jerk seasoning, their Jerk Chicken is delicious, as was the Braised Greens and Toasted Pecan Stuffed Ravioli (handmade 3" raviolis tender with a complex sauce that compliments them perfectly) Oh yeah, and if you like fresh, warm brie & hazelnuts on fresh bread, that appetizer is highly recommended, as well! Be ready to spend up to $20/plate, but it's well worth it if you have the extra cash. I haven't tried their 5-630 happy hour yet, but given the quality of their dinner, I'm anxious to go back for it!
(5)Tracie C.
Recently visited on a trip to Portland. Had seen reviews on Food Network and a Portland Travel magazine. I wasn't as impressed as I expected. We had to wait about 20 minutes for a table for 5 and then was seated a table sized for 4. I had a salad that looked and tasted like it was made before the rest of my tables entrees. It was soft and wilty. The portions were quite small for the price. My husband had the veggie turnover that ws more puff pastry than vegetable. Disappointed in this cafe that came so highly recommended.
(3)Brandon T.
I don't know how to rate this place because I have had both good and bad experiences here. My main complaint is a lack consistency. On my second visit here I ordered the pecan stuffed ravioli which comes with a few greens as a additional filler. These things were just were amazing! I had no complaints during or after my meal. I got five or six huge pieces and the flavors of pecan were pronounced and unique and I was excited that my second trip was as good as the first. Just a few weeks later I made another trip back, didn't see anything new that I wanted and I decided to go for the same dish. It is a decision that I regret. They advertised pecan stuffed ravioli and delivered spinach ravioli. I happen to love spinach ravioli and I would forgive this mix up in a heartbeat had it tasted any good, but it didn't and I cannot. The disappointment alone was upsetting, even at the table I scoffing at the unexpected affront to my taste buds. I had expected pecan stuffed packets of heaven but instead I got grossed out. My second issue with consistency is the drinks. They make mean drinks here, I will give them that much. However when I order a particular type of alcohol, watch the bartender pour a cheaper type of alcohol, serve it to me and charge me for the more expensive brand, I cannot help but to be a little angry. This unfortunately took place on two of my three trips and I am starting to think that it must be a policy of theirs.
(3)Joe B.
Frankly, I feel as though I'm missing something. Many other reviews were ravingly good, and it's always great to find a place that's vegetarian- or vegan-forward that also has a pretty good wine list (like Portobella in SE, for example). I'm no 'foodie,' but I think I know when a dish is balanced and when it isn't. First, a shaved fennel and kale salad: Great idea, great texture, but a dressing that's way too sour for the other ingredients to really shine. Second, summer vegetable timbale. Again, good idea, but way too little vegetable, way too much quinoa, and for some reason, it's over a tapenade that simple overpowers everything else. For the atmosphere component, our server didn't help. Whether it was having too many tables or just adult ADD, she seemed distracted. While technically efficient, there was no eye contact and no warmth. Case in point: After the entrees were served, she came around to ask "Is everything OK?". And literally by the time we were able to answer, she had turned away to her next table. So overall, pretty average, in a town where average doesn't really cut it. (The one thing I will say that was memorable were the roasted hazelnut appetizer!)
(2)Minda B.
I always love this place when we come to town. Friendly, relaxed, delicious. Recommend the oysters, the Steve McQueen (drink) and sitting outside if the weather is nice. The pickles were a little too strong for me, but my husband found them delightful.
(4)Mike M.
My wife and I were killing time on Burnside before seeing a show at the Doug Fir. We just happened upon a house that looked like it might be a restaurant. It was. We took a chance, and wound up hitting the jackpot. I don't remember what they called my entree. It was suggested by the waitress, and it was unique. I do remember the taste. And I remember how my wife's dinner tasted. We loved our meals, the service, and the ambience. We'll be back there again.
(5)Will V.
I was in Portland for Christmas and met a friend from Chicago and four of his local friends here for dinner. We sat at a table in the bar area. The atmosphere is excellent, with some very interesting art adorning the walls, nice lighting, and a patio area that looks like it would be perfect in the warmer months. I started off with some local Pinot Noir and was not disappointed. I used to dislike Oregon Pinot, but now I count some among my favorite wines. Drinks were delivered promptly, and we ordered some yummy appetizers, including hummus and roasted garlic. They were fantastic, but were whisked away a little too soon in my opinion. I had a whole pan-fried Idaho trout, it was served with some excellent roasted seasonal veggies. The trout was amazing, it was whole, but completely boneless. I'm not sure how they do it, but it was the first time I've ever had a whole fish that had been de-boned. It was lightly pan fried and dusted with sea salt. I loved it. At this price, Farm Cafe did not disappoint. I did feel the service was perhaps the weak point of the meal, but it was not bad service by any means, it just could have been a bit better. If I lived in Portland, I could easily see Farm Cafe being one of my favorite hangouts.
(4)Dawn C.
Wow. A friend of ours casually suggested this place for dinner one night, we strolled in and the place was hoppin'. I can sure see why. Farm is what a restaurant experience in the PNW should be: friendly staff, well-decorated but not at all stuffy, and good ingredients prepared to highlight our local bounty. We were seated in the bar quickly, despite the rush, and enjoyed some tasty drinks. My favorite was the gray goose martini with the spicy pickled bean garnish (they were willing to part with a few additional beans, too). Dinner was great. Waiter gave us fried oysters instead of fried green tomatoes, but comped the mistake graciously and without fuss. Chicken dinner was great, cooked perfectly. It was nice to see several, real, vegetarian options too. Keep up the great work!
(5)Jason W.
one of my favorites in town. a must go if you are visiting. very true representative of the portland food scene. My wife and I have never had a bad meal here.
(5)Warren C.
Came here last night for my Girlfriends sister birthday today. I was a little reluctant cause the menu didn't seem to peak any interest for me. Since this obviously wasn't my birthday and its a new restaurant I can review I was still happy to go. We arrived with a party of 7 people. I got here early and waited in the bar and ordered a glass of their Cabernet. I don't recollect what brand it was but I do remember it came from Washington. The bartender asked what I thought about it and it just wasn't doing it for me. She was more then happy to exchange it along with giving me a few tasting of their other red wines they offered there. I ended up getting a carafe of the Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir and was rather impressed with its flavor. The rest of the party arrives and we get seated fairly shortly. Drink orders get taken and we decide on appetizers. We ordered The baked brie, Hummus, and the manila clams. The brie was wonderful with its arrangements of berries and nuts. The hummus was nicely blended together and served with jalapenos, olive mix, and roasted red peppers. The red peppers went very well with the hummus and definitely a must for an appetizer here. As for the clams, its another must for an appetizer and with the grilled bread soaked in the mix of white wine, garlic, butter, and red chili flakes it was a match made in heaven. After some time after finishing our appetizers our meal arrives. I did get a little ancy from the wait and did notice it was somewhere between a half an hour to forty five minutes between the appetizers and our meal. Hard to say if it was well worth the wait but the food was very enjoyable. I ordered the herb crusted tofu with mushroom marsala. As some of you may know I do enjoy tofu but would rather have meat for dinner as my main source of protein. I was a little skeptical and will admit a bit of a nazi when it comes to tofu. I asked the server in the beginning where they get their tofu at and he proudly says they purchase their tofu from Ota Tofu over on Stark and 8th. This pleases me very much cause my father is friends with the family and often times barter freshly caught fish for their tofu. The dish was very artistic and I also noticed that the physical appearance of the tofu looks good. Definitely obvious these guys know how to cook tofu. Took my initial bites of my meal and it was much like a symphony in how all the instruments seem to compliment the other. The flavors of this dish worked really well with the tofu and the garlic mash I will say almost stole the show. It was that good. My girlfriend orders the fire roasted corn Gnocchi and had a couple bites of hers and was really good. Once again the flavors seem to compliment eachother rather well. My girlfriends mom ordered the Carmelized mushroom and leek tart and after having a bite of hers I was almost regretting not ordering the tart. I had noticed it on the specials initially perusing the menu but I was so attracted to the idea of trying the tofu that I had to order it. My girlfriend dad ordered the goat cheese ravioli unfortunately never got a chance to try that. May have to order that next time around! We finish our meals and go through the dessert menu I ended up ordering the sunken chocolate souffle with coffee ice cream mainly for the ice cream but wow for 7 dollars for a souffle it was worth every penny. Just wish it had a little more ice cream but man was I happy camper after dessert! Overall, I was rather impressed with this restaurant. I do see what some of the other reviewers have mentioned about snotty service. I did notice it with some of the staff but a majority of my contact with the staff was rather pleasant. Their follow up was really good and what I was really impressed by was the fact my girlfriend sisters orders a specialty drink from the bar. Once she gets it the bartender comes out a minute later and asks for the drink back mentioning she forgot one ingredient and asked to redo the drink for her. Now how many bartenders will do that? Although the lapse between the appetizers and meal was slow, the overall experience was A+ in my book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. Happy Eating Everyone!
(4)David K.
The Burnside restaurant is in a middle of a bustling dining district. The restaurant is a converted house, and the owners have done a nice job of using home elements, like stained glass windows or chandeliers. What was really missing for me, though was good food. What is their theme? Is it a farm menu? If so, I failed to see the farm or produce-centric menu that highlights the local cuisine. The menu was all over the map, including broccoli fritters and risotto. Risotto? I know my fried goods, and was disappointed to find that broccoli fritters was all flour and barely any broccoli. And apart from the selection, the taste was oh-so average. I probably won't return. There is a separate dining and bar areas, partitioned by kitchen staff space.
(3)Ian L.
I got a chance to go here recently while visiting my cousin and her husband who recently moved to the area. They had both been here before, and it worked out well because he's vegetarian and this place offers quite a few options for vegetarians. Upon arriving we had to wait outside for about 30 minutes or so before getting seated, but it was definitely worth the wait. We all shared the Farmhouse cheese ball to start, which was good. The waitstaff gladly brought out extra bread for us so that we could eat up every morsel. As for entrees, my cousin and her husband shared the heirloom tomato plate, which was The Farm Cafe's take on a caprese salad if I recall. They also enjoyed the fire-roasted corn gnocchi and the Farmhouse veggie burger, which looked very appetizing despite being vegetarian. The girl got the pan-fried Idaho trout, which was nicely done such that it was crispy on the surface. I opted for the rabbit dish, which was absolutely scrumptious. Rabbit is a delicacy in many different cuisines, and I always jump at the chance of having it when it's on the menu. Anyways, the rabbit was served in roughly bite-sized pieces, and was accompanied by spinach, and perched on top a bed of polenta. It was tender, and the sauce was just perfect. The rabbit dish was also a huge hit with the two girls, and yet there was more than enough to go around, so I had no hesitation sharing. The Farm Cafe is a nice place to bring someone for dinner. The prices are very reasonable as well, as is normally the case in Portland. Each of the entrees were under $20, and we were stuffed when we left. This is definitely one of the most memorable meals I've had throughout my handful of visits to Portland. Portland, I'll definitely be back to try more of your delicious and very affordable food!
(5)Janessa P.
The newly remodeled Farm Cafe will blow your mind. It's huge, it's spacious, it's beautiful. Drinks are divine--try the Elderflower Champagne Cocktail--and the patio is killer. The menu is the still the same as before the remodel--herb-crusted tofu with mushroom marsala, seafood dishes, the yummy nuts, that molten lava chocolate cake--you know, the oldies but goodies. My only complaint? I do wish that they had added a few more vegan options on the new menu.
(4)Pria P.
Very solid meal here- of course I had to order the veggie burger as soon as the waiter told me it had been featured on The Best Thing I Ever Ate. It didn't blow me away, but was absolutely delicious and hearty. The simplicity and fresh ingredients stood out in all the dishes. We kicked off our meal with the mushroom and roasted garlic starters- both were good, especially the garlic. The leek soup was just the perfect amount of creamy, and I also tried a bite of my friend's homemade goat cheese ravioli (yum). So reasonably priced too- I think I paid around $40, including a cocktail. The service was friendly, but a bit absent though we ate at a NY hour (10) and the place was winding down. My cocktail was the only disappointment- it was reminiscent of a citrusy cleaning agent.
(4)Molly C.
Great place! Delicious food and attentive staff make the Farm Cafe a place we will visit again. We started with the mushroom and herb sauté and the cheese plate. Yum! I have to tell you their gnocchi was the best I've ever had, EVER. We also tried the risotto cakes and they were also delicious. The ravioli was my favorite though. Excellent!
(5)John L.
Had a horror story - went with 7 friends on a Saturday night. Had reservations made before hand. When 6 us got there, they refused to seat us until the entire party arrived. So we went to the bar to get a drink. The bartender decided to have a conversation with one of the other patrons - not a big deal, except it was a 10 minute conversation, trust me I timed it on my phone. Finally she comes over to order our drinks, only bothers to order one at a time. Before she has a chance to even serve the first drink, which took another 10 minutes, we're finally seated. The rest of us order drinks at the table - or rather attempted to, but alas our server seated us and left menus at the table and immediately left. I guess we must have offended her by not having the entire 7 person party show up all at once. It literally takes another 15 minutes before she comes back with a bit of an attitude and finally takes our drink orders. Followed by another 15 minutes before drinks are actually served. We're starved and pissed at this time. Not piss drunk in the good way, but hangry (ie hungry angery) pissed. So we order the food. Yet another 30-45 minutes. And you'd think that being as hungry as we were the food would seem delicious. Nope, it was as salty as a fisherman's wharf prostitute and not in the good way - more in the I need to drink as much water so that this saltiness will get washed into my stomach where the acidity of the gastric acid will neutralize the salty chlamydia which is in my mouth - salty. Seriously, it wasn't just my plate, but everyone at the tables. They must have confused us for horses or something - and no Sarah Jessica Parker, god bless her soul, was not among us. Needless to we shall not be returning in the future.
(1)emily r.
My husband and I were staying at the Jupiter hotel a few weeks ago, and decided to eat at the Farm Cafe since it is right around the corner. I was so, so, so happy we did. We had broccoli fritters with creme fraiche as an appetizer. mmm! Even though they were fried they were not heavy at all. I had a fiddle-head fern and leek tart that almost made me get up and dance. It was so, so, so, SO amazing. Who knew ferns could taste so good? The drinks were delectable. We finished our meal with the chocolate souffle and coffee ice cream. It took a while to prepare, but it was totally worth the wait. Melt in your mouth heaven. The one star off is for the somewhat slow service on a not incredibly busy night. (It did get busier as our long meal continued, and there was a crowd waiting near the door.) I was a little disappointed that they seated us right near the door, but we didn't ask to move so that's our own fault. They did have a nice little curtain to keep the draft from the door to a minimum. I would absolutely go back!
(4)Richard W.
We had a great time at this restaurant! The place was super busy, but we were seated in a great bar in the back while we waited a brief period for a table. The cocktails were super, and the bartender was extremely knowledgeable. Our table was out on the patio, which was perfect as the weather was just right. To top it off the entire meal (appetizer, main and dessert) was worth writing home about! Highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)D D.
We had been travelling a bit and being on the road, we don't get good options for good food. As soon as we got back into town, we came here to eat on a Sunday night and it was such a relief for my tastebuds and tummy to have good, delicious food again. We started with the mussels and also had the salmon and the asparagus ravioli. It was all very good. The kids wanted butter noodles and parmesan. I hate to say that I judge the qualify of a restaurant by their kids meals, but you know when restaurants make the extra effort. There is such a huge variety in a simple dish like butter noodles and parmesan and I think the Farm Cafe makes one of the best around. The desserts, cocktails and wine list were good. The wine list had a lot of good wines that were different from the ordinary, typical wine list. Again, this is an area where you can tell that a restaurant makes the extra effort to find good wine to put on the list.
(4)Katherine K.
I am a Farm fan...have been for years. Although before the expansion, getting a table was all about timing, now it is much easier with the bar area and patio. With that, there has also been improvement in service. But the food has always been good. Their ravioli in sage brown butter is so yummy, and I always get the goat cheese salad. I really like the new ambiance and will continue to be a simple Farm girl for years to come.
(4)Jenn W.
I love this place. Love. If I lived in Portland, I would eat here all the time. What did I love so much? My food: The majority of the food is locally sourced, farm fresh, and organic - and you could really taste the freshness. My husband and I started with the featured cheese plate (sampler of local cheeses w/seasonal fruit and bread). We received 3 decent sized chunks - a raw blue, a raw cow, a goat - of cheese. The cheeses were really nice, but I think they should serve it with more bread (I'm sure we could've asked for more, but for whatever reason we didn't). For dinner, I had the flame grilled king salmon. It was SO fresh and flavorful and came with a great pesto and a delicious orzo w/roasted veggies side. I chased down every last bit of orzo and licked my plate clean. For dessert, we had a rhubarb (I am seriously loving rhubarb these days) crumble with vanilla ice cream. So good. The decor: It's in a cute remodeled house. I like that it's split into different rooms - definitely gives it a cozy, intimate feel. The service: Our server was friendly and not overbearing. When we mentioned we needed a cab, she called one for us. Nice. What didn't I love? My husband's food: He ordered the pan fried Idaho trout and it came with rice and roasted veggies. The veg tasted better than any veggie has a right to, but the trout was way too salty. Not salty enough for him to complain, but then he's not really a complainer. My husband would take 1 star away for the oversalted trout, but he's not writing the review and I loved everything about my meal. 5 stars stand. Eat here!
(5)Mark A.
Fantastic food. I loved it. It's that simple.
(5)Chris B.
The food was good, but I wanted to go there specifically for the lamb. They had run out. I understand that since it was the special for the evening and we were dining late. I ended up having the veggie burger, which my husband loved, but was a little much for me. It fell apart. I would have preferred some other meat choice was available. All in all, I'd go there again, but it wasn't my favorite.
(3)Al C.
It's a beautiful place. I am a sucker for dimly lit restaurants. The waiters are somewhat pretentious. Aside from that, the food is delicious. Great location and worth going more than once.
(4)Neil W.
Finally a place my wife and I can both enjoy!!! Too bad it is in Portland. We came here for a New Year's Eve dinner with limited expectations because it was so busy. We had to wait about an hour for a seat; no problem, they took our phone number, suggested a bar around the corner (they were packed) and gave us a call when the table was ready. I loved the warm homey feeling of the place. It had great art on the wall and they were playing wonderful music. The outdoor patio looked like it would be a great place to dine in the warmer days of summer. The menu was perfect for us, my wife doesn't eat a lot of meat and seafood. We started with green salads (perfectly dressed), broccoli fritters (light and fluffy) and a shrimp and black bean croquettes (a bit too salty, but still damn good). My wife had the butternut squash ravioli. She describes them as rich and quite tasty. The duck breast was mine dinner and it was good. The cherry compote complimented the breast, which was served a perfect medium rare, great. The couple sitting next to us suggested the chocolate souffle and we were not disappointed. Rich and creamy with a scoop of coffee ice cream. Our server was very nice. She was quite busy, but it never showed. She made great recommendations (especially on the wine) and was quite knowledgeable about the menu.
(5)Charles R.
Went to farm cafe for dinner last week. My mother and I had just arrived in Portland for a wedding and I went online to find a good place for dinner. We found farm cafe with a 94% approval rating on urbanspoon. We found out it was for good reason. The service was absolutely wonderful, something I don't get back home in minneapolis so it was quite refreshing. The food however was the best part. We had the spicy hazelnuts and clams to start, both wonderful but the clams were incredible and the sauce they were in was simple perfectly executed and mouthwatering, we soaked up every bit with the bread provided. Yum! Next we had the salmon and goat cheese ravioli. Two very different dishes. The salmon I can safely say was the best I have had in memory, not dry at all and the vegetables it came with just worked to compliment the delicate and refreshing flavor of the dish. The ravioli was also wonderful, it hard to describe now a couple days later but also a perfect dish. Finally we finished with the chocolate souffle. And let's just day it didn't last long :-) What a great first experience of Portland food. Thank you farm cafe you really made it special.
(5)Matthew L.
Absolutely amazing cuisine! The hazelnuts were very tasty. I got the lamb special which was a giant lamb meatball... flippin crazy good!!! So much more than just a "meatball". Must go!
(5)Louise G.
You suck Farm Cafe. Over-rated and non-special food. It's supposed to be farm fresh but the menu was pretty lame. Chicken, pasta, fish. . . come-on I can get that at any other american chain restaurant. I had sautee'd mushrooms. . .bland. . .hummus. . .runny. . .and clams. . .decent. Entree. . . Salmon. . .nothing special. . .and ravioli. . .the only good thing. The creeky floors inside are g-dam irritating and those people clomp around like they are wearing clogs. Service is poor and they sit people they don't like in the corner. We were given the choice of two corner tables. I saw other tables which seated 4 people and I thought they were reserving those for parties of 4, but then 2 couples walked in after us and they were seated at the 4-person tables. Oh and we got there at 5PM so I'm sure we would've clear out before their next rush. . .but of course we had to sqeeze onto the tiny 2 seater table. They rushed out the food to us so we would clear out quickly. Our bill was $70 which I think wasn't too cheap either. Food. . .good, but I wouldn't go back.
(1)Lin N.
What can I say that hasn't been said? Farm Cafe is easily one of my favorite places in Portland. The service was fantastic, and not the least bit pretentious. The menu was like a good book that I didn't want to put down, and the food really is wonderful and very well prepared. The interior was comfortable and seemed roomy, even on a packed weekday evening. Didn't get a chance to see the patio because it was full, but outdoor seating is available. The baked brie is a must order and the veggie burger (if you knew me, you'd know I'm not a veggie burger person) was excellent. They take reservations for groups of 6 or more, and they didn't even pressure me when I was the first at my table of 7 (everyone else was 15 minutes late... damn friends).
(5)Cindy I.
It was a good choice for a group with some vegetarians and some carnivores. Actually a little better for the vegetarians, mostly veggy and fish choices I had a very good halibut dish here. I would highly recommend the Sunken Chocolate Soufflé but note that it is small if you are thinking about sharing. It also takes 15 min so plan ahead if you are in a hurry. I might go back just to get dessert. Located on very busy streets but inside was intimate and quiet with many small rooms.
(4)Thomas W.
Portland's unique culinary identity is held aloft by places such as the Farm. Sustainable food expertly prepared in a cozy, "neo-retro" setting, there is something on the menu for virtually all members of a dining party. I have visited twice now, and both times I have been more than happy with the Farm's offerings. The Veggie Burger, rightly featured on Food Network, is quite literally the perfect sandwich: savory, rich, and filling, you really don't care that there is no meat to be found in the dish. I also enjoyed my lobster risotto a great deal, which was rich and perfectly cooked - if ever a risotto stood as an example, it would be this one. Of course, mine is but a small voice amid many praising the Farm for its exceptionalism, but I assure you that it is a well-deserved series of 5s and 4s that are credited to them. Enjoy your visit: you will not be disappointed!
(5)