This is one that, as a business, you don’t want to win. Every year I ask what restaurant is good, but has lousy service. I would think that the prize winning restaurant would do everything they can to get off of the list, but no, this one makes it Every Single Year! Even out of 456 votes, they were a chart topper again. Hello? Is anyone home? For the record, I’ve had issues here too over the past year.
- 2012: Nostrana, Clyde Common, Podnah’s Pit
- 2011: Nostrana, Clyde Common, Podnah’s Pit
- 2010: Clyde Common, Nostrana, Bluehour.
- 2009: Clyde Common, Nostrana, Bluehour
For 2013, out of 456 votes:
- Nostrana
- Woodsman Tavern
Congratulations to Clyde Common, Bluehour and Podnah’s Pit for dropping off this list! Yes, I know – this is a rude question, and I’ll get angry emails for asking. I don’t care.
zumpie says
Thing is, Nostrana isn’t even good….but the hostess complimented my dress (though the waiter was simply appalling)
Kernel says
Amazing to see Nostrana top the list year after year. In my experiences there, the wait staff has typically been indifferent and/or just plain slow, but not enough for me to avoid the place. The worst interactions have been with the host or hostess – rude and off-putting. I can recall one time walking in and being told that the wait was two hours with such disdain that I would even think of coming in without a reservation.
eje says
Was a loyal Nostrana customer until I had a horrid evening of cold food – I mean ice cold pizza – and rude service. I wrote to Cathy: Never again. I’ve never been back, it was that bad. They always top worst service and you’d think they would want to do something about it. Apparently, even the ownership doesn’t care so why should the staff.
Rachel says
Had a slow service night at Nostrana just recently. Thing was, the hostess was fantastic! She actually showed us the two available tables-meaning- she walked us past them. We sat at the pizza counter. I was struck by the slow moving kitchen. The sauté cook actually forgot a pan on the heat while we were there. She was over making pizza & chatting with the pizza cook. The pan was making me so nervous & anxious, but I didn’t want to call out to her. The chef de cuisine finally caught it & the sauce had to be remade.
I am sort of surprised that Yakuza isn’t on this list. Maybe it’s not considered to be a “good” restaurant. Some of the slowest bar service I’ve ever had!
pdxyogi says
Ate at Nostrana alone tonight with no reservation, quite by accident (long story). They gave me a choice of tables, were efficient and attentive, and took good care of me. The pizza? Not so much. Parts were not quite done. I’ll stick with Ken’s.
colin says
Very interesting to see some of the same places top this list years in a row. You would think they’d take note or make a change. I think Podnah’s definitely needs to be on this list; amazing food, but I’ve never had decent service there. Also have to say the same with Tasty & Sons, especially at lunch. It’s one thing to be a tapas restaurant, but not when one person orders a burger and the other orders a rueben, those should come out at the same time not 15 minutes apart at lunch. Yikes!
Susan@LunaCafe says
What a shame. We always sit at the kitchen bar (love to watch the cooks in action) and are always attentively served there.
Joe says
Went to Nostrana a few weeks ago & while the server didn’t seem to know much about the menu…I wouldn’t call the service terrible.
McG says
Woodsman is the absolute worst. Condescending yet ignorant.
Phartzz says
I agree The Woodsman is one of the most unfriendly bunch of cheese balls serving all right food i have ever been into. Enough with the kinfolk magazine dick tips…we get it you’re good looking and work in a B- at best establishment that is in shitty food magazines and uncomfortable chairs.
Judo says
Clyde Common has ALWAYS been top notch for me. Great drinks that take time to make and wonderful food. The staff has always been 100% in my opinion. Never have had a complaint.
Polarwanderer says
I just don’t get Nostrana; year in and year out the service is terrible and the food is mediocre. My pizza last time I was there was awful. I only go there when dragged there by friends.
psp2pdx says
Cathy gets nominated every year for ‘best chef’ Pacific Northwest, I wonder if some of these comments play into ‘always a bridesmaid, never a bride’. It’s common knowledge the service has been poor and the attitude indifferent/snobbish for several years.
This is about Cathy and her ability to run a tight ship as well as her apparent indifference to her patrons. Success can me measured in many ways………
BTW Oven and Shaker has similar issues.
brian says
Don’t understand the hate for Nostrana (or O&S for that matter). Been to both places several times, always had great service as well as excellent food. I feel like I’m missing something — are others too critical? Am I not critical enough?
Robert says
I’d just like to give a shout-out to Irving Street Kitchen as having the slowest service I can remember seeing in Portland (though I like the resto otherwise). Also, count me in as someone who has never been able to fathom Nostrana-love. “Year in and year out the service is terrible and the food is mediocre.” I couldn’t have put it better myself. I’ve given them like five chances, and they failed every time.
Jill-O says
Wow, it’s amazing about Nostrana… I’m a regular, because I have usually received good food and service. I have had a couple of off nights in the many, many times I have dined there, food-wise, but that’s a rare occurrence. Service-wise, well, yeah, I have had a couple of bad experiences, but never when I sit at the bar. And since we enjoy sitting at the bar so much, we generally experience great service. And true, now that we are regulars, we are probably treated a bit differently.
I don’t get the mediocre food comment, though. I think they have the best steak in town (that ginormous porterhouse bistecca – which is a great deal at $65 as you can get 4-5 servings from it), the best charcuterie plate in town (not the happy hour version, go for the complete one), and I think they make some of the best pasta and cocktails in town. I’ve never had a bad fish prep and have generally enjoyed the salads I have had there. I love their winelist and their glassware, and their bar program is deep…they carry a lot of spirits that others don’t.
I don’t doubt the veracity of the posters above, and clearly, if they made this list, they should check on their service staff. But I am sad to hear that others have not had good food there…very sad.
Nancy says
We love Nostrana! It is our go-t0 restaurant. The food is fabulous. Agree with the comment above regarding the charcuterie plate–best in town. And the Nostrana salad??My favorite. Sorry so many others have had bad experiences with food/waitstaff. As I always have a reservation, I haven’t experienced a negative hostess event, either.