Cedric (the owner) is the literally the best! When I reached out about his company, he called me…read moreand we had a fantastic chat. He was very attentive and wanted to get a vibe for what the group (6 women) wanted and enjoys in life - all so HE could plan 2 amazing days at wineries in the greater Portland area. After the chat, we netted out on two full days (8 hrs each day. We survived by the way.) in June. He picked us up right at our Airbnb (Pearl) in a comfortable van with lots of room and already had the jams playing (his 90s/00s playlist is ON POINT). For the first day, we went out to the Mt. Hood area which was beyond beautiful (don't think I've ever seen a winery with a majestic mountain as a back drop). I highly recommend this route as it has more of a mom & pop feeling than other major wine areas I've visited (especially if you can do multiple days in this region). You also get a wider range of varietals vs. Willamette (not knocking W.V. AT ALL as I'm a Pinot Noir gal). Cedric completely planned the entire day and we hit up 4 different wineries and none disappointed. He also grabbed us lunch which was fantastic. The drive is beautiful along the Colombia River. Dropped off at our place in the Pearl. Day 2 (the following day) we hit up the famous Willamette Valley. We had a couple last minute requests (in terms of must-have wineries) that Cedric completely accommodated and he re-routed our day to ensure we hit the best of the best. He worked his magic and we were able to visit FIVE (!), including the last stop where we chatted with the owner/winemaker while playing bocce ball (Utopia wines). It was a fantastic day. We visited some big players like Domaine Serene (YES) and Stoller (great for a picnic lunch), but also some smaller but beautiful wineries like Colene Clemens (top of hill overlooking valley) and Vista Hills (think tree house vibes). Cedric promised a magical day and he delivered. This was by far my favorite wine tour experience and I've done a lot of them across the country/world. Cedric was the difference maker. He's a fantastic and hilarious host and truly makes the experience one to remember. His company has other drivers as well and I imagine they are of the same breed as Mr. Cedric, so no matter who you get, you won't be disappointed!!

Our private wine tour with Cedric was the most awesome kick-off to our weekend Portland trip…read more Cedric was so accommodating and really went out of his way to make sure we had the best time, and had everything we needed! We made amazing memories and had the most fun photo shoots! I booked Cedric because of all of his awesome reviews, and luckily I'm writing one because he did not disappoint! Thank you, Cedric!!

Truly one of the highlights of our trip. We loved touring the waterfalls of the Columbia River…read moreGorge with Peter, a local who knows all the best viewing spots, local history & amazing facts about the flora, fauna, & waterfall formation.

I booked the City Tour through the Oregon Tour Company after our other tour was canceled by the…read moreother company. Boy, am I glad that they canceled!!! We had the most informative and fun tour that we have ever been on. Peter was amazing! From the phone call confirming our reservation up until the time we were dropped off, he was on-it. Very personable, friendly, knowledgeable, courteous,.... I could go on an on with how great he was. We found out a lot of information that we had no idea was associated with Portland. Just amazing experience. We will definitely use Peter again for another of his tours when we go back to Portland. Thank You Peter!!!!!!

Was gifted a Forktown Food Tour and WOW was it amazing! It was the perfect way for locals and…read morevisitors to see a different size of Portland. We just moved from Denver a few years ago so always looking for good eats! We decided to check out a neighborhood that we've never explored ourselves and we had such a great time. We took the Mississippi Ave Tour and really enjoyed the different eats that was picked out for us! We started at the food carts and had some delicious BBQ then walked a couple blocks and got to try this delicious glass noodle salad and local wine. Honestly, I was pretty full already from those first two stops but we had two more to go! We ended up going to a local brewery as well as a dairy-free ice cream shop! Being lactose intolerant, I was ECSTATIC to know that this ice cream place was all dairy free! Everyone was pleasantly surprised at the texture of the ice cream and the different flavors that was offered! Being locals we weren't sure what to expect in a group setting but everyone was a joy to be with. Our group consisted of friends celebrating a birthday and a married couple that was visiting for the weekend from Seattle. Our guide Heidi lead us on a delicious trip around Portland and cannot wait to attend her other tours or even possibly her food tours abroad! It was such a pleasure to spend a lovely Saturday with Heidi.

The Forktown Food tour was Forking Fabulous (surely I'm not the first one to capitalize on such…read morealliteration?). Ariel, our tour guide, immediately won points in my book for being both an artist and a New Mexican native. These traits are not what made her an apt, knowledgeable, or personable tour guide, per say, but they're what made me see my reflection in her mirror. "Hey! I'm an artist (writer) from New Mexico and a food tour guide, too!" With that said, Ariel did an awesome job. She knows her history, her food, her city, and has a fun personality to tie it all together. Our group was a mix of locals and travelers, solo eaters (yours truly) and a group of friends. We all got along great, and enjoyed every stop. What I enjoyed most about this was 1) the location. Mississippi Ave is a gem! Get out of downtown and explore this place! 2) the diversity of dining. I'm not well-versed enough in Korean Mexican food to know what to order at a food cart, same with Thai cuisine (um, Pad Thai? Yes I am that uneducated), so I was glad to have a great dish handed to me. Also, I liked the balance of savory, sweet, and even vegetables, and the fact it moved like a progressive meal (salad, appetizer, main, palate cleanser, dessert). I definitely recommend!

We visited Willful Wine on a sunny Saturday night as we hoped to catch the piano music many folks…read morewere raving about. The service was good. The cheese board is very basic. We're talking "Fred Meyer cheese counter" quality. Nothing bad, but just not great. The assortment of "dried fruit" was a small cup of dried cranberries. Meh. The real issue I have regarding our visit was the automatic 20% gratuity. I really hate this required tipping movement within the restaurant industry. I do wish they would just raise the prices and leave the tipping to me and my server to hash out. Sometimes the service isn't worth 20% of my bill. Really. Normally, there is a notice in Open Table or on the venue's website to alert of a required tipping policy. I saw neither prior to our arrival. In fact, I didn't notice any warning on the menu either but it was dark in the lounge and I may have missed the small print. I typically avoid restaurants requiring a service fee or mandatory 20% tip. This time they got me but I doubt we'll be back.

Willful Wine at The Grant House ended up giving us one of the sweetest date nights we've had in a…read morelong time and we didn't even order wine. The Grant House is the oldest residence on Officers Row, originally built in the mid-1800s as part of the Fort Vancouver military community. You can feel that history the moment you walk in! The tall windows, the creaking wood floors, the way the rooms still hold that old-world dignity. The house was originally built with logs but then replaced. But from the looks of it some was preserved from the inside, which you can get a sneak peek when walking out of the bathroom and back into the dining space. For drinks, I had their cider, my fiancé chose a zero-proof drink, and both were delicious. My cider was bright, fruity and crisp, and his drink tasted thoughtfully layered, not sugary or flat. For dinner, we ordered the Garlic Caesar Salad, Butternut squash tagliatelle and the Seared pork chop, and they all felt like autumn served on a plate. The pasta was velvety and comforting, and the pork chop had that perfect balance of sear and tenderness, a dish that makes you pause mid-conversation just to appreciate it. But what truly made the night unforgettable was Pam. She was an absolute delight, warm, present, and a talented host beyond measure. She played soft, romantic jazz piano through the evening, and at one point, my fiancé and I ended up sharing a slow, quiet dance right there in the dining room. The Grant House setting adds to the charm historic, softly lit, and easy to settle into. Pam made us feel completely taken care of from start to finish. So excited to come back for the holiday dinner.

HUGE safety concern!! We reserved the Mini-V party and were driving on I-205 when the buses doors…read morestarted rattling and flew open. We had to pull over and our driver secured the doors back shut... then this happened 3 more times. It was really scary and someone could have gotten seriously injured!! I'm frustrated that I have not been able to get in contact with a manager to address this issue and want to prevent this from happening again. Our bus driver said the issue with the doors was known, and parts were on-order which means this could have been prevented and I do not appreciate the decision to allow us to ride on the bus. This was such a negative experience since our driver was also 30 minutes late to pick up (she went to the wrong address) and stopping 3 times on the freeway caused us to have to cancel our stop, and turn around to get to the event we were planning on attending. I've been trying to get in touch VIP PDX for 2 weeks, and my calls and emails have not been returned... Do yourself a favor and do NOT book with this company.

VIP did a great job at my daughter's wedding on 8/17/19. Tina was courteous and prompt. Very…read morepatient with our party of 14 going everywhere. The bus was clean and cold water as promised. I would highly recommend them to anyone. Great experience..

Meandered in on Mother's Day to sample a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, grab a seat on the patio and…read moresoak up the last rays of the setting sun. Our German-accented server/hostess was exceedingly charming and friendly, especially when we discovered that I had visited her home town back in Germany a few years ago, which elicited some excited conversation and recollections of places we loved there. Oh, and the wine was excellent, too!

The quaint little tasting room in beautiful Vancouver Waterfront was a real treat!! The wines are…read moreoutstanding, and the servers are super kind and knowledgeable! We have also been out to Pepper Bridge and Amavi in Walla Walla, and I would recommend going there too!!

Airfield is my favorite winery on the Vancouver Waterfront. They have many wine varietals to…read moretaste. I especially love their reds and sparkling wine. Their wine club membership is different than most other wineries. You just need to purchase two cases of wine over the course of the year. Can be whenever you want and whatever wines you like. Very flexible! The service is always great and I love waking around on the waterfront. If you stop by in the summer I recommend getting a frose' on the outdoor patio. Cheers!

It was a beautiful day and I was staying in the area. They have a lovely little patio to sit and…read moreenjoy the weather. Amanda was behind the bar, and was friendly and knowledgeable. She helped me pick a red and I took it outside. Shortly afterward, she came out and brought a bottle of water. I enjoyed my glass, and the people watching was excellent. They even offer a discount on bottles if you are airline crew.

Here for an interview, we sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful view, cool breeze with the warm…read moreheat and still able to be shaded. Their covered deck is exquisite. Hors d'oeuvres recommended being the charcuterie board and bread and butter plate. We also sampled a rosé and a Pinot Gris, not disappointed. Two of us took home the Pinot Noir without much pressure. Delicious. We had a set of wonderful servers that were both educational and courteous, Lindsay & Dietrich. Honestly, I stayed after my group exited to enjoy the deck, the view and possibly another glass of crisp Gris. .

Unfortunately, our experience was disappointing due to the customer service we received from Susie,…read morewho appeared to be either the restaurant manager or a member of the front-of-house team. From the beginning, her tone came across as unwelcoming and dismissive. While I understand that accommodating a large group can be challenging, it felt as though there was little effort made to help us or make us feel valued as guests. Even if accommodations weren't possible, a simple "We'll do our best" would have gone a long way. When we arrived for our reservation, we were immediately asked, "Are you going to eat?" which felt unnecessary and gave the impression that our business wasn't wanted. We were then told that the majority of our group needed to be present before we could be seated, despite having several people ready to sit down, order drinks, and begin spending money while waiting for the rest of our party to arrive. That said, I want to recognize our waitress, Morgan, was wonderful. She was patient with our orders, attentive without being intrusive, and gave our group the space to enjoy our conversations and time together. Morgan's service was a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating experience. Overall, the issue wasn't the policies themselves--it was the way they were communicated. Hospitality is about making guests feel welcome, and unfortunately, that was not our experience with the front-of-house management.

The wine is delicious and the associate was wonderful! The vibe is very calm and classy, with…read moreclustered seating focused on conversations and low lighting.

Great little wine shop. Stopped here briefly with a couple friends. Did a wine tasting and I liked…read moreall! The salmon dip was excellent! Hubby is a non-alcohol drinker and tried the lemon like seltzer. He wasn't much a fan but I tried it and thought it was fine. Will come again :)

This company has saved the day on multiple occasions! I appreciate the level of professionalism…read moreand communication from those at this company. They're trustworthy, affordable, and punctual. I will often get quotes from other companies for events, but always return to Blue Star every time. Would recommend for your travelling needs!

Contracted Blue Star twice during our daughter's wedding week July 2023. Hired a 28 passenger mini…read morebus one night and she used a full size charter bus plus a mini bus to transport guests from downtown Portland hotel to the wedding venue in wine country. All services were professional, courteous, on time, clean vehicles. VERY HAPPY we chose them. Jordan E was my agent.