Taylor is a terrific server. And her busser is good, too. My wife loved her razor clams, but thinks the polenta was too blah. I was happy to finish it. I had a bite of her clams and found them rubbery. She also did not appreciate the salsa verde and thought it incongruous with the rest of the dish. I agree. We both liked the tureen of duck mousse. A few more crackers would have helped to finish it. We both thought the bread too "rustic" bc the crust was too tough. French baguettes would have worked better for both of us. I liked the chickpea mulligatawny soup ok but it was over spiced with too much curry, turmeric and celery. Yes, I know it's a spicy soup, but this was heavy handed. Chef should have known better. IMHO In a place with prices this high I expect better than the dishes we were served. Oh, one more thing. We sat at the bottom in the back. At about 7 pm Aug. 23rd the sun reflected off a window across the street and shined directly on me causing me to sweat uncomfortably. They have an inadequate scrim shade that was ineffective. That's just inexcusable. read more

Posted a couple of reviews here, always 5-STAR. One of my favorite local bar/restaurants anywhere. When I'm in Portland I only go here. If you're downtown it's a must, skip all the other places, try Higgins first. If you don't like bars, they have a separate and divided dining room, actually multiple mini dining rooms. So tried something I've never heard of before, it was on special. Pan Fried Oregon Razor Clams. This was so incredibly good. They are pounded flat and obviously pan fried, lightly. It was prepared with a Garlic Cilantro Yogurt, Coccus, and leafy spouting Broccoli and Carrots. The flavor of the yogurt was incredibly addictive. Starter was a house salad - leafy greens, add blue cheese crumbles. Another fantastic discovery - the Razor Clams. Nice work Higgins! read more

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On a recent trip to Portland I found myself at Higgins for dinner. Old world charm - I sat in the homey lounge enjoying the mahogany paneling, wood booths and ambient lighting. Places like this are hard to find; Higgins harkens back to a time when dining was an experience. I had the grass fed beef burger - with the simple salad. The salad's hazelnuts were a nice touch. read more

Higgins Restaurant - Grass fed Beef Burger & Salad in the lounge. - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Special dinner out with family and we chose Higgins. You are welcomed immediately and made to feel as if you had arrived for dinner at the owner' home. Atmosphere inviting and service excellent. The attractive menu and off-menu specials, made it hard to choose but our waiter's recommendations helped us along. The food was quality you could taste in every bite and the menu cohesive from starter to dessert. We enjoyed our time at Higgins and will definitely return! read more

Higgins Restaurant - Razor Clams and Couscous - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I asked a friend where to dine in the area, and this was his recommendation. He was not wrong! We almost didn't get in. It was a Tuesday at 5:20 and I was sure we would get a spot, but apparently everyone else knows about this place, and it was fully booked. However, they eeked us into the bar. The staff was so helpful and friendly. We got the salad with all the fresh greens, hazelnuts and blue cheese. The dressing was perfect. We shared a bottle and of wine, they gave a great selection. The bartenders are so knowledgeable and sweet. We also got the fresh catch. Most of the menu is farm to table. They serve you a little amuse bouche, which is a nice touch. The inside is cozy. There are booths and tables and seating at the bar. This is a great spot for a date! The lighting is nice. It's just a fabulous Portland gem. read more

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My wife and I headed to Higgins for our anniversary. We hadn't been there since the night I proposed to her. Somehow Higgins fell off our radar, but it's back on as we really had an outstanding experience. First, when we walked in I couldn't help but notice it was busy, warm, and inviting. Luckily, we had made reservations as it was a busy evening. We were taken to our table and were immediately provided with outstanding customer service. We each started off with Manhattan's, which did not disappoint. For a starter, we went with the Totten Inlet mussels simmered in a gingered plum sauce with chilis, cilantro and sesame crisps. These were some beautifully prepared large mussels. The sauce was truly sublime. I remember telling my wife I wish I had some bread to soak up the sauce. It couldn't have been a minute or two later our waiter walked by asking if we wanted some bread for the sauce. Why yes, we do! For our main course my wife went with the Matalotta. This is a Sicilian fisherman's stew of mussels, calamari, clams, and prawns in a white wine tomato, olive and caper broth with nodi marini pasta. I had a couple bites of this and this tasted outstanding! Had it not been for one of their specials, this is what I would have ordered. I ended up going with the razor clams, which was a special of the evening as they were fresh. This was a tough decision as I have access to razor clams, but they sounded great. I wish I knew all the specifics of the meal, but look at the picture, and that'll give you the answer. They were perfectly breaded and pan-fried. They were tender and not a drop of grease. Honestly, these were some of the best razor clams I've ever had. For dessert we ended up just ordering a little ice cream, which was exceptional as well. With them knowing it was our anniversary, they brought us some complimentary dessert wine and added a couple candles to the desert. Nice touch! I'm not sure how we forgot about Higgins. We had an outstanding experience from start to finish. It was a such a great atmosphere, the service and the food couldn't have been any better. We will certainly be back before too long. If you live in the Portland area or are just visiting, Higgins will certainly give you a teste of the Pacific Northwest, which is not to be ignored. read more

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Waltzed in after a super-long absence --- sorry -- and it's like coming back to an old friend thank god (cause those are hard to find these days). Stoked to find nothings changed in terms of quality, flavor service, or ambiance. Ok sothe prices have skyrocketed but that's par for the course these days. This is classic old (ish) Portland - cozy but not cramped, refined but still casual, and all about the food. The more formal sit down dining area up front gives way to a laid-back bar/lounge area in the back, which is where you'll find me. Our meal tonight was top-notch all around: a healthy (pun intended) spinach salad with delicata squash and pork belly, a burly, overstuffed Rueben, and an outstandingly savory bowl of Totten inlet mussels. Our bartender/server was a pro, quick with the Manhattans and helpful with the orders without hovering. A swell evening. read more

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Another scrumptious delicious lunch. Always is! My wife and I eat here often. We know what is on the menu we like. We also know we'll be enticed by menu specials. Chef and kitchen team take pride making and presenting the orders. Looks beautiful on the plate and tastes great. For instance we started with the seasonal farmers market sourced summer vegetables, some raw and some blanched, with feta and edible mint flowers on the top. Pretty plated! Pretty delish! Black eye pea soup was a seasonal delight too! Then, we love the grass fed, Carman Ranch, burger with side of fermented veggies. This is our #1 favorite place to eat! And we have a load of #2's! Higgins always exceeds my expectations! And exceeds my expect-taste-ins! Seasonal! Local! Organic! House made sauces, fermented veggies and cured meats! Smiling menu-talking servers! Creative Chef and "bitchin" kitchen team! Bar or dining room is a place to meet-up with fellow foodies for a convivial and tasty experience! read more

Higgins Restaurant - Summer seasonal delicious veggie plate! - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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We ate in the bar which has a very different vibe than the main restaurant and a bit of a smell. We ordered the pork shoulder and couldn't understand it as pork. It was a clumps of black that I assume was the pork and then a sausage. I wouldn't have paid $35 for sausage meal. And it wasn't a particularly good sausage, but the pork clumps were strange, un appetizing. This is a regular menu item so it was hard to fathom, but it should've been or what it could've been. The service was great. We were well taken care of but the star of any meal is the food and it was just not great. read more

My first time here I sat back in the bar at a booth with my sister and a friend and we shared a bottle of bubbles which was hard to decide since they have a great drink menu. The service was fast and exceptional. We were given a little sample of hummus which was nice and very garlicky. I ordered their burger and it was so good. My friend ordered the risotto and a side of squash. I had salad and my sister had their vegan eggplant soup that was so fresh tasting. I loved this space and plan to come back! read more

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After reading an article about Higgins struggling to keep the doors open, I made a reservation there because we were attending a nearby show. Honestly, it was mediocre. Happy that they seem to be doing well as it was pretty crowded. Reasons for the 3 stars, starting with the good: beverages were fine, the service for water and clearing/bringing new dinnerware was great. The salads were on point: a fennel and orange salad, (which they generously portioned with the split) and their salad with breaded cheese, pomegranates and apples. Everything else was either under or over seasoned. The bruschetta was bland and kind of soggy. Our friend ordered sole which was also bland. I had the risotto, which was okay, but cold in temperature. The chili oil on beets might have been a good idea, but it was so heavy-handed and so spicy, we were not able to eat much of it. The only entree that was fairly good was the razor clam. (Size of entrees on the smaller side with the exception of the clams) What surprised us most was probably the lack of value per the cost. Once in awhile, we do go to $$$ or $$$$ establishments, but when we do, we want to walk out the door with a sense of the experience being worthwhile. This was not one of those times, unfortunately. It had been many years since any of us went to Higgins, and we probably wouldn't have if it had not been for the article. Higgins is a downtown institution for business lunches and evenings in the arts district, and we do not regret checking it out, but this will likely be the last time. read more

Higgins Restaurant - Razor clams - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The food was incredibly delicious and service friendly. I had the halibut and added a lovely salad before. Both were excellent! Highly recommend! read more

Higgins Restaurant - Halibut - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I have wanted to eat at Higgins for well over a decade. But there were many factors that kept me away, until Saturday 30 August when 2 friends and I converged for a night of good wine, excellent conversation, and what I hoped would be good food. First, let's talk about the service. Our waiter was Mr Howard, who set the tone for our night. He was a consummate professional. Well spoken, and was there at just the right moments. Assisting him were the support staff who were incredibly attentive, without being intrusive. I also give them additional kudos as we were the last ones in the dining room that night, yet they didn't seem upset that we stayed long. Next, the space itself. If you haven't been there, the main dining room is split into 3 spaces. with 2 of them separated by glass. While I could hear others talking and enjoying themselves, I never felt like we were trying to talk over them. It was the most comfortable fine dining experience I've had in a long time. Food & Drink - My friends who possess far greater knowledge than I do, chose a nice Sauvignon Blanc wine to start the night. Mr Howard brought it out with an ice bucket. So our first tastes were just right. The other wine was provided by our mutual friend. The corkage fee was reasonable, and worth the treasure found inside the bottle. Add to that was a glass given to us from a winemaker sitting nearby. It was incredible! I just we had gotten his name. For our meal, we chose a dish of tomato with a wonderful soft cheese. It was simple, light and a perfect compliment to the wine were were enjoying at the moment. We decided to split 3 meals and serve them family style: Radiatore pasta with basil hazelnut pesto, pole beans, aged balsamic vinegar and Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese. Risotto of tomatoes, eggplant, basil, asiago fresco cheese and water buffalo burrata. And the evening's special beef tenderloin. I felt like each dish complimented the other. The radiatore was made perfectly, And while I'm not normally a fan of pesto, it was my favorite dish of the night. The tenderloin was true to it's name, served medium (by request) I could have used a butter knife to cut it. And the risotto was spot on. The portion sizes were just right for us. After we finished our meal, the staff not only boxed the leftovers in one box, but also wrapped each item in individual foil. Again, the service was better than my expectations. As we were leaving, I'm glad we had a chance to thank and compliment the chef. Then we noticed the bar in the back. We didn't stay for a nightcap, but we will next time. The atmosphere in the bar was relaxed, and a place I could enjoy on a quiet night, or before a concert. Higgins is truly a gem of the Portland dining scene. If you have never been there, it's time you allowed yourself an indulgence of true food experience. read more

Higgins Restaurant - Our appetiser - in season tomatoes. - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I hadn't been to Higgins Restaurant for some time. I chose it for a pre-show dinner. The result was an excellent dinner served by a friendly and efficient server. The setting was delightful. In conclusion, my choice of Higgins was an excellent choice. I'm sure I will be returning to Higgins again in the near future. read more

Despite living in Portland (city center) for it seems like forever we'd never been to Higgins. To do our part to support a local institution we gave it a go. We chose the Bistro side of the house, before the main restaurant had opened. - Delicious ale. - Very tasty bowl of mussels. - Completely indifferent service, to the point of feeling like we were not welcome. - Pushed out, despite being told in advance that our table wasn't needed for two hours, and with other tables free. We won't be back. While the food was good, the experience was underwhelming to put it mildly. read more

Solid and serviceable French restaurant. Nothing blew me away but everything was good. The space is a bit dark and slightly 90s decor but that doesn't bother me. There's a bit of a retiree vibe to the clientele. Which, again, doesn't bother me! I hope to be one of those soon. read more

First-time visit today, at lunch, three weeks after they shined the Bat Signal brightly online in mid July 2025 to say they were hanging on by a thread and could really use a surge of traffic. Their public appeal worked, and they're now getting 200 for lunch instead of the 40 for lunch that they'd been averaging until recently. Similar nice upward trend at dinner service. Glad to be part of the support to help them turn things around in an unforgiving downtown situation of recent years. What I'd want someone to know: Pros: Excellent service. No warm welcome to speak of at the front desk, but otherwise were quickly seated, had great server with fun personality that engaged with us in just the right way, water glasses frequently topped off, and felt looked after. Local vibes. This is what many are seeking out when they go here re: the specials today being beef from southern Oregon and tuna from the Oregon Coast. You're paying $31/plate for those because it's made with care and sourced very nearby. Amazing deserts. Many choices, each $14, including a fantastic butterscotch thing topped with caramel, and so many ice cream flavors made in house we lost count. Cons: Very loud. This is what would give me pause before returning. Asked a couple people about this onsite and they said it's always like that. There's carpeting but something more is needed to absorb some of that noise. Maybe add some fabric panels? None of us use hearing aids but were leaning in and felt like we were shouting at the others to have a normal conversation at the table. For that reason, it's not a place one would to try to offer a toast or, say, get engaged. Overdone tuna. Seared as promised, but instead of the close to rare that's customary it was closer to well done. And the green beans were scrawny instead of the plumpness that would come if left on the vine maybe a couple weeks more. Am sure the surge of support will continue to give them nice momentum at lunch and dinner! read more

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The service is exceptional. A busy, busy night, and they made us feel catered to! The food was delicious but the service is what sends the experience over the top! Well done! read more

Higgins Restaurant - Broccoli salad - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I've had the pleasure of dining at Higgins twice now and I'm very happy with their dedication to consistency and quality. This meal was from when my partner and I went to have our 6mo anniversary dinner back in January this year. The service was quick and we even got an amuse bouche which was lovely, and the tart to finish it all off was fantastic. I love the ambiance and decor of the restaurant, it has a lot of character and class, and I don't recall the name of my server that evening. But my first time I was served by a lovely Australian waiter named John, so if you can; ask for him! Love this place, it's a staple for a nice dinner out. read more

Higgins Restaurant - Lemon Tart - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Amazing. Yelp wants 85 words but I already put the word you need. From what I learned a long standing gem in the area. Had the steak but staying in town a few more day's because I didn't know about the Razor Clams and since they're in season need to try these as everyone was raving about them. Enjoy!! :) read more

I've been here several times with my good friends who have been coming to Higgins for decades. We knew we had to come in for lunch recently as I was in town to celebrate our friend's birthday. So, we grabbed our favorite spot at the corner of the bar and greeted Charlie. He's been here for many years. Friendly and knowledgeable. He made me a perfect martini after he had described the specials. We started with some oysters that came with a some kind of chili (?) pepper granita with black pepper. The oysters were very nice and the cold granita was a refreshing topping. So good. Next was a terrine I believe. It came with mustard and some pickled rhubarb. Just great. Then the cassoulet. I had never had cassoulet before. My friend saw it on the menu and insisted we get it. Duck confit, pork and a sausage with beans and crisp breadcrumbs. It had a spiced savory taste and aroma that was mace I believe. Wow. Just unbelievably good. Every last bit of this dish kinda made my head spin. In the BEST way. Cassoulet, where have you been all my life?! A must order dish if there ever was one. Thanks Charlie. We'll see you again soon. read more

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I came in around 10:00 pm after a concert and ordered dinner in the bar. I had a cup of squash soup and the spinach salad with bacon, roasted squash and apple slices. It was a delicious late nite meal. (The spinach stems were a little thick, but the dressing and salad were still great.) The bar tenders were very friendly and attentive. The cocktails had a nice pour. Would definitely return. read more

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Higgins remains at the top of my list for maintaining a classic bar menu, seasonal and local dinner menu options, excellent service, and being centrally located near most of the things that tend to bring me downtown. Our most recent visit came after a symphony performance, and after years of coming here, it remained a perfect way to cap off an evening. Belgian beers are still prominant on the drink menu, and I have yet to find anything that they did not go well with. It's nice to see that some things have not changed. read more

Higgins Restaurant - Delightful soup - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Must a reservation this place get packed fast. Jill she is awesome very friendly and helpful. Place very spacious not like other place everything close together. Personally I enjoy the 3 way duck aside for marmalade veggies side. The steak pretty good and not a fan of the sole dish. read more

Just had a fabulous meal at Higgins! I'm in town for a conference, and decided to take myself out for a nice dinner. It was perfect! The service was wonderful, the ambience was wonderful, and the food was terrific. I had the dumplings to start, then the halibut special, and the butterscotch budino for dessert. Add in a couple glasses of nice wine, and it was a wonderful meal. Highly recommend! read more

Higgins Restaurant - Sauvignon Blanc. - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

So disappointed tonight. Ordered the ribeye steak for two and was extremely disappointed!! There was a lot of fat and gristle so the amount of steak that was edible was suitable for one and definitely not two. Way over priced for what we received. Service was just okay this time too. read more

Each Christmas we try to arrange a family dinner and this year we selected Higgin's. First we had a fabulous experience. The food was delicious and interesting. Services was wonderful! With the Food served timely and piping hot(rare these days). I will return in the near future!! read more

Been there many oast times happily but everything awful this time.'Mainly the food really bad menu bad foodz

How can you mess up cooking a burger? You can here. Medium is not a burnt hockey puck! And the bun was black. The wait staff were not helpful at all! It was our holiday and we were appalled at the treatment we received. read more

Dined here for a work dinner. It was recommended by a colleague that lives in the area and it was such a good choice. Ordered the liberty duck and it was cooked perfectly. The duck was tender and the sauce was a good compliment to the duck. It does get busy so best to make reservations. Will definitely be returning next time I am in Portland. read more

Higgins Restaurant - Libery Duck - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Food was hit and miss. The appetizers were good and the drinks were good but the main dishes were letting a little to be desired. Fish was overcooked but the seafood stew was good. Atmosphere was an interesting mix of old friends hanging out and multi-generational families enjoying a night out. Not really a place where I would take a date. read more

Popped in for lunch. Felt like a business power lunch type of place with wonderful lighting, butcher paper type with a pig outlined to emphasize perhaps the farm to table vibe. Being vegetarian, I had the cucumbers, Job's Tears, spring onions and pistachios with a preserved lemon mint vinaigrette as a starter and the Cretan zucchini cakes, tzatziki, tahini spinach salad with marinated red onions and basmati rice. Nice combination of flavors, especially the latter with the salad having a bit of a spice to it. I would have it all again, though the price point is a bit high (2 people for $110 for lunch), but that may be the norm in Portland as I am visiting. read more

Worst risotto ever. Service was good but food was subpar. I could not finish my meal

Stopped in for a quick bite before the ballet at the Newmark Theater. Great location in the theater district for a fun dinner at the bar. I have never been to Higgins before, though I have wanted to eat here plenty of times before - about 12 years ago I heard something about their tomato tart and have never forgotten that. Well, it's not the season for tomatoes, but a salad and soup sounded good. I got the last single seat at the bar and cozied up with some chatty folks and a dirty martini (both were excellent, by the way). For dinner I ordered their salad with citrus and tahini dressing - it came as a wedge salad and was delicious, fresh blood orange and naval oranges plus a light taste of tahini and lemon. The soup, salmon chowder, was much less impressive - it lacked salt and I found a bone in the very tough smoked fish. Both made me a little hesitant to really enjoy each bite - the salmon was tough and I was worried about a pin bone stuck in my throat. As for saltiness - I don't use a lot of salt in my own cooking, so the fact that I thought it needed salt says quite a lot. The bar was busy, so service was okay, but the patrons were a hoot and that made up for it. In all, I say a solid 5 out of 10. I have high hopes for their hamburger, so I want to return during the summer and see if tomatoes pop up in the menu. read more

Higgins Restaurant - Chowder. The crackers were flaky and tasted of blue cheese. Loved them! - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We have just moved back to the Portland area and one of my favorite restaurants from over 17 years ago was Higgins. Nothing has changed. It is still exceptional in its execution, food quality and service levels. This review was from a couple of weeks ago, as my daughter and I went to a show at the Schnitzer, (Paramount) and of course I thought Higgins would be the perfect pre-show meal location. I chose a bar reservation, as I was wanting something a bit more casual and low key. Our table was ready for us, and we were given an excellent booth. We started with a very tasty Pinot Noir from Hyland Estates, which I was not familiar. Oh my, the perfect Burgundian style Pinot. We then each selected the classic burger. Just incredible. Perfect seasoning, and a high quality beef and bun were utilized. The accompanying salad was also perfectly dressed and tasty. Lauren could not haven been more efficient and friendly thru our dining experience. She was extremely knowledgeable of the menu and the wine options. She truly enhanced our visit to another level. Thank you Higgins for continuing to deliver excellent dining and service for so many years. read more

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This was a business dinner for three in the bar, not the main dining room. The food was excellent but the cocktail was not made correctly and the timing of the service was very awkward. read more

The food was interesting, not normal you will find at a restaurant. I had the special dish, fish with walnuts and apples - very creative. My friend had the pasta, he said it was also creative. The razor clams were good, nice big pieces. The dessert was so so, ice cream was the best dessert. The food portion was small compare to the price they charge. Service was great. Overall, this place has creative food that you might like or don't like it. read more

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Decades ago I used to come here on occasion. Usually a bit too fancy for me. I did come last year and their burger was a bit dry, probably not enough fat in the meat, which means it is better meat ironically. The Oregonian said they might close if business doesn't pick up, so I decided to stop by. I guess allot of folks had the same idea, as except for the bar seats the bar and restaurant was full around 1:15. I was going to have the pastrami open face sandwich even though I prefer to pick up my sandwich, but he told me they had halibut special, which I decided to try without asking the price, $35, It was quite tasty as was the rice, some sort shredded marinated veg. The broccoli was too hard to cut with a table knife so not sure why they even bothered to serve it. I knew it would be bitter so I did not even taste it, even after he gave me a steak knife. Anyway hopefully it can stay in business, but if not hurry on by to get a meal, and fancy drinks, while you can. read more

A Portland institution, the food was amazing, I never had an empty glass of water... The space was what, after ten years in Portland, hoped to experience that 'Ol time Portland feeling. Everyone should rally to support one of the OG's of Pacific Northwest cuisine. Higgins bravo read more

Our lunch was wonderful, as always. The standout was a side of grilled Napa cabbage with a chili vinaigrette. The tomato-zucchini fritters were good. (See photo) My lunch partner loved the open-face pastrami sandwich. read more

Higgins Restaurant - Tomato-zucchini fritters. - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon