3/5 overall: excellent chicken liver mousse, but service fell flat and left me questioning their claim of being "welcoming to all." It's currently unclaimed on Yelp (34 reviews, 3.6 stars before mine), so I'm unsure the owner will even see this. I'll also post this review on Google (76 reviews, 4.6 stars) for visibility. After a few months of driving by and hearing good things from friends, I finally decided to have dinner here after a perfect Portland day at the Portland Book Festival in honor of James Baldwin's time in France. I walked in around 6:30 p.m. without a reservation and was told the wait would be about 45 minutes. I didn't mind, and my table was ready after 35 minutes. I was seated at the end of the bar, two chairs away from the kitchen entrance to be exact. Food - 3/5 overall CHICKEN LIVER MOUSSE ($14): 5/5 This was the highlight of my dinner: smooth, rich, and deeply flavorful, almost perfect like my grandma used to make. The portion was decent, though not large, and I wish they provided a bit more baguette on the side. DUCK LEG CONFIT ($38): 3/5 Definitely on the pricey side, I had better. Described as corona bean, savoy cabbage, bacon, crème fraîche, apple, and au jus. The duck itself was nicely seasoned, but the au jus was bland, and there was no bacon as listed. Service - 2/5 Now the painful truth, and the reason I'm sharing this review. During my 1 hour and 15 minutes at the bar, four different parties came and went on both sides of me. A staff member (either a manager or the owner) personally greeted, chatted, and engaged with every single one of them, except me. Not once did they make eye contact, nod, or even acknowledge my presence. For context, I was seated right at the bar, elbow-close to the others. If you enjoy or are curious about dining solo, please note this atmosphere might not feel welcoming. As someone who often and confidently dines alone because I love the experience, I couldn't help but think about those who may be hesitant to try dining solo and how an experience like this could easily make them never want to give it a chance. Their website states: "We are a neighborhood bistro that strives to say 'yes' to as many people and experiences as possible, embracing the both/and in favor of the either/or. We are rooted in both the French culinary tradition and our deep connection to our local environment. We want to provide both world class excellence and a comfortable, welcoming environment to all our guests." Unfortunately, my evening reflected the opposite of that beautiful mission. I truly hope they take this to heart and ensure that every guest, whether part of a group or dining solo, feels seen, welcomed, and included. The staff who brought my food never returned to check on me after it was served. The bartender was the only one who interacted, once when noticing my plates were empty (offering to box them up or bring more baguette for an extra charge) and again when I asked for the check. I paid cash and tipped 15% instead of my usual 20-25%, purely based on service. read more

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Incredible welcoming genuine friendly servers. Delicious cocktails and absolutely out of this world food. Blew my mind! Cannot wait to come here again and again. read more

L’Echelle - Braised beef cheeks. Didn't even need a knife it just melted off of my fork. 10/10 - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

It is a beautiful spot with a cozy, romantic ambiance, perfect for a nice evening out. We arrived about five minutes before our reservation, and our table wasn't ready yet, but the staff was great about it. They apologized, kept us updated, and as soon as a table became available, a team of four quickly turned it over and had it ready for us. We didn't mind the short wait (around 20 minutes) because of how attentive they were. We ordered almost right away, and our starters came out super fast, and they were delicious. Unfortunately, our main dishes took around 50 minutes to arrive after that. By the time the food came, we were already full and ready to head out. The mains were good, but the long delay really took away from the experience. When you order everything together, that kind of wait shouldn't happen. Overall, lovely atmosphere and good food, but the timing and pacing need improvement. read more

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Aside from two breads that we didn't like - this was a delicious and cozy French spot in Portland with good service. What we ordered: - oysters: really good although I do like when there's a spice to add - chicken liver mousse: omg would come back again just for the mousse. INCREDIBLE. However, the bread was not good. Tasted like a way too oily deep fried bread. We ended up ordering the side baguette preferred that bread. - French onion soup: again, disappointing bread. When I got bites of just soup and cheese it was great - Duck: so delicious!!! Perfect temp and really yummy - chocolate dessert: delicious! All in all very good with just a few items that slightly detracted. read more

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Absolutely delighted to get to visit L'Echelle. The space is lovely; can get a little loud depending on the clientele but very cozy. Service is amazing. Really enjoyed our dishes, everything was wonderful. The vesper martini (hold the pickle) was one of the best cocktails I think I've ever had. The ouefs were so savory and delicious, the crude was a perfect bite situation, the frites might be some of the best ever and my steak was quite good too. A very enjoyable night out in the neighborhood. read more

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Very cute set up, the decor is simple but effective. The space is very echoey and gets very loud, even without a full restaurant. Service was curt, and honestly not very warm, but that's the typical normal from a higher end restaurant these days. I will say, the owner was on the floor with everyone and that to me says a lot and is a green flag. The food was simply but really celebrated the focal ingredient. The zucchini dish and the fries were the fan favorites, even against the steak. Was it a nice experience? Yes. Would I return? Probably not. read more

L’Echelle - Gnocchi - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This dining experience was incredible. We didn't have a reservation, so we got there right at opening, and there was already a line forming. We walked in and all the staff were there to greet everyone, it felt really upscale. The entire staff was so nice. The bartender crafted a drink for me based on my preferences, probably the best cocktail I've had in recent memory. The food was delicious...when ordering be sure to order a side of bread. The baguette was excellent, as was the butter they served with it. I wanted to get one to go. Highly recommend this spot...but make a reservation because the secret is out! read more

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We came here to celebrate my half birthday after I'd been curious for a while, especially since seeing that video of the guy who put a French fry in his pocket to prove how crispy it stayed through his entire meal. I needed to find out for myself if the fries were really that crispy. As a lifelong French onion soup lover, this felt like the perfect place to finally try. And it did not disappoint. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, the service was phenomenal. Everyone was genuinely kind, attentive without hovering, and just really thoughtful overall. That balance is hard to get right, and they nailed it. The drinks were great too. I ordered a non-alcoholic cocktail, and I'm usually pretty skeptical of mocktails since many are overpriced and underwhelming. This one was perfectly balanced, and I would absolutely order it again. The real standouts for me were the French onion soup and the fries. Both were phenomenal, and I would 1,000% come back just for those alone. The schnitzel was perfectly good and very crispy, but it didn't excite me as much as the other dishes. Overall, a really solid dinner and a place that clearly cares about what they're doing. I'd happily return. read more

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The space is beautiful inside with lots of natural light. We had a reservation for 5pm and were seated immediately. The crudo was delicious and one of the highlights, just keep in mind that it's only 5 pieces of fish. Loved the sauce and flavor of the carrots, the Frisee Lyonnaise was quite good and suggested by our server. The duck was also good in flavor and well cooked, just was slightly tough. The Jambon plate was tasty too, with nice crusty bread and pickles. The items I'd pass on for next time are the Pork Crepinette and the tomatoes. The tomatoes were fresh and beautiful but it was just such a simple dish for $9. I did think it was cool that they came from Chef's garden though. The pork was just mediocre, seemed like just a pork patty on tom kha. Don't sleep on the fig leaf blancmange dessert though, it was so good and the crumble on top was amazing. read more

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We had a fantastic dinner here. We had reservations, which I recommend. The decor is cozy and inviting. We were seated right away and service was friendly and warm. The food was fantastic, we had the steak, pork schnitzel and frisée salad. Michael helped us pick a fantastic bottle of wine. This place says it's your neighborhood bistro, and it did live up to that. read more

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The place is stunning roomy. The staff was pretty good. Get a reservation place can be busy. Food was good some just need little acid . read more

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Recently rated the best restaurant by the Oregonian and it's well deserved. The atmosphere is very cozy with brick walls and deep booths. Some have talked about the noise but I found it easy to talk at a conversational level. The food is worthy of the recognition. Let's start with the French onion soup. It's beyond amazing. We had the duck, steak and gnocchi and all were done perfectly. Cocktails were also spot on. Finally the service is friendly, inviting and attentive. Restaurants struggle at times balancing ambiance, service and menu and l'echelle has nailed it. I'm sure it's going to be a challenge to get in. Go now! read more

L’Echelle - Vesper martini. Classic! - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We went here this Friday night for a 9:15 PM reservation and enjoyed the candlelight ambience. The food was all excellent. Schnitzel was perfect. I would say the standouts were the frites, which were just divine, and the halibut, which was creamy, fresh, and perfectly balanced. We also loved the cheese course & the chocolate pot de creme for dessert. It was so good. The only negative was the service. While our server hit all the steps of service: frequent table checks, wiping away crumbs, introducing the dishes, he did so with an attitude that made us feel unwelcome and like we were wasting his time. My partner asked me if I thought the server was looking down on us because we had ordered a side and asked for it to be served as an appetizer. I don't know. At such a nice place (and for the cost), I really feel a better experience is warranted. We ended up spending over $200, so I feel with a 20% tip we must have been worth his time. I would go back for frites and cocktails again but would sit at the bar to avoid the table service. read more

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Pretty good restaurant definitely worth trying. The food that I received was great with no complaints really. We started our meal off with some delicious oysters. And the French onion soup was probably the best I had in Portland. Definitely the best thing I ate all night. We had the steak in the carrots. The steak was cooked to medium rare perfection and the peppercorn gravy was delicious. The carrots with hot honey were also amazing. They weren't overcooked still had a nice crunch of them and had a nice hot and sweet flavor. Service was okay, the waitress or kitchen forgot to make our salad and service was kind of on the slow side. It took almost 2 hours for from getting seated to finishing our meal and that was not including dessert. We were told that our reservations were only worth two hours so by the time we finished our meal, we decided not to get dessert.. and usually my husband and I only take about an hour to an hour and a half to eat so service was definitely on the slow side. Overall, though the food was good with no complaints. read more

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Initially we were a bit hesitant to try L'Echelle due to some negative reviews. But we love French food and their online menu looked wonderful. I especially wanted to order the duck confit, which is a dish that is not found often at restaurants. We took a chance and were so delighted with the service and food. Everything we ordered was delicious. I have never had better frites than the ones they served. They were perfect. The duck, halibut, bread and cocktails were spot on. I highly recommend you give L'Echelle a try as we did. We were thoroughly pleased and will definitely go back when we are in the area again. Thank you! read more

L’Echelle - Duck Confit - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Overall: My dad was in town and we were excited to check out this new spot that I had heard rave reviews about. Sadly, it was a massive disappointment and we will not return. To make matters worse, I actually had the single worst dish I've had in Portland here (the Olive Oil Braised Courgette). Will detail that in the food section. This could honestly be a 1 star review but there were a couple good dishes. Atmosphere: The restaurant has a nice atmosphere that feels like a classier, but not bougie atmosphere. There is ample bar seating, which was nice. It was busy so it felt like a lively Saturday night out. Food: Hit and miss. The Salade Verde was a decent size, pretty simple but enjoyable salad. The Shima-Mizu Crudo had delicious fish, although I didn't think the cherry really added anything to the dish. It was also tiny. The Olive Oil Braised Courgette was DISGUSTING. The single worst dish I have had in Portland. It was just pure mush that was inedible to both my dad and I. We left it after two bites each. I was honestly shocked that this could even be put on a menu. The Steak Au Poivre was a ripoff for the size ($43 for 5 ounces with no side). The steak was full of gristle and we had to spit out multiple bites. It was also served lukewarm. Would not recommend this dish though the sauce was good. The Duck was quite good, though also served lukewarm. It wasn't a huge dish but was adequate enough. Overall, some dishes were good, some were major misses. However, I will not be back to re-live any of the good ones. Price: Prices were steep for the portion size and quality of the food. Service: Service was fairly unimpressive. There were two seats at the bar which we were given but told we had to wait to be cleared. This seemed like it took an abnormal amount of time and my handicapped father was forced to stand uncomfortably by the hostess stand to wait. Finally, they let us sit down (even though they still hadn't cleared it but we were just hopeful to sit and had no problem waiting for them to clear it). The bartender checked on frequently which was a plus but he was not very knowledgeable when my dad had inquiries about the wines. Also when we expressed our displeasure at one of the dishes his response was a simple shrug and "sorry you didn't enjoy the dish." Overall, didn't feel like there was much attention to detail or care in delivering a quality experience. Parking: Street parking. I was able to find parking around the corner. read more

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I went to a Tasting Collective dinner there. The service was excellent. It was nice to hear from the chef about each course. The salad starter was okay but a bit bland. It could have used some pine nuts or maroon almonds. The pate in the second course was very good. The halibut in the third course was divine. The fish was perfectly cooked and the sauce was excellent. Course 4 was braised beef cheeks. They were outstanding. The were so tender. The carrots were a good side. Dessert was a hot fudge sundae with their house hot fudge and custard ice cream. It was good. I liked the decor and the vibe. It's a great neighborhood restaurant. I look forward to returning. read more

The food was delicious and Naomi would be proud. The Panisse was especially good as were the frites. The wait to get in wasn't too bad although they said it would be an hour. The service was friendly and pretty good for a new restaurant. The biggest drawback was the space was ridiculously loud. I'm fairly certain the baby next us was crying but I couldn't hear it, let alone hear my spouse across the table. read more

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From start to finish the meal was incredible. The service was perfect. The oysters, the Oeuf, the paté, the Lyonnaise salad and duck confit were all very reminiscent of our many trips to Paris. The only thing that was not like a trip to Paris were the wine prices! I understand that it is a well curated list of hard to find wines, but....when $70 is the low and it goes up from there, it really brings your bill up, especially when you like to relax and not rush and have a couple of bottles like we do! We started with a glass each of a Chablis on special @ $25 a glass. It was a special occasion, so I went with it, but for an ordinary evening it's a bit pricey. Don't get me wrong, the wines we chose were exceptional, but again at a cost. It's still cheaper than flying to Paris! We will recommend it to friends, as it was a wonderful dining experience over all! Well done! read more

This spot is a great pick if you want an elevated Girl dinner, think super fresh small oysters, crispy fries, and a perfectly-cooked duck confit. Ambiance is fine. Hard wooden chairs and booths that seem a little pretentious,service is alright. The rest of the dishes were good and enjoyable but this spot is only worth revisiting for a few things. read more

The service and food was amazing. It was are first time at the restaurant and the food was great. The duck breast was delicious read more

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On our last day of our latest foodie pilgrimage to PDX, a dear friend suggested that we check out the recently opened L'Echelle, or French for ladder, as it was the last project of late Portland chef Naomi Pomeroy. After a quick Lyft ride from downtown over, we found ourselves in an unassuming part of SE Division. We initially looked around and couldn't locate the restaurant until we saw a small painted wooden stand just outside the entrance. Once we entered into the giant barn house-like building, we were warmly greeted by the friendly and gracious founder Luke Dirks. When he learned that this was our first visit, he showed us the menu and where to select our wines for the night. The chalk-inscribed menu was awe-inspiring, and we mulled over which 6 dishes to get. Believe me it was a tough call! The wine guy was equally delightful, offering us small dips to taste before allowing us to make our selection. We were given ample time to decide and were never rushed. My husband and I settled on the 2022 Domaine Serol Cote Roannaise which consisted of gamay grapes (dry and smooth with cherry notes), while my brother in law chose a crisp and clean tasting white wine. We were one for the few parties present, and I'm glad that this little known secret hasn't blown up yet. I wouldn't be surprised that by next year they will have every table filled and with an impressive line out the door. The big 6: - Heirloom tomatoes albacore salad - such a lovely pairing between cherry red succulent heirloom tomatoes with the cold delicate albacore slices - Corn soup with chanterelles and haricot verts pickled vegetables - the tartness of pickled vegetables really popped and balanced out the sweet creaminess from the corn puree - Pork rillettes with Merlot jelly dense cookies delightful mustard pickles - this picnic like arrangement transported me instantly back to France where I tasted rillette for the first time on a charcuterie board in Lille. Essentially it's like a textured and seasoned meat pate. It's quite rich! - Boudin Blanc Cabbage with chicken jus and sausage - super tender sausage (not sure what type of meat) and flavorful cabbage strips - Goat tarte with fig - this was phenomenal Overall L'Echelle boasts a menu filled with Michelin worthy dishes without the crazy price tag. We walked out dazed and completely enchanted by the magical night L'Echelle had graced us. Bravo and until next time! read more

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What a great spot! Cocktails, appetizers, wine and dinner...wow! Flavors were amazing! Service was exceptional. Fun, cozy vibe. Can't wait to go back. read more

Great ambience and lovely service. Our delicious meal included melon & prosciutto (the melon was the most perfectly ripe cantaloupe I've ever had), liver mousse, steak and frites. We'll definitely be back! read more

Hey! So this is one of the worst restaurants I've been to in Portland. We ordered the French onion soup, steak au poivre, frites, and carrots: - The French onion soup was serviceable but instantly forgettable and maybe even bordering on bland--it was also the only dish that came out warm, as everything else was room temp bordering on cold. - The carrots were fine but also forgettable and bordering on bland. Maybe they'd be better if they came out slightly warmer but, at the end of the day, it did taste something like you'd get at a wedding (interpret that how you will). - The frites were the highlight of the meal; maybe the best in town! I do wish they were warm though as they were solidly room temp. I also wish the other dishes were better so I could justify coming back and having more of these frites. - The steak... oh my god, the steak! This was the worst steak I've ever had in the history of dining out in Portland. First of all, they don't ask you how you want your steak done--it seems that you get what they decide is best. And what they decided is best is gray and overdone. The meat is STUNNINGLY poor quality. Every bite was TOUGH as leather and chock full of gristle. I've never spit out bites of meat in that kind of restaurant but a good 50% of the cut was actually inedible and just pure gristle (see photos). Other notes: - Service was slow and not great, though to their credit, it seemed like they were training a lot of new servers. - Coursing was terrible--we put in our order around 5 minutes after seating and did not get our soup until a good 35-40 minutes after ordering. We then waited another 25-30 minutes for the rest of the food after the soup, where it all came out all at once at the room-temp to cold temperatures I mentioned earlier. - Since it was our first time at the restaurant, we asked the server for some guidance on how to order from the menu. The advice she gave us was pretty inaccurate. For instance, she mentioned only needing one entree between two--the entrees are definitely individually sized, and we left hungry based on her advice. She also brought out spoons to eat our steak, carrots, and frites with. - Ambiance is pretty, but the tables are really small, the built-in benches are uncomfortable and could use some cushioning, and WOW it gets loud in there as the place fills up. I don't know...I was excited to support this place in my neighborhood, but it was truly a disappointment. It also taught me not to listen to the Oregonian or any of those (usually paid) local Portland restaurant influencers on social media. It was actually shocking how bad it was given the reviews and the credentials of the owners. Hoping they really take to heart some of these reviews (I noticed the duck and steak being described as leathery in other reviews) and improve. read more

L’Echelle - Steak gristle - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Amazing staff. Some dishes like the steack au poivre are Staples and the œuf is really unique and absolutely delicious! Same goes for their interpretation of duck confot served with cabbage. Save space for the chocolate cake! read more

Food and drinks were stellar. Service was so lovely. Attentive and friendly. Cute decor. Will be back stat.

L'Echelle impressed us right from the start. Our first visit, just a few weeks after they opened, was already great, but the second time was even better. The food has been flawless both times. The French Onion Soup is incredible, the Steak Au Poivre with Frites is a must-order, and the chocolate dessert was the perfect ending to the meal. During our first visit, the food took a bit longer to arrive than expected, but we were enjoying ourselves, so it didn't matter. It was also a little loud in the dining room. By our second visit, though, everything felt smoother, the service was snappier, and the space noticeably quieter. I'm pretty sure they added soundproofing panels. I'm honestly surprised by the few negative reviews. L'Echelle has quickly become one of our favorite spots in town. read more

L'Echelle is the kind of neighborhood restaurant you dream about having just a short walk from home. The atmosphere has this rare balance - there's a warm buzz of energy, but it still feels cozy and relaxed at the same time. The staff go above and beyond in thoughtful little ways that make you feel genuinely cared for. Details, like keeping cocktails perfectly chilled (!), stand out and make the whole experience feel special. The bartender in particular tonight added an extra touch of warmth - and maybe just a little extra charm behind the bar. And the food... absolutely incredible. Every dish I've had is intentional and deeply satisfying. Nothing feels rushed or generic. It's comfort with soul. Between the atmosphere, the service, and the food, L'Echelle is an absolute gem. I feel so privileged to be able to dine here and have this so close to home. read more

We visited their new space and were excited about a few things on the menu, but there were a few misses. I'm hoping they can incorporate some items from their pop up from last year as the food was much more memorable there. The gnocchi was delicious and the best thing we ate. Cocktails were good. The steak frites were the disappointment. Pretty standard fare for a French restaurant, but not executed well here. The fries were very greasy and tasted like they were deep fried in old oil. The steak was allright. The dessert was also exceedingly disappointing. A boring chocolate ganache. Please consider a pastry chef as it's super disappointing to have such a commonplace dessert. Perhaps some custard from next door, a compote, some fruit, something to zhuzh it up? Anyways, we'll be back and hope with a few tweaks we would be encouraged to visit more. read more

Oh boy... well, RIP Naomi. Nonetheless, this is a failed effort unless they pivot. The food was meh. The duck was tough and essentially raw. Nothing's seasoned enough. The pseudo-Japanese concoction on the crudo tasted like water poured over good fish. Two stars because nothing was "bad". It definitely wasn't "good" either. The frites are spectacular. Credit where credit is due. But fries are not going to carry a $250 dinner for two. A 12oz bottle of St. Bernardus Wit was, and I can't believe this is true, but I think it is, $18? Everything is priced like you're lucky to be eating a handful of Michelin stars. You're so not. It's solidly mid and over-priced, across the board. It feels like they're trying to fake it until they make it and hope no one notices. Finally, the vibe... loud. VERY loud. Everything is a noise reflective surface, painted with glossy paint. We literally couldn't talk over our meal. And I've never really seen such a unified look of disappointment in the crowd. Even the staff looked defeated but trying to put up a good front. It's a real bummer to have someone serve you a mediocre warm martini with a forced smile on the deck of the Titanic. read more

Hands down perfect service upon entering the door and leaving. It's a sweet environment with recall of a French bistro! Everything I ate was delish. I started with the fish crudo which was topped with seasonal cherries, crispy basil and a delicate drizzle. Following that I chose a fresh green salad which in all its simplicity was delicious; fresh baby lettuce with just the right vinaigrette. Next I had the courgettes in olive oil. Those went down so tastefully. Dessert was the perfect palette cleanser and finale. Not sure anymore what it was called but it was a lovely custard with a round tiny red berry drizzled sauce, slightly tart but sweet. I'm ready for more of that already. This may be one of my new favorite places. The flow of which they handled their guests was seamless. read more

L’Echelle - Fresh green salad - French Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Amazing drinks, the food and service were of highest quality, and the vibe was right. I've been back three times in as many months and not sure why this isn't 5 stars across the board! read more

I had been looking forward to trying this restaurant for almost 8 months. I had visited the restaurant in the summer, but had been turned away with a very long wait. They had advertised no reservations, and we had showed up early. With no notice the night we got there at 5pm, but they had started accepting reservations with no notice so we left when we were told the wait would be over an hour. This time we had a reservation early at 5pm. I found the restaurant beautifully decorated with a lot of beautiful wood work that looked custom. The decor was very simple and understated. the staff was very friendly and welcoming. I started with the French Onion soup which was amazing, and hit the mark. I had Pernod with a great traditional French way of serving it. This is where the problem started with me otherwise I would have given it 4 or 5 stars. The entrees took almost an hour to get which I consider terrible service. When we first entered the restaurant it was empty, but a half an hour it was jam packed, and the noise level was almost unbearable with many of the patrons drinking heavy, getting drunk, and getting very loud. I actually started to think they had forgotten us. The server came by and apologized for the terrible service and brought some olives and salami for free which was nice. He didn't explain why things were taking so long. I think they actually had forgotten our order. I had the duck confit which was amazing and cooked to perfection. I don't know if I will be going back as I was extremely disappointed with the service especially since the prices for the food were on the very high side. Also, the noise level was almost unbearable for me. Since, I am not a heavy drinker I don't like being around people that are drinking heavy and getting super loud. I have very mixed feelings about this restaurant. read more

Best classic French food in Portland. Period. Apologies to Le Pigeon, Canard, and L'Orange. (L'Orange gets honorable mention for modern French food.) Spouse and I went for our anniversary dinner. Overall service, food, and ambiance are 5/5. The service was above and beyond, so whatever ya'll are complaining about in the comments must have been addressed. Cocktails were unique and delicious. The reasons I am writing this review, besides the fact that this place deserves it, are: (1) The french onion soup, (2) ambiance, and (3) corrections/substitutions/modifications. First, the soup. Spouse and I are French onion soup SNOBS. And...L'Echelle's is the second best onion soup I have ever tasted, including those I tasted in France. This is a very CLOSE second to Absinthe in SF. The flavors are different, with a distinct black pepper note in this soup, but I loved it, and I can tell they don't skimp on the ingredients or the process. Spouse and I took one bite, locked eyes, and knew we had found the best French onion soup in Portland. Second, ambiance was excellent, which is very important for me in terms of a repeat visit to a restaurant. They have real taper candles placed throughout the space for lighting. None of this battery operated, fake candlelight for me. The decor was tasteful and pleasing to the eye, including choices for paint color and type. (Note the high-gloss on the bathroom doors.) And... they fixed the problem with the sound ya'll are whining about below. They put tasteful damper panels on the ceiling, and this must have helped tremendously. We didn't find it noisy at all. So, this is a restaurant that listens to feedback and implements solutions. Probably should get a whole star just for that. Third, my weird milk allergy always poses problems at French places. Not only were they on top of it by asking about butter and the melty gruyere on the soup, they noted all dairy in any dish we asked about and proposed an alternative or were able to modify the dish by putting things on the side, or eliminating them all together. They did this proactively, which is just above and beyond. Also, my steak came out too rare for me, which would probably mean a half-star deduction, because I HATE sending food back. It's so embarrassing, and I feel so privileged and entitled if I complain or send it back. But this is a pricey meal, and they had done everything so competently, so I send it back. Not only did they take it back without making me feel like a d*ck, it came back PERFECTLY cooked and hot! Server said they have some sort of method to do it, and it was clear they didn't just pop it in the microwave. This spot will be a favorite of ours for celebratory dinners going forward. I highly recommend you try it. read more

We went there for my partner's birthday. Service was nice, ambiance was nice as well. But they have a very small menu and most appetizers are way overpriced, entrees were on the pricy side but not outrageous. However, prices didn't reflect the taste tbh. I had the duck confit and my partner had the pork schnitzel. There was almost nothing on the plate except for the meat which was not a big portion. I get that they are trying to make money by pushing you to order the overpriced appetizers just like Bluto does but come on. Anyways, the dessert was also very small and not really that great. We wish them the best but not going there again. read more

Food: Five stars. Service: 5 stars. Ambiance: 3.5 My partner and I ate at L'Echelle on Division on the fourth night they were open. They don't take reservations and when we arrived there was about a 50 minute wait. I would not be surprised it this wait time gets longer as word gets out. We shared the Parisienne Gnocchi, Pork Crépinette, Vichy Carrots, and Frites. For dessert we shared the Strawberry Parfait. The two entrees and both sides were all stupendous. The dessert was very good. Our server, Phaedra, was fabulous too -- very friendly, not pretentious, and just the right amount of attentive despite the place being pretty slammed, especially at the beginning of our meal. The decor is simple and lovely. The only thing that we didn't love was the sound level. There are a lot of hard surfaces in there, and nothing to absorb the sound of many people talking at once. Then there is "background" music with a thumping backbeat behind all the voices. When a lot of care has clearly gone into cuisine and decor, my partner and I often wonder: who is choosing the music, and why choose music that makes it harder to carry on a conversation? They did run out of all their entrees before closing time, but I forgive them that since they were in their first week. I'm sure they will soon get a handle on how much food they need. We will definitely be back. read more

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Come support this place! They are going to take over the Woodsman Tavern space but for now they have a popup. The food was delicious and the service was great. We got the chicken and the tuna special, we really enjoyed the space and everything about it. read more

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The service was wonderful. I had high hopes and really wanted to like this restaurant. The atmosphere is warm and the aesthetics are crafted to create a welcoming environment. The food however was a big miss. We ordered the shrimp which is 4 shrimp for $17, feels very sad, delicious but sad. The Frisée Lyonnaise salad (I love some lardons) felt like I was eating dry shredded lettuce with an egg. Not great. Then the chicory salad was almost great. The dressing was spot on but only two chunks of blue cheese. Finally the gnocchi dish. It sat in a butter that felt like I was eating a stick of soft butter, no taste. The potato gnocchi tasted like dry (very bland) mashed potato balls. For the price, the size of food and quality, it did not match. I sadly wont be back again. read more

Dined again here recently and everything was totally on point: delicious, well executed, and flavorful. A tuna crudo was gorgeous. The French onion soup was rich and deep. I loved the gnocchi. Really glad to see this place getting it right. And on top of that, they've installed sound boards on the ceiling, which means they're listening to the customers who had concerns about the acoustics of the place. I will definitely return. read more