This is a destination restaurant that deserves a Michelin star. It is a small 2-person operation and the attention to detail is incredible. My wife and I decided to order a la carte and every dish and wine selection was an absolute pleasure. We also appreciated the quiet, minimalistic ambiance and the closed kitchen which seem all too rare these days among the current, buzzy crowd of trendy urban restaurants. It was a perfect setting to focus on the food and wine and good conversation. Well worth the splurge for that special occasion. read more

Excellent fine dining in Hood River. Fantastic tasting menu and wine list I was not expecting in a small town. read more

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An amazing dinner, in a quiet atmosphere that provided an excellent pairing of food and wine. The chefs productions were exquisite and this is the first time I've had a wine pairing with two different Rieslings. Nathan's pairings made the meal even more exciting and appreciated his use of several different white wines. And all of this great service was done essentially with only three people. This is a gem that you should definitely try while in Hood. read more

Celebrated my 55th birthday here and it was amazing. The 13-course tasting menu was an artful composition--so delight & flavorful. The service was excellent. The music though, not a kind of a tune that you'll hear at a fine dinning, but we loved it so much!!! read more

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Despite looking forward to sampling this newest entry to the HR restaurant scene (and smiling to see one of the owners of another high-end restaurant checking it out as well), I left feeling that Votum's food artistry isn't matched by its ability to create memorable dishes that please palate and eye. Though the wallet will certainly feel the squeeze! The service is excellent - two servers share a table, water is refilled promptly, and you're never left feeling abandoned. The team knows the menu and the ingredients, and the provenance of most of the ingredients, from the Tillamook Bay cockles to the culture (Flor Danica) used to craft the house-made butter (bread and butter - $6) and the source of the flour (Camas Mills). (Good to know, but on a second visit this could get tedious). The food is also prepared artfully - perhaps with so much art that satiety isn't in the mix. I'm not a fan of restaurants that feel compelled to ensure you leave with enough leftovers to feed you for another three days, but portions at Votum are on the very small side, with prices on the high side. Examples: The Tillamook Bay cockles featured in "Cockles Ceviche" ($12) featured perhaps 2 tablespoons of ivory cockles, a whisper of aji pepper, all tucked into a gray and white scallop shell. Fresh, but mostly a tease of flavor. The first course of crab risotto followed. $27 brought perhaps 1/3 cup of delicate crab lounging atop perfectly cooked arborio rice, with 3 tiny sorrel leaves adding color but no flavor. The chef may be trying to leave topnotch ingredients to sing on their own. Still, I missed having flavorings to enhance the main ingredient, and the white/gray monotony of the dishes we had - with nary a vegetable in sight to add color and flavor contrasts - left me disappointed. My dining companion chose oysters as a starter($25 for what the menu said were "Virginica" oysters). We were told about the oysters being served that night, selected the "Virginica," but the second server who delivered the dish told us that we were getting 3 of one kind and 3 "Baywater sweets." Not wanting to waste the dish, we left it ... but were confused over whether this was a snafu due to lack of communication among the 2 servers or a kitchen decision. Votum's bouillabaisse offers a twist on the French classic, with saffron broth standing in for a tomato broth, white fish and perhaps crab as the seafood proteins. We're willing to eat raw seafood (hence the oysters and the ceviche) but found the fish undercooked. Again, the flavors weren't compelling. Dessert closed with more white - vanilla ice cream. (Other offerings were a lemon tart and a millefeuille whose flavor I've forgotten). Total tab with the mandatory 20% gratuity was $164 (1 glass of wine, 2 appetizers, 1 first course, 1 main course, 2 desserts). Wines by the glass range from $18 to $24; by the bottle gives a broader range from $51 to $980 (for those splurging on the 1985 Dom Perignon). Aside from feeling hungry when I left, I yearned for color and forward flavors - something to delight both eye and palate. Given that adding on another main course and glass of wine would take us to a $200+ tab, I'll need to hear the flavors have risen to match the ingredients and presentation - with more to delight the eye as well. read more

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Overall, the experience could have been better. The food and presentation was very good, the service was attentive, and because we ordered our meal a la cart, the food took way too long. While I suspect the pacing for our meal kept up with those who ate from the 9 course tasting menu, we should not have had to wait as long as we did. The total experience took 2.5 hours for wine, a starter and entree. Also the ambiance was simple and our table was not near the window, so there was nothing to look at except ourselves. That's not a bad thing and it just adds to the justification of a 3 star rating. For Votum to receive 5 stars means the experience should have been transcendent. It wasn't and I wish them the best in a small town like Hood River. NOTE: They should also seek partnerships with the local growers and wineries. I was expecting local wine from the Gorge and surprised none was offered. read more

Like others have said, this place should be Michelin rated. We came on a winter weeknight for my spouse's birthday and at first we weren't sure what to expect. Nathan was great and struck the perfect balance of great conversation but also giving us space. He was amazing and Sarah who is the chef is beyond talented. I literally have nothing bad to say about any of the food. We did the tasting menu and it was phenomenal. I have eaten at great Michelin restaurants in big cities and Votum is on par and even better than all of them. We are already trying to figure out when to come back. Oregonians! You are very lucky! Also all of these reviews that are giving 1 star obviously have absolutely terrible taste in food. This place is amazing and we are very critical of our restaurants we eat at. read more

This place was fantastic. Every dish was spot on delicious. We had the tasting menu and a few ala carte dishes. Service was also top notch. We've been to a handful of Michelin star restaurants. That seems to be what this husband and wife team are trying to create, only much closer to home for us. Highly recommend if you like seafood and wine and have time and $. read more

Votum Restaurant - Salmon caviar - Seafood Near Me - Hood River, Oregon

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WOW! Had an amazing experience last night at Votum. Went for 32nd anniversary and did the tasting menu with wine pairing. Nathan and company made this a truly unforgettable event. We will certainly be back! Robert read more

Votum Restaurant - Grapefruit Crème Brûlée - Seafood Near Me - Hood River, Oregon

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My wife and I just had one of the best meals of our lives at this magnificent resturaunt. I have enjoyed tasting menus at several other highly regarded resturaunts in Oregon and I can honestly say they all paled in comparison to the excellent work of chef Sarah at Votum. Host Nathan made us feel welcome and well cared for from our first arrival. The resturaunt has a clean modern vibe with an excellent selection of background music. Nathan gave us a detailed explanation of each dish without making the experience feeling stuffy. They were also accommodating of our dietary preferences and prepared an exquisite array of courses . My favorite dish of the evening was the unmatched lamb entree, but I truly enjoyed each course, which is rarely the case with tasting menus. It was definitely one of the more expensive meals I have ever enjoyed, but I have no regrets and feel the experience was well worth every penny. read more

Incredible food and service and atmosphere highly recommend this gem of a restaurant and dining experience

Votum joins Hiyu (which we love) to offer special occasion fine dining in the heart of the bounty of the Gorge. It makes sense, the wines and fresh food from the coast to the Apple Valley on down the Gorge easily compete with the Willamette Valley wine country where similar elevation of dining is happening...such as Okta which is a high flier even compared to Votum. As 22 year residents around HR and PDX, we compare to tasting menus in PDX and less so those in SF or NYC. We are suckers for passion projects early on in their process, so finding something newish where stars show off is exciting by itself. Each dish was a hit on our visit. We aren't naïve to portion sizing for 9 courses and they nailed it. We didn't try the a la carte menu, and don't see how it is priced. I think that might be key to success, more on that below. We had high hopes that the seafood focus here might make them a contender for our favorite restaurant in PDX before closing: Roe. (Le Bernidin is our fav in US). Votum does not seek that level of raw delicacy and french saucery however, and the menu is more varied in many great ways. The elephant in the room is the price. And given the places we're comparing this to, the 9 course price is very fair for the experience, flavors, passion and service. I think what puts the price into "Special Occasion only" category is the wine. We did the pairing, it was lovely...spot on! But that level of wine can be stratospheric in cost for this neck of the woods, and looking over the by the glass and bottle prices I bet most feel so too. Moderate cost options abound in the region, and a little more focus on regional wine would be a plus. But there are bottles here you aren't going to get elsewhere in the Gorge too...and like it or not, the tourists to the area may be coming to town for just this type of new experience if you compare to the lodging upgrades going on. If you look at the fine dining that has done well in PDX, a place where fine dining also can have a tough time...Castagna, Le Pidgeon, Coquine and even the Omakase specialists...they have to include a second service that is more accessible. An adjacent cafe, a market window, a downscale second location, etc. I certainly don't think Hood River is ready for an Okta, and frankly that makes me feel that what Sarah and Nathan are doing here is nearly perfect for the times. We'll be back, and back more often if there is a "not a special occasion" growth of offerings. Good luck you two, thanks so much for the stunning evening for our Anniversary. Mike and Robin read more

My wife and I did an Oregon trip for our 20th anniversary and we started in Hood River. We did the tasting menu at Votum and had the most unique and best tasting dinner we have ever had. We would travel back to Oregon just to go to Votum. Tried another tasting menu when we got back home at Victoria and Albert's at Disney which is the top rated Michelin star restaurant in Orlando and it wasn't even close - Votum was a superior dining experience that I would recommend to anyone traveling to that area. This place deserves a Michelin star. read more

This place should have a Michelin star. Everything was perfect. The food had the experience in every bite that surprises you and delights you, perfectly balanced and always ready to surprise you with a new depth. They actually accommodated to our very complicated food allergies! With out judgment. Thank you! Service, above and beyond any expectations. And the place at first seems a little stark with not too many decorations. But as the night goes, it actually makes sense and makes you pay attention to the food and one another. Simple and elegant. Feeling like treating yourself or someone? This is your place! Non Appétit ! read more

Votum is a breath of fresh air for this local, who gets a bit tired of pizza and breweries in HR. This is easily the finest dining in the city, and for the price I wasn't quite sure what to expect. First, the food - WOW. Very seafood forward, everything was spot on. Presentation, taste, texture and complexity were all well thought out and presented at the table by the chef. We did not do the tasting course, but will definitely our next visit. Wine list was well thought out and matched, though I would have liked to see a few more local options listed. Also, they do not currently do cocktails yet, but I was told they may in the future. Service - Top Notch! Server was very attentive and personable, and the removal and addition of plates was well orchestrated and seamless. Seriously best service I've had in a restaurant in quite some time - here in HR and elsewhere. Ambiance - Classic and understated. This is a place where you may want to dress up a bit, though I didn't get a strict dress code impression. The decor and layout is full of clean lines, and feels intimate. All in all, highly recommend - I know I will be back! read more

On a whim, I made reservations to enjoy Votum's tasting menu to celebrate my husband's birthday. We were really blown away by the level of service, the attention to detail, and the clear passion they have for fine dining and food artistry. It's definitely a special occasion kind of place, but they REALLY did make the occasion feel special - complete with customized printed menus, delicious and creative food, and Michelin star-level service and presentation. We left with full bellies and smiles on our faces! Thank you for a lovely evening. We'd gladly come back for another special occasion in the future. read more

Such a fantastic meal. Everything on the tasting menu had a unique twist to it in the best way - WOW. It was all delicious. The service was amazing and the space is gorgeous. Highly recommend for any celebration. You will not be disappointed. Elevated meal and perfectly sized portions. read more

We are very enthusiastic about this new Hood River restaurant. The food -- flavor and presentation, are absolutely first-class. They are comparable to, in fact, better than, some of the Michelin-starred restaurants we have experienced in Europe. Contrary to some comments by others, we were delighted by its simplicity of décor (bluish gray wall entirely free of hanging artwork) -- making the implicit statement: "We are just simple frames (like the simple but elegant China dishes) working to support the principal actors who are the food on the table." The overall effects were magical! This high-quality restaurant certainly would attract us back to HR more often. In order to appreciate more what Sarah & Nathan have to offer, we would most likely choose the Tasting Menu rather than the A-La-Carte dinner as we did this time. read more

A Truly First Class Dining Experience. Food quality ranged from excellent (foie gras) to outstanding (oysters) and uniquely great (lamb). Food quality was uniformly high, and what was cooked was done to perfection. The exception was the kale, which was reminiscent of crispy seaweed; which I don't like. Decorations were sparse (as I prefer) and the focus was on the food. Music was unobtrusive and tasteful. Service was attentive and knowledgeable; had some great wine selections by the glass, and all matched the food perfectly. As it was cold outside, the Maitre d' kindly called me a taxi. That being said, this was not a cheap experience. Portions were about right for a multi-course experience; after three of them I had no room for desert. Were Votum less expensive, I would be a regular. As it stands it is a very special treat. Maybe early bird specials like Celilo could entice more folks to give this outstanding institution a try. read more

In the small town of Hood River is a sleeping giant- Votum Restaurant. Go now if you want an incredible dining experience. When word gets out you won't be able to get a table! With Nathan running service in the front, and the incredibly talented young chef Sarah in the back, this place can't miss. We enjoyed the tasting menu paired with incredible wines chosen by Nathan. Chris and Justice, well trained servers, contributed to the impeccable service. Even the salad course was memorable- the ingredients locally sourced, fresh and delicious. Each and every course was thoughtful, beautiful, and tasty. This restaurant is impressive on all fronts. read more

Fantastic new seafood restaurant in HR. Definitely worthy of being a destination dining restaurant. Flawless chefs menu w unique primarily international wine pairings. Impeccable friendly service. Expensive? Yes. Worth every nickel? Affirmative. Compared to other comparable high end seafood dining, favorably priced. Feeling very spoiled in our small town. read more

The food is mediocre for the price. It doesn't fit in with Hood River atmosphere at all. Too stuck up. The restaurant itself and especially the short host guy is not welcoming at all. People from HR community have often noted he can be aggressive... I've lived here for 10+ years and this place is nothing in comparison to the local spots that have amazing food with great service! Don't waste your money!! read more

What a fantastic experience. The service was incredible as was the food. Finally a restaurant that presents high quality over high quality. We will be back for the tasting flight. read more

Wow! One of the best meals I've had in years! The service was excellent and very personalized. We ate a few dishes too fast to photograph. Every course was excellent, it would difficult to pick a favorite. Although each course is small, I was stuffed by round 6 (but I'm not a big volume eater). Cook on all the protein and veg was perfect. I had two of their white wines and both were quite good and my daughter had an Italian lemonade which she enjoyed. They have the most awesome excletic utensils for each dish, I wish I had photographed those! The only oddity was that the restaurant looks like it was an empty building that morning and they moved in 5-6 table to hold dinner. No color, no pictures or art. It was quite odd, but it was a conversation point and as a newer restaurant I guess it's good to get people talking! I wish them luck and its definitely worth every penny! read more

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We did their tasting menu and every dish was excellent. Service was excellent and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!

We had reservations for a party of six and had initially thought of only partaking in the ala carte selections. However after seeing the Tasting Menu, we all decided to indulge in the offerings of the Tasting Menu. Little to say, we were not disappointed. Each presentation was delivered with style an panache. The servings, although customarily small when ordering a tasting, were so very delicious in so very interesting. We initially joked about having to find another restaurant to quell our hunger after leaving Votum, but surprisingly, that was not at all the case. We highly recommend this Hood River gem, for not only for it's Epicurean delight, but also for the service and hospitality. Jim P. read more

We dined for my Mom's 70th Birthday and enjoyed everything about Votum. The tasting menu was diverse with a nice balance from the sea and farm. Every bite was perfectly balanced and delicious and wine pairings were spot on. Nathan (all things front of house) and Chef Sara complement each other just as well. read more

I am not sure why there are so many good reviews for this restaurant. The food is not bad, however, the prices are beyond the pale. There are some excellent restaurants in town and with that, can think of no reason to return. read more

Votum is a charming new fine dining white tablecloth restaurant in the heart of downtown Hood River. We chose the tasting menu with the wine pairing. I loved the creativity and attention to detail of each dish and the presentation and I marveled at the hard work that went into each course. Each offered a mouthful of bursting flavors and textures from the very first bite all the way to dessert. The wines that accompanied each course were superb. One of my favorite dishes was the savory custard of crab with uni (sea urchin). Of interest in the hallway is the salt-water tank where they keep the live crabs. The house-made bread, whole wheat sourdough with a touch of rye, combined with the house-made butter was delicious. The restaurant was nicely lit, quiet and comfortable with staff who are friendly and professional. Fine dining is expensive but well worth the price at Votum Restaurant. We will be back. read more

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This restaurant is the new hidden treasure of foodie places to of Hood-river . I highly recommend it, for one that wants To tease their palet on each course , this is the place for you. The oyster selection was perfect , so fresh amazingly flavorful . My seafood tartare was a treat, rich and topped off with a fresh farm quail egg. This dish was complemented with house made cracker with just the right amount of sea salt. My next course was the risotto , amazing flavors from the trumpet mushrooms served in delightful French China ware. Yes, I continued onto the main course, which was incredible and picture perfect ; bouillabaisse with various fish. The Dungeness crab was so fresh full of flavor , the white fish skin was seared crispy, the full dish was topped off with a wonderful broth that did not overpower the seafood rather complemented it. The chef prepares a rye sourdough bread. I have to say it was one of the best ones I've had the crust flavor was intense. I ended my meal with the lemon, tart and fresh brewed Americano brewed to perfection. Service was friendly, knowledgeable on wines to food recommendations. Dinning under this chefs incredible talents you will find your self wanting to try every dish . Bon appétit. read more

We recently had dinner here with friends and we were very disappointed with the restaurant. The prices are absurdly high and we live in Los Angeles where we are accustomed to pricey restaurants. Tiny portions, wine is overpriced, and the atmosphere is nonexistent. I'm sorry to say this but I definitely wish we had not relied on the Yelp reviews. read more

On a trip to Oregon, looking for someplace special for a birthday dinner, I booked a reservation at Votum in Hood River. Chef Sarah Doyle's 9-course tasting menu (with wine pairings) was AMAZING in every way. Best seafood I have ever had! The food was extraordinary - from the cockles ceviche to the fantastic arpege egg topped with caviar to the black cod. Everything is fresh, carefully crafted and made in-house, including the bread and butter. The staff was wonderful, too (and especially great in accommodating my friend's food allergies). Nathan is a knowledgeable sommelier; the wine selections were wonderful. Votum is a splurge but absolutely worth it. I'm definitely headed back next time I'm in the Pacific Northwest. read more

Had an amazing night at Votum. Enjoyed the tasting menu, highly recommend. Everything we tried was top notch. The owner Nathan was very personable and just downright awesome. If you're looking for a nice dinner this is the spot. read more