Irving St. Kitchen

Just came for a cocktail and snack — I don’t even like Mac and cheese but theirs was over the top– plenty for 2 – aurora borealis cocktail— yum–

Had the BBQ head on shrimp and charcuterie board. Both were less than satisfying. The shrimp was swimming in Worcester sauce and had me downing a glass of water after every bite. I think I got my weeks worth of sodium in after about half of that dish. The cheese and crackers were subpar and skimpy.
Overall, I feel like it was a waste of time and money– will not be returning. On to better PDX food adventures!

Cool restaurant inside and out! We tried the James Beard hamburger. Really great but HORRIBLY messy to eat. We also ordered the chicken and waffles. It was underwhelming.

This is a review for Unilocal… THIS IS THE WRONG MENU! Completely wrong restaurant menu. Whoever is on charge of this past of the app, get it together! As for the ACTUAL Irving St. Kitchen; my wife’s smoked chicken salad was completely flavorless. Completely. My tubas melt was… fine. And the waitress’ attitude went from passive aggressive to not bad.

Im surprised it has nice reviews… Probably way way rich people who really don’t care.
The food was awful, I legimetely felt ripped off. The server had a face that you could see his suffering and that was awful.
The entrée was mediocre and everyone’s proportion seemed out of place. Just horribly blended.
The main dish. The only thing that didnt seem pretentious at all was the chicken so I went for that (also, im allergic to seafood fo my options were limited) I doubt they dont mix their ingredients… Because mid dinner my throat closed up and I had to leave my table because of an allergic reaction. (My plate didnt have any seafood though so weird…) the chicken was undercooked and everything else was not even okay.
The food wasnt even hot. I never write replies like this but I really regret even giving them my money for food like that… Sorry. When we got home both me and my partner plus our friend had a reallyyy bad stomach flu. Im sorry, I tried liking this place but I just cant

It was an odd evening. The server spilled a mixed drink all over our 12 year old, smashing the glass to the floor. Later, a bottle of water did the same (only not on anyone). That kind of stuff happens, I wouldn’t ding a restaurant for that. But the whole evening felt disjointed, odd service, long waits, my leftovers disappeared, the bill was wrong.
Some of the food was really nice. The pork chop was divine, good fried chicken. But everything – nearly ever dish – had way way too much smokey flavor added. They smoked the side of carrots! Smoked the jambalaya, the halibut, the collards. It was overwhelming and offputting.

I actually really like this place (food wise and location), however the low review is based on the staff and general manager. I’ve tried to book large parties several times with them, each and every time the tone/​attitude is dismissive and non-​welcoming. The «take it or leave it» attitude is unacceptable. Yesterday was my final try, here is the quote … «We won’t take more than 14 people (which was fine as I had 14 people) and you must come at 6:30 as we don’t seat past then» (which was not fine as I needed 7:30).
When I asked for the GM, he rambled on and on and did nothing to create that «we want your business «dialogue with me. I can see the dismissive tone starts at the top. I won’t ever try again and I will not recommend this place again. Plenty of restaurants want the business.

I’ve been here for Valentine’s Day dinner and we both had delicious meals. Get the rosé all day!
Also had brunch here with my gfs. Pretty basic breakfast menu and food took too long, but overall great atmosphere here in the heart of pearl, I would recommend it to anyone! Can’t wait to sit outside on their patio this summer!

Great atmosphere & service! Food is delicious We order the meatballs & we had the ham & biscuits board Loved the homemade biscuits & jam Also preferred a couple cold IPAs I will definitely go back to try more on the menu

Nice place and atmosphere.
Food and service also good.
Nothing really stood out but it wasn’t bad either. Looks to be a great place to grab a drink as well.

Finger-​lickin fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy and collards was as good as any Southern comfort food in the PDX PEROID. And I was thinking of some really good restaurants I’ve had fried chicken. Add delicious cornbread. My wife had a big barbecued pork chop and dirty potato salad — really good PERIOD!
Elegant and /​or casual dining atmosphere — we enjoyed ALL PERIOD dining with my wife’s mother on Mother’s Day!

This may have been my favorite meal during my visit to Portland. We found Irving St. somewhat by chance while looking for a Sunday morning brunch spot. We were able to get a table for five without too much of a wait. It’s a really cool space with lofty high ceilings, but it’s still cozy and warm due to the rustic finishes. Our table was one of a few that are built into their own little nooks in the wall. I liked this idea and thought it was a pretty cool feature, as it separates you a little bit from the rest of the dining room and makes it a more private experience.
I started with the ISK Bloody Roman, made from vodka, Boneyard RPM IPA, Bloody Mary mix, and nuoc mam. What better way to start brunch than with a beer cocktail, right? This one was excellent.
For my entrée, I decided (after much deliberation) on the chicken and waffles. Their version comes with seared mortadella, a sunny side up egg, toasted hazelnuts, and a delicious hazelnut bourbon sauce. It was a totally awesome combination, and the slight sweetness of the bourbon sauce just took it to another level. I could (and would) eat this every day without getting tired of it.
The only reason I didn’t give this five stars is because our waitress, while perfectly nice, wasn’t that attentive and seemed kind of aloof. We’re aren’t a particularly needy group, but it became sort of a hassle just to get our check and get things moving towards the end of the meal. By no means did it ruin the experience though, and I’d certainly go back next time I’m in the area.

My wife and I called at 12:20 to make reservations for 1pm. We walked in right at 1 on the dot and we were greeted and seated right away.
Server was very honest about portion size and the different brunch choices; she didn’t give us the typical, «they’re all good options.» I appreciated the honesty.
My wife and I both ordered the chicken and waffles. The wait wasn’t too long.
The food came and we quickly got to work.
I have to say, thus far, this is the best chicken & waffles I’ve had in Portland. It’s definitely a place I’d recommend you go for a brunch or dinner date.

My family & I had my birthday dinner at the Irving Street Kitchen this evening. The menu choices were varied, and invariably good. And the service was impeccable. We especially like the meatballs and mashed potatoes, the smoked trout brandade on rye toast, and the Shrimp and rice stuffed Dungeness Crab. The Butterscotch Pudding was amazing and got passed around the table for all to try. There was even a nice tall birthday candle on my Blood Orange German chocolate cake (which I’m saving for lunch tomorrow — chocolate before bedtime, ain’t for me, but will surely enjoy it best when I can savor every crumb — and didn’t have to share. :)

Good food and service. The style is hard to peg, though, with a lot of barnyard aspects mixed in with some cool modern styling (mainly, one side seems like a country barnyard and the other seems like a hip bar).

It’s in a fun location and the ambience is really great! However, the service staff didn’t really seem too attentive. I made an Open Table reservation, they weren’t too busy — but we had to ask multiple times to sit for our reservation. When we did the hostess was nonchalant about us sitting. Weird.
I was with colleagues and we sat in a cubby /​booth. I think the server forgot about us a bit too.
Otherwise food was pretty good; rather high for what is it, but I guess that’s just Portland.

Went here for Valentines Day dinner. Really excited to try it because it seemed to have high reviews and the décor was great. If I was reviewing based on presentation this would be five stars. However the food was very mediocre. I ordered a lemon drop and it was served in a chipped glass that cut my lip. They were more than happy to comp it and they gave us dessert, but obviously that was off putting. My husband ordered a beer that he enjoyed. The water had a strange taste which is weird because water in Portland is usually great. The appetizer meatball was the best thing we had. We also ordered the clam chowder which tasted more like a smoky ham potato chowder. The potato was undercooked. The fried chicken was just ok. The gravy for the mashed potatoes was excellent. The beet salad was super small and had a licorice flavor that threw me off. We got the butterscotch pudding which was wayyyyy too sweet. Also got the red velvet cheesecake which was a tiny red circle that was beautifully prepared, but came with a teaspoon of ice cream which was super sweet. I just didn’t get it. I think this place could be a hit and the service was good, the menu just needs an overhaul.

We ordered cheese and crackers… $ 17.00 for 2 crackers and 4 slices of cheese!!! we went south to the Paragon and got 2 sliders, mac n cheese, and 2 tacos’ for $ 20.00.

Went here for dinner during a recent business trip to Portland. Found Irving St. Kitchen based on reviews that I saw here on Unilocal and I had a pretty good meal. Not too exhilarating but a decent meal.
Walking in I was welcomed by the hostess who was very nice and walked me to the bar. Upon sitting down the bartender came right over poured me a glass of water and handed me the drink and dinner menus.
I cannot remember the cocktail that I got but it was very good. It was a bourbon cocktail with a hint of citrus to it. (Look it up on the menu or ask the bartender)
I started off with the cornbread. It was good. The glaze that they poured over it made up for a less than stellar piece of cornbread. It was cooked nice. Had a good crust and was moist inside, but it lacked in flavor.
I had the miso grilled monkfish as an entrée. My fish was slightly overdone. It was edible, but I expected a better piece of fish for the price that I was paying. The rest of the dish was very good and made up for the lackluster piece of fish.
I would give it another shot, but it won’t be somewhere I’ll be running to when I head to Portland again.

Lunch here was lovely. The server was attentive and great to talk to. I enjoyed my meal but the highlight was their butterscotch pudding.

this place came as a surprise. Probably the best place I’ve visited in Portland as far as ambiance is concerned. Food was pricey and portions small but i guess they were totally worth.
The winter salad was amazing,

Consistently great food. Have been several times, and was just there for Happy Hour. Very good chicken wings that were huge. Previously, have gotten seafood that was also nicely prepared. Wedge salad = very good. Everything I’ve gotten here has been great.
My favorite thing about ISK is the cocktails, though. Their bartenders make fantastic drinks, and it’s one of my favorite places in Portland to go to imbibe. Of note, a drink that is no longer on the menu called the Jakalope. It’s very similar to a Manhattan Cocktail, but uses house-​made cinnamon bitters. Super tasty, and a regular favorite of mine.

I had made careful plans in preparation for my 44^th Birthday Bash in Portland. My college buddies were coming to join in the festivities and I knew that something like brunch would be off of their radar. I checked out two spots in advance, but by the time we arrived (10:30am,) they were packed with waiting lists. I quickly pulled up my GPS to see what else might be close by, and with the help of a local who had just cleared out of one of our first choices, he gave a hardy «thumbs up» to Irving Street.
They did NOT disappoint! The space is amazing. design, layout, comfort, visual appeal = A+. The staff was perfectly suited as well. Delivering just the right mix of friendly service and snarky banter with above the boards customer service, it was a refreshing start to a morning that lacked any encouragement. As for the food… there was nothing on the menu that did not provide the WoW! we had not expected. Super fresh and perfectly seasoned. We had to sample whatever we could and the portions were perfect. The stunner for the whole experience was the Smoked Scrambled Egg Nachos. We were very confused, but my buddy was game enough to order. I cannot begin to explain what is was so stinkin’ good, but it was.
You cannot go wrong here — at least for brunch. On my next journey into Portland, I will definitely seek our Irving Street for Happy Hour and hopefully Dinner. A great hidden gem that I would have completely missed out on if we had waited in line for something so-​so.

Great atmosphere. Nice mix of bar and restaurant seating. Server was very knowledgeable and helpful. Clam chowder and winter salad were delicious. Entrees of pasta were just okay. Didn’t finish. Overall, recommended.

I have been here for breakfast a few times. This place is great. The staff are all friendly and the style of the restaurant is very hipster, it’s awesome. So Portland. The food is also amazing. They have a dish of random pastries which we normally start off with, they are wedges of different pastries, good plate to share.
The alcoholic beverages are all delicious with a great and unique variety.
They have cool private booths with a curtain.
Highly recommend this place as a breakfast spot when in Portland. Great shops in the area for wondering around before or after.

Beautiful and classy atmosphere, delicious food, friendly service. Irving Street Kitchen is a great brunch option.
The décor is so fun and innovative. I love the milk bottle chandelier and candlelight. There is a cozy little fireplace and sitting area when you first enter which gives the restaurant a classy and home style feel to it.
We came here on the weekend and was able to snag a large table for four adults and two babies with almost no wait. The hostess easily accommodated the babies no problem.
Doughnut plate: the doughnut and breads were sweet, soft, warm and delicious. I loved the spiced doughnut.
Smoked salmon Benedict: super delicious and well executed. The salmon melted in my mouth and the Benedict sauce had a light and savory flavor. I loved the delicious crumbly biscuit which added a buttery goodness to the dish. Yum!
Service was prompt and friendly. The waitress did a great job keeping the coffee flowing.
Overall I really enjoyed trying this place out. The food was yummy and we all had a great time. I definitely want to come back another time for another great dining experience.

Had a dinner date on Tuesday, Jan. 5^th We ordered meals in the $ 25 to
$ 30 price range. The portions were so small we left hungry.

This review was mostly for the HH I attended a few days ago. I rate it 3.5.
First and foremost, the service was outstanding. Even though we were lingering way longer than we probably should, the waiter kept coming back if only to refill our water.
The HH drink selection could be better, they have red wine, white wine, PBR and well cocktail. Wish some of their beer has HH specials, the $ 7/​pint is almost obscene in this town.
We had a pretty big group, so among all of us, we tried all the HH food they offered:
— Chicken wings is by far the biggest «deal». The 5 wings are actually full wings, which would usually count as 10 in other joints. Unfortunately, they’re not crispy so it’s not my fave.
— Wedge salad was the best item. It’s pretty big and good tasting too.
— Meatballs are not bad. Saw some pink in the middle too
— Skip the fries and jambalaya!

Had New Year’s Day brunch with friends here. The atmosphere was great. The service and coffee were good and the food was good to AT but pretty bland. It didn’t take long to get our food, so given the good points, it was worth 3 stars (really 2.5, but since there is none I’m willing to round up).
The pricing there was weird. All the brunch items were around the same price $ 12 – 14, but my order was the most expensive $ 14 and had just eggs, refried beans, terrible homemade tortilla chips and a few pieces of avocado (Soft Scramble Egg Smoked nachos). My friend, meanwhile, ordered a dish with salmon and it cost $ 12. Most of the items on the menu seemed overly fancy, even for the Pearl, and unlike most other menus around town I struggled to find something on the menu that was appealing.

Sigh. I enjoyed ISK several years ago, but things must have changed a bit.
Came here Monday night, 7pm (had reservations) for a birthday dinner. It took us almost 3 hours to get through dinner, and we did not order any appetizers or desserts. Service was slllooowww.
I understand the price points in the pearl, but for this I should have gone elsewhere. Paying $ 40 for an entrée and ONE glass of wine is a bit much. Add in another glass and/​or an appetizer and I would be a happier camper.
Now, for that price, you get a decent amount of food, right? One of the ladies who ordered the salmon, upon its arrival, said she’d have to order something else too! Portion was small over a bed of shaved brussles sprouts I believe. Maybe if it came with an actual veggie side, and heaven forbid a starch, it would have been a better portion size
I got the fried chicken, which was a good size, breading was tasty and crispy, but the chicken itself was somewhat dry and tasteless. I can go to Screen Door and get better fried chicken with 3 actual sides for less. For that reason I just won’t be back.
The one bright spot was the butterscotch pudding they gave to the birthday girl– deliciousness! Except I realized they charged us for that too. I get it, but come on!

Came here for brunch and everything was delicious! I don’t normally enjoy sweet meals for brunch but the chocolate pancakes were amazing. We also had the fried chicken sandwich, salmon Benedict, and side of bacon which was all executed beautifully. Loved the bookshelves and decorations too– such a cute atmosphere! Only thing I didn’t love was the bloody Roman with oyster, did not expect so much oyster in the drink and it was a little overwhelming.

My friend and I came in for brunch on Sunday. It was a rainy day outside but the atmosphere was nothing short of cozy inside. Irving Street Kitchen is a quaint, well-​decorated, rustic building that is worth going to in Portland. I went in for brunch and the food was delicious and the service was great as well. Some of the tables are seated near bookshelves, which adds to the overall atmosphere, which was adorable!
We started off with brunch drinks — a bloody mary and mimosa. The bloody was good and was modeled after a Roman bloody, with some beer (IPA) in it. My friend ordered the fried chicken sandwich and I ordered the salmon benedict. The homemade biscuit was just ok, but not as flaky as I would have preferred. The hollandaise had a neat tobasco twist to it. I enjoyed the flavor but I had mine on the side since it was rather rich. The smoked salmon was delicious, but I think the eggs could have been a bit more runny. Overall, I’d give it ⁷⁄₁₀ for an egg’s benedict. I was also dying to try the chocolate buttermilk silver pancakes with salted caramel sauce, so the waitress was able to get us a half size, kid’s order. They were DELICIOUS and my favorite part of the brunch. The chocolate batter was so tasty and chocolate and caramel obviously go together like PB&J. Order these. They are mini size to begin with so could probably be a great starter size.
As I mentioned, the service was great and the waitress was so nice to get us a half size order to try the pancakes. I would definitely return

Outstanding staff and service for brunch today. The girls put away three orders of pancakes.

My daughter turned 14 and had her Birthday dinner at Irving yesterday (⁸⁄₁₇) (with her 16 year old sister in tow to pay the $ 340 bill!!). Ten 14 year olds were treated like 5 year olds.
My 16 year old asked for the dessert menu early on so she could order a few desserts and ask the server to make it special for her sister. The server proceeded to tell her she could have the dessert menu after she ate her meal!
Food was good — service was terrible. Shame as I always brag about what a great place this is each time we have events there.

Walked by this place in the Pearl district, loved the menu and decided to take a chance. What a pleasant surprise… everything we had was great. Highly recommend the egg nachos, the Moravian eggs, and the chicken and biscuits. In addition, the fries (as an appetizer) were great. Don’t forget to get the butterscotch pudding for dessert.
Rich

Stopped in for happy hour at Irving St. Kitchen. Their HH menu is relatively small with only seven items, but what matters is that there were things on there that I liked. I had a Bibb Wedge salad, and I thought it was a great idea that they make a wedge salad using tender Bibb lettuce rather than the more typical stiffer iceberg lettuce. Very tasty. I also had Meatballs with green peppercorn sauce and Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. It was delicious, but I wish the portion was a little bit bigger (but, of course, it was just a HH item, so that’s OK). Seriously, I could have eaten about maybe eight of those meatballs! Well, I’ll be going back there again to also try their happy hour Jambalaya and Parmesan Tater Tots too. They sound good.
Service was attentive and friendly. This is maybe just a small detail, but I noticed that the waiter took away my knife that I used for my salad (it had salad dressing on it), and brought me a clean one for the meatballs. I was impressed with that thoughtfulness.

This review is a struggle for me… I’ve delayed writing it because I wasn’t sure how to frame this up!
Let me first say the ambience and the food here is top notch. I cannot wait to come back here again. But our service was… entertainment for the evening.
First and foremost, the food:
Charcuterie plate is one of the best I’ve had. The chicken liver mousse is a dream. Octopus salad also perfectly cooked and a well balanced plate. My trout entrée was amazing and my husband got a pasta dish that was perfect. The food lived up to the reputation, which is always important.
About the service:
At a place like this you have certain expectations about service. We waited at least 5 minutes for our server to even come over to say «hi.» He didn’t introduce himself, and when we asked for recommendations his descriptions were bizarre. He said if we liked our protein from the sea we should get the risotto. The primary ingredient described was the chorizo. There were other seafood ingredients in there but still, it seemed off. Then he described his the trout as «brooks» trout.
After our food came he never stopped by to ask how it was. When he came to clear our plates he said nothing to us. We had to ask for dessert menus which he dropped off without any commentary. Later when we ASKED him for recommendations he had some good commentary, but then told us that honey tastes different based on where the bees «forage.»
If the service matches the food I think this is easily a 5-​star. Luckily I liked the food enough I want to come back and am hoping this server was a fluke!

After a couple of visits, three stars it is. There’s a lot to like here, including the beautiful open space, enjoyable music in the background and the ability to carry on a conversation without the buzz of the room overwhelming you. I found the service friendly, food came out in a very reasonable amount of time. There is a good selection of cocktails, beer and wine.
Most recently, I was looking for an interesting twist on eggs benny. The Skuna Salmon Gravlax Benedict’s biscuit was a great base, greens were nicely sautéed and still had just a bit of crunch, tabasco hollandaise could have used a little more tabasco as well as more hollandaise over top of the eggs. The dish was nearly returned. While the eggs were poached well, they were just barely warm. My server graciously delivered this slip in execution to the kitchen.
The Charcuterie Board had a silky and rich chicken liver pâté and the lamb terrine was well seasoned. Four thin and slightly toasted baguette slices are simply too few, the choice of grain mustard seems overly sweet and disconnected from the rest of the meats that were nicely presented.
So it happens, to be on the fence about a place that seems to fill the bill for more than not.

Came here for brunch prior to seeing a show at the Armory the other weekend. It was good, but not great. We came out on what seems like it was the last nice day before winter, so we chose to be seated on the porch. (My friend had made us a reservation, but we got to the restaurant a little early, so we were given a few options on where to sit. That being said, the fact that this restaurant offers reservations is +1 star in my book.)
I ordered the Salmon Gravlax Benedict (which was over a biscuit instead of an English muffin). It was just ok — not bad, but nothing special.
Unfortunately, service was really slow. We gave ourselves a lot of time before the show, so we weren’t stressed out, but it took a surprisingly long time for us to get our food after placing our order. Additionally, I don’t think that anyone ever came to check on us while we were eating. Not sure if this sub-​par service was a result of us sitting outdoors, but regardless, I was not overly impressed.
Ambiance indoors was really nice. There was a lot of wood, and it had an upscale /​rustic feel.
When we checked in at the hostess stand, she had a giant book, and when she opened it up there was a tablet computer inside, which was a pretty cute dichotomy. Additionally, when we received out check it came out in a tiny book.
I’d like to try this place again and order something different.