Market Restaurant

I tried out Market during their chef series. I was interested to see how the place had changed since the change from Carafe. I liked how the space had been updated visually and the space had a nice feel.
We were greeted prompted and seated quickly, but then waited a long time for our server to spot by. As it was a set menu there weren’t any choices to make, but it took a great while for the first course to be served. The food on the whole was quite good, but service was quite slow between courses. While the server was polite, he wasn’t as welcoming as the host and we felt a little forgotten during our meal.
I won’t speak on the food as it was a one-​off event and didn’t include dishes that are served there regularly. But based on the service it leaves a little to be desired for the price. We’ll likely give it another go in the future, but with so many other great choices here in PDX, it’ll be a while.

Went there last Saturday on a show night. Just wanted to grab a cocktail in the bar and we weren’t disappointed. Bar seemed much bigger than the previous one, very sleek and modern. Staff were friendly and accommodating even though things were pretty crazy. Enjoyed the visit, great drinks, very creative. We’ll be back to check out dinner.

Had a good time here. Went with a friend who was going to be interviewing in the kitchen so we went the day before. We were very happy with what we had, the service was good, the atmosphere is good, and I would go back.

this place is legit. we had company visiting from out of town, and, on a whim, chose this place to take them. it was a bit out of the way, but it was certainly worth it. the sturgeon was excellently prepared; it was seasoned well and not overcooked. the squid-​ink butter made itself available to the dish, but it could be easily avoided if needed. the fried green tomato frisee was excellent. even those at the table that initially turned their noses up to the notion of eating green tomatoes were impressed. the merguez sausage with harissa was a hit. plenty of yummy heat, but not too much to overpower the other flavors. the least popular was probably the fettuccine. it was still very good, but it was the most average among some outstanding plates. we’ll definitely be coming back for more.

We’ve been waiting for the fall Opera & Ballet seasons to open so we could see what’s happened with the old Carafe — and WOW, were we surprised and pleased. We will probably stop here before every performance when we’re in town early enough — and I just HOPE that they decide to stay open for after-​performance little meals, too. (Carafe didn’t, which was dumb if you ask me.)
The footprint of the old restaurant didn’t change, so we felt very familiar with the space — but everything else is refreshingly new and stylish. Décor is pretty stark, but also amazingly warm and comfortable — truly a great design job.
I can’t say enough good things about the food! What a treat to find ideas and perfected techniques that we would never do at home.
Our wine and appetizers came immediately, but there was a somewhat-​longer-​than-​acceptable interval before the mains. (It was opening night at the Opera, so that surely had something to do with this. However, we’d been on time for our 5:30 reservation.) I hear that the menu changes often, and that will be fun. But I hope I’ll always find my delicious poached pear/​endive/​crispy prosciutto salad. I could order that every time! My husband loved his perfectly-​cooked pasta with merguez sausage and harissa.
Two suggestions: (1) More wine offerings, particualrly in the robust chard/​merlot/​malbec categories. (2) Some of the presentations appeared to be on the wrong plates — a few were downright clunky. Someone needs a better eye for the food/​plate shape combinations.
This is a wonderful new addition to our PDX food scene! I hope Mkt is here for a long, long time.

Yep… I’m giving this restaurant five stars on drinks and appetizers only! (My wife and I have dinner reservations for next Wednesday night and I look forward to editing this review… I’m optimistic that it will stay a five star!) Three weeks ago we had tickets to a concert at Keller and we saw that the new Market restaurant was open… short on time we went in and found two seats open at the bar. We were greeted right away by the hostess and bartender and we realized suddenly we had a major issue… so little time and so many creative drinks to choose from! You know it’s a good sign when the patrons at the bar are all talking about the drinks! Decision time… my wife ordered the Bridgetown Smash and I ordered the Brooklyn. We had the pleasure of watching bar manager (aka-​master bar mixologist) Alan Akwai create our drinks. The Brooklyn had the right balance of sweetness and bitterness (love the herbal touch of adding a dash of Amaro CioCiaro). The drink went down quick… so quick I contemplated another! With my wife sucking down the Bridgetown Smash (she loved the lemon/​mint combo) we knew we needed to order another round… but our dinner bell was ringing so we decided to get a quick salad to share. We ordered a watermelon/​feta/​savory salad with a beautiful base that was light and refreshing and hit the spot before our concert. We had a wonderful experience at Market! So nice to find a professional but yet fun atmosphere as a dining option in downtown Portland!

This is probably one of Portland’s best kept secrets. I caught wind of these Guest Chef Dinner series with Cathy Whims (Nostrana, Oven&Shaker) kicking off the first one and it sparked some interest. Walk up already impressed by the design of the place. WAY cool. Received the dinner plan for the evening with the wine pairing and I got the jumpies, I knew I was in for a real treat. Cathy Whims impressed us with a 5 course meal. SOOOOOOO Good. 2^nd/​5^th Course were my favorites. I took a look at Market’s regular menu and by the look of it, you know that you just found a hidden gem. And everyone, TAKE advantage of the guest dinners! That is not something that will happen all of the time, chefs are there to impress!!! Market, I will be back again!!!

Perhaps it’s not good to compare a restaurant to the previous business that occupied the same space. That being said, we went to Market last night before attending a show at the Keller Auditorium across the street. Disappointed that my beloved Carafe was no more, we sat down to experience all that Market had to offer.
Standing on its own, it was not an impressive experience. The food was overpriced for the meager portions received. I had about 10 gnocchi in my $ 20 entrée. The sauce was delicious, but it was truly an appetizer portion. Service was decent, I can’t fault them for that, and they got us out of there (just barely) before we had to be across the street for the show.
I won’t be in a hurry to go back and would recommend it only with the very faintest of enthusiasm.

Finding Market was a happy accident, and oh were we happy!
We came into Portland for a show at Keller Auditorium. Mkt looked like our closest and best option to the venue for drinks, so we hit the bar area.
Let me start by saying, my hubby is a bartender and we are both lovers of all fine food and mixology, hitting up hopefully the best in each city we go to. That’s all we do in a city besides an occasional show or museum in between. Not since we found Michelin star rated Spruce in San Fran last summer have we been this happy with a place.
I got the Southern Belle Frappé and was immediately enamored with the clearly-​to-​order fresh squeezed juices and airy peachy liquor goodness that caressed every taste bud like a tender lover. Foreplay ladies. Because of this, I stayed true to this lover the rest of the evening, ’cause there is no such thing as too much foreplay…
My man got the Bridgetown Smash, the Sriracharac and the Brooklyn. Each were stellar. STELLAR. (I stole a kiss from each.) You could taste the fresh ingredients, watch the bartender squeeze them to order, pluck the herbs with pride, then finally shake that steel vessel like a true artisan. This is a man that knows his art and colorful flavor profiles. And we love art.
Oh! we search bars high and low for the Japanese whiskey Yamazaki, to which Market has. Naturally we needed a shot of that to share as well (hey, we were only walking that night! Don’t judge…).
We had sadly eaten before hand, so as the place filled up, only watched the plates go by in absolute envy. Finally green with it, we broke down and ordered the fried cheese curds w padron peppers as a tease – also fried making them these puffy delicate wisps of crunchy shreds of heaven, a perfect counterpoint to the gooeyness of the inner cheese curds. This ain’t WI folks!
Since it was crowded due to pre-​show peeps getting their cocktail on beforehand, they did get a little spread thin. The pause between our blissful libations was probably a good thing to ensure we actually made it to said show with our pace, but a few times the (clearly) manager would jump in as needed and make sure waters were filled and all was OK. He was awesome.
Day two… it was a no brainer where we wanted to go for lunch after looking over the menu the night before. Being on vacay, and suffering the pounding consequences of unwise liquor volumes the night before (remember how this story started?), we stumbled back over to the bar and claimed our same booth. My medicine was served up in one of the most unique tasting Bloody’s I have ever had. I couldn’t even quite tell what his (same ‘tender from the night before) secret touches were. I suspect fresh squeezed heirloom tomatoes as the base, but from there… well played Alan, well played. (Looked his name up on their site just now.)
Food…at the risk of not offending any religious group out there, just know that many proclamations of divine worship and sworn devotion toward every deity out there occurred over the culinary lunch gems we chose. (And can you hear the tears in my voice that dinner was not an option this trip?)
Now bare with my storytelling for a moment here. It becomes relevant to the power of excellent food. Before we came for lunch, my man said he HAD to have a burger and he was gonna be pissed at me if they didn’t have one. I assured him they would, since I saw them float by on heaven’s clouds the night before. Plus, what place doesn’t offer a burger option for lunch?
Well…my bad! No burger and I had to endure intense solid moments of glaring while he battled with containing himself from throttling me over the table or getting up to leave to seek out his burger – to which he didn’t want to come across as rude to the restaurant – and lucky me (us!) avoiding public displays of violence and courtesy saved me.
To which then, I must have been going for the tortured zealot badge, and made us start out with the fried green tomato salad. He ABHORS tomatoes. Would rather kiss Satan. The poached egg and starvation allowed me to get him to try a bite. To which I now regret because we began to fight over it. The yolk ran perfectly over the crisp breading of the tender yet still firm tomatoes, coating them in elation, the crunch and freshness of the frisée making for divine bites.
We shared the turkey, avocado, cheese sandwich and one of the best bowls of pasta in our life – house made angel hair pasta, bacon bits and various mushrooms. FRESH. Unreal explosive flavor. Simple made divine.
I long to try dinner, and dote on the fact the menu changes daily to match local market offerings. The Executive Chef is clearly brilliant, masterful, a champion of the farm and animals served, bringing them together in a taste religion that I am a devotee of. Impressed!
If I had the power to give out a Michelin star, I would. I’ve only felt that for Spruce until now – over lunch and drinks! I hope Mkt gets the national culinary limelight it deserves.

HAPPY HOUR REVIEW
2:30−5:30pm Mon-​Fri; 8:00pm-close Daily
Food Deals
$ 5.00
Unique and delightful gourmet bar bites with a market-​driven menu that changes frequently. Choice of salads, fancied up waffle fries or cheese curds, and special crostinis. Great «petit burgers»!!!
Drink Specials
$ 4.00 beer; $ 5.00 house wine; $ 5.50 cocktail
Atmosphere
Formerly Carafe, revamped with a stark and more contemporary, cosmopolitan look. Simple, stylish touches beautifully marrying glass and woods. At Happy Hour, sit in the bar or enjoy that famous outdoor plaza seating, weather permitting.

I have had one meal here, which was lunch on opening day. I had the Grilled Chicken over chopped salad which was well prepared and very flavorful, served with grilled bread slices. I would have like the portion to be larger, but I will also be the first to admit that I have a very hearty appetite compared to most people. Also had the Waffle Fries which were amazing. They were large, crisp-​tender and sprinkled with Parmesan and garlic oil. For me, a little spendy to pop in for lunch, but I will definitely consider again before a show at the Keller.

went here on a Tuesday night– same as when there was a show at the Keller, so it was packed. we had reservations for 645, party of 3– all arrived by 655. it took awhile to get our waiter’s attention– they were busy trying to get people out for their show. However, by 715, we could breathe, hear ourselves talk, and enjoy an excellent meal! Setting is very nice– the remodel is very comfortable. we had; radicchio salad, green salad, and cheese curds– all quite good, well prepared. Mains: halibut on housemade squid ink pasta– delicious– cooked just right, and the pasta was lightly flavored– did not overpower the fish; housemade chorizo with grilled potatoes– yum! nicely spiced, 2 large sausages; rabbit pasta– also well done. portion sizes are correct– big enough to be a reasonable value for the price, but not too big. good quality ingredients. manager came by to check on us– they had only been open 2 days. very good start!
bar is super cute– bar stools made out of wine barrels!
place is open a lot– lunch, happy hour and dinner every day.