Veritable Quandary

Portland, United States

4.5

Closed now

21 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards
Free Wi-Fi

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 503-227-7342
Website:
www.veritablequandary.com
Address:
1220 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR, 97204
Southwest Portland, Downtown
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
130 ftSouthwest Jefferson & 1st
240 ftSouthwest Madison & 1st
440 ftSouthwest Columbia & 1st
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
Yes
Delivery
No
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Apple Pay
No
Accepts Bitcoin
No
Good For
Brunch
Parking
Garage, Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
No
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Classy
Noise Level
Average
Alcohol
Full Bar
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wi-Fi
Free
Has TV
Yes
Dogs Allowed
No
Waiter Service
Yes
Caters
No

Today

Today 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Closed now
Local time (Portland) 02:59 Tuesday, 24 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Tuesday 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Wednesday 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Thursday 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Friday 11:30 am – 1:00 am
Saturday 9:30 am – 1:00 am
Sunday 9:30 am – 1:00 am

Description

Specialties

Veritable Quandary offers a relaxed fine dining experience focused around farm– fresh, locally-​grown ingredients. The market-​driven menu changes daily to reflect what our local farmers have to offer. With the flexibility of a changing menu, Veritable Quandary is able to make accommodations for vegan, vegetarian or gluten-​free diets, and can even create a special menu item with advance notice. Starting with the freshest local and seasonal ingredients, the Veritable Quandary menu is sophisticated yet approachable to diners looking for a meal that is both delicious and hearty.

Veritable Quandary’s wine list has received Wine Spectator Magazine’s «Award of Excellence» for seven years in a row, and the beautiful patio earned VQ the «Best Patio Dining» award in 2008 from Portland Monthly Magazine.

History

Established in 1971.

Founded in 1971 by owner Dennis King, Veritable Quandary’s brick walls, dark wood furnishings, historic décor and views of Waterfront Park and the Hawthorne Bridge offer an atmosphere of old Portland charm in a comfortable setting for a relaxed dining experience. The legendary VQ bar is always lively and inviting for that after-​work cocktail or late-​night social gathering.

Meet the Manager

Chef Annie C.

Manager

Chef Annie Cuggino’s culinary passion began early, cooking for friends and family as a child in Greenlawn, Long Island. By the age of 15, she knew that she wanted to be a chef. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, Annie began working for Chef Michael Romano of Danny Meyer’s Union Square Café in New York City. Shortly thereafter, she moved to New Orleans to experience the flavorful culture of the south. Annie first worked at Mr. B’s, a New Orleans institution focused on high quality regional ingredients, and later took a job at Emeril’s.

In 1994, Annie found a new home at VQ in Portland, where she allows the local farmers and fishermen to dictate what’s on the menu. Her meticulous attention to detail and commitment to cooking with local and seasonal ingredients shine through in her authentically Portland menu.

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21 reviews of Veritable Quandary

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Place rating: 4
Carmichael, CA
What is the best part of a Portland trip? Waiting for amazing brunch with a good drink! Okay, maybe not the best part, but it is tradition, and this is a great place to do so. They get busy, so do try to make a reservation. But, if you don’t have one, a seat at the bar is a great option. If all of those are taken… it gets cramped for standing room. However, once you get your drink order in, and you’re seated for your meal… The staff is great. Really fast and the smells that come from the kitchen are intoxicating. You’re in for a treat. The food is well prepared, and tastes great. It can be a little loud, but the seating is intimate enough to where it isn’t a big issue. Location is easy enough to find and there was plenty of street parking I saw around.
Good for small groups I’d say. Cost was reasonable for what you get.
Place rating: 5
Baltimore, MD
We arrived early for our brunch reservation and we were accomodated warmly. We had to wait a little longer for outdoor seating — totally worth it. The food and drink were delicious — they even had a couple of choices for my egg-​avoiding companion. I had the eggs benedict — I’m not sure — but they might have made the english muffin base. It certainly wasn’t Thomas’
I got a side of veggies — a beautiful mixture — really rounded out the meal.
I’m sorry to hear it’s moving. I hope it has a nice spot to dine al fresco
Place rating: 5
Fullerton, CA
Too bad they are closing in Sept but will reopen as the «Q» later. Will give it a try next time we are in town. Hope they will have the bacon wrapped dates!
Place rating: 4
Honolulu, HI
Our first night in Portland was pretty late so we Unilocaled for a bar that we could eat and drink at and VQ is where we decided to go based on its ratings. And boy, were all the Unilocalers right!
We arrived at a very hip and classy bar. Loved the atmosphere. It was late so they stopped serving the dinner menu, but I was surprised at the selections they had on the bar menu.
We ordered rabbit pâté, duck confit spring rolls, seafood stew, and pizza. It was my first time eating rabbit and the bread that came with it was so good. It was a perfect match with the pâté. Duck confit spring rolls and pizza were also delicious. The seafood stew was served slightly cold. I would’ve enjoyed it more if it was served hot especially because it was cold that night. The portions were all pretty big, surprisingly for bar food.
Service was a little slow. Maybe because it was a Friday night and they were kind of busy. But overall I would recommend this place so you should try and hit it up while they’re still in service!
Place rating: 5
El Segundo, CA
We had an absolutely delightful brunch at the Veritable Quandary. Somehow, we managed to avoid a wait on a Sunday morning — a rare thing in Portland and at VQ from what I gather based on other reviews. We were seated on the back patio; it’s lovely and relaxing out there.
To drink, I ordered a Bellini — I just can’t pass that choice up since, in my humble opinion, it’s superior to mimosa. This was a light and refreshing drink. Our waitress tempted us to start with the lemon cornmeal berry scone with Chantilly cream. The scone had a great texture. The bright lemon and fresh berries paired nicely with the heavier whipped topping. It was a nice treat to have while we waited for our food.
I ordered the chilaquiles — which can more often than not be a huge mistake, but I cannot help it because I love Mexican breakfast — and my boyfriend ordered the house-​made sausage with sweet peppers, onions, polenta, and a fried egg. Both dishes had beautiful presentations. I’m so happy I ordered the chilaquiles! They were pretty much perfect… a little crispy, with some chips soaked up in the delicious red sauce. Yum. I tried a bite of my boyfriend’s dish — it was also very good. The onions and peppers were nice and sweet, and the polenta had perfect texture. I grew up in a Northern Italian family, so I know my polenta!
Our server was warm and friendly. This was my favorite brunch stop on our Portland trip.
Place rating: 5
Diamond Bar, CA
Amazing restaurant with a beautiful outdoor seating area. The food is absolutely delicious. We came when it was the brunch weekend menu.
I got the fresh squeezed orange juice and grapefruit juice mixed together so it’s not too sweet. And also the eggs Benedict and blackened catfish. Both these dishes were so yums and not too heavy, the portion size was decent as well.
My only complaint is the food takes a little longer than usual to come out but with the way it tastes, it’s def worth the wait.
A must try if you are visiting Portland!
Place rating: 3
Boston, MA
Came here for brunch yesterday with a group of
5. We waited an hour for a table but they texted us when it was ready so we were able to walk around. I thought the service was really poor as they barely came around only to ask us for our order and to deliver it. It took about 20 minutes for our drinks to arrive and another 20 minutes after that for our food. The atmosphere and food was very good and no one in my party had any complaints about it but the service itself was pretty poor so I would not recommend it or come back.
Place rating: 5
Manhattan, NY
This place is closing? Whaaaaa??? Please say it isn’t so! I visited Portland nearly two years ago and my friend and I STILL speak fondly about our meal at VQ.
My friend had the rabbit entrée and I had the steelhead trout and we ended up basically splitting them because they were both so good. We also shared a delicious cheese plate, a bottle of local Oregon rosé, and their famous soufflé with molten chocolate poured salaciously all over it. All were amazing and I will try to find photos because I know I took some.
Please tell me the owners will open a new spot. I’d love to visit next time I pass through the PNW.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
This is an incredible gem in Portland and I hate to see it close down. I would come back to spot time and time again. It was late during our first night in Portland everything was pretty closed at 10pm kitchen wise. Luckily we spotted VQ and grabbed a seat next to the bar. Kitchen was closed for dinner but we still had our pick from the bar menu. I ordered their veggie burger with fries and the BF wanted to try their duck confit spring rolls. They killed the veggie burger it was amazing with a side fries and picked vegetables. The house made ketchup was what really made me smile. You just taste the difference. The BF really enjoyed his duck confit spring rolls but the wasabi sauce could have been left off the plate.
I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant and the old school music was pumping with drinks flowing from the bar. We heard they have an awesome brunch, waitress said they were booked! You can come early to snag a seat other than that it’s at least an hour wait. This place is due to shut its doors in September which is unfortunate I really enjoyed it here and I would be a repeat customer. Late night drinks with friends or for brunch.
** update 5÷25÷16
correction to my review brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday 9:30am-3pm
Place rating: 5
Oklahoma City, OK
I loved this quaint little restaurant again on my second visit this year to Portland. The patio is so beautiful, filled with gorgeous hanging baskets and other flowering plants. I remembered the great service and beautiful bar which add to the charm of this lovely restaurant near the river. I had pasta with Italian sausage and wild mushrooms… delicious! Last time I thoroughly enjoyed the brunch too.
I understand that VQ will close in September … But they will open closeby and simply be called «Q» soon after. Be sure to make a reservation and don’t miss this delightful place!
Place rating: 2
Austin, TX
Anyone who watches Portlandia, is familiar with what brunch in Portland may look like. Brunch at Veritable Quandary is along those lines. I had a noon flight and figured I’d stop by here for Sunday brunch on my way out of town. I got here about 30 minutes before they opened and there were already a few people standing outside. By the time they opened, there were a lot more.
Perhaps this is the usual to expect here, but I have a feeling that the news that they will be closing in September may have something to do with it as well. People are wanting to try it out or enjoy as much of it as possible before they permanently close their doors. I did hear one of the managers say they will be opening up another place in the future, but with a different name.
All in all this place was nice, but I was not blown away by the food. In fact, parts of the hash brown were tasty and crispy, but the center of it was neither. It was mushy and just tasted like steamed potato without any flavor. The eggs Benedict were good, but far from great. They too were mild in flavor. The restaurant is sectioned off a bit. The bar area is pretty dark, especially for brunch time. The further back you go the more I liked the set up as it is filled with a ton of natural light. I’m glad I tried VQ, but again, I found the food to be just ok and I didn’t find the service to be all that great either.
Place rating: 5
Sierra Madre, CA
I would like to vote this as MY favorite Portland Gastronomique experience. My husband would argue, though he utterly enjoyed VQ, he would vote for Tasty and Alder. But I would hold a debate with him, and I would win… #1 because I always win when it comes to he and I, and #2, because I’m right. No offense to the runner up, T&A, because it was absolutely over the top delicious, but this place just had a bit more that made it wonderful. The service was impeccable. The timing of the dishes was spot on. The recommendations for entrees left me salivating before our plates even arrived. The ambiance, in addition to the food, separated this from the others.
The location is magnificent. We are disappointed to learn it will be closing it’s doors soon and will have to vacate due to a government building taking over the property… I find this selfish and unfair, but who am I to judge? We were promised to be updated of their new location, but we forgot to provide our email… VQ, please message me on Unilocal. For we shall support you, where ever you end up, even though we live in Pasadena, California.
It is so unfortunate as the dining area is so warm and inviting, a patio overlooking the water. The bar area is bustling in a good way, with comforting dark wood and cozy booths. It reeks of the temptation to spend more money so that you can enjoy the atmosphere a bit longer.
For starters, we enjoyed the bacon wrapped dates. Each bite was savored by each of us. Cutting pieces into small tiny bites, to make the experience last longer. Absolutely delicious. Paired with a nice Willamette Pinot, the night started off perfectly.
Our son got the best dish at the table. Pork shank on a bed of creamy grits. It was all so flavorful, each bite melting in your mouth. He knows how to choose an absolutely mouth watering dish.
I’m not the biggest fan of duck, but my husband loved it. It wasn’t fatty, cooked to perfection of Medium Rare.
Lamb Bolognese was flavorful and delicious over homemade pasta.
Lastly, our daughter had Fritters filled with Brie. Doesn’t sound all that amazing, but oh my goodness, so flavorful and tasty.
The server recommended the soufflé which is a signature dessert, so we ordered it at the start of our meal. Wait time is approx 30 min for preparation. We have had many chocolate souffles in our day, but this was hands down THE BEST.
We enjoyed 2 nice bottles of Oregon Pinot, lovely conversation, no cell phones, and a night to remember. Thank you Veritable Quandary, this was a lovely addition to our feasting in Portland.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Our hotel informed us that this was one of the oldest restaurants in Portland so we had to check it out. This cute romantic restaurant is tucked away in the open and has almost a speakeasy vibe to it. Not knowing it was more of a steak house, we sat down ready to order. As a gluten free dairy free vegetarian, I asked the server if he could recommend some options and to my surprise, they had quite a few things they could do to accommodate. Chef was open to creating a plate with different grains, vegetables in the kitchen to create a beautiful plate and they did just that. I had one of the most spectacular roasted vegetable plate with roasted root veggies and a tahini sauce that was mind blowing.
My friends enjoyed a Caesar salad, seafood stew and a sweet potato soup which was also excellent. And between the three of us, there was nothing more but empty plates and just shy of licking our plates clean. Sooooo good and well worth the money.
Highly recommend trying this place before they permanently shut down in September.
I would def find out where the chef has moved to and visit again just for that tahini sauce.
Place rating: 5
Portland, OR
This old timey spot holds plenty of memories for me and so many other souls that have passed through its doors. So I was saddened to here of their upcoming closure. I had thought the city backed down from building the new central courthouse. Anyway come September, the VQ will be no longer.
I haven’t eaten here in ages, since becoming vegan, but the drinks are top notch and the servers have always been highly professional.
Sidebar: the menu has a note where they will accommodate vegans.
Last night, while having a few rounds we reminisced on earlier times spent on the patio, (which reminds me of Savannah or New Orleans) watching the Fourth of July fireworks show, romantic interludes, and friendly get-​togethers.
Drinks wise, I had the Rare Bird, a twist on an Old Fashioned, it hit the spot.
I shall miss this old school bar with the giant mirror and the fluorescent VQ sign above it, the brick walls and with the tiny wooden booths that line them.
I feel badly because I’ve neglected the VQ for the past few years. Kind of like the regret one feels when a family member suddenly passes, and you didn’t get to spend enough time with them before they went.
Don’t be like me, go visit the Veritable Quandary stat!
Place rating: 5
San Jose, CA
Delicious food! HUGE portions. Love that it’s open late.
Cocktails are great, but a little small for the price compared to other cocktail places I tried in Portland.
We ordered the pork shank and the osso bucco!
Out of the two, pork shank was definitely my favorite. The sauce in the Osso Bucco was a little salty for my taste. Pork shank was paired very nice with the mashed potatoes and greens with Apple.
Also, I loooooveeeddddd the bean soup with ham and greens! I wish I would’ve ordered a large!
Great atmosphere for a date or a meet up with friends. Very intimate setting!
Place rating: 5
Milpitas, CA
Brunch at Veritable Quandary to end our Portland trip with a bang! Definitely saved (one of) the best for last.
Along with a few mimosas (hehe), we shared:
+ Blackened Catfish, Poached Eggs & Hollandaise ($ 17) — Crispy Potatoes, Spinach, Artichokes, Peppadews. Every bite was perfect, the flavors worked so well with each other. 110% recommend!
+ Brioche French Toast ($ 14) — Fresh Banana, Mascarpone, Honey & Candied Walnuts. Sweet, but not too sweet. Absolutely delectable!
One of the best brunches I’ve ever had. I would have licked the plates clean if it was socially acceptable.
Place rating: 5
Portland, OR
I hit up the VQ for a late afternoon beer and nosh the other day. Dark and rainy outside. Dim and cozy inside. Perfectly Portland way to spend an hour or two if you’re in the mood to treat yo self.
Sat in a booth and drank a Crux stout on nitro as I wrote in my journal and slowly dried off and waited for my late lunch. Soooo relaxing.
Ordered from the bar menu. Rabbit paté and duck skin cracklins. Duck crack would describe how addicting that stuff is — wow. Nice plum sauce too.
This old place is going to be razed for a new high-​rise soon so I suggest you visit while you still can!
Place rating: 3
Portland, OR
In order for a restaurant to receive 5 stars, the dishes have to be consistent.
Two of my friends came down from seattle, so i took em to vq for brunch today morning.
My friend who ordered eggs benedict was disappointed because the poached eggs were almost fully cooked, which are basically the whole point of eggs benedict. She basically had boiled eggs with english muffin and hash brown for 14 dollars. It was embarrassing since i was raving about vq.
Other friend ordered the catfish as i recommended, and she liked it.
I ordered shrimp with grit and poached eggs, and my eggs were almost fully cooked as well.
The cook at a restaurant fancy as vq should be expert at poached eggs.
I want to love vq, but it is just not consistent.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
My fiancée asked me what I thought Veritable Quandary really means… and to me it means one thing: BRUNCH. Even with my limited time in the city of ports, I would have no problem declaring that you will not find a better brunch option anywhere else in this city other than VQ.
First: get seated and ask for some coffee. If you’re like us, that means a triple mocha made with a locally-​sourced brew that comes out tasting like a royal flush of chocolate and coffee.
Next move on to drinks: mimosas are available with either fresh-​squeezed orange or grapefruit juice. You want a bit of both? Good call. Or maybe something a little heartier to jumpstart your day (the nitro stout can solve that problem).
Move on to food: If there are at least two of you, then one of you needs to get the house eggs benedict. This is served quite tastefully, on «muffins» that are actually more like perfectly-​fluffy biscuits, with a compressed potato cake and the lightest home-​made hollandaise you could ever find. If the benny isn’t your thing, we were also leaning towards the chilaquiles, before the server mentioned the special: a home-​smoked rib-​eye sandwich served with home-​made fries (are you seeing a theme here?) and a light white cheddar sauce for dipping.
Yes, if you find yourself on a Saturday or Sunday morning needing delectable sustenance, then the synonym for «brunch» you keep racking your brain for is only Veritable Quandary.
Place rating: 4
San Jose, CA
Excellent flavors and hearty portion!
We made a reservation at 7:30 in the loft area. Very nice ambience. Noise level is average.
We got 2 sides of vegetables, which came out surprisingly delicious! (We were expecting typical bland veggie side dishes)
For entrée we got the Petra sole and stuffed pork tenderloin. Both were hearty and excellently seasoned!
The only one star off was because our waiter was a man of few words. The service was fine and polite. But I personally prefer cheerful and upbeat servers.
Overall it was a great meal!
Place rating: 5
Beaverton, États-Unis
Love their chocolate soufflé!!!