Wilfs Restaurant & Bar

I love this place!!! Thanks for taking such great care of me– my gluten free extra cheese-​y cheese plate was wonderful! Right down to the juicy, perfectly ripe blackberry garnish. And, that green olive?!? BEST. I’VE. EVER. HAD.

Food great, waiter engaging; however, was disappointed in reception on arrival. Made reservations well in advance, but it was lost. Staff who made reservation did not answer my inquiry. Receptionist treated us rudely. Given nice table for jazz, but were unceremoniously moved to smaller table. Am not impressed and urge to confirm reservation the day you dine. Not worth it. Though food was grand, took way to long for it, and service slow. More attention paid to wine tasting group then customers.

amazing and prompt service. the salad I had was really good! it’s right at Union Station and easy to get to from downtown!

What a great place hidden in the train station. Service was above and beyond. The food was excellent and over all we enjoyed a great time and wonderful food. Staff actually cared about all of the patrons. This is a place I will return to again I felt pampered and relaxed.

As you can see from my number of check-​ins here, I’ve been back for more than my first visit. My son got a cheeseburger on our second visit, and said it was amazing, so I figured I’d give the food another try on the third visit. Much unlike my first visit, the food was REALLY good! I don’t know what happened, but my first visit must have been a fluke.
Wilf’s is probably my favorite jazz venue in the state, and now that their food matches the rest of the venue’s excellent traits, it is a GREAT place to go.

My husband and I had a great time at Wilfs last night. The service was great, the food was amazing and the restaurant is so clean. The table side bananas foster is incredible! We can’t wait to go back!

Disappointed. Asked for well done, got burnt. Went for music which was on point. 6.25 for a soda with no refills. Service was horrible. Will not be back. They weren’t even busy.

Went to see husband play in tonight’s jazz band. Had settled into a seat at the (empty) bar about twenty minutes till downbeat and ordered a cocktail. I was minding my own business and enjoying my Sazerac until I was informed by the bartender (just before the band was scheduled to start) that the management needed me to vacate my seat because all the seats at the bar were reserved (do most bars reserve their bar seating now? Usually that’s guaranteed first come first serve seating).
My husband spoke with the owners, who informed him that every single table and bar seat in the entire restaurant was reserved for the show, and that I still needed to vacate my single seat at the bar, even though I was a paying patron and was prepared to order overpriced cocktails all evening long to meet the minimum order requirement per hour. The owners told my husband they would consult to see if they could «come up with something.»
The bartender returned after several minutes to tell us that the owners could seat me at a table behind a pillar in the very back of the dining area. Why they would offer a single patron an entire table makes no sense, but neither does their backwards business model if asking paying patrons to leave. Plus, wasn’t every single damn seat in the house spoken for?
The staff made me feel so uncomfortable and less-​than that I decided to leave the restaurant, rather than be treated poorly the rest of the evening. I was cordial to the bartender and left quietly without making a scene. I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt so disrespected… oh wait, this exact thing happened several months ago during another one of my husband’s gigs there. That time, I was moved from the bar and ended up sitting alone at a table for four the entire night, behind a pillar, with negligible service… when I could’ve been occupying a lot less space sitting at the bar.
Because my husband plays here often, I’ve put up with the staff’s rude, condescending and pretentious attitude for years. However, this is the last time I’ll be setting foot here, and it’s also the last time my husband will ever gig here. It’s a shame, because Wilf’s just lost out on a very talented musician.
By the way, hubby called during set break about two hours later (I’d driven back to our home, an hour away). Apparently, the place wasn’t sold out (surprise, surprise), and the seat at the bar that I’d briefly occupied before the show had sat empty ever since I left. Nice. Could’ve been making money off of me, ordering cocktails had they let me stay there, but whatever.
Don’t waste your time here. Extraordinarily better service, food and drinks are to be found at Jimmy Maks if you’re looking for jazz music. They treat their patrons like people… what a concept.

Food: 2 stars, Music: 4 stars
The food was expensive and both my husband and I think we got food poisoning. About 2 hours after we ate dinner both of us started having diarrhea. We were going to the bathroom the entire night until it all came out.
My husband ordered the house special steelhead fish pan seared. I had the steak diane medium rare. We shared both the plates so we each had half of each plate. The food itself was so-​so. The steak was medium and not very hot for some reason. The steelhead was a pretty small portion for $ 44 an entrée.
We also ordered the bread pudding. Nothing special. I’ve definitely had better. The pudding was really dense and the caramel sauce was too sweet and totally covered the plate.
Not sure what it was that night but I haven’t had diarrhea in a long time and I eat at questionable Chinese hole in a wall restaurants.
I would go back for the music and have a cocktail perhaps but not tempted to eat there again.

Before I start, it’s worth knowing that I (1) don’t write too many five-​star reviews, and (2) I’ve known the owners for a while.
Wilf’s is a multigenerational affair; his daughters took the place over after his passing, and have successfully negotiated the changes in the Portland market with both passion and artful grace, retaining the best of the old menu standards and adding new ones to reflect the changing tastes and demographics of the Portland market.
I’m fond of going there to celebrate life events — or when I feel I deserve a little something extra. In an era where nearly everybody wears sweats to the symphony, you’ll feel a bit out of place dressing down here — and the ambiance virtually begs that you at least wear a jacket or blazer. Go ahead. You’re worth it — even if there isn’t a dress code!
Food? Oh, yes! The Caesar salad (which they’ll make right in front of you) ought to be a food-​group all of itself; if you want to continue the tableside-​theatre, they’ll make you a Steak Diane while you watch.
Want to expand it to a three-​act play? Order the Bananas Foster — a ’50’s era dessert done up in the grand manner; again, while you watch.
Today, Wilf’s is a jewel at the river-​end of the Pearl district, with its own parking conveniently located at Portland’s landmark train station.
Some things never go out of style. Wilf’s is one of them.
(Note: It’s a bit pricey — so plan on spending nearly $ 200 for dinner and dessert plus drinks for two.)

Food is outstanding! I absolutely love the Caesar’s Salad, Filet Mignon (excellent), Short Ribs, Steak Diane, Savory Truffle Bread Pudding, Bananas Foster, and Cherries Jubilee. Table-​side preparation with a lovely original story of how the food was invented/​created. Amazingly delicious! I’m sure everything else will be just as good. Our maître d was amazing in everything that he does and will make your visit memorable. Jazz music for your enjoyment. Mood lighting is nicely dimmed. Classy, elegant, romantic, cozy… Perfect for date nights!

The good:
The truffle bread pudding was just wonderful.
The ambiance was lovely and the holiday decorations really added to the quiet and elegant décor.
The bad:
The restrooms were closed and I had to go outside in the dark (not the best neighborhood) and walk all the way around to the front entrance of the train station next door and then all the way to the back of the train station just to wash my hands before dinner.
We were informed that they had an additional restriction in order to use a groupon which was not part of the terms of the deal that we had to order two of the more expensive $ 35-​$ 45 entrees in addition to the other items ordered.
The beef short ribs were inedible. Though the sauce was very nice, the beef — something like stew meat was so overcooked and dry that I couldn’t even eat it.
In summary, I might go back for the truffle bread pudding but definitely not for a meal. And beware if you are using a groupon that they may add additional terms to the deal after you are seated.

The good: wonderful jazz show, pleasant and warm ambience.
The drinks were excellent, the waiter after a slow start was very gracious and pleasant
The bad: what is with the chefs obsession with salt? The gumbo had potential but was so salty I had a hard time enjoying it.
My partner commented that the prime rib dinner was also much saltier then he would’ve liked. It was more rare then he had ordered.
We don’t mind paying a high price for a meal as long as the quality and attention to flavor is commensurate.
In looking back at the reviews, this issue has been brought up before. Maybe it’s time for a chef that does not have such a heavy hand with the salt.
We love the jazz and hope Wilfs continues to provide that service. Perhaps management could do random food tasting and see what we are talking about to upgrade the caliber of the food

The best. My husband and I came here for our anniversary dinner and it was magical. The live jazz was superb and our the wait stuff was like none other. Friendly, fast and attentive service who knew a ton about the menu and recommended the perfect wines to go with our food.
I got the vegetarian entrée which was to die for and my husband got steak Diane which comes with quite a display.
Come here for romance and a big meal or just for a drink and awesome live jazz.
Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

This would be more like 3 and ¾ of a star. It would definitely be a place to go if you have the extra $$$. We used a Groupon and went on a Thursday night. The service by John, the manager, was amazing. He was attentive and funny. The food came quick and was delicious. The meats and vegetables were extremely fresh and well prepared. My only complaint, which is why the ¾, is that it was not updated and had a smell, I believe, from the carpet. The inside seemed run down from the carpet, to the chairs, and even the curtain, which the kitchen is behind. If it wasn’t so spendy I would not have minded, but it was. Thank you John for a wonderful experience.

hmmm. Would go to 2.5 if given the chance.
The lounge was nice enough. Music was great. Service attentive. Wine list really quite
decently priced.
$ 10 a person to sit in the lounge? when the table directly next to us was in the dining room –therefore not charge. Literally, their table faced the lounge and I could have reached back and shook their hands.
A cover charge for folks having a drink and listening – Ok– but spending over $ 200 to dine in the lounge?
The dining room could be lovely – but it was so depressing looking.
Suggestion – all tables should be set at all times – esp. with glasses that shine. Make it look inviting!
It reminded me of a cafeteria for professors.
Food– Nothing bad. Salad had no flavor but was fresh.
Truffle pudding was delish.
Steak Diane was cold even while being a tableside dish and just had no good flavor. So, not bad but not good.
Lamb was the best of the choices.
Bread pedestrian.
Service was fun. But a little more than was needed.
Desert was Ok.
All in all would never have dinner again. It is a shame as they could be so much better.
The free parking is such a plus and the music such a wonderful thing.
Drop the old school menu and find a new niche.

Saw the groupon for dinner (organic and grass fed) at this Jazz lounge and when I saw the beautiful pictures on their website and the calendar for jazz artists I snapped it up.
The experience:
Attached to union train station (probably cool in the day, but ghetto in modern times) we had to walk by a domestic violence situation in progress (the police were being called and security was on the scene) and when we left we had to walk through groups of homeless looking people who eyed us because we happened to be dressed up that night.
In short, at union station, there’s likely a higher ratio of people experiencing hard times, nothing against them, but it doesn’t help make the experience of getting into and out of the restaurant and the whole experience very enjoyable.
The inside of Wilfs looked like a 40 year aged version of the pictures I saw online, faded and aged, the place is certainly a «lounge».
The food (I had the lamb and my wife had the pork):
I enjoyed the lamb (but I did notice I only three lamb rib loins, instead of the four indicated on the menu, groupon mitigation?)
My wifes pork was slightly undercooked and there was no sauce on top.(she wasn’t impressed)
The service: It was a slow evening, not many people there, yet the service was very, very slow. The waiter wasn’t very attentive. Because we didn’t order wine (my current diet restricts alcohol, and my wife is a serious light weight and doesn’t enjoy alcohol) I think we were viewed as cheap and treated that way.
The music: The artist was not the one advertised on the online music calander, and they were not very good.
The value: The food was of quality ingredients, organic and grass fed, a huge plus! The price was on the high side.
In conclusion: Due to the poor atmosphere, poor service, higher prices we will not be going back. Wifs may have been hip back in the day when traveling on trains was a higher class affair, and today it may be hip to hipsters, but to me it is a place in decline, trying to maintain the illusion of it’s former glory. (and charging a premium to participate in the illusion)

Had a lovely dinner here tonite. I had the baked stuffed acorn squash and my partner had the short ribs. Everything was delicious. The service was super fast and very attentive. It was our first time here and we really couldn’t have been more pleased. No music tonight but we would happily pay the cover to see great jazz in such an intimate setting. Very nice alternative to some of the other venues around town. Also appreciate the convenient free parking right across the street. We’ll be back for sure!

Wonderful atmosphere with great live music. Our waiter was a real hoot and was actually engaging, sincere and hilarious. I love the big red seats. Most of our large party LOVED their meals. I’m vegetarian but their filet mignons looked top-​knotch. They charged our card for a different tables tab which was kind of a bummer at the end of the night. Would recommend still.

Wonderful place to come and relax and enjoy good food, drinks and music! Been here 2 or 3 times before and each time gets better. I had the catch of the day, Sole in Papilliote. Delicious! The manager, John, is fabulous! Great place, do come and visit!

Live music several nights in historic train station still serving several Amtrak trains every day. Full bar, good menu, and good wine selection.

Came for Jazz and cocktails. The music was great but the blonde bartender made us feel unwelcome. We waited a while to be served watching people who came in after U.S. Get served. My husband ordered a Knob Creek. He was either served the wrong drink or their top shelf booze bottles are filled with bottom shelf spirits. We told the bartender the drink did not taste right. She made no effort to fix the problem or say sorry or anything. She just kinda shrugged. We closed out tab after one drink and left.
A previous Unilocal review mentioned feeling unwelcome because of brown skin. Well, my husband and I are both brown skin, so perhaps there is some merit to this.
I guess we will give our money to some other establishment.

Service is terrible. I walked in with my family and was waiting to be seated. The host walked up visibly disheveled (goopy eyeliner crazed look) and annoyed we were there. The host said in demanding tone: «Have you made your decision?» We were immediately confused. «Umm, yes we would like a seat.» Host: «Oh! You mean you want to have lunch here?» She was obviously surprised that people like us (brown) would like to eat there. «Yes we would like lunch. What do you mean ‘make your decision?’» Host: «Well usually when people see our prices, they decide not to eat here.» So basically if you’re brown, you don’t fit their white clientele and will assume you can’t afford to eat there. We never once heard her ask this to anyone else while we were there.
Food: the food was mediocre. Salad limp with frozen shrimp. Grilled cheese was bland and served with store bought potato chips. Burgers while over cooked. The only thing good was the German beer. But that came in a bottle so there was no way to mess up that.
Overall do not come here. Also be warned that they tip themselves for terrible service. There’s way better places in Portland to eat without being judged by women with goopy eyeliner.

Ugh! What a dilemma. Wilf’s is an amazingly great venue for taking in a jazz show, but has the worst (yes, literally THE WORST) food I’ve ever been served, anywhere, in my entire life.
I started with the fish tacos, and they had a single-​note flavor profile: salt. There was a faint trace of heat, but the saltiness overwhelmed eventing else. I’m honestly not sure if there was actually any fish in them.
So, onto the next item: baked cheese curd fries. These were also ghastly. Again, these had one discernible flavor: vinegar. I have no idea why they’d serve ketchup with then considering the overwhelming acidity of the acrid sauce in which they drowned the fries.
The cuisine is absolutely atrocious. I’ll definitely come back for the jazz, but steer clear of the food.

Wilfs wins my heart once again.
John as maitre d is courtly, genteel and studious. The room is old school as ever. Make sure to book the bar for dinner to be right on top of the live music! So while the service is excellent, the food is serviceable but not exceptional. The cheese plate was short on cheese… four little pieces of two varieties and the salty olives were mixed with fresh raspberries… odd…the dinner, a steak was fine but not remarkable. The table side very old school Coffee Diablo was world class and a can’t miss. A big flop was the entrée arriving on top of the appetizer, with a meek apology that «the kitchen is fast tonight» …that’s just not acceptable.
The music tonight a French Canadian enjenou with a talented trifecta of bass, piano and brush drummer was top notch, playing everything from Edith Pilaf to Stevie Wonder and Al Green.
This old school swank yet approachable classic in the train depot really is a walk on the romance train. Take your sweetie here and cuddle to some supple Jazz or moody blues!

We arrived at Wilfs on a night the Jazz band was performing. We sat in the dining room since our purpose was for dining & not Jazz. We could hear the music perfectly from where we were seated. If you decide to sit in the lounge during jazz performances it is $ 7/​person. The money then goes to the performer at the end of the night.
We were seated right away by the Maître ‘D/​manager but our waiter seemed to take his time on everything he did for us. We realized it wasn’t on purpose since he was actually the waiter for the entire dining room & lounge. There was a holiday party in the private room so I’m presuming the remaining wait staff were there.
We ordered a cup of french onion soup ($ 8), caesar salad for two ($ 18.50), Wilfs pasta ($ 29), & steak Diane ($ 36). The french onion soup was quite good. The blanket of melted cheese blended nicely with each spoonful of steaming hot broth & onions.
The caesar salad was prepared table side that included the story of how caesar salad came to be. If the ratio of romaine lettuce & the dressing, made by the Maître ‘D, were prepped evenly I would’ve been satisfied. I thought there was just too much dressing that drenched the salad.
Every bite of the Wilfs pasta must be eaten with each piece of ingredient on the plate. My first bite of just pasta with arugula pesto was overwhelmed by fish & pesto flavors. For the remainder of the meal I added a piece of tiger prawn, chanterelle mushroom, peppers, & sauce & it was better. If these ingredients weren’t in the pasta the dish would’ve been wasted. Would I order this pasta again? No. Why? Two words. Steak Diane.
The Maître ‘D also prepared the sauce for the steak table side with another story. I don’t even remember the story because just the looks & smells of this entrée were too good to listen or think about anything else. The steak medallions were bathed in delicious cream sauce & mushrooms. This was my favorite dish of the night & it wasn’t even my dish to savor.
As mentioned above, our waiter was busy with all the other customers but if I took that out of the equation I would say Daniel did a great job taking care of us. Parking is limited to one row reserved for Wilfs customers only but there’s maybe a dozen spots at the most. We did eventually find a pay to park spot near the parking lot so we didn’t have to walk too far in the cold.
Wilfs is open for lunch & dinner so if you’re looking for a fine dining experience downtown near Union Station then Wilfs is your best bet. Just be prepared to pay a pretty penny when you do.

Great location, good food.
I love the location and the ambiance. I kept waiting for Frank Sinatra to walk in and belt out a tune by the piano!
I had lunch and it was very good. The French Onion Soup was great… savory and salty, lots of cheese… yum! The Reuben Sandwich with the homemade sour kraut and «secret» sauce was one of the best I’ve ever had.
As a side note, the servers were really good. I was one of the first ones in the door for lunch. Then two HUGE parties came in for special events of some kind. I watched three of the women work their asses off, serving the big groups as well as the stragglers, seated in the dining room and at the bar. It’s a pleasure watching people who are good at their jobs.
–Daddy Maxx Retro

BEST KEPT SECRET FOR LUNCH IN THE PEARL DISTRICT!
At the historic Union Station, when you see the Go-​By-​Train landmark sign, Wilf’s is inside. It has never been busy when my wife and I go for lunch. Menu includes organic meats & veggies, uses local purveyors, some pasture raised beef and organic free-​range chicken – real food – real good option in the Pearl! We particularly are stuck on a cup of «best-​est-​ever» french onion soup topped with lot’s of melted, oven crispy gruyère cheese oozing down the cup, then, share a hearty caesar salad with lemon & peppered, very moist chicken – great lunch, not wait!
If you go for dinner, there is a cover charge on days when there is entertainment!