Arden Wine Bar + Kitchen

what a classic and delicious date night spot! the chef’s prix fixe menu was the perfect amount of food for two people and all the food was stunning and fun and flavorful. they change their menu seasonally, but this go-around definitely don’t miss their spaghetti, pierogi, or asparagus dishes. i absolutely can’t wait to be back for their future menus!

What a joy this place is. I sat up at the counter as a solo diner, and the first thing I noticed was just how chilled, smooth and zen-like the place was. No stress in the kitchen, and a lightness to the service front-of-house. And the food was just wonderful. I was able to watch the chefs at work, and the care applied to each and every dish was just joyful to watch and was right there on the plate. I'm just visiting for a few weeks from the UK, but damn I wish this place existed back home!

I was pleased with the meal and service on the whole. My partner eats meat and I’m vegetarian but we were both able to enjoy a fantastic meal without compromising each other’s food preferences. Intense flavors, textures, colors, and aromas. Will consider coming back for another seasonal course.Food: 4/5

I had such a lovely dining experience at Arden. The staff was so helpful explaining where our food originated from and what the ingredients were. I would highly recommend the wine pairings and exploring the prefixed menu, I'll definitely be back!!Food: 5/5

Fantastic experience at Arden. Nicholas was fantastic walking us thru the menu and answering any questions we had. He was also extremely knowledgeable about the wines. It was a little warm inside but very nice. The citrus salad was the highlight of the meal.Food: 4/5

Absolutely phenomenal dining experience. From the start, our server, Chris, took his time to walk us through the menu and helped us get started on our journey for dinner. I was blown away by the delicate details of flavor combinations and textures that existed with every dish. To take so many different flavor profiles and thoughtfully combine them was divine. Do not skip out on dessert either, the chocolate cake is less cake and more sin, with deep, rich chocolate fudge flavor dancing with sweet, crisp, light meringue, married with the explosion of candied kumquats… truly just a magical dining experience. I’ve been eating in Portland for over a decade and it’s a shame it’s taken me this long to walk through Arden’s doors. But I know I’ll be back soon, and I can’t thank the chef, cooks, and staff enough for filling my birthday, and my stomach, with compassionate food made with loving hands.

Yep definitely had food, service and atmosphere. Ok so when we were greeted they asked for my spouse’s coat which we haven’t experienced in Portland ever in 10 years. Then the knowledge on the food and the wine pairing was professional and you could tell they truly care about what they’re doing. We did the chefs pairing 4 course with hesitation on the main being halibut as my wife is a private yacht chef with a family history from Alaska. They absolutely smashed it and shocked us beyond belief. Definitely WILL be back with our core crew. Thank you all for a refreshingly tasty sensory experience!!!!

We went for the Valentine's Day prix fixe and it might have been the best prix fixe menu we've had in Portland. It's a small place but felt special, nice tables and lighting. They were quite busy but the wait staff was still kind, took time to check in.Food: 5/5

Wonderful experience. Attentive and helpful service. Recommended a delicious wine, smoked olives are great, the leek and potato pierogi might be one of the best things I've ever eaten. The fermented curry with scallops was way too salty and the scallops were a tad over done. But everything else was amazing and plan to visit again.Food: 4/5

We celebrated Anh's birthday with a trip to Portland and booked a table at Arden based on a recommendation from Eater that it captured Portland's local flavor. Our night started with sitting around for 20 minutes with the menu. It wasn't due to indecision - we had quickly decided to open with the oysters and follow with the prix fixe since, at $70, the prix was quite reasonable. It just seemed like our server had lost track of our table. Luckily we weren't starving, but the wait was surprising since the dining room didn't seem particularly busy. The pf menu ended up including three snacks to open, plus the burrata and squash, the tagliatelle, the quail yakitori, and a finishing of cheesecake. Our meal was accompanied by a pair of decent cocktails, a wine pairing, and a lengthy wait between dishes. Our meal stretched to almost three hours for only 5 courses + oysters. We care more for food than service, though, so it wasn't a big deal. In general, we felt Arden's kitchen flourished with original ideas but missed a bit on the execution. Interesting pairings like burrata + squash + nutty salsa and quail + pears + lentils piqued our interest. However, not every dish hit its mark. We didn't even finish some of the snacks which is rare for us. Anh in particular found everything too salty -- most especially the tagliatelle, which included bacon and briney clams in a salty ramen butter sauce. Some standouts from the pf menu included the quail yakitori, whose strong pear flavor balanced the richness of the sausage and quail, the smoked trout, and the cheesecake. We enjoyed the wine pairing as well - each wine felt thoughtfully selected. The oysters were also delicious, but raw oysters speak for themselves. Ultimately, our experience leaned positive, having ended with the two best dishes. But based on the heavy-handed salting, the chef's discretion with the prix fixe, and, to some extent, our time waiting, we likely won't be returning. This is a shame, since other menu items sound very enticing, like the cappelletti, pierogies, and scallops. We've learned though, that Arden's ideas sometimes shine brighter on paper than on the palate.