Echo Restaurant

after months of reading, my first Unilocal!
dang, this place is packed. we put our party of three down and went across the street to a dive bar. an ipa later and we come back… perfect timing! we were seated right away. our waitress was nice enough and even contributed to some fairly awkward converation bits.
the food: hell yeah! we ordered mac n cheese, crab dip, ceaser salad and the hangar steak.
don’t waste yer time on the salad, way under-​dressed (and i don’t go crazy for dressing). everything else however was perfect. we decided we didn’t need the bread and just combined the mac with the dip. holy effin’ yum. the hanger steak was a dream. hanger steak normally is… but this was even better. nice root veggies (mainly fingerling potatoes), but the most memoral part, besides the meat, was the KALE!!! sooooo good. nice place nice atmosphere.
one complaint, we asked for more dressing. as we were finishing our meal (did i mention three of us ate off of all this?) they finally brought us their «version» of caeser dressing. mayonaissey and not good. steer clear.
close to wonder ballroom and a neat little wannabe dive bar.
i will eat here again.

My «Meat the Best Burger» Posse thought we ought to give Echo’s burger a shot at being in the Top 5. It certainly earned Top 5… of the worst burgers in town. The meat and aioli was flavorless, the cheddar cheese was unmelted, the tomato was mealy and the bun was burnt vs lightly toasted as I requested. Instead of house-​cut fries, a salad was the accompaniment. This is fine, but fries should always be an option. For a $ 12 burger, we were extremely disappointed.

When I walked in I was quite surprised and pleased at the candle lit, vintage, artsy atmosphere (although it is a lot smaller than I had expected). I tried their «Dark & Stormy» and loved it! One downside was we came early when it was quiet and got a nice table but were later asked to move to a two person table to make room for others. One waitress was very sweet (the one with the awesome tatoo) the other seemed quite snooty but didn’t ruin the evening. It was fun to discover the water was cucumber flavored. A bit of a shock but not a bad one. Also I couldn’t help but notice that even though the place was packed, my husband was one of two men in the entire place. The food was good! Don’t expect a lot though. I ordered the ribs and they were so great we shared them. All in all it is definately worth trying at least once.

Great place to have a few drinks before the Blazers game. Especially if you like straight whiskey, they pour those DEEP. However like the Blazers game I saw, everything else about Echo was inconsistent and ultimately a disappointing loss. Salad was over dressed, the burger was forgotten and came late, just stay way from the cheesy artichoke it sounds awesome but seemed more of the caliber you find and Applebees. At one point we asked for another drink and the waiter said «Fuck Yeah» in response. I don’t see myself coming back here, there’s just nothing compelling about this place compared to all the other places you can go in PDX. Game over!

Nice location, cool ideas, however disappointed with the execution.
Tall exposed brick walls, large bar setup, and plenty of tables. Seated right away with a large group.
I feel like this place could have been so much better… maybe I should of had something else, but really… not that special.
Ordered the mole chicken which on the menu states it comes with grilled polenta cakes. Instead I got chicken with really creamy corn grits — huh, typo on the menu, maybe I came down with dyslexia?
It was overall ok, not sure what I was thinking ordering a mole here, but nothing at all to repeat. Also had the peppers which had just way too much cream cheese.
Again the place looks great, the menu sounds good, and based on the reviews a lot of people like it, but for me it was just off.

Being open when I want dinner late on a Sunday night is a huge plus. That was all I really needed to know. When we arrived, we stood at the door for close to five minutes waiting for some indication on whether or not we should seat ourselves. Finally a customer at the bar told us to seat ourselves. Thanks to that guy. We sat. We waited some more. We took it upon ourselves to grab a menu from a nearby counter. Expectations were low, but the bartender/​waitress really ended up pulling through and ended up being very nice and efficient. She was the only one working there, so I have to forgive her. She actually did a great job considering that bit. My cocktail was really good (Aviation Gin Cocktail). My food was good too. I had the hanger steak with fingerling potato/​carrot/​parsnip hash. My only complaint is that it was a little on the cold side.

beautiful building
parking isn’t that bad
salad was too intellectual … green beans in a salad is way to far out 4 me. burger should been bigger for the price. Altho I have to admit it was cooked to perfection as was every thing else.
the Dark & Stormy’s are always excellent!

Yummm! Had brunch here this morning — eggs benedict on their homeade biscuits. Amazing! The new owner (as of a few months ago, I think) actually waited on us, providing excellent service. Wasn’t too busy when we arrived at 11am, but started to get busier as noon approached.
Interested in trying dinner there again — I’ve always been impressed. They now have music on weekend evenings.

We found this place by accident! We wanted to goto the Screendoor Café but they were packed so we needed somewhere before the Blazer game and found Echo!
We had fantastic service! The place is VERY cool inside and just feels comfortable! The food was very good for the most part… the Hummus plate is NOT something to order! The Crab dip was great along with the Hamburger and seeing/​listening to others in there, they loved it!
We will go back and try other dinner items and rate it from there but our first visit was VERY good!

I went here for happy hour with a bunch of coworkers. It’s got a great atmosphere and is a nice refuge from the craziness of MLK.
But my Sazerac was horrible! And bah, no happy hour discounts on these semi-​spendy drinks, either!
The food was just okay. Our group ordered hummus plates, pizza, crab dip, stuffed peppers.
Despite the interesting atmosphere, I probably won’t come back unless I was invited to.

I have found a new love. I had heard about this place a long time ago and drive past it every single day but have never gone in until last night.
It was my birthday and after discovering on of my favorite places was packed, I decided to move the party here.
We arrived much earlier than the party was to be there and at 7:30 on a Wednesday, Echo was perfect. Some people, not dead but not packed.
What has always interested me about Echo is the cocktail list. The Fall Pomegranate Cosmo and Marion Blackberry Rickey were both amazing.
After the full party arrived for the most part, we sat down and got to have our lovely bartender stay as our server. I tried the pumpkin gnocchi and it was amazing. Perfect dish, I would say. And I had a little of the pork loin sandwich, and that one as well was perfect.
I will be back. Definitely!

I should caveat this by saying that I was drunk when I went to Echo.
We’d been at another bar and went to Echo afterwards because it had been recommended as having excellent desserts. And they did!
I think between the five of us we tried pretty much the entire dessert menu and none of us were disappointed. The chocolate banana bread pudding was delicious. The cheesecake was excellent. The chocolate cake was divine. And the trio of crème brulees? Just amazing!
Nice atmosphere, great prices. Oh yes, they have Pimm’s Cups, too, which I heart. Will go back.

Echo exudes sexy
(Echo exudes sexy)
Like most sexytime activities, it’s the little touches that really go a long way. The vintage glassware, the gas-​light lanterns hanging from 4×4 gaps in the 15ft+ brick wall, the personalized attention from the bartenders… Things admittedly got a little steamy, and a cup of ice appeared at the end of our table. Oh the things we could do… the conditions were perfect.
I could easily spill my deepest darkest secrets in this dimly lit lust den, and while I’m sure the traditional vintage cocktails have elicited the same reaction from many, for me it was the homemade cheesecake (on eclectic china, no less) that pushed me over the edge. They clearly knew I’d give it up for cheesecake.
Smart and sexy… gets me every time.

S-s-h-h…let me let you in on a secret: they have an awesome patio!
During the brief, halcyon days of Portland’s summertime, I find myself wanting to be outside enjoying every golden ray of sunshine… soaking it up as if I might be able to store it during the long winter hibernation of gloominess and rain. Alas, as I am not a bear, I cannot live off my summer reserves of sunshine. Instead, I have to rely only upon my memories of perfect Portland summer days and nights to get me through the long, wet winters. Which has me seeking out places where I can capture such happy moments – like all of the great Portland restaurants with patios. And, I just discovered that Echo now has a tiny, skinny alley of a patio crammed in-​between the old brick walls between buildings – and this, my friends, this little secret patio, is a wonderful little cozy place to while away a summer’s eve in Portland.
The patio is so small that one might feel claustrophobic, but I didn’t – they have done a great job giving their tiny patio space some ambiance – with potted Japanese maple trees, a wall fountain for soothing sounds, and bamboo at one end, with tin-​can lanterns strung for mood lighting. Ah, Portland patio perfection…
Now onto the restaurant review:
I live practically across the street from Echo… yet I have only dined in there a handful of times. I remembered the food was good, the service was a bit standoffish, the drinks were always fine, prices fair, and the atmosphere nice enough. But as a diner who gets around Portland and eats out quite a lot, it just didn’t resonate on my list of TOP places I just had to eat at again and again. But, I gave them another try.
This time, the food was even better than I remembered. I had a fabulous hummus plate with warm soft pita bread, kalamata olives, sundried tomatoes, cucumber and feta – all fresh and very good. I also tried the stuffed poquillo peppers as an appetizer (also very tasty). JP had the bouillabaisse – and said it was absolutely delicious – he loved every drop. The prices are fine for the quality of food.
Our service was just fine and attentive, but not particularly friendly – I am a friendly sort of person, and I kind of appreciate feeling welcomed with a smile when I come into a neighborhood restaurant (especially my own neighborhood). And yet, neither the bartender nor the server managed to actually force a genuine smile at us when we came in – instead looking at us a bit warily – maybe they were just hot and tired, I don’t know. However, I recall the lukewarm service from every other visit to Echo as well, so I sort of suspect this is partly why this restaurant, in spite of being actually quite fabulous, doesn’t have the huge crowds of people that it could have. It wasn’t bad service – I just didn’t feel like they particularly cared whether I was there or ever came back. In a way, this is a bonus, because you can generally always get a table and have an excellent meal without waiting. So, if you are going to a show at Wonder Ballroom around the corner, or don’t want to wait in line at Toro Bravo or even Russell Street BBQ, then this is a great choice. On the other hand, I would love to see them be as successful as they can be, because I want my local businesses to do well.
At any rate, I’m rambling – Echo is great overall, and if you want to sit on a perfect patio in the summertime – do check them out.

I’m a little disturbed that I had no idea of Echo’s existence until recently.
I like what they’ve done with the place. Echo’s a charming brick building, that’s actually a pretty small space. However, they use the space well, and a large bar makes it feel like a pub, while tables, wooden booths, brick walls, and sexy flowing sheer curtains make it feel like a sensual little bistro… an awesome dichotomy, if you ask me.
The menu was compact, yet contained a good mix of salads (the house salad was scrumptious!), burgers, and pastas, for a fair price.
But if you’re looking for expansive, check out the drinks menu! I tried a Marion Blackberry Rickey, which was delightfully tart with marionberry purée*. And they have a surprisingly delicious and addictive sangria that’s way tastier and authentic than several of the Spanish restaurants I’ve been to.
I’m minusing a star because the service was incredibly slow. But I’m chocking that up to them just happening to be understaffed when I went.
*Random factoid: Did you know that marionberries are named after Marion County (i.e., Salem), which is where these delectable hybrids were developed? True story.

We were at a show at the Wonder Ballroom and at set break decided to get something to eat. A friend suggested Echo. We were in a hurry so I just got the mac and cheese and my husband got the hummus plate.
The mac and cheese was the best I’ve ever had and I practically had to stab my husbands hand with my fork to keep him away from it. The hummus plate was pretty good too. I also had the pomegranate cosmopolitan. Beautiful drink with an orange slice floating on top with some pomegranate seeds riding on the orange slice raft.
The place was very relaxing and the lighting was really good and the service was good too. An all around good experience.
Next time I’m craving mac and cheese, I’m there.

Mmm… Echo (echo echo echo). This place is now connected to my brain as «place to get Pimm’s Cup NE.» Only other restaurant I’ve gotten a decent Pimm’s Cup from in Portland has been Café Castagna (ie, place to get Pimm’s Cup SE). Granted, I don’t get out much. ANYway, the cocktail was all British granny cucumbery fizzy goodness, served by attentive/​adorable bar staff in an oversize cocktail glass from some long-​demolished Vegas casino. Perfect!
Other business:
*Shimp risotto came with gigantic yummy shrimp and a respectable risotto
*Charming dining companion acknowledged deliciousness of lamb shank entrée
*People-​watching: five stars — you never know who’ll wander in off of MLK…
*Protests that we were too full for dessert were ignored: bar staff brought a mini-​crème brûlée out anyway for us to sample.

Hard to find much to say that hasn’t been said, but I gotta be giving Echo my love for it’s my neighborhood stand by for many an occasion, which I appreciate. A good place for parents, a good place for you and friends (mostly if you’re like me and you’re probably poor but enjoy delicious food and drink… thank you, Happy Hour).
So let’s talk about vintage cocktails, shall we? In vintage glassware?
I love it. I adore it. I do. It just tastes better if it comes to me in a delicate glass trimmed in gold. And frankly, I feel like a classy bitch when I order a Pimm’s cup. I just do.
Or a Rickey. Seriously, get the Rickey. You owe it to yourself.
And for the record, the food is delicious also. Quite delicious. And the staff is super nice and cool. And the room is stark but also warm.
And they always seem to be playing cool but very suitable music. There was once Nancy Sinatra. Really? Are you trying to gain my undying love and affection?
Well maybe I’m easy, but a Pimm’s Cup and Nancy Sinatra tend to do the trick.

Echo is worth repeating
Gosh, what a fun and inventive place located on MLK. Amongst some rougher looking buildings, this one outshines the rest, especially inside with its exposed brick and cozy booths.
The décor has nothing, though, on their tasty food. You’ve got to try their curry chicken tacos with this tasty pineapple salsa. It’s to die for. I’ve never had any combination like this, and it just lit up my taste buds. I also love their pulled pork sandwich with slaw, so it’s always a hard choice between the two. Make sure you order a side house salad. A raspberry vinaigrette and candied almonds make its taste anything but a typical house salad.
Of course you can’t leave without dessert. I opted for the Trio of Crme Brulee, which was a tough decision but did not disappoint.
Tip: Indulge in some of their fun and creative cocktails. Most are priced under $ 6, and the bartenders are more than happy to give you the juice on them.

It’s out of the way location makes me not want to go there for drinks often, but I will drive over there for dessert.
I hear the food’s good too, but I’ve only had the desserts. Crème brûlée and rich, thick, chocolate cake? Yes please!
Both the drink and dessert menu may seem limited, but the few items they do offer are very good.
I’ve only been on prime nights (thur/​fri/​sat) and all of the small 4 seat tables are full. They have a few bigger booths, but I can’t imaging going with a group. They don’t take reservations but you can call ahead and let em know your big party is comin.
**Apparently this is temporary, I don’t know how long — but if you wear your PJ’s to their Sat or Sun brunch, you get a free breakfast beverage! YUM!**