Farm Spirit

Wow, what an experience!
I’m not a vegetarian or vegan, but I’m pretty close (I don’t eat red meat or pork), and I was really looking forward to this meal. You reserve your spot online and pay right away. Super simple and convenient! You have the option to pick your drink pairing then or wait until your meal. I was so glad/​felt a tad lucky that I found two available spots for us only one day in advance! We decided to wait on the drinks (they seemed a little pricey, and we were mainly going for the carefully-​crafted food).
We dressed up a little bit and showed up right on time. There were two other parties seated; one that would be paired with us (as in, we were served at the same pace) and the other would be served by at a different time. The attire was mixed between super casual and mid-​tier formal. The décor was fresh and clean, and being seated at the bar, you are able to see each dish as it’s daintily prepared.
Overall, the meal had about 12 courses. Each one was put together meticulously. My favorite was the basil dumplings — I could eaten a whole platter of them. The last dessert with tea was also pretty nifty. The other dishes ranged from savory custards, purees, and veggie/​plant combos to sweet ice cream (vegan!) and fruits. Everyone who works here is so skilled and personable! Plus, Chef Aaron was there and provided some good humor and extra insight into the ingredients. We actually ended up getting one of each of the drink pairings — I thought some were better than others (one was an apple juice, and it was superb). In a general sense, they were all decent complements to each dish.
Bottom line: so while you may think meat is a necessary ingredient in your dinner, Chef Aaron and team will prove you wrong with their refined and innovative takes on vegetarian/​vegan plates. Plus, you get to leave with a little gift :)

I cannot recommend this restaurant enough! I thought I loved vegetables before. Farm Spirit takes vegetables to a whole new level. Each course was an absolute delight. It was fun to watch the construction and all the precise details that go into it.
I had the wine pairing that was very good. My husband had the non-​alcoholic pairing and I think I liked that even better! The drinks went very well with each course.
And just when you think it’s all over, they give you some bread for breakfast! It took everything I had not to eat it that night. I’m so glad I didn’t. How that bread stayed so moist, I have no idea. It was such a treat when we woke up.
If we lived in Portland, this would become our go-​to place for birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

I can’t recommend this restaurant highly enough! Each course was a delight and a surprise. As for it being a vegan restaurant, I didn’t even notice the absence of animal products (for the record, I am not vegan) because the dishes were so beautifully constructed, with contrasting and complementing textures and flavors. So creative and fun! I am looking forward to going back.
The chefs were engaging, friendly, and only too happy to talk about where they sourced each ingredient.
Yes, it’s priced accordingly, but it’s an unforgettable experience. If I had to offer a critique, I would say maybe try to find Oregon wines to go with the ‘local’ theme. But our wine pairings were expertly planned, so I really wouldn’t change anything!

A celebration of vegetables. Deliciously prepared and beautifully presented. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, this is the pinnacle of fine dining.

Best meal of my life. This place deserves a Michelin Star, or two. If you want a very professional, fun and tasty experience, I highly recommend bringing someone you care about here.
*Note: my girlfriend doesn’t eat very much, and is not really a fan of food (who would have thought that’s a thing?). She also eats meat and animal products. I have NEVER seen her eat so much in my life when we went to Farm Spirit.

This was a really good time. Enjoyed watching them prep all of the food, and everything was delicious. Expensive, yes, but you know this going into it.

This restaurant cannot be compared with any others. This is more than a restaurant. It is an experience: a wonderful, dreamy experience.
Looking back at our 25 years together, and all the places we’ve been and all the places we’ve dined, my husband and I truly think this night at Farm Spirit, the privilege of dining with Chef Aaron, was the best experience we have ever had of any kind. Listening to the chefs and observing their creativity was fascinating. The food was beyond delicious: It was like eating a piece of art that you had just seen created. I could write a novel about the virtues of Farm Spirit, but I will just suffice it to say, «If I could give Farm Spirit a hundred stars instead of five, I would.»

Chef Aaron and his team have prepared an excellent food experience. Even the soundtrack is planned out (
).
The food looked stunning, tasted great and was very creative all around. My only regret is getting the wine pairing over the non-​alcoholic drink options. Wine is great and all but they have some very clever regular drink options here that you won’t want to miss. We’ll definitely be back.

I am neither vegetarian nor vegan but still really liked this restaurant. It’s great in that the chefs are plating and preparing all the dishes right in front of you. You have constant interactions with the chef. That might have been the highlight of the experience. Chef Aaron is great. Quite sarcastic but funny.
As with any meals with multiple dishes you will have your favorites. Probably not worth mentioning each one as they are quite involved and menu changes frequently. Plus I can’t, because some of the dishes involved intricate preparation. What I can say is that the food is overall excellent. Some of the dishes involved very long arduous intricate preparation and still come out excellent. Sometimes too complicated means the flavors get too complicated too, but these did not. There were also some very nice simples dishes like a squash soup with miner’s lettuce. That was probably one of my favorites. It was pretty amazing how in some dishes he used the same ingredient more than once but in completely different ways in that they contributed to separate textures and flavors for the same dish.
I also very impressed with the non-​alcoholic drink pairing. Usually a little disappointed with fancy non-​alcoholic drinks but these were all really original and good.
The desserts were good but not great. Hard to make great vegan desserts. That said, they were definitely good enough where I would eat it again.
Will definitely be back in the spring when they have more ingredients to work with.

Absolutely delectable food art! This was one of the most divine eating experiences of my life. I especially enjoyed watching the chefs craft each course right before my eyes AND the 6 house made fermentation beverages! WIn!

You walk in to a small bar and find your name sitting in front of one of the bar stools. The staff is already preparing for the meal ahead; pulling out fresh baked house bread and local olive oils. After a brief introduction to the team, you’re treated to course after course of hyper-​local delicacies and unique flavors. Quite the treat for any evening!
Surprisingly I ate here during winter where the local vegetables are limited. That didn’t limit the creativity of Farm Spirit. The meal was exquisite. I typically have a large appetite and nearly left the restaurant feeling full; but the rest and pacing between meals and overall number of courses meant I had that ‘just-​right’ feeling instead.
Farm Spirit prides themselves on using hyper-​local ingredients when available. Nearly everything was sourced in the Cascadia/​PNW region which was a shock to me that it would have been possible!
I also splurged for the wine pairing with the meal. All of the wines went quite well sans one course in which I felt the wine overpowered the food; a minor gripe in the overall evening which didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment.
I’m excited to go back in the spring and summer when we get some more tasty local vegetables!

Farm Spirit is everything I want a dining experience to be: comfortable, somewhat daring, fantastically delicious, & quite beautiful. I hesitated to make reservations for awhile due to the price tag, but quickly concluded that the dinner was worth every penny. Vegetable worship at its finest.

We just celebrated our anniversary at Farm Spirit. Based on excellent reviews we read everywhere, we were expecting delicious vegan food, but what we actually experienced was well beyond any amazing meal (vegan or not) we’ve had over the past 10 years. We felt like we shared a very special evening with the wonderful team of Aaron Adams (thank you Ricardo and Tim!), and 10 other guests. This 2.5-hour journey was extraordinary on so many fronts… I won’t spoil the many surprises here, but can only recommend you to book at this magical place immediately. You’ll be glad you did. Big thanks to Aaron and his team for an unfogettable evening!

Farm Spirit is a unique and personal experience, with food that will blow your mind. In fact, Chef Aaron and his delightful team do not just make food, they CREATE fresh, locally sourced, plant-​based cuisine (art). I have had the privilege of dining at Farm Spirit twice while visiting Portland, and have been stunned each time.
Food: Bold, refreshing, complex, dish-​licking good! The menu change frequently, as the restaurant’s produce is 99% seasonal. However, as someone who has dined here in the summer and fall, I can attest to the fact that regardless of time of year, Farm Spirit knows their veggies, nuts, fruits & grains! In the summer, their dehydrated tomato left me speechless — most recently, I was astounded by their carrot ‘butter’ and filbert ‘cheese’. Although each dish is rather small (as it is a tasting menu), the impeccable plating and flavors will leave you 1. questioning how veggies can taste so darn good 2. eagerly awaiting the surprises in the next dish.
Service: Top notch. Why? Because the three chefs (Aaron, Tim, Ricardo) are right there in front of you — making, plating, explaining and handing you each dish as it is ready. As a result, the meal is educative, exciting, and intimate. Both times that I went, it was not uncommon to walk in at 7pm and leave around 10. In fact, that’s one of the best parts — I really didn’t want to leave!
Ambiance: Tucked away on a cozy street, Farm Spirit is easy to miss at first. It’s a very small establishment, comprised of only 12 seats, situated around one long, rectangular bar. Anyone who appreciates good design like myself will fawn over Farm Spirit’s details — beautiful ceramics, little plants, and ingredient-​filled mason jars. The vibe is eclectic but friendly. Although there were mostly couples when I went, the first time I was a solo diner and met some very nice people sitting next to me.
If you kept reading this far, good. I hope I have sold you on checking this place out! Chef Aaron has created a truly rare+successful place that is worth every penny. Also, you will be rewarded at the end of dinner with a house made baked good for breakfast– watch out, it’s addictive.

I don’t rate service, ambiance, cleanliness and wait times; they are too variable. I can put up with anything if the food is good. It is all about the food– that’s it. All of my ratings are based on vegan options only.
Notes: As good as it gets. Go!

Extraordinary meal. A fine balance of fine dining + special occasion meets Portland casual. Chef Aaron invites you into his home and creates works of art for 3 hours. While focused on very refined small plates, we both left very happy and satisfied. Everything is well orchestrated without trying too hard. Can’t wait to return!

So, wow! This is a great direction to take a restaurant. The vibe was amazing, the food was interesting and unique. The chefs were accessible, and chatted along the way, using nothing but the highest of quality ingredients, which came out when you ate it. I had a flight of non-​alcoholic drink pairings, which I would recommend.
Not really a place for kids who don’t appreciate fine dining. I’m sure they would be treated with respect, however mine have nut allergies so I don’t think it would work.
It’s definitely an intimate experience, well worth every penny.
This will soon be a hard to get into spot, so get your reservations before it’s booked for a year.

Aaron is able to put together an assemblage of flavors, tastes, textures and ingredients like no other.
This was a great experience of food paired with wine that I have not had anywhere else yet here in the Portland area.
The entire menu is unique for each day. The vegetables are grown on local farms and picked on a daily basis.
This experience took 3 hours and was worth every minute. It was amazing, Aaron!

We had an outstanding experience at Farm Spirit. The doors opened promptly at 7, and the dinner party began with a handshake and everyone buzzing with excited anticipation of what we were about to experience. The room was bright and easy on the eyes, and I was glad to note that there was seating available at a normal height — should one need accommodations for a wheelchair, it can be provided with no fuss. The first course was cucumbers, and I don’t like cucumbers… at all, but some sort of magic was happening in this kitchen and I found the cucumber dish I was served to be a delight for all senses. One by one, each course more beautiful than the last, I was blown away again and again. Every flavor was spot on, and blended beautifully within each plate, and as a companion to the plate before it. The wine pairings were perfect in choice and quantity. The dinner party feel was like no dining out experience I had ever had — we left with phone numbers and instagram adds! When an unexpected allergy issue was confronted, Chef Adams was on point and whipped up an alternative plate in no time at all. The music choices were pleasant and never too loud. Before we knew it, three and a half hours had wizzed by, and I felt pleasantly sated, rather than overly full. Thank you Farm Spirit for helping to make our anniversary dinner one to remember for years to come! I will definitely be returning!

Had a wonderful time and a palette opening experience at Farm Spirit. 16 courses of 100% plant based flavor and texture curated by a team of chefs with generous spirits and delicious skills. I highly recommend the non alcohol beverage flight of fancy which accompanied and complimented the gorgeous dishes. A feast for the eyes, soul and stomach, go now!