Gilt Club

 

9

6

Meegs G.

Portland, OR

I have nothing but great things to say, especially about the cocktails, they are extremely yummy.  I planned an event there and although it became a bit cozy, it forced people to mingle and talk (which really is the whole point but never happens).  The service is great, staff friendly and the owner, Jamie is such an easy pleasant person to work with.  I have not had dinner there yet, but have had cocktails and appetizers and it was great.  I highly recommend for private events.

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8

100

Lucas M.

Pacifica, CA

We ducked into this joint before leaving downtown for home.  The idea was to grab another beer, an appetizer, finish our conversation and enjoy the ambiance. I ordered a Czechvar (surprised to find that many Portland joints carry this Czech brew, known as Budweiser in its homeland), and my buddy DJ went for a Ginger Beer and Vodka. It was one of their specialty cocktails.  DJ insists that it was good, but the Ginger Beer/Vodka combo just does not sound good to me.  I also ordered some frites as an appetizer, which came with an awesome garlic aioli sauce. The frites + beer + garlic aioli combo is deadly good. Needless to say, I was full and happy.  The service here was great- we got a spot in the bar facing the restaurant, and were able to people watch in our private conversation while grubbing.

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2

19

ThomasE L.

Beaverton, OR

Rarely is it that the wife and I go out, especially on a Friday night, so when the opportunity meet some colleagues out (and in doing so introduce my wife and prove she is not just make-believe person to them) we jumped at it.

I really like this place.  The cocktail menu was if anything eclectic and tasty, but since I'm a stick-in-the-mud, I had beer.  But I tasted nearly everyone's drinks and all were very tasty.  They seemed to enjoy them as well.  A lot.  And multiple times.  We didn't order food, but the food menu seemed to reflect the same eclecticism that the cocktails embodied.  Linda and I looked to see if this was a place where we could come to eat, but alas, besides a woeful salad offering the vegetarian options were strangely absent.  Right...I forgot someone ordered the fries, or "pommes frites" which were damn good and the sauce made it even better.  So based on that, I would say it's not a bad place to eat.

Service was exceptional, our waiter was present, but not overbearing and always ready to bring refills and never pushy to have us order food or push us out near closing time.

The 2 reasons I give 4 instead of 5 stars are threefold.  First, cost.  My 2 beers and Linda's cocktail was like $15.  My friends' tabs were substantially higher, by a great margin.  Second, in a beer nirvana like P-town, how can you not have at least a couple of beers on tap?  Not that the bottled beer selection was terrible, but I can drink bottled beer at home.  I go out to have beer on tap. Third and finally, the lack of true vegetarian options, ones where Linda wouldn't have to make a special request to modify a dish in order for her to eat.  

If you're looking for incredibly diverse cocktails in a well-appointed and served establishment, with great food (as long as you're not vegetarian) this is a great place.  I have a feeling though, we'll be back, if only for the cocktails.

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1

9

Paul S.

Portland, OR

Eh... it's okay... Nice ambiance, pleasant staff, okay food but not much of a value.

The place has a great look and feel. The deep reds and gold give it a warm atmosphere that would be great for a romantic evening.

The staff was friendly but a bit intrusive. Multiple interruptions in the middle of a conversation to ask if we were ready to order. This is why they lost one star.

The food was good but not great. Portions were small to adequate. Dishes were flavorful but almost over done. Prices were high in proportion to food quality and portion size. Not a great value.

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5

23

David M.

Portland, OR

Other people may have a better experience then I, but mine sucked.

I almost passed out from dehydration before I received a drink. This didn't look like a problem for all the other tables so I wouldn't count on that being your problem.

My disappointment comes from a snooty chef! I don't care where you studied!! Does that actually make you a better chef. By the way, I enjoyed the lamb. Anyway, your inflexibility to adjust your menu selection was ridiculous. Not putting bacon on halibut and I can't remember the other one but come on man. There is no line out your door waiting for your food. There is no long waiting list for reservations. You cook food in a Portland restaurant that is on Broadway just a block from a homeless shelter.  Besides some people don't eat meat and let me tell you it is a major victory to get to Halibut. It only took 36 years. So please champ, don't make us feel like we are asking you to remove your left big toe when we say hold the bacon. The fact is it was good without it.

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4

3

Alexia R.

Portland, OR

My company had our holiday party (which I planned) here recently and it was a huge success. Most of that success had nothing to do with my planning, and everything to do with the place itself: amazing food and drinks, incredibly nice and attentive staff, beautiful decor. I had never been to Gilt before our party, but I plan on becoming a regular there.

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1

22

Marie K.

Portland, OR

So so.  Not bad but not great either.  Service was good, drinks were decent, food was....just ho hum.  Not gross and not great.  A very in the middle 3 stars for The Gilt Club.  Wasn't a great enough experience to make me want to go back anytime soon.

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9

18

Sara D.

Portland, OR

Love love love this place.  So much.  Before I go on though, I have to mention one of the biggest reasons why I love it so much.  I feel like kind of a cheater using this in my review, but the Gilt Club has a million redeeming qualities, so this isn't the only reason I love it: they give half off food prices to service industry folk after 10 pm.  Does it get any better than that?!  My boyfriend and I both work at a sw portland restaurant, and all we have to do is tell them that and they take half off our bill.  AWESOME.

Ok, ok.  So all the other reasons why I love this place.  I am all about the atmosphere, lighting, etc.  This place has got it down....dim lighting, neat stencil things on the walls, sexy red leather booths, and they even play old movies from a huge tv at the bar.  They have an amazing wine list.  I've ordered a lot of things here, but there are two dishes that were absolutely the most amazing things I've ever eaten.  First, there was a mushroom and scallop risotto that was to die for.  Perfectly cooked scallops, large and flavorful mushrooms, and mascarpone cheese....yummmm.  Their menu changes once in awhile, and it's not on there anymore, but I'm reeeeally hoping they bring it back.  Second amazing dish?  The Kobe steak with truffled french fries and garlic aioli.  This steak was the most tender and juicy  I have ever had, and the fries are amazing.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  Good appetizers, too.  My boyfriend and I have ordered the fried oysters and pork appetizer (weird combo, I know...but it totally works) and it was delicious.  The mixed drinks are spectacular.  My favorite standby is the Tracy's First Love.....i don't even know what's in it, but it's genius.  Lime, basil maybe, whatever....it's the best.   And the Idyllic, also amazing.  They have Moscow Mules too, served in a copper mug.  The bartender is the best, they always have a "bartenders mood" drink and they're all super inventive and yummy.

So yeah, I'm rambling, and it's really making me want to go there, so I'll wrap this up.  Fantastic food, great drinks, great atmosphere, excellent service.  Oh!  And awesome music, too.  And one of the best parts is that they serve the whole menu until 2 am.  I cannot get enough of this place.

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3

375

Inigo M.

Sacramento, CA

I can't remember what I had, but the food and service were decent. If you sit outside you'll see a little of that Portland flavor...lots of artsy-looking people riding bicycles.

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Elite '08

13

252

Angela B.

San Diego, CA

Sexy, sexy, sexy....and I'm just talking about the crowd! Everyone was stinkin' sexy in this dim, romantic club with red and gold everywhere. Where did these people come from? Were they imported from NY and LA? It's rare to see this amount of sexy all in one place...there must be something in the water at the Gilt Club..I'm drinkin' it up!

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Elite '08

41

255

Jen I.

San Francisco, CA

Come here.  Sit at the bar.

Order an Idyllic.

Proceed to swoon.

Order 2 more.

Proceed to dance.  You know.  That drunk dancey-sway.

Top it off with a Spanish Coffee.  The 151 in it will have you on the ground in no time.

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Elite '08

120

509

Krista T.

New York, NY

I Actually don't know how to classify this restaurant. The menu has kobe beef, short ribs, duck, ox tial and a burger. I guess new American?
Anyway, I don't suggest going for the food. The atmosphere in the restaurant is a little dry.
The bar is great though, small, but simple and the bartenders are really nice. I go for the Moscow Mule - vodka and ginger beer served in a copper cup....that's really good for your skin (really, an ayurvedic practicioner told me that once!).
Oh and the fries with aoli......YUM.
In the nicer weather they have outdoor seating. Until then, I'll take a seat at the bar in front of the strange screen that they project old movies onto.

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39

172

Christen M.

Portland, OR

For some reason the name of this place makes me think "gilded." The atmosphere, too, actually, come to think of it. The place is super posh, but in that weirdo Portland way, with overhead light fixtures that resemble, um, plants with drums growing on them? Can that be right?

Decent happy, from 5 p.m. (when the place opens) until 6:30 p.m., and fucking excellent drinks. I was a little baffled by the protocol of having the waitress bring the martini shaker out to the table, THEN pouring it in the glass -- seems like a recipe for watery drinks, if you ask me, but they tasted fine. In fact, I had the best gimlet I have ever had in my entire life here -- real lime juice and lots of it, and simple syrup. No Rose's lime here. Drinks were also generous, and that is a damn win. So I forgive them for being a little late bringing our check.

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