Maurice

It's been awhile since I've been blown away by a spot in PDX and Maurice is the most recent one!

Contrary to their small door, the inside is open with clean colors and layout. You get transported away from the bustling downtown area to a serene dining space filled with delicious smell of freshly made French dishes and pastries. There are a handful of booth and bar seatings so do come early if you want to snag a prime spot.

We got seated and professionally introduced to their complex but inviting menu which is seasonal and changes regularly. After much debate, in the end, we got the Snails, Scallops, and their Duck Special for our meal, as well as a bottle of Cotes Du Jura that they sell for retail but you can have it at the table with a little corkage fee. Let me tell you that that wine was soso worth it. It's bright and light, perfect as a day wine and paired amazingly with all of our dishes.

The Snails dish came with many decently sized snails from the East Coast. Each cooked perfectly and covered in delicious buttery herby sauce with a side of fresh herbs around the plate to cut the fattiness. I love individually plugging each of the snails out, such a unique experience. The snails themselves were also very unique. Nothing quite like it, gotta try them out yourself to find out.

The Scallops dish was also simple but full of novel flavors. The scallops were very fresh and cooked to the right doneness. The broth and vegetables on the plate created very unique flavors and complemented the scallops amazingly.

Their Duck Special was our favorite dish of the meal, by far. Again, simple yet complex with distinctive flavor profile at the same time. The duck was succulent but not overly heavy. The kumquat added the perfect amount of sweetness while the persimmons and greens reinforce the savoriness of the dish. It's just so darn tasty! I would go back for this again and again.

Of course, we got desserts. There were a few to choose from but we went with the Chocolate Cone Cake and the Pepper Cheesecake. Both were delicious. The chocolate cake was soft and very moist while the cheesecake was light but uber creamy with a buttery base. Delightful.

Needless to say, we fell in love with the food here. The menu was intimidating at first because of its unfamiliarity but that also made it so fun to just jump in and try stuffs. The chefs striked the perfectly balance of simple, showcasing the fresh ingredients, and complex combinations of flavors in all of their dishes. Service and ambience were also 10/10. Definitely a spendier meal but we will certainly be back to try more!

Oh, mon dieu! I've found my soulmate restaurant.

With a perfect blend of Scandinavian and French cuisine, the team at Maurice have something special for Portlanders to enjoy. Their limited hours, seating, and menu enhance this enticing environment, too. Overall, I am very impressed.

From the moment you approach the space from the streetscape, you'll be curious of what hides behind the glazed windows that blur the experience. The quaint entry door is so cute, and anyone stepping into the interior immediately feels calm. Entering the restaurant reminded me of cold, foggy days along the northern European coastlines.

Reservations are highly recommended since minimal or no seating will be available for walk-ins. Thankfully, we were lucky and seated at the bar where a great experience occurred. The team is very friendly, and will always be chatting with you. Our server was iconic, and I truly enjoyed our laughs, jokes, and conversations. I enjoyed learning about the history and intentions behind the concept, especially after learning Maurice has been established for ten years!

We ordered several menu selections, and, I enjoyed the pâté the most. Desserts were lovely, and I almost ordered one of the special champagne glasses of the day.

I wish I could have stayed longer, but, I wanted to ensure other people were able to dine here. I will be back! Maurice, you are AWESOME.

Måurice is simply wonderful. Small, intimate and beautiful space. The food is perfect, simple but elegant and so well thought out and executed. The staff are attentive and knowledgeable. The chef owner is right there preparing everything with

As someone who is not traditionally drawn to French cuisine, I was delighted by this little hole in the wall. It's easy to pass by this location with its fogged glass exterior but you are brought into a beautiful, bright little spot once you enter the door. My friend and I shared the rosemary biscuit (so ridiculously good!) then separately enjoyed their quiche (so light and fluffy!!!) in addition to their fish and dumpling soup. My friend also enjoyed their chicken pate greatly. Our server was quiet and unobtrusive, similar to wait staff you might find in a small cafe in France. Her coworker was less delicate in the small space and tended to run into my chair almost every time he passed by, which was a bummer as I was tucked in as close as I could be. Overall, if you are looking for a light, bright experience with French cuisine, this is your spot.

Cute aesthetic French spot! Lots of options for tea! Everything is nice enough to share but I thought the food was just okay for the price point. I definitely feel this place is an instagramable spot! The service was a bit slow however once we let our waitress know our friend had to be out a certain time they brought out the food faster but we didn't plan on being there for over 2 hours. Also 20% gratuity is already added

This luncheonette took the words "cute" and "Francophile" and decided to run with it, and I think that they really managed to create a brand that works. I am absolutely in love with Maurice, so much so that I sometimes hesitate to tell others about it for fear that it will become TOO busy. And yet, I still recommend it to everyone because it deserves recognition, and because I am a giver.

The highlights: Their constantly changing menu reflects the seasonality of ingredients, and also demonstrates their focus on sustainable cooking. If you are lucky enough to dine in on a day they are serving poulet au pain (chicken pot pie), you are tasked by me to order it. It's like what a warm hug would taste like. Their chicken liver mousse, perched upon brioche, has also brought me comfort in times of stress. That's better than I can say about most people. Furthermore, they occasionally offer oysters, despite not being an "oyster bar" by any means, and they have consistently been shucked well and fresh. You would be remiss to not round out your meal with one (or several) of their desserts, personal favorites including the black pepper cheesecake, birdseed tea cake, and butter cookies. They also have rotating natural wines, most of which I haven't heard of before.

The improveables: I feel that most of the negative reviews of this place complain about two main things: cost and portion size. As I've said before, these seem to be very typical complaints of the average customer. Still, I believe there is some truth with regards to cost...if you are talking about their tasting menus. I do think that the price on these events may be a bit more of an ask than what is served. Otherwise, I do not think that prices on their regular a la carte menu are egregious. With regard to portion size, that depends on the person. At Maurice, there seems to be an emphasis on "lightness", and this is reflected in the way they create meals and decorate their space. Do not come expecting Spaghetti Factory portions or to feel ten pounds heavier after eating. Why would you want those anyway?

Many places claim to "cook with love", but Maurice actually does this. The owner is lovely and you can see how much she cares about curating a beautiful little experience. I wish I could spend every afternoon here, reading an old book in the corner, sipping on wine, belly full of poulet au pain.

I smiled my entire way through lunch here. This place was whimsical. Food was fresh, light, and showed great technique. I wish I took more pictures!

We ordered an orange wine that was delightful and also had coffee freshly made with beans from the shop next door. Radishes with butter and salt were an absolute treat. We also had one of the Smørrebrøds with beets, polenta with poached egg, a scone with jam and crème freche, and the carrot salad. All just sensational. I can't wait to drive to Portland (Seattleite here) and return!!

Such a lovely menu and quaint environment !

Let's start with the environment. There were only a few tables which created a more intimate setting. Perfect for a date or going out with girlfriends. All the small decorative touches gave delicate hints of a French cottage, even down to the gorgeous silverware. Having Megan share the story of select silverware and decor pieces added to the overall experience too!

Now the food! Oh my gosh - it's been so long since I've had such exquisite flavors! Everything was paired so perfectly and the flavours were all so distinct and bright! Each being brought out differently when paired with the wine or tea list too. The attention to detail for all the pairings was lovely !

I do think it's worth noting that the portions were "small" by today's standards BUT they were perfect for the environment and experience. Definitely take time to note the delicate flavours in each bite. In the end we were very full so it was definitely plenty of food despite the smaller portion sizes.

I hope my photos upload because I really don't think my words can do the overall food/environment/full experience the justice it deserves. We'll definitely be returning next time we're in the area.

2022 Portland. Lunch tasting menu.

Breakfast Radish / Butter. Oyster Hy Carly Butas Gandon Flowers

Nowy Lefse w/ Canot, Horseradish Crème, Charvil

That Brodo by Radisk Bon Baris, Spaing Allan Die Allium Garden Bits + Boby

Parship + Lion Mane Tarte, Coroa Nib Red Tably Spinach

Stuped Bass My Ayers Creek Barlay, Mango Saffron Velouté +

Norwegian Meatballs, Brassical Shoots Swedish Apple +

Rhubaub + Celery Leaf Vachem

Highlight:
Rhubarb dessert was amazing!

Overall, "as good as it gets."

The servers are very nice and hospitable without crowding, even with a small venue. The quiche and soufflé were both very light, but flavorful. The coffee did not need any cream or sugar as it was already the right roast to complement the light meal. I would go again, especially for the sweets.