Colby Mills
Superb food, incredible flavors, thoughtful drink pairings, comfortable atmosphere, friendly and attentive service. An absolute treat and gem of a restaurant. John and Doug know how to create an amazing dinner experience while having fun doing it. One of our favorites in Portland!
P. S.
It was a nice intimate dining experience where you can get a thorough (but not overdone) explanation of the food and the beer/wine/non-alcoholic drink pairings. The vibe is like you went to a good friends place who decided to cook you up a delicious meal and serve you a bunch of drinks. Service was great! Only rating it four stars for value for money. We were there in 2017, so I imagine they have been honing their skills since we last visited.
Alexandr Moroz
Willow offers a rather unique approach to organizing your dining experience. The dishes are prepared and served on a communal counter by a team of two, and this team works out a miracle – a sophisticated combination fresh local ingredients, skilfully transformed into a culinary marvel, followed by a simple, almost home-style dish that explodes with surprisingly deep flavours; all served with great attention to detail and accompanied by a story around the ingredients and, sometimes, the meal idea itself.
Willow is definitely one of the top New American restaurants in Portland. Oh, don't miss an opportunity to stay for coffee and cookies after the dinner!
dale bengtson
Had a wonderful dinner at Willow tonight. John and Doug are very casual, like having dinner at a friend's house. Everything was very creative...very interesting ingredient and flavor combinations that worked together perfectly. And very nice wine pairing. All at a very nice price. Portland at its finest.
Kerry C
Incredible food well worth the price. Their tasting menu changes every few weeks, and every single time it is delicious. The two owners/creators/chefs are very friendly. Favorite restaurant in Portland.
Jay
Hands down our favorite restaurant in town. Menu changes on a monthly basis, uses seasonal and local ingredients, and is often themed, whether it's a favorite's menu or based on who won the world cup. John and Doug are great people, very welcoming and put a lot of work and dedication into the food. Only 10 to 12 seats per night so can be tough to get a reservation but we've never had a bad meal here and try to return as often as we can.
Eric Parapini
One of the best dining experiences in my life. Jon and Doug (the two chefs) host you at their restaurant, and serve you a fantastic six course prix fixe dinner that they make right before your eyes. The environment is intimate and you really get to know everyone around you. When we were there, Jon hosted at the front and Doug worked mostly in the kitchen.
Sora Stoll
Loved the food and experience. Each dish was prepared carefully with lots of time and effort. Wine pairing is def worth it as well.
Rohit Chaudhary
Amazing experience, the monthly menus are masterfully crafted and the owners really show their passion for creating these wonderful food experiences. Don't come here if you just want to eat food - come here if you want to be led through a culinary journey. Very reasonably priced considering the experience! Don't forget to buy a jar of salted caramels on your way out so you can share it with your friends (or not, nobody has to know) and tell them about the fantastic experience you had at Willow!
Kar Wing Ho
So many awesome restaurants in the Portland area. This is another one of favorites. The duo is extremely talented and nice. The chef churns out plate after plate of yumminess while they are plated in front of you. A very small intimate venue. Such a great place to enjoy a meal.
Vicki Jackson Scheel
I had the pleasure of dining with friends at Willow tonight. Wow, what an amazing time. John greeted each of us as we arrived and visited with us while waiting for the other diners to arrive. Each course was beautifully presented, perfectly cooked and out of this world in flavor. The wine pairings were well done as well. The environment encourages conversation with both chefs and the other diners. This will be a regular dining spot for me. Thank you John and Doug for one of the best culinary experiences I have had.
Melanie Zimmerman
Cannot say enough about how amazing John & Doug are...their independence, creativity, and warm-hearted openness to experience their food!!! Joe and I thoroughly enjoyed our Chef’s Tasting evening at the counter (and seriously, that creamed leeks/barley/shiitake mushroom dish was DIVINE...and I could eat the shredded Brussels/avocado w/ that pork shoulder dish allllll day long!). Such a great experience! Thank you!
Naomi Molstrom
Chefs' hospitality and friendliness are wonderful as well as their presentation of each dish was spectacular. We enjoyed watching them plating food in front of us and listening their story about their each dish. We'll definitely come back again!!!
Julie Emmett
I had a wonderful evening with friends and strangers. The food was wonderful with favors that would develop in your mouth and wine pairing that transformed the wine. The starter and coffee at the end of the meal were a pleasant surprise addition to what we were expecting. I appreciated the warmth and intimacy of having the two chef / owners and their charming, efficient sous chef sharing about not just the food but also the vision in their creation of the restaurant overall. I am not big on sitting at bar style seating but it was surprisingly comfortable and intimate. I loved following the meal with coffee in the sitting room and visiting with the people on the far side of the bar from my seat. I look forward to returning and enjoying the expanded tasting meal.
Shannon Devers
Amazing experience! Each dish was so flavorful and interesting. John and Doug are wonderful chefs and hosts and they’ve created a wonderfully intimate setting for a fabulous meal with friends.
Maureen Haegele
Went for Portland Dining Month. The food was delicious. The staff was fantastic. The space was wonderful. The one and only reason that I gave Willow only four stars is that the quantity of food wasn't quite sufficient. A few more bites would have been great, but they will begin 5 course service in April so my only complaint will probably not be a problem in the future. Can't wait to give this place another try. I will definitely be back!
Laura Ketterman Douglass
Amazing, amazing, amazing- the flavor combinations are out of this world. I enjoyed and savoured every bite, I will definitely be a repeat customer!!!
Rhiannon Cherokee Wynn
Such a treat to find a place like this in Portland. Everything is well thought out and attention is given to every detail. I've dined here twice and look forward to going back.
The food is always creative and well sourced. The flavor combinations unique and familiar at the same time. Portion sizes are perfect! The beverage parings, fantastic!
John and Doug have put so much love and dedication into this place that I encourage anyone who enjoys the artistry that dining can be, to check this gem out, and taste it!
Eric A Muerte
Great concept and the food was amazing. Really enjoyed speaking with the chef about the preparation and the atmosphere with our other dining members.
Keith Feeney
The food was fabulous. The owners, Doug and John made you feel like you were eating at their home. They are both knowledgable and talented chefs with great personalities and a passion for what they do. Anyone living or visiting Portland should certainly make a stop at Willow. I highly recommend it!!
Peter Nguyen
Definitely a must do in Portland. I have never had pork chops this good. Will definitely be coming back.
Betsy Wilson
Fabulous from beginning to end! All the dishes were perfection and paired with wines from all over the world. This is truly a sumptuous food adventure!
Jenny Eckart Hoyt
The perfect combination of fine dining and a relaxed Portland atmosphere. Absolutely delicious food, Beautiful plating, impeccable service, complex flavors, and the most thought out menu makes you think you are at a Michelin � restaurant, yet the hip hop music mixed with Rod Stewart reminds you that these guys are not trying to be too stuffy. This is our favorite restaurant in Portland. Love, Love, Love.
David Hauslaib
A fabulous dining experience last night. Intimate setting with extremely skilled (and personable) chefs, who are there not only to prepare their tasty dishes, but explain what you're eating and serve it to you. We had a multi-course tasting menu full of surprises (including the most innovative asparagus dish I've ever had), which I enjoyed with the reserve wine pairing. I learned their dishes change frequently, which gives me a great reason to return soon.
Reynaldo Lugo
Awesome! Highly recommend! Very intimate space and excellent attention to detail!
Kim Ceccarelli
Flavors were rich, meat incredibly tender, drinks paired with courses to a T, and as always, John and Doug are always full of hospitality for their guests. This was our third time here, and it is always a lovely time!
Kris Hunt
We arrived tonight to celebrate my brother's birthday. From the opening hors d'oeuvres to the beverage pairings to the coffee at the end of the meal, it was a revelation and a delight! Creative and delicious food with a charming host. I will come back!
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