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Welcome to The Observatory

The Observatory, located in Portland, offers a unique dining experience with a variety of options catering to different dietary preferences. From vegan and vegetarian dishes to juicy burgers and flavorful seafood, there is something for everyone. The cozy yet upscale atmosphere, combined with friendly and attentive staff, creates a welcoming vibe. Guests can enjoy a range of cocktails and dishes like the Chipotle Elk Burger and Shrimp & Grits, all served with attention to detail and delicious flavor. The observatory-themed decor adds an extra touch to the dining experience, making it a memorable destination for food enthusiasts. With a focus on sustainability and diverse offerings, The Observatory stands out as a top choice for a casual yet delightful meal experience.

LOCATIONS
  • The Observatory
    8115 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215, United States
    8115 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215, United States Hotline: +1 503-445-6284

As a food reviewer of Restaurant World, I am thrilled to introduce you to the exceptional dining experience offered by The Observatory in Portland, OR. This unique brand goes above and beyond in providing a wide range of utilities for its customers, including takeout, reservations, delivery, vegan options, and many vegetarian choices. The Observatory is also wheelchair accessible, with an ADA-compliant main entrance, accepts credit cards and Apple Pay, offers outdoor seating, and is a casual and vibrant spot perfect for groups, kids, and dinner outings.

Located at 8115 SE Stark St, The Observatory can be reached at (503) 445-6284. Their menu boasts a variety of delicious options, from flavorful burgers like the Chipotle Elk Burger and the Lamb Burger to delectable brunch items such as the Spicy Italian Sausage Biscuits & Gravy and the Tillamook Cheddar Scramble.

Customer reviews rave about the consistently good food, cozy atmosphere, and diverse menu choices. Geoff G. mentions the upscale vibe and quick drink service, while Melanie N. appreciates the ambiance and selection of dishes. Jai B. enjoyed the quinoa burger and fast service, while Paul K. loved the chipotle elk burger and fun decor inspired by its observatory theme.

If you're looking for a lively restaurant with unique options and attentive staff, The Observatory is the place to be. Whether you're in the mood for a tasty burger or a delightful brunch, this restaurant offers something for everyone to enjoy. Don't miss out on this unforgettable dining experience!

START YOUR REVIEW OF The Observatory
Geoff G.
Geoff G.

Been here 3 or 4 times and it's consistently good! I love this neighborhood and this cozy spot fits right in. It's a tad bit more upscale than some of the other restaurants and bars on the block, and I appreciate that. Food is great and lots of options for carnivores, vegans, etc. Good drinks that don't take 15 minutes to wait for. Food is delicious and not served with tweezers. Pro tip - also a good lunch spot if you're in the mood for a sandwich. The elk burger was really good.

Melanie N.
Melanie N.

I definitely would like to come back and try this place again. It has a good atmosphere, I like the darkness in there, but it could use to come up just a bit more in brightness (for menu reading). They have a nice selection on their menu and drinks. I ended up going with the fish and chips and the prickly pear and pineapple Margarita. Everything tasted good, could've used a little more alcohol in the margarita though. We had a good experience after hiking all day.

Jai B.
Jai B.

Fast service on a Wednesday night. Very much enjoyed the quinoa burger and my dad enjoyed the chicken fried chicken. I'd love to come back and try their breakfast after the impressive time here

Jeff K.
Jeff K.

A really lively restaurant, with a ton of unique options. This was more like a 4.5 out of 5 stars, but that is not an option on Yelp. We came in on a Friday night. It was really packed inside, as you would expect. There was an open table outside that we opted for, because it was really loud inside and that usually isn't our style. The staff was really fun and attentive. Everyone here made us feel very welcome. I also appreciated that even though there were only three seated tables outside, it never felt like we were being ignored. We started with the fry bread. A very unique dish. Kind of a hybrid between a beignet and a doughnut, with savory flavoring. My wife got the pulled pork sandwich with the barbecue sauce. While I got the trout piccata. Multiple times through the meal, my wife said this is a 10 out of 10 sandwich. I then took a bite of hers and agreed with her. It was great that the sauce wasn't just adding on, but was cooked with the pork. The ciabatta bread was perfection. She also upgraded to the parmesan fries; highly recommended. Possibly the best parmesan fries either of us have had. My trout was cooked really well. The wild rice was excellent, and I loved getting the chunks of mushroom mixed in. The broccolini was steamed, so it wasn't hard or crunchy. Sadly, the piccata flavoring was not coming through for me. The trout ended up being fairly bland on its own. In context of bites with the wild rice, it was pleasurable to eat; but on its own, the trout was fairly ho hum. Again, I wish I could give a 4.5. The trout flavoring wasn't "worth" a full 1-star deduction, but I also couldn't go with a full 5-star review because of it. We will certainly be back, and recommend this spot if you are in the area.

Paul K.
Paul K.

The observatory is for making observations. One of these observations is how good that chipotle elk burger is. The sauce is the special touch that brought this burger to life. Furthermore, the elk was gamey and yummy. Furthermore, the inside decor was super fun. The high ceiling gave a fun observatory vibe that matches it's name. In addition, the place had plenty of seating for large and small parties.

Aadil H.
Aadil H.

Great spot. Came for a nice birthday celebration on a Monday night. It was surprisingly busy at 7pm; almost every table was full. The ceviche was very good. The grapefruit made it taste more tart than your traditional ceviche, so be aware of that. The ratio of chips to ceviche was a tad low. They could have put 5-10 more chips and it would've been perfect. We also ordered the Mediterranean plate which was so good that we ate it before I took a picture. Three Mediterranean plate would be my suggested starter. I would recommend against ordering 2 starters if you're only 2 people - we were both pretty full halfway through our entrees. Actually, they give you boxes to pack your leftovers so do what you want. I ordered a blackened catfish special with Mac & cheese. The catfish was cooked to perfection - it didn't even need the tartar sauce it came with. My partner ordered the fish and chips. Those were just okay. For dessert we ordered the creme brulee, which was the reason we came in the first place (there are surprisingly few restaurants that serve creme brulee. Most are cafes). It was decent. Not too special, but it's creme brulee so it was tasty. It was heavier on the cream than crust, so if that's your preference, it's a good choice. The place is pretty noisy for the lighting. It's about as noisy as it can be while still being able to hold a conversation at normal talking levels. There's a lot of cool art on the wall all the way to the restrooms in the back. The temperature felt about 68ºF, which is technically room temp but that was a bit chilly for me wearing just a t-shirt. Bring a light sweater if that's too cold for you. Service was a bit slow, but it was a Monday and the place was packed so it was a staffing issue rather than a service issue. The service itself was great. We ordered some cocktails and didn't like one of them and they graciously replaced it with a different drink free of charge. Even if that's a normal practice, I appreciated it. Would definitely come again and try something else on the menu.

Grace T.
Grace T.

Friendly servers, pretty good food, and quirky but modern decor. The cheese platter was delish but I wished they had a charcuterie cheese combo. It would have been too much to order both. The burger burger was okay. Fries were good.

Samy S.
Samy S.

My partner and I visited here during lunch time on a weekday and got seated right away. I was blown away by the service! The staff was very knowledgeable about the menu and offer great recommendations. We ordered the classic Mac and cheese and fish chips. The fish & chip was super crispy and cooked to perfection. Fries were crunchy and yummy as well. I love the vibe of this place. During the day it has many natural lighting which I love. There is also a bar at the back which you can grab a couple of drinks or beers.

Amber M.
Amber M.

Beautiful atmosphere with an amazing bar with homemade special cocktails. The staff were friendly and welcoming with great advice on the menu. The steaks were perfectly flavored. The only issue we had during our meal was the temperatures of our steaks. I ordered medium and he ordered medium rare. I ended up with the rare and he ended up with the medium.