Aquariva

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Address:
0470 Southwest Hamilton Court
Portland, OR 97239

Neighborhood:
South Waterfront

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Cuisine:
Northwest

Price: $30 and under

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Aquariva Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.riversedgehotel.com/eat_drink.php
Email: reservations@aquarivaportland.com
Phone: (503) 802-5850
Hours of Operation: Aquariva is open for
Breakfast: Monday - Friday 7:00AM - 10:00AM.
Lunch: Monday - Friday 11:30AM - 2:00PM
Weekend Brunch: 8:00AM - 2:30PM.
Dinner daily: 5:00PM - 9:00PM.
Bar daily: 3:00 - 10PM.
Happy Hour daily: 3 - 6:30 PM.
Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Northwest
Executive Chef: Seth Tucker
Dress Code: Business Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Smoking Area, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine, Wine Bar
Catering: Aquariva provides full-service catering for all events for River's Edge Hotel & Spa. For more information please contact Nichole Desphy at 503-802-5812 or at nichole.desphy@riversedgehotel.com
Special Events & Promotions: Aquariva's river view private banquet facilities are ideal for weddings and special events. Inquire about our riverside lawn perfect for ceremonies and photo opportunities!

Getting there

Cross Street: Hamilton Court
Public Transit: Portland's Streetcar service ends three blocks from Aquariva. Take the Streetcar from anywhere downtown heading though PSU and RiverPlace. Disembark at the last streetcar stop (Lowell and Bond) and follow the walkway South to Hamilton Court and Aquariva!
Parking: Valet
Parking Details: SW Hamilton Court is just past the new South Waterfront development on Macadam Avenue (Hwy 43). From downtown, head south on Highway 43 (Macadam). SW Hamilton Court is the first left off Macadam Avenue (at light). NOTE: for GPS entry, use address 4650 SW Macadam Ave, Portland, Oregon 97239. Valet parking is available.

A word from Aquariva

Easygoing and dramatic elegance. Relaxed sophistication. Perfect riverside location. Aquariva offers a seasonally-inspired menu on the banks of the Willamette River just minutes from downtown. Outdoor riverside patio dining. Complimentary valet parking and wireless internet access. NOTE: When using… GPS, enter address 4650 SW Macadam Ave, Portland, Oregon 97239.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerOutdoor Dining
Diners' Choice WinnerScenic View

Diner Reviews

"Service at a very deliberate pace. An hour and fifteen minutes for just two courses. Trout was overcooked. Unfortunate as we remembered this as a better restaurant."
Dined on 3/6/2014
"They serve better eggs benedict at Shari's. Here are my problems with the eggs benedict I had at Aquariva: "Smoked" pork was dry, bland, and devoid of flavor (or seasoning). Poached eggs were overcooked with no runny yoke, may as well have been hard boiled. "Brown butter hollandaise" is flavorless, no tang. I would never eat here unless I was staying at the hotel and feeling too lazy to go somewhere else. It's sad really. Such a nice location deserves better food. If the execution of the current menu was better, it would be worth the prices asked for dishes. As it is though, I would avoid this place."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"The Mussels we had for appetizer were cooked perfectly. I loved the wedge salad, so tasty, and the lamb chops, although we did ask for them rare were closer to raw. They were still delicious and we gobbled them up. I loved our server in the bar while we waited for our table but we felt almost like we were annoying our server at dinner every time we asked a question. She seemed disinterested in us, the food, her job, not sure which or all of the above. I am sure it was a busy night as it was Valentine's Day and our reservations were for 8:30, maybe she had just had a bad night. We still managed to have a great time, but for the almost $200.00 we spent for the two of us we think we can do better somewhere else."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Food was bland. Service was horrible. All we could do is laugh at ourselves for choosing such a poor restaurant. Too bad because it has a great location."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"We had a wonderful family dinner. The food was excellent, service wonderful & setting was perfect."
Dined on 12/21/2013
"We had a birthday brunch there. Great view of the river and service was great."
Dined on 2/1/2014
"We celebrated our twin Grand Daughter's 13 birthday at a Sunday Brunch and they greeted us by name at the door, said Happy Birthday by name to the girls upon arrival, had a special table for us with a great river view and private curtains and even a gift table...wow...our waitress happens to have twin girls as well who are 3 1/2, what attention to everything...really memorable. Menu items for every interest and age."
Dined on 2/1/2014
"The view from our window seat would have enchanted any meal. As it was, our food stood on its own merit. The staff had noted it was a birthday lunch and went out of their way to make it a special occasion. My friend , a vegetarian, was disappointed that the kitchen had run out of veggie burgers. However, a grain/veggie salad was a tasty and filling replacement. I had a turkey sandwich that was so generously portioned, I was able to save half for dinner. The kitchen readily accommodated my need for a softer bread than the artisan bread it came on. To compensate for having run out of veggie burgers, my friend was presented with her choice of a complimentary dessert and upon request a rendition of happy birthday by our waiter. A relaxing day."
Dined on 1/30/2014
"Not only was the food and service great, but my coat was accidentally given to another diner and the manager spent 2 days working to find the person and get my coat back. Oddly enough both coats were black Calvin Klein full length wool and both size 8. Apparently the husband collected what he thought was his wife's coat. At any rate, I was in from Denver and most certainly wanted my expensive coat back. The manager, Scott, went even further in loaning me a coat until he could recover mine. Scott in fact drove to the other diner's home (luckily they were local) and got my coat back. It was an interesting experience to say the least, but it did not overshadow the fact that the food and service were great! Try Aquariva when in Portland!"
Dined on 1/10/2014
"Food portions are very small and food is just good"
Dined on 1/4/2014
"Great food,exceptional service in a beautiful setting. Our waitress was a wonderful person who was helpful and attentive."
Dined on 12/24/2013
"OUR FRIENDS CAME FROM SUBURBS; HAD NEVER SEEN THE SHIPS. GOOD FOOD, SERVING, AND VIEW!"
Dined on 12/16/2013
"Visited Aquariva for a birthday dinner. Very nice atmosphere and great view of the river. Christmas ships paraded by as planned. The menu was ambitious and didn't disappoint. Aquariva seems a bit like a newer restaurant still trying to get up to speed, but we would definitely go back again. They comped a dessert for the birthday boy and were very nice people. The valet parking rocks!"
Dined on 12/18/2013
"Nice ambiance for dinner. However, the food was average at best. We had pork shank with polenta and the polenta was soupy - had to ask for a spoon. Nothing else came with it so the presentation was lacking somewhat - ordered a vegetable to share and it was okay as well."
Dined on 12/17/2013
"We recently held our business Advisory Board meeting at Aquariva. The quiet atmosphere was perfect for our discussions. The host suggested that she seat us on the upper level and when we arrived they had cordoned off a table just for us. To top it off the food was delicious and the service impeccable. We will be holding all of our meeting here in the future."
Dined on 12/16/2013
"We've been here many times, but were disappointed by the changes. The menu, which always evolves based on seasonal food, had a complete overhaul, but not a good one. The calamari was eliminated, as was the scallops entree, which was a year-round and one of their best offerings. The appetizers and entrees they had were, well, less than appetizing. I ordered a cup of the yam soup before dinner, which was okay, but it was served luke warm and the onions were a bit overpowering. The lamb ragu gnocchi was not very good. First of all, it was not gnocchi, but some other noodle. The noodles were overcooked and a bit soggy. The sauce was very watery, leaving a pool of water at the bottom of the bowl. Service was still good, at least."
Dined on 12/14/2013
"Heard about the restaurant through the S. Waterfront newsletter. Did the tram to see the Christmas boats then walked to Aquariva for dinner. We all LOVED our meals! The farro, mushroom starter was plenty to share for four of us and so delicious. As we finished our meal, the boats motored past, so close we could see details we hadn't seen before. Can only imagine the view during the day. Since we enjoyed our food so much, I know we'll return to see the river during the day!"
Dined on 12/11/2013
"Recommended for very good food combinations and techniques, and beautiful location with view of river. Service was good, for Thanksgiving."
Dined on 11/28/2013
"My husband and I wanted to eat out for Thanksgiving. We had a lovely meal with a wonderful view of the river and Mt Hood's alpen glow. The food was excellent. The service was excellent. And, no dishes to do. A perfect Thanksgiving."
Dined on 11/28/2013
"What a nice surprise to notice the change in the quality of food at Aquariva. We have been coming for many years on my aunt's birthday since this is her choice each time but the food was never a favorite of mine. The view is one of the best but the food was always just ok and now it's exceptionally good. And now I can see us coming for dinners too."
Dined on 11/19/2013
"The food was really wonderfully prepared. Although the kitchen was slow - the restaurant was not busy - the food when it arrived was excellent. A unique menu and a great riverfront location. It is too bad the restaurant wasn't busy on a Saturday night - more people need to discover this place."
Dined on 11/2/2013
"Went on a Sunday night. Virtually no one there. Service was slow..long gaps between courses."
Dined on 10/28/2013
"Great location but pretty empty. Steak was okay. The presentation was nice, but portion were small for price and didn't taste as good as it looked. Potential to be great but not yet."
Dined on 10/7/2013
"Dining experience relaxed and welcoming and the staff is attentive and wonderfully responsive. The entrees we chose may have not been the chefs favorite being void of seasoning and that presentation we all look for in this type of restaurant setting. However, noticing other dishes being served, I will try another night. The burgers looked great."
Dined on 10/16/2013
"We loved our experience. Music perfect volume, ambience relaxing, view great, go od food selection [ Brunch ], Bloody Mary / Mimosa bar wonderful. ONLY damper ... our waitress seemed like she wished she were somewhere else, absent minded and not attentive at all. Still, we will definitely go back, a terrific neighborhood find."
Dined on 10/6/2013
"Food was excellent; but the dessert was terrible. It was not as described. Waitress just laughed it off; which spoiled the special occasion."
Dined on 10/1/2013
"I have been to this restaurant several times, it has gone from outstanding to just average over the course of about a year. It can hardly be called Italian food any more but that is OK, but the menu has become more limited, still expensive, and not as imaginative as it has been. I have never eaten dinner here, just lunch but from some other reviews it sounds like it suffers from inconsistent service at night. never a problem for lunch because there is hardly anyone there. I would guess that they are struggling somewhat and having trouble hanging on to good chefs and servers."
Dined on 9/25/2013
"We thoroughly enjoyed the Hanger steak and lamb. Fabulous flavor and presentation. We will certainly return and recommend to friends."
Dined on 9/21/2013
"Poorly made cocktail, run down facilities, mediocre food, but friendly staff."
Dined on 9/6/2013
"I like efficient but unobtrusive service. Our waitress must have interrupted us at least a dozen times which annoyed me to no end. The food was totally unremarkable and overpriced. I had the the duck breast which was tough and tasteless. I'm surprised this restaurant remains open."
Dined on 8/25/2013
"Unfortunately, a terrific setting on the Willamette River is spoiled by what matters most...the quality of the food. Dishes are uninspired at best, and the presentation is poor. The duck in particular was cooked unevenly, with a dry and tasteless leg, and a breast that was without flavor and not tender by any means. Service was attentive."
Dined on 8/20/2013
"We've been here before when in Portland and staying nearby and it was okay, but when we were there August 17, the service couldn't have been worse, and they were out of certain ingredients if certain dishes - which they didn't mention until they brought out the incomplete dish. They were also out of the first ine we ordered but it took about 20 minutes to be advised of that. Our server totally ignored us and we had the repeatedly ask for the whereabouts of our bar service, food and when we might expect water. We also waited 15-20 minutes after being seated before anyone brought water and menus, and then they were "short" of menus. We were a party of five and there were very few other diners. We will never go there again."
Dined on 8/18/2013
"For the price, I expected more. Salads fresh, check. Served in a large pasta bowl, my (7?) smallish pieces of butternut squash ravioli looked so skimpy, and the shaved biscotti seemed out of place. The berry cobbler and ice cream was not nice at all compared to others I've had. Served on a plate, its warmth disappeared quickly. The dough was soggy. Ouch. My friend was delighted with everything, however."
Dined on 8/4/2013
"We enjoyed our meal with an excellent round table for our party of five. Service can be slow but unless you are in a hurry that's okay as the setting by the River makes it easy to sit back and enjoy the experience. All in our party enjoyed the meal, although the lamb bolognese was a bit over salted. I enjoy coming to Aquariva and am often surprised it is not busier. It's a bit out of the way, but a great option if you are downtown as it is really close."
Dined on 7/30/2013
"Normally, I love Aquariva. Unfortunately, and to my utter surprise, it did not turn out so well this time. We were promptly seated at 7pm and ordered drinks shortly after; we brought two older vintage wines as well. A vodka tonic, two beers, and the other was going to wait for the wine we brought to drink. 7:45pm, the two beers and vodka came. Just past 8pm the wine was opened. 8:30pm our order was taken and just past 9pm it arrived, with our bread. Really, couldn't the bread have come out at 7pm?!?! It tasted good, but was such small portions and at this time we were all starving. Waitress apologized for everything and was VERY good and it was busy, the kitchen was busy, but I don't want to wait until after 9pm to eat."
Dined on 7/17/2013
"Food was outstanding but price per plate should be relevant to the amount of food served."
Dined on 7/20/2013
"My wifes steak came out overdone. By the time she got a new one, I had finished my dinner. Portion was small for the scallops. Well prepared though. Very spendy"
Dined on 7/13/2013
"I loved the quiet, scenic atmosphere of this place - especially the outdoor seating which faces the river. The food is great - both the fish and lamb specials were excellent. The wine list is both exhaustive and very good, however, it is also pricey. The service during food was outstanding, with good recommendations all around on the both the food and wine. The seating, however, needed a little finesse. We were told that the seating of our choice was for larger parties, although the restaurant was clearly not busy that night and the table remained open through our dinner."
Dined on 7/5/2013
"The view from where we sat outside was really great. Right beside the river. The food was really great too. The Pomegranate Salad we had was probably the best salad I had. We wanted something vegetarian and they were out of the only vegetarian option they had on the menu. The chef suggested a custom veggie pasta and it was really tasty. I would definitely recommend this place."
Dined on 7/1/2013
"Went for brunch and got seated right away. Took 25 minutes to get water and 55 minutes to get food. Won't be back."
Dined on 6/16/2013

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