ImperialPerfectFood was perfect, beautiful, balanced, just the right amount and sophisticated. We will return as often as we can afford to. How lucky we are have such a restaurant in portland. Thank you Mr. Paley.
I would say the ambience was interesting and comfortable. It didn't overwhelm or take our attention away from the food and our friends.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMService and Style at the ImperialWe went as a party of three during Portland Dining Month and took advantage of the Pre-Fixe special menu. Started off the evening with one of the "draft" cocktails that (featuring Rose wine and pamplemousse liquor )..tasty but a tad sweet. We opted to have the matching wine selectings on the 3 course dinner, and we were so glad we did! Excellent pairings, reasonable pours and all for $16 ..truly a deal! Our server was pleasant, nowledgeable and professional as was the whole staff. You could tell they took care and had pride in their food . Can't wait to go back !6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed a Newer Restaurant!Had great appetizer clams in broth and very good warm romaine feta salad. Shared roasted chicken dish that was very tasty but skin could have been more crispy. Good fresh ingredients and nicely seasoned without being overdone. plan to come back.6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous EveningWhen Sophia called to confirm my reservation she asked if it was a special occasion. I told her that yes it was and preordered cocktails that were delivered to our table quickly after we were seated. Nice touch. Food was great adn our server was friendly and very knowledgeable about all menu items. We will be back!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMPDX Dining month at the ImerpialThe meal was lovely. Started with an arugula salad with strawberries, hazelnuts and goat cheese, dressed with a pesto - lemon balsamic with a hint of rhubarb. Nice melange of flavors - the tartness of the rhubarb playing off the sweetness of the strawberries and the creamy goat cheese. Next was 3 large slices of smoked pork loin on a bed of pureed carrots with fresh peas and mint. So wonderful Desert was a warm honey cake with vanilla ice cream and strawberries - just yummy and a nice way to end the meal.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat RestaurantVery good food, service, and ambiance! Prices are very reasonable for a great downtown restaurant.
We had the spoon lamb, fried rabbit and the ribeye, all we're perfect.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMImpeccable!Chef Paley greeted us at the door. there were four of us in our party and there was not a single dissapointing course. Two of us had the June$29 special 3 course meal and it was superb as were the 3 accompaning wines for $16. We'd go back again and again.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFood to die forThe Fried Rabbit was really good. Kudos to the Chef!
Waitress really knew her menu like the back of her hand and was very attentive and helpful.
Great vibe too in the restaurant6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat first trip.Absolutely would go back, we went after eating and drinking all afternoon on the brewcycle tour, and it was still good!
I want to go back with an actual appetite.
Met Vitaly Paley the day before, really nice guy.
Bike chain chandeliers (kinda goth-ish) are super cool. Plus apparently Chef Paley rides, so that makes it that much better!5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother tasty spotPortland is teeming with great food spots and Imperial is yet another one. Great food and craft cocktails (check out the hand sawed ice cubes!). A bit pricey for the working man, but a nice place nonetheless.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the best restaurantsIf you haven't been to Imperial, you are missing out on one of the best restaurants in Portland. Everything on their menu are well executed, well balanced and delicious. Highly recommended it.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently excellentWe've been here many times. The food and service is consistently excellent . Warm Parker House Rolls. Carrot soup with a deep flavor from rabbit stock, grilled romaine & feta & tomato salad. Housemade sausage of the day. Black cod with rapini, arugula & green goddess sauce. You can't be a chef these days and not make excellent French fries but theirs are standouts. Crisp creamy perfect. Service is as friendly as you want it to be. I don't choose the wine so I don't know about the extent of the list but the one chosen was very good. It was an enjoyable evening out.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMImperial is kineGreat food, service and decor- perfect locatoin for all occasions5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is my second time atThis is my second time at Imperial, both for lunch.
The grilled vegetable sandwich with a pesto spread was very tasty and is sufficiently large to perhaps consider a half sandwich with salad option. Wines by the glass has a modest selection.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMLong lunchWe had a great lunch in here with both food and service being excellent. We had a reservation for noon and stayed thru 330pm with no one trying to rush us out which was great as we could catch up with friends. Two minor issues - one for the restaurant and one not their issue - the server brought the bill with out offering desert, not sure why no upswell as once we asked for desert the daily pie and ice cream was delicious. The other non restaurant issue is that we requested for a quiet table which they gave us in the back but AT&T service was not good at all back there - so if you are hooked on your smart phone and are on AT&T be aware!5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMAnd dessert was even betterWe brought our small group to the Imperial for the first time. We all enjoyed our meals including some amazing desserts. We had a nice bottle of wine from Domaine Droughin.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMFood great, service mixedWe especially liked the two appetizers we ordered--the grilled romaine and the kale salad. The chicken was tender and moist. We had to ask the server if the chicken was large enough to split. She was open about the fact we could, but we had to ask if we had too much food.
Initially the servers were very attentive, then they seemed to forget us. I wanted a second glass of wine and I was almost done with my entrée before I caught a waitperson's attention.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMNot as pretentious as Paley'sAll in all, good solid food. Four of us went and we started with the roasted onion soup (amazing), the duck meatballs (one of their popular dishes that was good, but not worth it compared with other options), and the clams (great spicy broth and clams were cleaned and fresh). For entrees, we did the halibut (well cooked), fried rabbit (comes with a side of honey and a dropper bottle of aged hot sauce; best dish of the night), lamb (a bit rare for my taste) and the pork loin. All of the dishes had great flavor as you'd expect from a Paley restaurant, but the service and attention were much better than I've ever had at Paley's place. Dessert was also a plus with chocolate cream pie and brown butter beneigts. We'll go back.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMwonderful brunchWe had a delicious brunch for a reasonable price. I had the chorizo sausage, scrambled eggs and fry bread. The breakfast potatoes were fabulous - and my daughter had wonderful french toast with strawberries. The manager came by to check on us and Vitaly Paley was there making sure everything was in order. I liked the ambiance of the place. I would like to go back and try more things. Definitely a great brunch place - and did I mention the bloody mary was nice and spicy?5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFresh, healthy and exceptionalWonderful food. Vitaley Paley has it nailed with this one. Terrific very fresh and expertly prepared dishes long on fresh local vegetable sides. My favorite way to eat.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous food, great room,Fabulous food, great room, painfully slow service!5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Imperial was REALLY good.The Imperial was REALLY good. My wife had the halibut and I had the lamb. Both were delicious and were made with care for the ingredents, preparation and presentation. We both enjoyed ourselves and will be back, with friends.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AM40th Birthday LunchI took a friend to the Imperial today for a birthday lunch. Everything was impeccable. The server was helpful, efficient and very friendly. The food selection was fantastic and they were great able accommodating some of my dietary restrictions. Would go back anytime.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent location in theExcellent location in the downtown area. Very vibrant atmosphere. Food selection rotates with the seasons.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food and service wereThe food and service were fantastic! The restaurant was noisy, but not oppressively so.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMImperial is in our Top FiveWe have so enjoyed Imperial, both for lunch and dinner. Incredible food and excellent service. We will be back again for sure.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went for brunch for ourWe went for brunch for our son's 28th birthday. We found the menu varied, but not overwhelming, good choices for a range of tastes, excellent coffee. Try the beignets, much better than New Orleans, great pastrami hash, french toast. Our service was very good. I did get a look of annoyance from the hostess when I asked the music be turned down slightly and they did comply. Really wish resturants in general would treat music as truly background noise which is barely noticeable, rather than something that you have to yell over to be heard. This is a general complaint, not specific to Imperial. We will be back for dinner at some point.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMVery loud. Waited long timeVery loud. Waited long time between app and entree. Otherwise, good food and great company to enjoy it with.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMIt was a special lunch forIt was a special lunch for a friend's birthday, and was exceptionally delicious.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMOur group of four had a lovelyOur group of four had a lovely time. The wait staff was very attentive without being overly hovering.
Our food choices were fine. We all enjoyed ourselves.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AM2nd time there, this time2nd time there, this time for business. I liked it the first time, but actually felt like the food was better this time. Standout items: duck meatballs, Parker rolls, grilled romaine salad and the planked pork secreto. Service was good, but not great; just a bit sloppy around the edges, but that seems pretty typical in Portland. I like the wine list, but feel like it could be bigger. Do we really need another long list of Oregon Pinots? I appreciate the local pride, but would have appreciated a broader selection of non-Oregon reds.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMBlown away!Always looking for a blow me away culinary experience, we try many new places.We are not often impressed,, but we had an amazing dinner at Imperial. If you appreciatecomplex flavor, beautiful presentation, great service surrounded by a hip, romantic ambiance, thenImperial will WOW you!One of our Fav dinners in all of PDX and we have tried many...4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMOur server forgot one of theOur server forgot one of the dishes we ordered. That's what happens when you don't write down our orders.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMI had heard good things aboutI had heard good things about the restaurant, and they proved they were worth all the praise. The food, along with everything else, was fantastic. We highly recommend it. A new favorite!4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat eat!I highly recommend Imperial. The food is creative, wonderfully presented and delicious and the price was a good value. The service was great, which led for an enjoyable meal. I'm on the fence about Paley's Place, but Imperial by far a terrific restaurant. Highly recommend.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food incorporating interestinGreat food incorporating interesting blends of flavors -- definitely not the traditional fare. If you are interested in fun and interesting food, this is the place for you.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMImperial Pastrami Hash wasImperial Pastrami Hash was wonderful--the pastrami itself was in moist, smoky/sweet chunks; poached egg perfect; other little extras like arugula (?) and tiny mushrooms mixed in with the potatoes. This was my second choice after I discovered (by ordering it, not by being advised in advance by the waiter!) that they were out of the Semolina Corn Cake. I'll try that next time, unless I succumb to the hash again.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMI like to judge my brunchI like to judge my brunch experience by how well a place can do the basics. Chef Paley and his crew get it right. My friend and I had the french toast and pancakes, along with sides of bacon. Perfect! Attentive staff came back twice to bring more real maple syrup, the catsup was house made, and, we were so impressed, the sides of bacon had about 6 slices per plate! Who does that? Imperial's take on a Moscow Mule cocktail had us asking for a quart of it ''to go''.(Not that we could, of course, but one can always hope). I was unabashedly slurping every last bit of moisture from the bottom of the mug.
Perfect everything..We drove up from McMinnville/ Salem, respectively, and worth the drive4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was great. Our onlyThe food was great. Our only issue was that the food was brought out very quickly; appetizers before we had even gotten our wine. We felt a little rushed through the experience and felt like it would have been nicer to feel like we had a little more time to enjoy our romantic dinner.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMwe always sit at the bar withwe always sit at the bar with Brandon. He is fantastic and a huge asset to Imperial.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMAn excellent meal! On theAn excellent meal! On the suggestion of the chef Paley who stopped by our table, we ordered the duck meatballs and pork secreto. I'm still dreaming about that pork. So yummy!4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a treat!For a Friday, end-of-the-week treat, Paley's Imperial Restaurant is perfect. Beautiful setting, excellent service and superb food.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMPretty TastyWe started with the Parker House rolls, which are absolutely worth ordering. Some of us had the kale salad and the others the grilled romaine; both got good reviews (particularly the croutons). The roasted cauliflower and chickpea stew got top marks and the steelhead was prepared well. (I particularly liked the spaetzel.) For dessert, we split the strawberry rhubarb pie with the coffee ice cream . . . really good. They have the crust down. For cocktails, I do recommend the "a radish walks into a bar"; super name and great taste.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat service. Great food.great service. Great food. The hostess Amanda was very charming and helpful.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMTop recommendation for anyoneTop recommendation for anyone to go to. A friend and I go to different restaurants every week, always high end so you can probably figure out the list. This was by far the best one in our opinions. The chefs are some of Portland's beas obviously and the food and service are incredible. Another thing we both noticed was that they have paid particular attention to the noise issue. Too many of the new hot spots are so noisy that we cannot talk. Imperial has taken steps to softened the hard surfaces and their efforts pay off really well.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMDining at Chef Paley's counterHad the opportunity to sit at the Chef's Counter and met Vitaly Paley. The food was incredible and he couldn't have been more gracious. Dining alone I got to enjoy the meals being prepared in front of me and saw the love and attention that went into every dish. The Italian made wood fired grill is a work of art. I had grilled oysters with an excellent herb sauce for starters. Salad was an incredibly fresh and bright Kale salad with the perfect amount of dressing and a delicious sunflower brittle. I also had deliciously prepared and seasMain course was Secreto which is an uncommon cut of pork that is lean and perfectly done by being wood fire grilled. Match it all with a great Pinot and a magnificent Chef and it was a meal to remember3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMIn the restaurant business,In the restaurant business, too many people focus on the business side of things and not enough on the food. That's not the case at Imperial, where it's clear that everyone there truly loves great food. We had the fried rabbit and pork shoulder, and both were fantastic. All the meats are expertly cured, smoked or otherwise prepared with extra care in-house. One of the best meals in a long time.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food, great service.Wonderful food, great service. A little bit noisy which quieted down later in the evening.
Definitely a place to recommend and to return to in the future.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMVery cool restaurant withVery cool restaurant with delicious food! The spicy carrot soup was amazing!3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was outstanding, creativityFood was outstanding, creativity with proper execution. Best meal I had in Portland3/12/2013 12:00:00 AM