DOC Restaurant

We visited DOC for our 41^st wedding anniversary last night on the recommendation of our daughter who is a wine enthusiast. We were a little worried about the Unilocal reviews that made the restaurant sound snooty and almost a little hostile. Our experience was the opposite. While we don’t qualify as oenophiles, we do know good food and wine. The staff treated us respectfully, informing us about the foods and wines that were picked for us in the pairings. They answered all our questions without making us feel inadequate for asking. So all that stuff aside we had one of the best dinners we have ever enjoyed and the pairings were exquisite. The serving was well timed and efficient. While the atmosphere is quite casual (we were a bit overdressed) the service and quality were spot on. We felt we got great value for our money.

My husband & I had dinner here last night to celebrate our Anniversary. The food, wine pairings with each course and the presentation were all excellent. We would recommend this place for that special night! It was pricey, but worth it!

Incredible food, service, pairings and atmosphere. Worth every cent.

We stumbled into this place not knowing it was reservation only. Luckily they had a no show and we were able to try their 6 course tasting meal!
Only one of us did the wine paring but they give you 6 tastings so that was enough for the two of us to share. I can’t say much about the white wines since it’s not my thing but I liked the red wine that came with the main course. Dry and full bodied, just the way I like my red.
Food is great but not as great as I expected. My favorites were the iron steak, pesto risotto, cheeses and berries, and the crab pasta. For the price, I expected better but I guess the ambience and the setting made up for it. It really is a lovely place.
We had two ladies as our server and they were both very friendly and attentive.
Overall this place is worth trying, maybe on a special occasion.

My wife and I came here on a Friday night for their 6 course tasting menu. They had excellent service and were very friendly. The setup of their tasting menu however can be good for some and not desirable for others.
The oysters were delicious to start as they were very fresh, mild and slightly sweet. The brocollini was crisp, refreshing and cooked perfectly on the grill.
However, when it came to the primi and secondi courses there were some confusion. They had 3 options for each course and we were told that the chef was to choose which ones they were going to give us. My wife loves gnocchi and wanted to try the quail and asked our waitress if she could get those. We also make a lot of salmon at home so we wanted to try something that we couldn’t make. She said she would try to make it happen. However, when the meals came out, several of the tables around us got the quail and gnocchi while we were given the risotto and salmon. These dishes weren’t bad but we couldn’t help but be disappointed by the fact that what we actually wanted was given to the other tables. It didn’t seem to have any rhyme or reason to why one table got one entrée and not another.
Their cheese plate and dessert were also enjoyable, especially the flourless chocolate cake with the coffee ice cream and the caramel crumble panna cotta with fresh fruit. It was a good way to finish the meal, but disappointment over the quail and gnocchi still lingered.
I would conditionally recommend DOC for people that enjoy high quality food at a moderately expensive price. However, if you’re the type that wants to try something specific, you could be either pleasantly surprised or disappointed by the options that you end up getting.

To be upfront, nothing terrible happened during our meal.
But nothing great happened either.
We had an appetizer with cauliflower — just average. The leftovers are still sitting in our fridge a week later. And another appetizer with seared tuna with avocado — basically, tuna with sesame seeds on top of guacamole. I really felt like I could have eaten the exact same dish at P.F. Chang’s.
We had two pastas — the cavatelli with Dungeness crab was actually really tasty. The pea shoot pesto risotto on the other hand, was pretty unappetizing.
We shared a fish main that was a filet of I can’t remember what kind of fish on top of what was basically hummus. The fish was cooked fine, but the dish was not delicious. We ate the protein and left all the sides.
I’m sad to report that Grassa is better on pastas, and Mucca Osteria downtown is leagues better on everything else.
Service was lukewarm. The server didn’t explain any of the dishes we got, nor did he ask if everything was alright given that we only ate a quarter of our food.
Whatever, I’ll chalk this up to experience and call it good. Though I’m definitely not returning.

This was my most memorable and enjoyable prix fixe dining experience. Each person at the table receives something different which is a brilliant way to dine set menu style! I love that you can get a variety to taste this way from the menu. We didn’t do the wine pairing because their wine list was so interesting, we ended up having a lovely bottle of sparkling Riesling which complimented our meal perfectly. Each course was perfectly balanced, interesting, imaginative, and delicious. Everything from the buttery olives that accompanied the bread to start to the wonderfully complex salad and vegetable dishes, to the rich and satisfying fish and steak to the silk panna cotta that ended the evening — the food was superb. The ambiance and dining concept is avant garde, you walk in through the kitchen and the seating is intimate yet you have your own privacy and space. I absolutely can’t wait to go back for a special occasion.

The ambiance. The cutlery. The layout. The food. The wine pairing. The glasses. The same crew of 5 people every time we go. The server who remembers you when it is months between visits. 5 stars. We love you. So glad you are around.
Were they out of burrata on the only vegetarian entrée option once when I went? Yes. But, they had it the next visit and it was tasty as can be. (Psst –Trader Joe’s stocks burrata. It’s not farm-​to-​table, but when you are in a bind…)
Perfect when you want that old school full-​service meal. There is one server most nights, so manage your time expectations on busy nights. It is a very different experience depending on how busy it is… But that always seems to be the case in Portland. Managers under-​staffing to compensate for the min wage. Employees stretched thin. A public that seems incapable of adjusting to a new model of service industry work. Alright, this is not even prevalent at DOC. Rant off.

This is my go-​to restaurant when I have out of town guests because not only is the food always superb; it is also a wonderfully «Portland» experience. This is a tiny restaurant with a comfortable ambiance and a dedicated, skillful staff. They offer a «Chef’s Choice Six Course taster’s Menu» with or without the accompanying wines, that puts a smile on even the most discerning foodie’s face. The menu changes frequently, as the ingredients are locally sourced and prepared righting front of you. The staff serves each course along with an interesting explanation of the dishes, ingredients and tastes. Eating here is always a celebration and a wonderful experience.

Wow. I expected a lot more from the tasting menu here, but ended up being totally disappointed.
We came here for my husband’s birthday. Every course, I just kept hoping it would get better but it really never did. My husband’s salad was both bitter and sour at the same time. My salad was completely underdressed… how do you screw up salad?! The cheese course was fine but really, I would have just walked out if that was bad.
My fish was overcooked and way undersalted. Bad combination. The duck was cut way too thick and was way too chewy. Another bad combination.
The only thing I actually liked was the panna cotta at the end. My husband’s dessert was just gross. I hate to use that word but it was. I will never be returning here for a meal.

I teetered between a 2 and 3 star but, considering we paid an arm and a leg for our dinner there, a 2-​star rating is generous.
Atmosphere: intimate and charming — definitely it’s best attribute.
The food: had the tasting menu … decent. The mixture of flavors was interesting, but nothing was outstanding or noteworthy. Some of it was quite salty. We’re spoiled in Portland, so normally I can look past this a little bit, but for $ 75/​person, I expect a delicious meal.
Wine pairing: delicious, but odd. Each course has two plates and there was a different wine pair with each plate … but they bring out #1 glass for you and #2 for your partner. There was no warning ahead of time that you’d have to share wine glasses back and forth. Just odd and a little presumptuous — especially if you aren’t there with a date.
Service: yikes. Our server teetered between extremely bored/​annoyed he had to be there (delivering food) and then super into what he was saying (delivering wine). He spent the better half of a minute speaking in Italian explaining the wines (I think?). It wasn’t engaging and felt like we were being lectured in a foreign language, he was speaking so quickly. We love wine & tried asking a few questions about the regions, soil, etc. but he kind of seemed annoyed. Maybe he spent a lot of time memorizing Italian and not a lot on learning the wines so he was uncomfortable… I don’t know.
Its redeeming quality is that they charge a 3% health & wellness charge to give their employees health insurance. It’s stated clearly on the menu, so I can definitely get behind that.
Otherwise, I’m super sad because we’ve been wanting to go here for well over a year, having heard how intimate and fantastic it is. Really really really wanted to love this place! Bummed.

Our first time to this quaint restaurant and we opted for the chef’s tasting menu in lieu of individual orders. The food was excellent and ample for the three of us. We were stuffed when it was all said and done.
We did not opt for the added wine pairing option and that’s where DOC only receives my 3-​star rating in lieu of a five.
First we ordered a Barbera from their wine list — didn’t have it.
Then we ordered a Sangiovese — again, didn’t have it.
A Cabernet Franc listed — did not have.
We tried and declined an alternate wine because it did not have the body we desired — no body, minimal tannins. At the fifth try, the waitress recommended a bottle (NOT listed on the wine list); she opened, we tried and while it was still not there, we accepted and settled for a wine that had more of a CA Pinot grade. It wasn’t a bad match with the culinary delights we ate but those of you reading my review have, by now, deduced what the problem was: Inventory Control. Please do not have a wine list and then an insufficient supply to offer the clientele.
Indeed, this was not a good start to what pleasantly turned out to be a delicious meal. I will return to try the tasting menu and hopefully, the first wine I choose will be readily available to enjoy.

My wife and I tried DOC for the first time on her birthday and it has gone down as one of the best meals either of us has ever had. We did both the tasting menu and matching wine flight (highly recommend both) and received amazing service and a variety of different dishes for both of us that we shared. Everything was on point and delicious, and the atmosphere of the tiny restaurant makes for a very intimate and romantic experience. Hope to be back soon.

I can’t stop thinking about how amazing this restaurant is!!! Everything is great; the food, the wine, the service, the atmosphere, everything! Must try the wine pairings. Definitely an expensive meal but so worth it!

We had an heinous service experience, it was deplorable for the amount of money we spent on the tasting menu. We were attempting to celebrate a birthday with another couple, and sadly the service ruined our entire perception of DOC. This was not our first experience here, nor the second, we have held company teem dinners here, but sadly no longer. Our most recent experience will be out last. We called the manager to offer our feedback, asking nothing in return but sadly our feedback was simply shrugged off and never followed up on. We simply do not appreciate the smug belittling behavior that was exuded from the service. Our questions went unanswered, the server turned their back on us multiple times in mid question, interrupted and was unapologetic. Truly a disappointment because previously we had enjoyed dining here.

I feel so incredibly lucky to have experienced a meal at DOC. If you live in Portland, or are coming for a visit, a meal here is absolutely necessary. You won’t get such a high quality meal, with a warm, welcoming ambiance without pretension, anywhere else.
Two of us went on a Friday night and ordered the tasting menu, and split a wine pairing. Each course was spectacular. Large portions, unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentations. The staff were attentive and friendly, but at no point did we ever feel rushed. We were able to enjoy each dish at our own pace and somehow, as if by magic, the chefs knew exactly when we were ready for the next course to arrive.
A lot of thought was clearly put into the wine pairings, and the
sommelier provided interesting information of the vinyard for each glass of wine he poured.
The attention to detail on every single aspect of the meal made this more of an experience than simply another night out at a restaurant. Eating here was such a treat, and I will definitely be back.

Was looking for a place to host a corporate dinner of 35 people. I work at a large company and I book these events all the time. I don’t normally Unilocal on behalf of that. However, I went to the DOC website and notice they call out a 3% Health and Wellness charge on all checks to provide health insurance for their employees. I don’t mind paying higher prices if it means employees are well taken care of, but I find the fact that they make this special call out with special charge very off-​putting and too much of a political statement. Will not book here. Moving on.

Phenomenal atmosphere and menu — if it’s dark outside, you’d swear you’re in a quaint café in Italy! It has a very authentic feel; the staff is excellent and extremely attentive; and, the food was delicious. I was able to make a reservation the day before online, and the table was waiting when we arrived.

We went here almost a year ago, so I don’t remember details. But I do remember amazing food with exceptional wine pairings. Love the concept as well. Great date place!

I went here last night as a surprise for a very romantic dinner. It exceeded far beyond our expectations! This place is just amazing! A very sensual and exquisite dinner. Austin and Hannah were amazing as well. We had a pre-​fixed 5 course meal with wine pairings. Austin did the wine pairings part and all were amazing. We enjoyed the dining experience so much I had to ask for a menu of what we had and Austin immediately got that for us. The wines were perfect… everything was just yummy and sensual experience. The food is locally sourced and fresh and everything was well prepared and unique. This is a very special place and we will be coming back for special occasions! Thank so much for the experience DOC!

I loved:
–the service
–the ambiance
–the staff
–the wine
–the spaetzle
–the desserts
But… i was a bit disappointed with the main courses we had from the tasting menu. I had a salmon with a spicy roasted corn mix underneath that was delicious — and completely overshadowed the overcooked salmon.
Same for the steak entrée my husband had — the vegetables on his dish were prepared far better than the meat was.

Cool spot, nice and intimate (seats only 25 or so), but I expected more. Everything about our dinner and experience was ‘fine’, nothing was really better than that. Service was acceptable, nothing special. Food was good, not great (yes, we live in Portland and are spoiled). Wine pairings were fun, though not impressive. Pace of the meal was a little rushed /​forced. We have been on as great run of fantastic meals, this one was definitely a let down.

The boy and I went here for a date night a couple weeks ago and had their tasting menu. First off, amazing value. Six courses for $ 60 dollars, wow. We both opted for the wine pairings ($ 40)which were obscure, fun, and well paired. The food across the board was very good. Some standouts were in the ‘salad’ course. Tied were broccoli rabe glazed with Italian fish sauce and a white bean purée with marinated avocado. As a meat freak, I was surprised how much I loved these. The smoked tuna cavatelli in the next course was delicious. Perfect texture on the house made pasta. The other dish in this round was my least favorite of the night, wild rice risotto. I’ll admit I’m a little biased because I’m not a huge risotto fan to begin with, but even still I found it undercooked. Yes, wild rice will always be more toothsome than other varieties, however this was straight up crunchy. That being said, the flavoring was on point. The rest of the courses (I won’t get into all of them) were great. My absolute favorite, however, was my dessert. I am not a sweets person. Dessert, for me, is a cheese board. However, the sour crème panna cotta was to die for. Unbelievably creamy and rich, without being cloying.
Service and ambiance were great. Only complaint was that our table was buttressed against the dish station (?) and felt a little cramped.
Lasting impression: Totally worth it. I think they change the tasting menu monthly, so I will go again to experience more of what they can do. Wish there was a 4.5 rating option.

Austin does the best wine parings in Portland.
He is a mild mannered bearded wine wizard.
The food is fresh, composed, and interesting.
Add the wine and the pairing is what elevates.
DOC is our go to for special occasions.

Tried the tasting menu – it’s chef’s choice, but different people at the table get different dishes, so you can share to try more dishes if you want to.
When we went, we got the bread and olives, which were surprisingly not too salty, followed by 2 oysters/​person. This was followed by dishes from the antipasti and primi courses.
Overall, everything was very tasty. Our least favorite course was actually the secondi. We got a flat iron steak, which was just a bit salty for my taste and halibut, which was a bit dry.
Next was the cheese plate and lastly dessert.
The parties of 4 had to share 3 dishes family style for the antipasti, primi, and secondi courses, so I would recommend coming as a party of 3 or less.
Overall, a fun and tasty experience to have your food chosen for you. :)

Went for a delayed anniv. dinner we were supposed to be here a month earlier, it was excellent.
The service was great, very friendly staff. I find it funny someone ripped on the sommelier (only reason I know that is a best bud from Jr High is one, more of a beer guy myself) — beardo as they called him was extremely knowledgable. Like ridiculously so. That you confuse someone’s passion for their job for snobbery shows your insecurities and nothing more. Ok I did have to clue him in I was joking a couple times, he caught on. Guy is just serious about his gig and most folks love it. My wife did, I stuck to beer and teased him that the grapes were picked by little people at dawn to best preserve their flavor he laughed).
The food — outstanding. This is a tasting menu so if you expect the never ending bread/​salad bowl stick to the OG. But I have to say for the 6 course meal, it was bigger that I expected and I left stuffed. I’m a fatty that can eat a lot so that is saying something. The oysters, excellent. Salad delicious. I LOVED the halibut and the wife loved the flat iron steak. Both pasta dishes were great — the risotto was like an Italian version of red beans and rice — no beans or Cajun flavor but reminiscent (wife is from LA). Cheese plate, lovely and dessert was fantastic.
2 beers plus a wine pairing we shared, out the door under $ 200. Worth every penny and an anniversary well celebrated. We will be back.

Food is really good and the wine pairings were perfect. Going with the 6 course chef’s menu is the way to go. Here’s the BIG problem — easily the most condescending, unfriendly staff I have encountered in Portland. You know who I’m talking about Beardo. Your elaborate, professorial diatribes on each wine did nothing for us, especially when coupled with your icy response to a question I dared pose. Try smiling. Try expressing some degree of gratitude that we are in your restaurant.
We won’t be back despite the quality food. It wasn’t quite good enough to endure the smug elitism this place rains down on its guests.

Took my girlfriend here for her birthday. Chose the 5 course dinner. The food was good, period. It’s kind of spendy, but u will feel you did not waste your money when you leave here. When you enter, you pass through the small kitchen first. Then onto the dining tables. Thought that was weird.
The pros: The food, it’s a done deal. Service was good, nothing out of the ordinary. It’s a small restaurant, so the two servers had no problem attending to us. Their meat was made so tender and with so much care u can tell. I normally don’t care for deserts, but theirs was damn good.
The cons: I did not like their bread. Maybe it’s «supposed» to be that way or not, but it’s cold, chewy, and it seemed stale to me. The portions. Seems like the more expensive the restaurant, the less portions they give you, heh. But I’m a guy so I will always want more. My gf was full though after the meal.

My first thought was, «Why didn’t anyone ever tell me about this place?» Now granted, I’ve heard of DOC before, even read an article or two about it. Of course I’d even checked out the reviews and pictures here on Unilocal.However, I never felt like I NEEDED to come here.
Upon reflection, I started to come up with the reason why. Menu changes everyday at least a little, wholesale changes every week. I know, that to most, this concept is the greatest idea in the whole world. Local, fresh, whatever is in season, etc. A concept I generally agree with. at home. But at a restaurant? my biggest food fear personified. That I will have something that I love, so much, and then NEVER get to have it again.
Guess what (long intro?), I went, and it was amazing. (and a little weird). Sure, I didn’t have carte blanche to order a glass of wine. (I had to pick off the well paired wines with dinner secret list.) But it was the best meal I’ve had in a long time. and we’re lucky enough that our standards for a good meal in Portland are pretty damn high.
Thank the heavens that the waitress convinced me to reconsider my stance on «Primi.» I had the Cici bean — Avocado dish (basically an Italian hummus with fresh/​ripe avocado chunks and olive oil.) I could eat that every day. Entrée of a flat iron steak, cooked rare with a salad that had radishes and asparagus. but still very much reminded me of a good Caesar.
My wife enjoyed her entire meal, as well. Like Siskel and Ebert, a two thumbs up situation is usually an across the board winner.
And now? Well. I’m sitting here wondering If I’ll ever get to have that Cici bean dish ever again…

Hands down my favorite restaurant in the city. Definitely a special occasion kind of place but worth every penny.
I’ve only ever gotten the tasting menu with the wine pairing. About $ 100/​person. The quality of food is just mind blowing but what’s more is the sommelier nails every pairing on the head. Even better if you like what you’re drinking you can buy a bottle of it to take home right then and there! If you’re doing the tasting menu with more than 1 person, you get the luxury of tasting pretty much everything! They try not to give each person the same item/​beverage each course.
It may not be a place that suits everyone but it’s definitely a match made in heaven for me.

I wanted a nice place to have dinner and searched on Unilocal for Italian places. This one came up and after reading the reviews I decided to give it a try.
I didn’t make reservations for this Thursday evening visit but I recommend that you do. It was busy.
I did the chefs choice, which is way out on a limb for me. They did ask if I had any dietary restrictions and I mentioned no fish and mushrooms. Not really restrictions just dislikes :).
The waitress suggested two cabs for my wine choice so I had to try both. Excellent choice as both were great. Wish I could remember what they were!
I won’t explain the whole evening but I would highly recommend this place. I will be sure to go back next time I’m in Portland.
Five stars because they deserve every one. Unless you’re a snob you will enjoy your evening at Doc.