L’Echelle

We had the pleasure of dining here this past weekend and wow, it was so amazing. The food was fantastic, we went with another couple so I feel like we ordered half the menu. We had the salade verte, the cold asparagus, the tartare, the crudo, the Parisian gnocchi, steak au poivre and the crepinette. Fan favorites were the tartare and the parisian gnocchi! Shared both desserts and cleaned our plates. Cocktails are inventive and delicious and wine list is great. Check l'Echelle out!

The good: Hosts & servers were very friendly and attentive. The small plates and sides were delicious. Highlights were the eggs w salmon roe and beets. The not so good: Service was not paced and we felt mildly rushed. Not a slow relaxed experience, but they didn’t kick us out of the table. The sommelier wasn’t very helpful and did not come across as knowledgeable. The steak was tough and overcooked. Overall, it was good enough that I would give it another shot.

Amazing service. Great drinks. No reservations available, walk in only. Waited 45mins on a Friday at 6PM. Service was quick and attentive. We got the oysters, steak, duck breast, and rapini. Flavors were fantastic, especially the duck breast which I highly recommend. Steak and duck breast were cooked perfectly and delicious. However, I would not order the steak again because it honestly was not a complete dish. It was just the steak, sauce with green peppercorns. For $43 8oz steak, I personally feel like it should be served w some small side to complete the dish, not just steak and sauce. If you plan on ordering the steak, make sure to get a side otherwise you’ll leave hungry. Otherwise, everything great. I will be back again to try the pork!

L'echelle is (no surprise) a keeper! Their cocktail and N/A drink options are great. I really enjoyed doing the Mademoiselle, N/A version. It was refreshing on a warm day and the combo of lemon, elderflower and cinnamon made it smell incredible too. I'm looking forward to trying the version with Aria Gin soon. The menu has a wonderful variety of food options. We tried the crudo, panisse, asparagus, salad verte, steak, fries and pork crepinette. Everything was prepared beautifully and absolutely delicious, but I always enjoy thinking about what was the best bite of the night. Our dinner group decided the top two were: 1. The asparagus. The texture combination was so good - perfectly cooked asparagus with creamy (green allium remoulade) and crunchy (nuts). 2. The shima mizu crudo. So fun and inventive! The sweet strawberry + spice serrano tempered by the fish was amazing and then the light crunch from the crispy basil. Definitely would eat this anytime but it was partially great on a hot day. Not only is the food to die for but the staff are amazing. One of our party is in a wheelchair which can sometimes be problematic. Not here! They were so wonderful about making sure we had an easily accessible spot.

A native Portlander who moved away, I was lucky to snag a table at L’echelle with my dad while visiting for the weekend. This was some of the most authentic French bistro-style food I’ve had in a long time. No frills, no overly seasoned plates—just simple, thoughtful cooking. The chefs let the natural flavors of the meats and seafood shine, adding just the right touch of complementary notes. The standout? A duck breast in a prune demi-glace—simple and divine. Even though I went with family, this place is made for a girls’ night or a romantic date—the ambiance is just that charming. Can’t wait to come back next time I’m in town.

Perfect evening with my wife on our 31st wedding anniversary. Except, our steaks were as tough as my grandfather’s belt. That said, the flavors were amazing. Hopefully, just a bad cut that night. We will definitely be back.

Lots to love about this new restaurant! We were very happy with the drinks. The fries were outstanding. The carrots and asparagus were simple and enjoyable. I felt like the gnocchi was a bit heavy, could’ve used more pickles to balance it out. The salad verte felt a little flat. They’ll probably have to add some sound proofing because it gets loud.

Dinner for four. Food very good, flavorful but not silly. And I like that the menu is small, the focus on each dish. But ... The noise level was ridiculous. People were screaming to be heard, which of course cascaded. A real shame. We go out in company to talk with each other while we eat. We couldn't. We will not be back.