Julian A.
Yelp
To put it simply, Multnomah Falls Lodge Restaurant is not bad... but it's not great either. It is just okay.
First, I want to make it clear that my rating has nothing to do with the disastrous parking situation as that is something they really can't control.
So let's start with the ambiance. It's awesome. We went on a Monday with a Noon reservation so the seating was a plenty. We even got seated with the waterfall in clear view!
Service was a mixed bag, unfortunately. The greeters were friendly and nice, and our server was also friendly and nice but they were not very attentive and extremely slow. Also, things were missing and we had to ask for it. For example, we ordered the calamari appetizer that never came, and they didn't provide stirring sticks with our coffee. They repeatedly apologized, stating that they had multiple tables across two different rooms so they had to do a lot of running around. I totally understand... but to completely forget an appetizer is kind of a bummer and not a good reason (especially since another server was doing a great job hustling and bustling). We made sure the calamari wasn't included on the final bill (it wasn't) and they gave our coffees for free to make up for it, which, sure, is cool... but it's also the cheapest thing on the menu.
The food we did get was pretty good. I really wanted the cheeseburger but ended up getting the trout with rice and veggies (as well as a tomato soup). I'd recommend it if fish is your thing. My wife got the salmon with rice and veggies (as well as a French onion soup), and she too recommends it... again, if fish is your thing. I just really wish I had a chance to try their calamari...
Lastly, this place doesn't serve Coca-Cola which, as you know, is a red flag for me.
I think one thing that made up for it was that you can walk up to the falls after (or even before) your reservation. That part is completely free. It is really stunning to see in person but even for a Monday, it was still quite crowded with tourists.
In the end, it's safe to say that I'll never go back. Not because the restaurant experience was mediocre but because the price, the drive, and the parking situation is just not worth it. I think if you've seen the falls in person once while driving past it, that's truly good enough.