Skip to main content1937 NW 23rd Place, 719-4599, noisetterestaurant.com.
[NORTHWEST GENTILITY] Portland's
commitment to keeping it casual leaves little space for crisp, white
tablecloths. At Noisette, not only are the tables decked out, but there
is white leather furniture, fine art on the walls and carpet on the
floor. It's a stylish spot, a perfect place to take someone dear for a
fine meal and quiet conversation. Chef Tony Demes' plates aren't the
feats of vertical engineering he once presented at Couvron in the heady
days of the late 1990s, but they are still carefully composed and a
visual and culinary joy to behold. Neither is Demes beholden to the
multicourse processional as he once was. Instead diners can order small
plates to suit individual appetites or go with a seven-course tasting
menu ($85) that ends with a cloud-light dessert soufflé ($10 a la
carte). Recent soufflé choices chocolate and strawberry were reason
enough to visit. Local ingredients abound on the menu, but they are not
the focus. Delicate butter-poached lobster is always on offer, as is a
plate matching local and imported beef. This is genteel dining. Don't
figure to walk out groaning from excess; do count on a feeling of
well-orchestrated bliss.
Ideal meal: Though not required, the tasting menu best showcases the chef's formidable skills and range of offerings.
Best deal: If you time it right, duck in late for a soufflé and coffee or Steven Smith tea.
Pro tip: Three stools at the counter adjacent to the kitchen offer free dinner theater for solos and small groups.
5-10 pm Tuesday-Saturday. $$$-$$$$.
WWeek 2015