Comments

1
There's not enough pedestrian traffic in South Waterfront yet - that's my guess why Quartet is failing. That area needs a grocery store (coming), and a few more coffee shops and bars before high end restaurants make it.

There - I'm an urban planner!
2
Well, I suppose they could move to that neighborhood, thereby giving them some more visibility, but as it stands, they're in that tangle of touristy shit around Riverplace.

Believe it or not, I went there for the first (and probably only ) time this evening. Just had a couple of drinks, and mused to myself:

-the next tenant needs to do something to make themselves attractive to people who live in Portland. Go with a menu that is interesting and affordable. Don't think you'll have rubes from the hotel providing you with business all year long.

-whoever gets it next needs to realize that having a highly photogenic place isn't the same as having a place people want to be. As it is, it's uncomfortable, the bar furniture isn't amenable to being sat upon, it's dinny, and it's staffed with a small army of extras from a Robert Palmer video from the '80's (except the woman who ultimately waited on us; she was pretty nice, and fairly honest).

-if the lucky person who runs it next time 'round gets some better furniture and makes some effort to let Portlanders know where it's located, they still need to deal with the tremendous amount of wasted space in there. That can't help with what must be awful rent prices.

So yeah (hypothetical next guy): why don't you scrap the stupid choices of the last two owners and make it affordable, approachable, comfortable and something that advertises locally? Maybe it wouldn't be everybody's favorite expensive building to make fun of then!
3
azure - pricing on top of very lackluster reviews at its opening had a lot to do with it.

For $95 you could have a wonderful meal for two at a lot of Portland's top restaurants. There's not much of a market for a New York or Vegas-style eatery when there are already plenty of far better restaurants doing much more creative meals at half the price of Quartet.

It's not just the location - Portland just doesn't have a need for a place like Quartet. Or Lucier.
4
Fairness compels me to point out that the only $95 item was chateaubriand for two, which is no longer on the menu anyway. They seem to have recently revamped the menu, and were heading toward charging less, but I suspect it's too little, too late. If you're paying cash for produce deliveries, you're done.
5
It makes total sense that a savvy investor would not only buy in on specious claims of million dollar profits in a volatile industry, but also personally guarantee a lease.
6
There's plenty of foot traffic on the waterfront, one problem is starting from downtown there are 5 + restaurants clustered together before you even get down to this place.

BG is quite correct. How can the average person know INSTANTLY that a place like this will ultimately fail while rich fools remain clueless?
7
Not surprised. Great location, beautiful interior, but the food was so mediocre for the prices, it was bound to fail. It's all about the food -PDX-ers have so many choices when it comes to really good food here.
8
no no no~ the reason the joint is failing etc is because of crooked owners who have no integrity or brains when it comes to money~ initially, the vision and the team, from management on down(excluding owners) could easily have been successful had the profits actually been used wisely and fairly(i.e. paying employees) instead of blown and embezzled.
9
I don't think even stellar opening reviews would have done much. It's just a shitty location for a huge proportion of their tiny target market (i.e. rich SW/L.O. buttholes).

Look at all the high end places in town that have lasted, and you'll see they share basically nothing in common with Quartet.
10
Their reason for failing has nothing to do with it's location. No one is supporting this place because word has gotten out that Frank Taylor is a crook ~ not only among his vendors and staff, but even among his "partners." He is a crook! I'm surprised they've lasted 6 months. In the beginning, the food was outstanding ~ today, I wouldn't even feed the meat from Quartet to my dog...it's amazing what a chef will do when he has a budget of "negative." What is that guy doing with the profits?? Quartet had soooo much potential. Leave it up to a guy who has already filed bankruptcy in the city of Detroit ~ and a few idiots who decided to invest in him ~
11
The waterfront is populated - but not with people who can frequent a place like Quartet on a regular basis. The people in the Strand have money - but with 300 units and likely 600 people - that's not enough people to draw on. Their signage is non-existent. Their television ad was tacky. Their food isn't high quality enough to warrant the price. Portland didn't need another $45 filet Mignon. Their ingredients are cheap - not high end. They should have learned their lesson from Lucier. Portland can only support so many expensive restaurants. The view is gorgeous here - probably one of the best in the city. Someone smart will come in with the right concept. Shame, shame, shame on you Frank for not paying your employees - holding tips - and bouncing checks. Despicable. He deserves to go bankrupt. I heard the cleaning crew came by one day in April and took all their stuff and left due to not being paid. Maybe Frank should do the cleaning.
12
Maybe they should open a $60 a plate food cart. They could serve chateaubriand on an artisan Fleur de Lis brioche bun.

Please wait...

Comments are closed.

Commenting on this item is available only to members of the site. You can sign in here or create an account here.


Add a comment
Preview

By posting this comment, you are agreeing to our Terms of Use.