The Benson Hotel

The Benson Hotel reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

1. WF

   WanderingFromTheUpperLeft VIP

   Portland26 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on May 14, 2017

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   Sadly, a mere average experience compared to when they operated as a full restaurant. Automatic 18% gratuity was a surprise for a 3-person party on a buffet (Mother's Day) especially when plate were left at the table long after returning to the buffet.
   

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2. JL

   JanL

   Portland5 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 16, 2017

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Everything was awesome and as I fondly remember all the memories of dining at this high class treat. The brunch was plentiful and deliciously varied and the staff was attentive and engaging. The decor was tastefully and graciously pleasing for children and adults. My attending family wants this to be a family tradition. Guests chose eggs from a basket, and I got the one with chocolate and my meal was paid for - an extra special Easter blessing. Whenever this vendor is on, tou have to go!!!!
   

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3. MT

   MirandaTe

   San Francisco1 review

   5.0

   Dined on April 16, 2017

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We had a totally lovely Easter brunch here! Everyone was delighted with the food, the mimosas, the super-friendly service, and of course, the adorable Easter Bunny. It was really a great time and we hope to be back next year!
   

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4. P

   Pdxrunner

   Portland24 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on December 26, 2016

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Well the Benson more than beat our expectations. It was a real special experience for us for Christmas dinner. We actually got the private table in the wine room. What a treat! Wait staff could have been better and the voices off the pre-fixed menu were yummy. We had all the choices covered between us all and everything was spectacular. Thanks for such a great evening.
   

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5. DB

   DavidB

   Alabama2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 8, 2016

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   This was my wife's and my first dining experience at the Weston Benson Hotel. We prefer buffet dining, so we eagerly made reservations. The food, table service and ambiance were superb. Denise was especially attentive, informative and pleasant. She mentioned the other holidays when the Benson uses the Rosewood room and, while there, we made reservations for Thanksgiving dinner at 4:30 PM. Although we prefer a buffet, we decided to experience dining from a list of entrees. We hope that it will be equally satisfying. Last Christmas, we dined at another prominent downtown Portland hotel where a buffet was served. It, too, was very delicious; however, what set apart our Mother's Day dining experience from our Christmas experience was the attentiveness of your staff, especially Denise. Everyone was A-1. By contrast, I would rate our Christmas buffet experience as a "D". Credit goes to your restaurant and hotel management for their attention to detail and for a total focus on hospitality. You did a fine job and we will be back!
   

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6. KT

   KT15

   Portland8 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on December 26, 2015

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   The risotto was bland, the scallops too soft and prime rib sat with a tablespoon of powdered mashed potatoes. The dessert tasted like it came from Walmart, could not eat more than first bite.
   

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7. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Portland4 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on December 26, 2015

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 1

   The main floor of the hotel has such character. The downstairs where we dined is so not the same! It seems to be an afterthought. The meal was fine and staff were very nice.
   

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8. X

   Xmas

   Portland1 review

   5.0

   Dined on December 25, 2015

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We really enjoyed our Christmas dinner at the Benson. It was very nicely decorated with a musician softly playing a guitar, the waiter was very friendly, and did a great job making us feel welcome and special. The pace of the dinner was relaxed and we didn't feel rushed and we were able to relax and really enjoy our special dinner.
   

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9. CC

   CstoChad

   Portland7 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on November 27, 2015

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   I remember coming here with my parents many years ago for holiday dinners. I wasn't disappointed at all and look forward to starting this traditional with my family.
   

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10. G

    Gladly

    Portland6 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on December 26, 2014

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1

    This was supposed to be a special Christmas Day dining out experience. Well, it was an experience, but not in a good way. To begin with, we would have preferred to eat later than 5:30 but we were given to understand that 5:30 was the latest available time. We were there until nearly 7 and at no time was the dining room more than half full. As a result there was zero energy in the room. Most of the diners were senior citizens (including us). Wait staff veered from overly friendly and poorly trained, to barely acknowledging the diners and poorly trained. Food was a big disappointment. My mushroom truffle soup arrived with a full pat of butter floating on top of a skim of truffle oil in a soup cup. The soup was so cold that the pat of butter didn't melt. That made it easy to fish out of the soup, but the wait staff left it on my bread plate for the entire dinner. So unappetizing. I had the ricotta and wild rice crepes entree. They arrived on a cold plate, having clearly been put through the oven to be warmed up so that the crepes were crispy like a cannelloni shell on the edges and chewy/soggy in the middle. The wild rice stuffing was undercooked--hard bits of wild rice, miniscule ricotta cheese if any, and lots of pepper. There was no sauce at all. The Brussels sprouts were likewise cold, but had been over roasted at some point in too much oil, and the entire plate of food was doused in more black pepper. That was my $33 dinner: a cup of cold mushroom soup, 2 bad crepes and a handful of Brussels sprouts, and a square of gingerbread with canned cranberry relish on the side. On the other hand, for $35, my partner had two big slabs of some kind of pork roast, with a big slice of some bread-y dressing loaf, gravy, and a mound of over-cooked kale. He also got a small handful of the kind of mixed greens lettuce that comes in a bag, and an anemic chocolate mousse with store bought sugar cookies. I'd go on but I'm out of space. Should have settled for pretzels in the bar.
    

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