Such a Hit and Miss = Needs improvement
I've taken groups, clients, other couples, family and I've learned Five Spice Seafood is consistently inconsistant. Â Food isn't bad, that being said I don't think the'd want Gordon Ramsey coming in.
What's most frustrating is the front of the house staff and PORTION SIZE, It seems there is not leadership present, the hostesses are clueless, though the waiting staff is usually on point. Â And 5 pieces of battered shrimp costing $13.00. Â that's well over 7x food costs. Â Regardless if i can afford it, there shrimp were frozen NOT fresh!!
"Wine Bar"
Be ready to be handed an iPad, the waitstaff knows nothing on the list, and as "sheik" as an iPad sounds the wine app is pretty cumbersome.
Five Spice Seafood = Needs improvement
My fiance and I went to dinner here a few nights ago. It was warm enough to sit on the porch overlooking the Lake. The bulk of my 4 star rating is for the view! It was very relaxing to sit outside. The only drawback is that the tables are too close together. I understand wanting to maximize seating capacity on the patio, but having the tables that close reminds me of sitting in coach on an airline. The first two tables the hostess chose were way too close to other groups. The third was chosen by us, and perfect. Call me nitpicky but when I know I am going to spend over a hundred on dinner, these things matter.
Our waiter was attentive, had good suggestions, and obviously took pride in his work. Likewise, the chef did an outstanding job. The food was perfectly prepared, and presented very well. It is a "fine dining" establishment, and priced accordingly. Plan on spending over 100 for a dinner for 2 with desserts and wine. I left well fed, happy, and feeling that my money was well spent.
I have been here a handful of times over the years. Most recently my Mom & I had lunch together while spending a couple hours in LO.
I had the shrimp melt, it had tarragon in it, and the fries were great. Mom enjoyed her  beet and crab salad. The service was quick and friendly.
While I would not drive the hour round trip to specifically eat here, when in the area I prefer it over most other places.
I love that their bar menu is on an iPad. The view is terrific. There is patio seating.
Was in LO for a errand and stopped into this place. I have to say that they did a very good job here. I'm not sure what all the bad reviews are about but I was very pleased on the service and the food.
My only complaint would be that the food took a little longer than usual which surprised me since no one was hardly in there. I guess good things take time right? Today's special was the ling Cod with fingerling potatoes and my hunny had the spicy ahi tuna sandwich. Both things were amazing. I started with the tomato basil soup which all have photos to back up my review. I would go here again but probably not for dinner, lunch or HH is probably the best time.
I'm not in Lake Oswego much but I would return if in the area. Great layout and full bar here which is always my prerequisite when looking for a place to eat. Has to have booze for me too.
Five Spice has the best outside dining deck in the Portland Metro area. You just can't beat it.
We went to Five Spice for dinner on Friday, March 15, 2013 and it was all good. We had no reservations, but lucked out with an outside table about 6pm. The sky was blue, the sun was setting, the patio heaters were all turned on and it was awesome. It was time to splurge so a bottle of wine was ordered. We were going to watch the sun go down and stay there until the stars filled the sky.
Our waiter was professional, the food was delicious and my company was handsome and sweet.
Five Spice is a restaurant for special dinners, events, anniversaries, etc. We have ate there several times over the years and we've always enjoyed their food and service. We have yet to experience their Happy Hour but hope to when the time is right.
Yes, it can be expensive but it's like a little moment of vacation at a fraction of the price. Especially outside on their deck whether it's rain or shine, you can't help but melt into the comfy seats and relax.
I can only speak for Happy Hour and the atmosphere, but for those two elements this place is terrific. We stumbled upon it while exploring Lake Oswego. They have a nice selection of Oregon wines and pour a very generous glass for Happy Hour. The happy hour menu offers a nice selection of snacks and appetizers. We had egg rolls and coconut shrimp, both pretty typical happy hours treats but both were delicious and beautifully presented. The restaurant is gorgeous with a lovely view of the lake. Overall this was a lovely, romantic afternoon break.
Review Source:Went to Five Spice before the play. Dining room was empty the lounge crowded.
 Hostess sat us down and dropped an ipad on the table and left. Even though the dining room was almost empty the waiter was slow to acknowledge us. Took the ipad as we ordered coffee.(the ipad is a wine list as it turns out. An explaination would be nice for the less tech savvy of us.
 Ordered coffee it came cold. Flagged the waiter to get fresh as it was cold. He eventually brought it and deposited it on the table. An ' I'm sorry for the cold coffee' would have been nice but maybe I'm knit picking.
 We ordered the coconut shrimp as an appetizer. They were 13 bucks as opposed to 5 at Happy hour. We thought our 13 dollar portion would be bigger. Nope, the mystery of the full lounge was discovered.
We split a butter lettuce salad as their salad portions are good. It was fine.
 My wife had the duet of chicken. A chicken leg and two larger stuffed ravioli. The chicken was very good the ravioli not so much.
I had a filet for 39 dollars. Pretty spendy but it was a very nice 8oz filet.
 Our bill with tip was over 100 dollars with only coffee to drink so pretty expensive for 2 people.
  If we go back I will go to the Happy Hour only.
!!!!!! Also, don't like the way they handle the bread. I have gluten issues so I don't eat Â
   it anyway however. I say multiple waiters and the manager pick up dirty dishes
   handle money etc. then grab a bread baguette with their whole hand  and  start   slicing bread for customers.  Gross.
Went here before going to see a show at Lakewood. The view is fantastic, the rest was mediocre. The server dropped an iPad in the middle of our table with no explanation that it was the wine and beer list, and seemed impatient when we didn't have our drink order ready to go when he returned.
The coconut shrimp app was something straight out of TGIF Fridays frozen food section, and the meal went downhill from there. I order the scallops on a bed of "confetti" lentils -- price point $30 -- and whoever cooked those lentils should be fired. They were gritty and undercooked, which in the end meant the only thing edible on the plate were the 3 jumbo scallops, which made that $10 per scallop.
If you go here, order wine and bread. Â Don't take a chance on the food. Â Totally overpriced and ridiculously pretentious.
So much hate from fellow Yelpers on this place. Â I feel I'm going against the mould giving this place 5 stars. Â However, every time I've been here, I've gotten excellent food and service. Â I definitely enjoy the location.
Open your wallet. Dinner for two will easily run $100 and the portions aren't very big. Â Thumbs up for the twin lobster tails I had recently. Â The grilled rack of lamb I sampled from my wife's plate was tender, cooked perfectly, and the Yukon goat cheese gratin side was amazing. Â The crab cakes are delicious but when you get them you kind of wonder "for $13, where's the rest of it?"
Happy Hour is definitely where it's at if you're looking for their delicious food at more reasonable prices. Â From the Happy Hour menu, the marinated chicken satay and sweet corn chowder are two of my favorites. Â
Service has always been top-notch, prompt and friendly. Â There's an outdoor patio seating area available with a small fire pit when the weather is nice and a lounge sitting area with couches. Â It can get crowded (and noisy), so reservations are recommended. Â The last time I went, there was live music as well.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ambiance: 5
Value: 2
TL;DR: Delicious food but small portions, awesome happy hour
Food was decent except their cheese plate tasted like feet, and I love cheese. Beyond that the waiter was very pompous cause we were drinking beer instead of his coveted wine. If you looking for an uppity spot for wine and dine this is your place. If your not a wino I would recommend going somewhere else as they don't think much of the "other half"
Review Source:Are you kidding??? The hostess was a miserable person who seemed to hate life...Harsh but true.
My scallops and lentils were super tasty, but of the other 3 people at the table I was the only person who enjoyed their meal. Ridiculous in price! Taste was Blah...Wouldn't go again, wouldn't tell anyone to.
definitely 5 stars for their food and service. very fancy place but a little pricey, but that's propotential to the quality of the food. Happy hour is great two if you want good food for a little cheaper.
The reason I am giving 4 star but not 5 is that they used to have a deal where birthday person gets the entree free, but they took away the deal last year. bummed. Now I can't afford it.
For all of the Portland area food scenery, there is a notable lack of seafood options. Â That was until I recently discovered Five Spice, tucked away in the Lake Oswego Shopping center. Â Five spice offer s a haven from this otherwise parched terrain. Â The ambiance is wonderful, with great views, and a warm welcoming environment. Â The staff is attentive and knowledge able, the wine selection definitely leaves nothing wanting, but it is the food that keeps one coming back! Â An open kitchen serves up a long list of wonderful selections. Â From sturgeon to steelhead, poke to crab salad, it is a bouquet of superb options. Â But, don't stop with the seafood, Lamb and pork tenderloin also grace the menu, and the Lentil salad is a must try item. Â A great stop for a quick bite (their happy hour is great), or to make an evening of it.
Review Source:On our last visit, I brought the entire family, which included a fussy 2 year-old. As the last few visits, I walked away absolutely impressed with the service and the food.
First, the service: the perfect service for me is knowledgeable, attentive, but not overbearing staff. Every visit to Five Spice I've had a different server and every single time it's been exactly that -- knowledgeable about the menu and the wine, attentive to my needs (wife was pregnant and they made sure to bring her something special, non-alcoholic from the bar) but not hovering over me and checking if "everything is ok" every 5 minutes. Â I was convinced they cared about my experience.
The food: there are few things I haven't yet had on the menu and I can't wait to go back to make sure I try them. I have not been disappointed by a single thing. Â The steelhead, the halibut, the scallops are all excellent. Sturgeon is my favorite. Â Every appetizer has been exciting and just the right portion to start the evening without getting filled up.
On a final note, it takes a lot of convincing to get me to go to Lake O for anything. Except if it's dinner at Five Spice. Absolutely worth the trip out.
PS: I was going to say something witty and insulting in rebuttal to the person who goes to a seafood restaurant to order a lamb-rack and then complains about its tenderness (it's lamb!!!), but I think that would be redundant.
I made a reservation several days early, telling the person on the phone that this was for my mother's 90th birthday and, if possible, save us a table with a good lake view. Â We showed up on Sunday and were told that they can't save seats, all the patio tables were taken..., first were shown a bar table with a partial view, the hostess recognized that this was a bit too informal, so she then gave us a choice of open inside tables in the dining area. Â Kind of like Fawlty Towers's view of the ocean--if you craned your neck...
OK, no big deal. Â Our server, John, was great. Â Gave us a great wine recommendation. Â First, we had the calimari -- a rather puny portion, overcooked/dry/tough. Â My mother demanded her king salmon plain (a chef's nightmare) -- apparently it came initially in some other form, as we overhead our server getting the kitchen staff to fix it. Â She was unimpressed with the salmon, which is surprising. Â My daughter had scallops. Â Found them terribly salty and felt that the spicy (and very good) accompaniments overwhelmed their flavor. Â My wife and I had the rack of lamb. Â Asked for medium rare, but it was very rare, to the point of our having to ask for steak knives to cut it. Â Asparagus was fine, but the lamb was not only far too raw but flavorless. Â . Â And nobody acknowledged that it was a birthday occasion. Â All very unexpected. Â A $200 blowout. Â Their burger joint downstairs, however is great. Â We won't be going back.
I really wanted to like this place - nice location, lovely outdoor balcony seating with a view of the lake, delicious food (a bit overpriced) but the service was terrible. Our server didn't come back to take our order for 15 minutes after telling us the specials. Â Not a good start and it got worse. Â After clearing our appetizer plates, he didn't stop by our table again until we'd been finished with our dinner for 20 minutes and our plates pushed out to the edge of our table as a very obvious sign that we were done eating . Â Someone else brought out our entrees and though our server walked by our area 4 times, didn't stop by to see to see how we were doing or if we needed anything else. Â I don't think I'll be going back any time soon.
Review Source:Seriously the reviews of Five Spices are the most inconsistent I have ever seen. Â Most of the reviews follow the same logic: "Great food, excellent service but please do not make me pay for it."
1. Service was top notch. Our server was knowledgeable about menu items, helpful with suggestions and generally had a wonderful demeanor.
2. The food was awesome. The spring rolls and Korean barbecue were killer. The lamb dish  with sauteed asparagus was one of the best I have ever had anywhere. The kitchen was more than willing to accommodate  a special request from one of our party.
3. The venue is really worth the visit to Five Spice. The space is open and light with wonderful views of the pond. Â
This is really a terrific restaurant. Ignore the naysayers.
In my honest opinion, even tho Five Spice has delicious food, it is ridiculously overpriced. So even though I would recommend this restaurant, it is quite a splurge.
Service was pleasant, although our server seemed frazzled, although it seemed quiet, it must have been a busy night.
You will need reservations.
Bring your own wine and pay the corking fee, its much more economical.
My husband, 21 month old daughter, 4 week old son and I recently enjoyed a particularly fantastic meal at 5 spice and I felt it was high time I got around to singing their praises. Â The servers were attentive and pleasant, the food was excellent, the view is very enjoyable and the wine was inexpensive and tasty! Â I see some poor reviews for service however this was our 4th experience at this joint and it was some of the best service we've had in a long time (we tipped 25%, if that's any indication!)
We loved that we could sit in an area that was serving happy hour food/wine without having to jostle with a zillion other folks... not to mention order some items off that menu even though we had the chitlins in tow. Â I loved the high quality gigamoto (or similar?) oysters (on the happy hour menu for $5!) and the corn chowder and my hubby devoured his coconut prawns... Our daughter also loved the food, ate about 2 pounds of their delish bread and had a great time interacting with the friendly servers and other diners.
To top it all off, their prices are extremely reasonable - really, we enjoyed every minute of our dining experience. Â We will definitely be back!
The food was perfectly prepared & VERY tasty. The problem was that even though our server was as charming as they come, we hardly ever saw her. Not a good thing.
Despite the good food, the mediocre service & high prices would not warrant a return visit. Nearly A hundred bux for a couple specials & a glass of wine is NUTS.
On a serious seafood binge lately and kept up the feast with five spice seafood and wine bar the other night.
I really liked the locale and the ambience of the restuarant. It was too dark outside for me to notice any maritime. Maybe I'll have to make earlier reservations next time.
Server was very friendly and checked on us at just the right moments.
Food was also quickly prepared and TASTY! Had the sauteed sea scallops and they were so damn butterey! Want them right now!
Also ordered some merlot and was given an extra large pour. Not mad at that.
Was just there for a christmas party. Never quite as good with a large party and a pre-set menu.
The ambiance is nice enough. The staff are friendly and helpful, but the food did take quite a while coming out. Like I said, large group.
The cheese plate was very good. The crab cakes were reportedly good, don't really do crab.
The pre-set menu had ahi tuna on it so I ordered it, much later the waitress came out reporting that the chef wasn't happy with the quality of the tuna so they substituted with mahi-mahi. I guess that's a good thing.... Â The dish was actually better than I expected. Â A little salty for my wife, but good for me. It would've tasted better with the ahi tuna though....
The salad was fresh and light. The butter brickle ice cream was good 3 stars.
Overall decent but nothing special. May try it on my own sometime.... it's in a nice location and the staff was nice.
This is a great place to be seated on the deck on a sunny, mild evening. You just sink into these nice, cushy low oversized patio chairs and watch the happenings in the park and on Oswego Lake. For my jangled nerves, having just spent nearly the half day on I-5, this was exactly what the doctor ordered.
Service was attentive and thoughtful. I ordered an iced tea and was brought a glass of ice tea and the remainder of the bottle of The Republic of Tea Darjeeling, (The Champagne of Teas) which is, thanks to Five Spice, now on my list of "must have" teas. Nice touch to bring me that instead of a ubiquitous brewed tea.
I ordered the Mahi Mahi with rice and Hubs ordered the rack of lamb (yeah, in a seafood restaurant). The fish was cooked perfectly and accompanied by a pineapple salsa that had the perfect amount of heat, making the entire dish come alive. I tried a bite of the rack of lamb and it was also excellent, with a flavorful pan sauce.
Our palates are getting more sophisticated the longer we're in Portland -- and I think it could be a solid 4.5 stars, but not great enough to warrant 5 stars. It's decent but nothing special, except for the divine seating on the deck outside.
Having had the chance to see and sample many of the new menu items, I can only say WOW! Â The dishes are beautiful to look at and taste even better! Â The scallops are out o this world! Â From short ribs and flatiron steak to Mahi Mahi and prawns, you can try something different every time you visit and not be disappointed. Â
On a side note: Â How many restaurants can you go to in the Portland Metro area and see the same employees today that you met two years ago? Â Not a lot, I assure you. Â In what is a very itinerant business, Five Spice must be doing something right to keep their employees happy and loyal. Â This continuity is reflected in the food and service. Â Hats off to GM Tim Mattera for running a wonderful restaurant.
3.5 stars. I'm giving them 4 because the service was excellent.
Nice upstairs restaurant with a view of Lake Oswego. Comfortable chairs and intimate setting. We got seated along the window in the bar. The waitress was attentive and nice.
The food is very artfully presented. We had the trio of tartares and it was literally presented as a painter's palette. I wish I had my camera. The beef tartar was excellent. The ahi and edemame were OK. The crouton-like bread slices served with it were atrociously hard, but the waitress quickly brought soft slices for us.
The beet and crab salad, unfortunately, was over salted. I think that was just a mistake, like someone salted it once, forgot, and then salted it again. If not for that, it was a nice salad.
When we arrived and I asked for a kiddie menu for my 10-yr-old, the hostess said they didn't have one. That was weird, because on their web site I could have sworn I read that they had kiddie food. So we got seated, and there on the menu it says  something about children's food being available. So the waitress rattled off about 5 things my daughter could order. That was just weird. Was the hostess new and just didn't know?
So my daughter's mac and cheese was actually substantial and she liked it. Served with grapes. Other kiddie entrees come with fruit and french fries (things like grilled cheese sandwiches and nuggets).
My scallops were absolutely delicious.
So I can't really say why I'm not a fan since overall, I liked the food (minus the salt mistake) and the service and setting were great. All I can say is, if I had guests or if I was choosing another night out with just me and my daughter, I'd likely go to another place. This was one of those "been there done that" and now that I'm done, no real rush to come back.
We got bought by the coupon! When I saw it I was thinking that it might not be bad to give this place a try again so we did. The outcome was the same.....They have a new and VERY small menu that goes along with the portion size!!! The menu was boring...simple and nothing jumps out at you. We tried the crab cakes...DON'T....you get 2 small, battered up, bland tasting cakes for $13.00 come on! My wife had the salmon and it was small but good and I had the ribeye and it was good just not very big at all! They are charging a serious premium for their wines in my opinion.
The server was great and really that was about it! The location is good and it is very clean.
Would I go back or recommend this place to someone? Â NO
A vegan, a vegetarian, a pescatarian and a celiac walk into a bar...
There are things that miss the mark at Five Spice, but I'd like to acknowledge them for some things they do very well. Â It seems like almost everyone I know has 'food issues.' Some of these are by choice, but many are allergies or food sensitivities that can make dining out a challenging affair. Â
Rather than stick rigidly to the formal menu, I've found Five Spice to be a great partner on multiple occasions in customizing a meal that is both delicious and meets various dietary needs. Â In particular, this has worked for friends with gluten issues that require very specific food preparation. Â
So I consider the menu here more of a guideline. Â No kids' menu, but they can make the standards (burger, chicken, grilled cheese or mac-n-cheese). Â On our most recent visit, we were dining with a vegetarian and noticed that there were no vegetarian entrees on the menu. Â No problem, our waiter just offered some suggestions based on what was fresh that day. Â We customized a dish on the spot combining some of the elements we saw as side dishes on the main menu. Â It was fabulous.
The space is beautiful and in the summer you can enjoy the wrap around covered porch overlooking the lake or have a glass of wine by the fireplace inside on a cold winter night.
When I first started coming here many years ago, I thought of this as an Asian restaurant, but no particular label or cuisine seems to strictly apply. Â If I had to classify them, I would lean towards high end wine bar. Â We had a round of cocktails and I don't think it is their strong suit. Â In fact, the quasimojito cocktail was downright polarizing. Â Even the server mentioned that you will love it or hate it. Â
There are things I don't particularly care for that other reviewers have duly noted. Â This isn't on my solid recommended list, but it is at least 3-1/2 stars.
We were terribly disappointed with Fivespice. Â We wanted to love this place, or even really like it, but it just did not live up to its' reputation. Â First of all, we have been there on 3 separate occasions. Â So, our experience was not just a bad night. Â The first was a dinner, which we made reservations and requested seating in the restaurant either near a window or fireplace. Â They had few bookings, so "it wouldn't be a problem". Â When we arrived, our table was in the lounge. Â Not off to a good start. Â We asked for our "real" table and they had "other larger parties coming", so, "No it couldn't happen". Â We still had a view table, and we just made the most of it and ordered some wine (which is an amazing list, but the prices are screamingly high. Â For example, a bottle of wine which retails for $40 will be priced at $130)
On to the food. Â All and all the dinner cuisine was good, but a bit bland. Â It just didn't have that Je n'ais sais Quois! Â Lunch was even more bland and rather lack luster. Â Their fish is very fresh and good, but nothing memorable. Â
When there are so many other options in LO, I just can't see this one luring me in for a 4th time. Â Great location and views.
I rarely make it to Lake Oswego, as I live in Portland proper and I am literally surrounded by fantastic local restaurants. Â So, why drive to Lake Oswego for dinner? Â Well--to meet friends, of course. Â We met our friends here to celebrate a birthday dinner. Â It was simply great. Â
If it is summertime, I highly recommend you make dinner reservations and get a table outside on the patio with a view of the (yes, manmade) Lake O. Â It's so pretty with all the trees framing it up, and other lovely greenery.
The service was solid and very professional. Â Ambiance is what you would expect in an upscale suburban restaurant. Â The food was fantastic and beautifully executed, as well as artfully presented. Â Prices are a tad steep, but not really for the area. Â Drinks were good.
My friends dine here fairly often, given the limited number of really good restaurant choices in the area, and they said the menu seems to change a lot and is inconsistent--they never know what sort of dishes might actually show up on the menu--Asian inspired, or French-ish, or what. Â Still, everything was great, so I can't fault them for that.
If you're in Lake O., this is a fine choice--especially if you can sit outside in the golden sunshine on a lovely Portland summer eve.
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