St. Jack
A charming French cafe inspired by Lyonnaise bouchons, offering hearty cuisine, an extensive wine list, and a rustic yet elegant atmosphere.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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St. Jack
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A charming French cafe inspired by Lyonnaise bouchons, offering hearty cuisine, an extensive wine list, and a rustic yet elegant atmosphere.
"Better than any French Bistro in Paris."
Reservations Recommended
St. Jack is popular, so making a reservation in advance is highly advised to secure your spot.
Explore the Tasting Menu
Consider the tasting menu for a diverse culinary journey; while not every dish may be a hit, many are exceptional.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
French
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
The Iconic Steak Frites
A generous portion of dry-aged steak, perfectly cooked, served with a mountain of crispy, flavorful French fries. A true crowd-pleaser.
Luxurious Seafood & Small Bites
Indulge in beautifully presented dishes like oysters, foie gras, and caviar, showcasing meticulous attention to detail and fresh ingredients.
Cozy Lyonnaise Bouchon Ambiance
Experience the warm, rustic charm of a traditional French bouchon, with hearty cuisine and an extensive wine list.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Reservations Recommended
St. Jack is popular, so making a reservation in advance is highly advised to secure your spot.
Explore the Tasting Menu
Consider the tasting menu for a diverse culinary journey; while not every dish may be a hit, many are exceptional.
Ask Your Server
The staff is knowledgeable and happy to guide you through the menu, answering any questions you may have.
Bar for Happy Hour
Pop into the bar for happy hour, offering delicious drinks and a full dinner menu.
Tips
from all over the internet
Reservations Recommended
St. Jack is popular, so making a reservation in advance is highly advised to secure your spot.
Explore the Tasting Menu
Consider the tasting menu for a diverse culinary journey; while not every dish may be a hit, many are exceptional.
Ask Your Server
The staff is knowledgeable and happy to guide you through the menu, answering any questions you may have.
Bar for Happy Hour
Pop into the bar for happy hour, offering delicious drinks and a full dinner menu.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
St. Jack is celebrated for its hearty and flavorful French cuisine, particularly the steak frites and seafood dishes. Reviewers often praise the cozy ambiance and extensive wine list, making it a top choice for special occasions. However, some patrons have noted occasional service inconsistencies and a perceived snobbiness from staff.
"St. Jack never disappoints. Had a wonderful dinner with the family. It is loud and busy enough of a place where you can bring your children for fine dining and not worry that they are disrupting someone's quiet romantic dinner with loud voices (of course within reason). We ordered the bone marrow, steak frites, rabbit, mussels, foie gras, and dessert. Every dish was rich (in a French way) and full of flavor. The staff was pleasant and attentive without hovering too much. Highly recommend!"
Natalya Wollenberg
"So good we came back twice in a week!
The warm snap pea salad was amazing … I had to come back for a second and this time I didn’t share it :)
The burger is easily one of the best I have ever had in my life!
We will be returning a third time since I am dying to try the mussels they smelled to die for. Every dish we saw come out smelled and looked delicious.
We ordered the steak frite the second time and also cannot recommend this dish enough. The fries are perfect crisp but also moist when you bite down.
The meat was perfectly done and had a beautiful crust while the inside was still juicy.
Edit:
Came back again. We finally tried the mussels, which were amazing! We also have the cucumber gazpacho a try, we normally don’t like cold soup, and my husband said it was one of the best soups he haw ever tried in his life!
The Marion berry parfait was also exquisite! Don’t skip dessert!"
A Rodriguez
"We had an exceptional evening at St Jack. While there were a few awkward moments with the staff, the food made up for it. When we first arrived with a reservation, they didn't have a table for 5 ready for us, and tried to put us at a table for 4 with a person on the end. They adjusted after we asked, stating that the tables I asked them to put together were not available when we arrived; however, that was a little like putting it on the diner because they did know we were coming. I had written on the reservation that it was my son's birthday, but they seemed unaware until I mentioned it, and then he got a scoop of ice cream with a candle. We were a late seating at 7:30, but not the only table still seated when we left, and we didn't get any kind of a thank you or goodbye. All minor things, but they do affect the whole experience, especially when you are at a high-end restaurant. But the food, oh the food, was marvelous. We started with lovely oysters that were scrumptuous, went on the bread and butter, light and fluffy with the perfect level of salt. The Gougeres warm from the oven were amazing, as was the chicken liver mousse. I thought the tartar de boeuf was very flavorful, but if you are a traditionalist, as some of my family they didn't love it as much but still liked it very much. My husband had the Sole, and it was an amazing surprise and would be my choice if I ate there again. The moules were lovely, and the curry broth you just want to drink straight from the bowl. The steak frite well well-cooked and fries w/the bernaise sauce were lovely (though a tad bit salty). We indulged in all three of their desserts, and the table was split between the Strawberry Choux and the Meyer Lemon Coeur a la crème as the best. Both were exceptional. We would definitely recommend eating here."
Deawn Herrmann
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, St. Jack takes reservations for all party sizes in the Dining Room. It's recommended to book in advance.
The steak frites, oysters, and any of the hearty Lyonnaise-inspired dishes are highly recommended. The burger is also a favorite, available in the bar.
Yes, St. Jack offers happy hour daily from 4 PM to 6 PM with drink specials and a full menu available in the bar.
St. Jack serves brunch every Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM and accepts reservations.
Yes, St. Jack is perfect for birthday dinners and romantic celebrations, offering an elegant atmosphere and decadent French desserts.
The restaurant offers a cozy, rustic, and intimate dining experience, inspired by traditional French bouchons.
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Portland's best French restaurants
Bouchons, the Lyonnaise restaurants that inspired St. Jack, are the kind of places where the wine hits the table before you glance at the menu and the rich food doesn't stop until belts are loosened and shirt buttons are in need of repair. For years, St. Jack, the flagship of Kurt Huffman's ChefStable restaurant group, conjured this ambiance -- a marriage of hospitality and excess -- from a charming, tumble-down building on Southeast Clinton Street. Last year, Huffman, chef Aaron Barnett and their team packed and moved the restaurant across the river, adding a luxe cocktail bar and an instant patina to a new development on Northwest 23rd Avenue.
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When St. Jack migrated from its quaint corner perch on SE Clinton Street to a bigger, more industrial landing on a bustling corner of NW 23rd Avenue in 2014, there were some serious upgrades. Chef Aaron Barnett added an ambitious seasonal chilled seafood menu packed with luxurious nautical finds like briny-sweet whorl-shelledbulot (giant snails) to a list of rich, comforting staples. Still, the bouchon’s bubbled-over crocks of macaroni gratin pounded with bacon lardons and plates of blood sausage leave no doubt: Lyon is in the house.
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Everything about St. Jack—from the French provincial wallpaper, the mountains of candlewax atop the bar and the custardy canelés—is charming. The cuisine is inspired by rustic Lyonnais cooking, and Chef Aaron Barnett's hearty meat dishes and seasonal salads feel right in step with Portland’s culinary ethos. The well-edited wine list pays homage to France and the Northwest, while the cocktails skew classic, with drinks like the French Pearl listed alongside champagne-based cocktails and house updates to the Manhattan and Bijou.
6 Best Dinner Spots in Portland, OR
St. Jack, an ode to the beauty of French cuisine, stands proudly in Portland's bustling Northwest District. The restaurant is a favorite for those seeking an authentic French dining experience, offering a menu that celebrates the richness of France's culinary traditions. With a commitment to quality and locally sourced ingredients, St. Jack presents classic dishes like steak frites and mushroom vol-au-vent, each prepared with meticulous care.
Portland Date Night Restaurants
St Jack Restaurant in Portland, Oregon is the perfect destination for couples looking for a cozy and intimate dining experience with a touch of French flair. The restaurant's chic decor, including a beautiful tiled bar and white linen tablecloths, creates an elegant atmosphere. The menu at St Jack features classic French dishes such as bouillabaisse, coq au vin, and steak tartare, as well as a selection of artisanal cheeses and charcuterie.
Birthday Dinner in Portland | 31 Top Birthday Restaurants in 2025
If you’re looking for a luxe spot to celebrate a birthday dinner in Portland, this French eatery is filled with elegance and style. A chic bistro-feel welcomes diners while they enjoy items like classic steak frites, caviar, pâté en croûte, escargot and decadent French desserts. St. Jack is perfect for more romantic and one-on-one celebrations held over ample champagne but can accommodate larger parties and will book for larger events.
Reader/Online Salad Picks + Salads We Want to Try
Recommended by Willamette Week in 2014 and also earlier this week by Jen Lewis of Cooking Fresh. What’s in it: avocado, radish, crouton, dijon vinaigrette, fines herbes. Andrea Damewood in a Willamette Week article last year talks about this salad and says, “This stack of mild and soft butter lettuce leaves nestles layers of buttery avocado, radish, croutons and French fines herbes, topped with a zippy Dijon vinaigrette.
11 French Restaurants In Portland That'll Transport You To Paris
St. Jack is a love letter to French cuisine in the heart of Portland. This cozy hotspot serves up exquisite dishes, like their flawlessly seared Scallops to the tantalizing Smoky Mussels. St. Jack also offers unconventional options that are unique to the restaurant, as well as fantastic and seasonal daily specials, which makes each visit totally different, but always memorable.
Romantic Restaurants In Portland, Oregon: 6 Eateries For An Unforgettable Retreat
St. Jack is a perfect place for unforgettable celebration dinners in the candlelit banquets. The delightful dinner menu with chilled prawns, vadouvan aioli and fresh oysters paired with champagne create a satisfying French feast. Chef John Denison's modern French cuisine infuses classic recipes with contemporary flair, from rich pâté en croute to delicately roasted chicken.
10 Romantic Portland, Oregon Date Night Spots (Perfect for Summer!)
A cozy spot right at on the bustling 23rd avenue (my favorite street in the whole city), is the charming French spot St. Jack featuring oysters, steak and frites, paired with local wines. They have a great outdoor patio that is sure to make you feel, just a tiny bit, like you are back in France!
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It’s always been puzzling to me that an upscale destination street like NW 23rd has so few fine-dining restaurants. With the 2014 opening of St. Jack, the situation definitely improved. When this tres bonne French bistro and bar moved from its southeast location to northwest, it…
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St. Jack is an ode to the bouchons — or esteemed cafés — of Lyon, France, and to chef Aaron Barnett’s take on the humble excellence of rustic French cuisine.
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1610 NW 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97210 Phone: 503-360-1281 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by St. Jack Restaurant & Bar (@stjackpdx)
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