Vegan-friendly
Chinese
Japanese
Pan Asian
Non-veg
Serves meat, vegan options available. Rooftop restaurant on the 15th floor of the Nines Hotel in downtown Portand. Regular menu is all fish and meat but also offers a separate vegan menu with veggie sushi, wok stir frys, and salads. Open Wed-Sun 4:00pm-11:00pm.
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525 SW Morrison St (at downtown), Portland, Oregon, USA, 97204
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 25 Jun 2023 by geometric-noise
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Added by saveur on 21 Aug 2013
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22 Reviews
First Review by J.Cow
OperationChowhound
Points +7312
Tour the 15th Floor - Edit
The Edamame Hummus (wonton chips with hijiki and pickled chanterelles) and the Nuka Carrot Roll (enoki mushroom, baby spinach, and ginger gel) were both kind of bland. The Kushiyaki Grilled Delicata Squash (spiced pepitas, smoked truffle tofu, and spicy black vinegar) and the Steam Buns (crispy tempeh, charred pineapple, and lime gel) were also not noteworthy. However, the Roasted Beet & Brussels Salad (tender greens, tamari coconut, pine nut dressing, and pomegranate) was great, and I don't even like beets or Brussels sprouts! I liked the Kimchi Fried Rice (without pork belly or egg), but it was too spicy for my low tolerance. Overall, I was disappointed by the food, but it's a cool space.
Read morePros: clearly-marked vegan options, ambience, customer service
Cons: parking
Guest
AmberPollard
Points +565
Very nice for a special night out or a person who wants to spend $100 for dinner - Edit
Vibes are immaculate.
Read moreOur server was very knowledgeable about the menu and which wines were vegan.
There were many vegan options which were clearly labeled for each course of the meal and we tried every single one of them.
The steam buns were the star of the savory dishes and the cheesecake was the dessert star. Don’t get me wrong everything was delicious (lookin at you specifically sushi roll) but those two dishes were a head above the rest.
Def planning on going back in a few months with my partner for our birthday. My partner is going to balk at the pricing but I think they’ll decide in the end that it was worth it.
Updated from previous review on 2022-12-11
Pros: Clearly labeled vegan options , Knowledgeable staff, Freaking delicious and worth the money
Cons: Expensive but worth it
Guest
SarahMays
Points +1267
Wonderful vegan options, fine dining - Edit
We had so much fun at Departure celebrating a special occasion! The vegan options were well thought out and delicious. Our waiter was knowledgeable and helpful. My favorite was the Tom Kha soup and the Woodblock Chocolate Mousse! When we went, all their dessert options were vegan. I appreciated the clearly labeled options on the menu as well. We will definitely be back next time we are in Portland and want a fancy dinner!
Read morePros: Delicious vegan options for every course, Vegan desserts!, Everything was delicious!
Guest
LouiseGerber
Points +75
So nice to have true vegan options available. Fantastic flavor combinations - Edit
Thoughtfully created recipes and amazing taste profiles. Beautifully presented.
Read morePros: Lots of options, Flavor, Beautiful presentation
Guest
emsher
Points +768
Nice Vegan Options - Edit
Came here with my (non-vegan/pescatarian) family for a celebration and they had options for every dietary requirement. Gorgeous restaurant with views over Portland and really enjoyed the vegan options they had!
Read moreGuest
HenryLi
Points +1256
Top Floor Vegan Fine Dining - Edit
Located at the top of the Nines Hotel, Departure is a restaurant that you go to when you want an experience, not just good food. Each aspect of the restaurant has been designed to make you feel like you are in a space ship. When the elevators doors open you are met by a blue-lit terminal which you walk down to get to the hosts station. Even the bathrooms are unique—with techno music playing throughout. This restaurant is not cheap but it’s perfect for a celebration or event.
Read moreThe Departure experience is priced at $55 a person and includes a starter and entrée. Dessert is extra but well worth it considering that they have very interesting vegan options such as a woodblock Tanzanian chocolate mousse. The starters are seasonal and their are often multiple vegan options, however the vegan entrée has remained the mahogany noodles for quite sometime. The mahogany noodles were good, and the tofu cooked to perfection. I would like to see more variety in the vegan entrée in the future.
Staff here are personable and attentive. While the food here has a fine-dining style presentation the atmosphere is a bit more laid-back. That said, people tend to dress up more here compared to most of Portland. In the summer months you can sit outside and enjoy views of the city.
Departure is a great restaurant for vegan locals and tourists alike.
Pros: Elevated vegan options , City views, Unique design
Cons: Expensive, Limited vegan entrées, Often a wait
Guest
Cobaltblur
Points +97
Gourmet and Fancy - Edit
Wonderful flavor combinations. Tasty vegan options. Very friendly service with beautiful views.
Read moreI highly recommend the Mahogany Noodles with Tofu. And the Chocolate Moose with marshmallow cream is to die for! Also love the cocktails.
Pros: Yummy flavor combos, Separate vegan
Guest
sandykaren
Points +388
Disappointing - Edit
I had been here years ago and thought it was great. But this time the food was so salty I literally could not eat it. It’s such a disappointment when non-vegan restaurants think they have to add a [censored] ton of salt to add flavor instead of letting the ingredients shine.
Read morePros: Cool space
Cons: Relies too heavily on salt
Guest
thetalkstops
Points +84
AMAZING - Edit
I was amazed at the high quality creative vegan menu here! Not to mention the rooftop views, great service, and staff knowledgeable about dietary restrictions.
Read morePros: Separate vegan menu, Great views, Fancy date spot
Cons: On the pricy side
Guest
DianeH
Points +1109
Excellent - Edit
I ate here during Portland’s dining out month. The vegan option was divine! Not only that, the ambience was very classy and the service was impeccable. It was an excellent place to meet with my colleagues who had just arrived from out of state.
Read moreGuest
Igiveitupfortofu
Points +45
An Amazing Meal - Edit
Many vegan options and the entire restaurant is gluten free. Thought it would be overpriced and overrated, and while it wasn’t cheap, the food, cocktails and atmosphere were amazing.
Read morePros: Excellent Food, Unique Environment , Great Service
Cons:
Guest
pangaea
Points +20
Food Out of this World Great! - Edit
We ordered from the bar menu. The roasted carrot dish on a bed of cashew cream had a unique smoky flavor I've been craving to habe shun. The beet salad was absolutely perfect. We had vegan sushi rolls with Portobello, Asian pear and butternut squash that were wonderful! They made sure everything was vegan, so be sure to ask for their help with that. Lots of Asian sauces use fish sauce, but they have a vegan version. Super accommodating! All of the food was really wonderful and unique and the atmosphere, and view are so enjoyable. One of my favorite places for an upscale experience.
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Actual vegan menu , Very willing to make vegetarian options vegan
Guest
Awake1234
Points +1468
Roof top Asian Vegan - Edit
Get the Bibimbap! It’s vegan and veryyy goood. Add a side of tofu.
Read morePros: Dedicated vegan and gluten free menus.
Cons: Dress nice.
Guest
AndrewTasi
Points +50
A treat for the senses - Edit
My girlfriend and I came to celebrate our two year anniversary, and we could not have been more pleased.
Read moreThe views from the rooftop restaurant were inspiring. The selection of whiskeys, scotches, and gins, was terrific.
The vegan menu really had a lot of inventive and delightful dishes. We would recommend everything that we had tonight, including the power greens salad, greens and seeds roll, bibimap, and the salt and pepper tempeh.
We topped it all off with a vegan carrot sorbet that was outstanding. We plan to return to Departure the next time we travel to Portland.
Pros: Wonderful Food, Great Views, Stellar Decor
Cons: Expensive
Guest
veggiewoman
Points +374
Great date night! - Edit
Went here with my (non-vegan) husband and loved waiting for our table on the heated patio, which has great views of the city. Restaurant has a very funky atmosphere.
Read moreThrilled that there was a separate vegan menu. I really enjoyed the tempeh buns. Sushi and noodles were good.
This place is not cheap, but not unreasonable for upscale dining.
Pros: Great atmosphere, Some inventive items, High quality food
Guest
Plant Powered Eater
Points +514
Incredibly Fun, Skyline Bar with Lots of Vegan Options - Edit
Departure serves mostly Tapas & is rather pricy, but what a fun & delicious evening... On lots of fronts. The atmosphere is impressive...we felt a bit like we were departing Earth, boarding a spaceship. The servers were clearly hired for attractiveness & several had noteworthy hairstyles that prompted conversations amongst our party. The other guests also made interesting people-watching.
Read moreAlthough it may be common to have a vegan menu here in Portland, in our Southern hometown, we struggle to cobble together a vegan mean from most restaurants meat-based menus. Departure supplied a complete vegan menu with a host of choices. It also worked well for our group, which was a mixture of vegans & dedicated meat eaters...lots of choices for all.
Everything we tried was delicious! We had a charred asparagus salad, tempeh BBQ steamed buns, a broccoli dish w/ lime, some kind of noodle dish w/ vegetables, & a fab dessert, a coconut granita w/ mango. Most of the dessert offerings were vegan, another fun change from the token sorbet offered at many restaurants. On the omnivore front, our son reported that his fish dish was great, making this dinner a success for all the different food preferences we try to accommodate on family trips. (This is an all-adult family--I would not recommend Departure for children.)
This restaurant/bar is on/near top of a high rise, offering great scenery, as well. We all wished we had time for a repeat visit! One final note: consider advance reservations!
Guest
Whitsnake
Points +46
definitely check this place out. - Edit
The menu is a little bit pricey, but it's upscale bar dining, I had the Brussels sprouts, green beans, and cauliflower curry. I also tried the BBQ Tempeh steam bun!
Read moreGuest
trese80
Points +24
Truly wonderful! - Edit
I've eaten here several times and I've never been disappointed. Ask your server for the vegan menu and order whatever you like, because you can't go wrong. My favorites are the Brussels sprouts and the shiitake rolls. The food is served tapas style, so if it's two of you, I'd recommend starting off with three items and going from there. The vegan desserts are fantastic as well. I would have given this place five stars, but Happy Cow wouldn't let me because they also serve meat. Head chef, Gregory, is vegan.
Read morePros: tapas, vegan menu, vegan dessert
Guest
katypine
Points +512
Pretty Views and Pretty People - Edit
This restaurant/bar is usually packed with beautiful people, so make reservations if you want to sit and eat. The ambiance us more bar/lounge than restaurant, so there is loud music and people taking and milling around. It doesn't bother me, but don't expect a quiet, intimate dining experience. The patios are great, and good for a visit every time. I love to go for a late-night treat. Some of the best vegan desserts in town (most of the desserts are vegan, but ask your server for specifics because it's not so clear from the menu) ... Definitely try the banana split!
Read morePros: Amazing vegan deserts, fancy people watching, stun
Cons: Sometimes busy/long wait
Guest
Popster
Points +92
Splendid! Full vegan menu! - Edit
What a wonderful meal with a breathtaking view! There is s full, separate vegan menu. The Brussels sprouts, shiitake roll, bibimbap, Korean rolls and chili tofu were fabulous! Everything is served tapas style, so plan to order 2 dishes per person. One of the best meals I've had! Definitely request a patio table.
Read moreGuest
tiderisestidefalls
Points +30
Fancy and Beautiful Views: - Edit
Tell the people working at the Departure that you are vegan and they will give you a menu: half the menu is vegan & the other half of the menu is gluten free omnivorous options. The person who was taking care of us recommend that we get at least three items at the Departure, all of which were delicious and filling. We lingered afterwards to feel the breeze and catch the views. I would recommend only going with vegan friends because the items can look similar. It was difficult to hear the people serving us with the music blasting. We felt disconcerted by the serving style.
Read morePros: Yummy food, A variety of vegan options
Cons: The loud music, The service was not very good
Guest
J.Cow
Points +44
Great Asian fusion vegan meal in a hip spot - Edit
We had a birthday dinner at Departure during a stay in Portland over the summer. The location atop the roof affords a great view, and the modern decor and trendy vibe were fun. Although the Departure regular menu is full of meaty Asian Fusion fare, they have a special Vegan Menu (ask for it when the hostess seats you) full of creative and amazing tasting food. The menu changes seasonally, but we ordered 6 or 7 random dishes and each one was delicious! All the ingredients are very fresh and the combinations are creative and beautifully presented. They also have a great drink menu. Great place for a special celebration or date.
Read morePros: Excellent Food, Great View, Friendly Staff
Cons: Not soley vegan
Guest
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