Vie

permanently closed. Went out of my way to come here and then saw the sign on the door saying no more!

As noted by other reviewers, the Vie is small, but that is one of the things that is so attractive about it. Romantic dinner is another term that is used by other reviewers. I concur. Unfortunately, I was with a group attending a business meeting, so no romance. The setting is very nice, right on the water, short walk from our hotel. There were five in our group. Each person ordered a different item from the menu.
The restaurant has a very nice feel. The owners have done a wonderful job of turning a store front into a great restaurant that is warm and welcoming.
I am not sure that they have the room for a large group (30 or more), but for smaller groups and couples Vie should be high on your bucket list or at least that is my opinion.
I had the spaghetti Carbonara. I am not sure what I was expecting but what I got was excellent. It was different from anything that I have ever had before. I would strongly suggest this for anybody who loves food adventures.
The sea scallops, lemon-​caper chicken, gnocchi and apple and ham baguette were all reported to be excellent.
I, also, had the Caesar salad. It was excellent. The dressing was light, but not watery.
The wine list is excellent.
The service was personal without being intrusive.
I will be back and we will be recommending the Vie to conference attendees in April of 2015.
One last thought. Give yourself a little extra time to take a walk along the river, either before or after you meal.
Bön Appetit

The one man show, and what a show he puts on! Beau is your cook, waiter, bartender, cashier-​everything! All done with more excellence than a team combined. His french dishes are to die for, especially the sweets! He goes above and beyond every time to give a five star experience. His champagne cocktails on the waterfront is the perfect combination for any occasion!

Me and my wife had dinner here for our one year anniversary. We had looked at other typical anniversary places for our dinner but decided on Vie based on the proximity to the bay and uniqueness.
We absolutely loved our dinner! I got the French onion soup and the steak and my wife got the roasted garlic and the lemon Caper chicken. We sat outside right at the bay and enjoyed some people watching. The staff, bo and his helper (feel so bad I don’t remember your name) were so personable and helpful. We felt as if we were in their home!
Awesome place with great food, we will be back next time we stop into portland!

A wonderful place that you can tell is putting love into their food, their service, their wine recommendations… A great restaurant with an amazing view and an amazing experience. If they’d hire an accordion player and put a few more tables outside, it would be perfection. Crazy that there’s a line around the block for crappy donuts nearby, but Vie still has open tables. Only in America. But thank goodness places like this are weaved into the city. A delight.

Amazing dinner! We celebrated our anniversary tonight and the food was delicious !! We will definitely go back!

We were the only people in the restaurant, even though my husband told them it was our 40^th Wedding Anniversary, I guess that made us special for the night.
This may be the most authentic French restaurant in Portland. The one-​person proprietor/​chef/​waiter business model is very common in France. The food at Vie, like most food in France, is simply very good — nothing trendy or over the top. Our group of seven went there early on a rainy Sunday evening and we had the place all to ourselves. Of course, we had made reservations in advance. The atmosphere is elegant and the marina view location can’t be beat.
I’m giving them 4 star because my portion of the meal wasn’t so good. The pork was tough. I’ve been eating French dish for almost 2 weeks, in France, another reason why I waited to do this review, so I can compare with the real French style cooking, but I have not one complain with the dish in France, but I was disappointed with my pork dish. Also, because it was out anniversary, some restaurants would have given us something special — a free desert with a candle or something? LOL

What a delish.
This restaurant is owned by Beau Breedlove. He does everything himself.
Service, kitchen.
The quality of the food is great. The service is great.
Would recommend this restaurant for a romantic dinner.
Don’t forget to reserve before coming in!

The challenge… Take a small store front (in a stunning setting) and transform it into a Parisian style bistro.
Vie succeeds.
This little gem certainly has the feel but not the simplicity of a bistro … It’s menu is much more sophisticated… the offerings are complex, well executed, and presented with panache.
Vie exudes a simple elegance — truly a restaurant where you go with a good friend, a partner, a lover, to idle over a well prepared meal and a special bottle of wine.
You will be welcomed and pampered — Vie is an oasis in a bustling city.

The Restaurant is amazing, a perfect date night place; It is classy, intimate, with incredible food.
If you are looking to make someone feel special, Vie is perfect.
Vie has the feel of a upscale French restaurant without being snobbish or gouging: My date and I shared an appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 glasses of wine, and gave a generous tip for exactly $ 60.
The one thing you need to know about Vie is the size: Vie is the size of a postage stamp. It fits no more than 12 guests. The owner is the chef, personal greater, and waiter. Yet somehow it works. Rather than an impersonal, noisy, hurried place with terrible service, Vie has a cozy, intimate, warm atmosphere with great service.
Vie feels like an undiscovered treasure that only locals know about.

Brussels sprouts awesome. Great wine Anjou chenin blanc. Cake okay.

This romantic French restaurant on the riverfront offers a unique intimate fine dining experience. Don’t be in a rush and call or e-​mail ahead for reservations because the owner is also the host, and the waiter, and the chef! Beau (pronounced «Boe,» rhymes with «Doe») does it all and with such elegance, poise and je né sais quoi. It’s a tiny restaurant and seats only 4 – 5 tables, mostly 2 seaters, and 4 bar spots, so bring a date, not a party.
Here are my highlights on the food items I’ve tried so far in order of preference.
First course:
* The Vie Onion Soup was amazing with a sweetness substituting the usual salty flavor from the traditional french onion soup. I wanted to lick the bowl clean but that would be inappropriate there.
* The roasted garlic was prepared in such a way that I felt like I was eating a garlic grapefruit. Smelly but yummy.
* Brussel sprouts were delicious even though I normally don’t like them in general. The fire roasted taste works well, but I thought it could use some bacon.
Main course:
* Steak Chateaubriand was the big winner here! Cooked to tender perfection with an amazing sauce.
* Lemon Caper Chicken works great if you’re looking for something milder, the cream sauce mixes well with the polenta.
* I sampled the crab cakes. They weren’t a big hit for me, a bit too limp and mushy, and I probably wouldn’t order them for myself.
Final course:
* Butter cake was moist and superb. I wish I had some of it right now!
* The caramelized strawberry cream was a mini fondue you dip with baguette slices, simple and fun.
* Pink champagne chocolate cake was tasty on its own right, but a bit heavy and the other desserts outshine it.
A word of caution: Some GPS apps will direct you to the parking garage on Mill St. Circle because it’s physically closest to the restaurant. The path between that road and Vie is a locked private path for building residents only, so you’ll end up walking around to Harbor and Montgomery to get there.
Food: 5
Ambiance: 5
Service: 5
Value: 3
TL;DR: Romantic spot, great food

Oh my! This place is lovely. Maybe it was the romantic ambiance coupled with elegant décor, maybe it was the handsome and talented owner/​proprietor/​chef/​server who orchestrated our three course meal to absolute perfection, or maybe it was the fact that my boyfriend proposed to me here, but this place has just become my favorite restaurant in Portland! I’m willing to hedge my bets that even had the evening not resulted in an engagement, I would have loved the meal. Beau (said owner/​proprietor/​chef/​server) deserves nothing but good things for his careful attention to every detail.
We opted for the 3 course meal (priced very reasonably at $ 36 per person). I had the Vie onion soup (french onion soup). It was as light as this famous soup can hope to be — delicious onion, mouth watering broth, and a perfect portion of cheese melted on top. My (i’m happy to now be able to call him my …) fiancé (eek!) ordered the brussel sprouts. Also delicious. I love what this man does with balsamic.
My main course was … how can I put this so you’ll grasp the sincerity… god’s gift to foodies. The Andouille and Farfalle pasta was so much more than just a pasta. I rarely order pasta because I’m usually convinced I can make it myself at home. But when I saw a balsamic cream sauce with andouille I was intrigued. And I was also not disappointed — anything but disappointed in fact. The opposite of disappointed. Like so far from disappointed I felt anointed (that may be a bit sacrilegious but it rhymed well). But seriously, order this dish. My guy ordered the chateaubriand tenderloin — which was huge and tender and delicious. But I think the pasta was better.
Finally — for dessert he had the pink champage chocolate cake (possibly the most moist cake I’ve ever tried) and I had the cheese plate.
It’s a beautiful restaurant and he serves beautiful food. Take someone special here and bask in the elegance.

Great location, very quaint and cozy atmosphere. Beau is a great host, very attentive and really seems to want you to have a very enjoyable time. Three of us ordered the andouille farfalle and one ordered the shepards pie. The andouille dish was pretty good, a 3 out of 5 I think. The balsamic reduction is very strong and the andouille is cut fairly small, not a huge portion either for the price.
The bread service is nice, we had the garlic and the ricotta — both very different of course but both well done.
The star of the evening was the shepards pie. The flavors are extremely well developed and the lamb was very tender. Great dinner, prices a bit on the high side but worth a shot!
Overall, the food is a three, the service a five!

An overall wonderful experience! One can’t help notice the well thought-​out décor and romantic ambiance. If you’re seeking an intimate setting, this is it. Walk out the door and you’re facing the Willamette, perfect for an after dinner stroll in a safe, beautiful part of town. The GQ-​esq owner seats, orders, cooks, serves, cleans and handles the bill. His attention and attitude were top notch.
Here’s what I remember about the food:
Brussel Sprouts: different than the more common sautéed version; the balsamic reduction wasn’t overbearing. It would be nice if portions were a bit larger, especially as they are vegetables.
Onion Soup: Those in our party who preferred soups on the sweet side liked it. For me, traditional salty (I didn’t say Campbell’s) is more my liking. Yeah, I’m a simpleton when it comes to this dish, give me the melted cheese on top.
Gnocchi: didn’t taste it, but it looked divine, light and ample. Many enjoyed it.
Lemon Caper Chicken: the polenta side was my favorite part of the meal; and the sauce was heavenly. Very ample portion.
Steak Chateaubriand: this seems to be the marquee item. The very tender LARGE slab is complemented by a wonderful wine sauce. This is my first experience with this famed dish it, so no idea if it’s made in true fashion. It’s probably not a fair comparison, but I’ll give the nod to a top flight steak from Morton’s (not Ruth Chris or anything lower though.) I liked, but did not love it. Where it strikes out is with the mashed potatoes. If they’re supposed to be al dente like pasta, then maybe they’re made to perfection. But they were just to hard and lacked flavor.
Where Vie hits really hits it out of the ballpark is with the desserts! The Butter Cake is a must order; and as with most French creations, the drizzled sauce alone was worth it. The strawberry sauce concoction with bread slices was excellent; maybe pour some over that Butter Cake. Lastly, we enjoyed the Gâteau Vie — Champagne chocolate cake, their signature dessert. The owner does an excellent job at describing the ingredients and background story of his creations. Lastly, if you order tea, the hot water is served in beautiful decorative urn.
An fabulous, tucked away little gem.

Vie offers a rare dining experience that should be enjoyed by all.
My wife chose Vie for her 40^th birthday based in large part on Unilocal reviews, and the meal and experience did not disappoint. We called to make a reservation for 8:00pm on a Friday evening in August, but that was completely unnecessary as upon arrival, there was only one other couple dining.
The proprietor, Beau, greeted us by name upon arrival and his genuine generosity shown through from the very beginning. As others have mentioned, Vie is impeccably decorated. It’s intimate and comfortable, and very appropriately French. My wife and I have spent several vacations in Paris, and Vie feels like it’s been transplanted from the banks of the Seine to the banks of the Willamette.
We were seated by the window and opted for the Prix Fixe, consisting of 3 courses. Current pricing at the time of our visit was $ 36 with a $ 6 up charge if selecting the Steak Chateaubriand as the main course. This is an exceptional value and really is the best way to experience Vie. There is a 5 course option for $ 64, but honestly, you’ll need to be really hungry for that.
I’ve added photos of our menu items (as tacky as taking photos of your meal is, our first course was so lovely in presentation, we were compelled to photograph it).
Though we ordered the Prix Fixe, we added an additional first course, the Bread Service. You simply can’t have a French meal without bread, and the presentation of a baguette served with ricotta and honey, a selection of strawberries and jam was mouth watering.
For my first course I had the Onion Soup, and if for no other reason than to try this soup, you should visit Vie. I’ve had Onion Soup in many locations throughout France and the States, and this is what all others should be judged by. It was sweet, the perfect temperature, a suitable first course portion, and a bit of fresh grated Parmesan cheese topped it nicely. Vie’s Onion Soup does lack the traditional croûton on top, but I’ve always found that they only make the soup difficult to eat and don’t add to the flavor of the dish. Personal preference I guess, but I prefer it without the croûton.
My wife enjoyed the Brussel Sprouts which were slightly bitter, as they should be, but balanced with a balsamic reduction that set these apart from your run of the mill brussel sprouts that usually are prepared with only olive oil and salt.
My main course was the Steak Chateaubriand, which Beau told us is the most popular dish on the menu. Ordered a la carte, this would be $ 26, a fair price for the dish at any establishment, and the $ 6 up charge on the Prix Fixe for this is warranted. The steak is usually prepared medium rare, and I asked for them to err on the side of medium. It was cooked perfectly, even doneness on both sides, a pink center, a perfect medium. Served on a bed of roughly mashed potatoes and a topping of arugula, the steak was very juicy, tender and was bathed in the white wine sauce that married the flavors superbly. I had half of my portion boxed to take home and with careful reheating in the microwave, it was just as good as left overs.
My wife chose the Andouille Farfalle for her main course. I sampled it and the sausage was spicy, but not over powering. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the balsamic tied all of the flavors together. Highly recommended, if you can resist ordering the Chateaubriand.
Dessert, our final course, was the perfect cap to our dining experience. My wife had the Pink Champagne Chocolate Cake. In a word: lovely.
I had the featured special dessert which was a mint chocolate mousse. Topped with a strawberry, it was well balanced and the texture was like silk.
To summarize the food, it was beyond reproach. Every dish we were served was perfect.
We enjoyed Champagne cocktails with our meal. We had several of Le Miel, which is ginger and honey and I could have enjoyed several more if we’d intended to walk home. I also had L’Orange, but after sampling my wife’s Le Miel, switched to them for round two.
Our meal took approximately one hour forty five minutes. Beau Breedlove is not only the proprietor, but he’s also the host, waiter and chef. Honestly, dining at Vie felt like being served a private meal at Beau’s home. Beau’s step daughter Samantha was also present and helped Beau as needed, but he really was doing everything. None of it seemed frantic, and he seems to have mastered the art of balancing impeccable service and attentiveness with tending bar and cooking.
We almost returned for dinner on Saturday night for an encore meal, Vie was really that good. We fully intend to return soon and sample more of the menu and to become repeat customers. Hands down, this was the best dining experience my wife and I have ever had together. If I could give Vie 6 stars, I would. Give them a try and I’m confident you will not be disappointed.

What a find! This is s great little French restaurant on the waterfront downtown. It feels like a little piece of Paris transplanted into Portland.
The menu has some great and quintessentially French choices, both appetizers and main courses. We ordered à la carte, but next time we’ll be going with the prix fixe menu — it’s such a good deal, and it saves a few dollars.
The food lived up to our expectations. We had sweet onion soup and caprese salad as appetizers, and both were delightful. We both had the bœuf bourgignon as our main courses, and it was superb. At the suggestion of the chef, we selected a Bordeaux supérieur to go with the meal. His suggestion was spot on. All of the flavors of the meal came together perfectly for a really nice evening of French cuisine.
If you’re looking for a nice restaurant with delicious food and a view of the waterfront, this is the place for you. If you’re looking to impress a date, this is the place for you. If you’re looking to celebrate a special event, this is the place for you. And if you’re looking for the best French restaurant in Portland, this is definitely the place for you.
We wish the proprietor every success, as we plan to become regular customers.

BLANK!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS???
Absolutely, positively beautiful food and the owner Beau was perfect. So unfair to all you boys that this man looks as good as he does AND he cooks like a dream. Cannot say enough how good it was, Gnude dish, champagne chocolate cake — the whole thing was dreamy…

I happen to work next door to this place so I was the whole process of the restaurant coming together. And the owner, Beau Breedlove has really done a fine spot with this restaurant. I told him I was really interested in coming the check out his restaurant. Later that day he had someone drop by a gift certificate. Right off the bat, this was a very nice gesture that had me intrigued.
As other people have noted, the ambiance of the place is really quite fantastic. Overall a relatively small restaurant, but the décor and music really help to set up a cozy feel, especially right now there on the waterfront.
The servers who were working were both especially accommodating to us and very knowledgeable of the their menu, which apparently changes every few weeks. They were able to suggest us good wines that would pair with the foods we chose (I had a chicken plate, my friend had a caprese salad, and we had brussel sprouts as a starter.
When it came down to it, everything was delicious. The sprouts were cooked and seasoned just perfectly, the chicken was flavorful and moist and the caprese was jam packed with flavor notes. And the wine choices were spot on to fit the occasion. Unfortunately neither of us had it in us for dessert but I can imagine with how good everything else was, that dessert would be on par with everything else.
Plus, this is a relatively new restaurant and doesn’t have a ton of traffic as of yet. Really worth checking out, I high encourage it. Good vibe of the restaurant, friendly, knowledgeable employees, delicious food and genuine owner that really focuses more of the experience of patrons than how much money they made at the end of the day. Stop in!

I chanced into Vie just after their recent opening, and can’t wait to return to try their full menu! (This review is based on my wonderful experience having cocktails there.)
This place is a real find, a tucked-​away spot for a romantic evening, a great conversation, or just to soak up the atmosphere on your own. And since it’s on the South Waterfront, Vie has gorgeous views of the river before dusk and of the city lights later in the evening.
I haven’t experienced ambiance like this in a public place in ages — a small, lovely space with a golden glow that somehow evokes a different place and time. Somehow both genteel yet far more intimate than your typical nicer-​restaurant experience. The service was impeccable and warm — prompt yet not hurried.
The vibe worked on a number of levels to create a really rich emotional experience for me. Although I know that the owners must have paid painstaking care and attention to every aspect required to create this atmosphere, it was so seamless that all I felt was a natural grace that drew me in and made me and my companion a part of it. All of the sensory details were just perfect, working in sync — music, views, taste, texture, scent.
In fact, my girlfriend and I had the Neroli champagne cocktail, which boasts an exquisite edible perfume distilled from oranges. If you’re a sensory-​oriented person, you will adore the fullness of this experience — each sip is something to stop and lose yourself in, then savor. A really unique and awesome offering.
For now, Vie is a hidden gem — so I plan to be back soon before it gets onto the radar!