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.


Venue map for Departure Restaurant and Lounge
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22 Reviews

First Review by J.Cow

OperationChowhound

Points +4856

Vegan
08 Jan 2024

Tour the 15th Floor

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.

Pros: clearly-marked vegan options, ambience, customer service

Cons: parking

AmberPollard

Points +545

Vegan
11 Dec 2022

Very nice for a special night out or a person who wants to spend $100 for dinner

Vibes are immaculate.

Our 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

SarahMays

Points +1179

Vegan
04 Dec 2022

Wonderful vegan options, fine dining

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!

Pros: Delicious vegan options for every course, Vegan desserts!, Everything was delicious!

LouiseGerber

Points +75

Vegan
23 Jun 2022

So nice to have true vegan options available. Fantastic flavor combinations

Thoughtfully created recipes and amazing taste profiles. Beautifully presented.

Pros: Lots of options, Flavor, Beautiful presentation

emsher

Points +636

Vegan
11 Jun 2022

Nice Vegan Options

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!

HenryLi

Points +865

Vegan
08 May 2022

Top Floor Vegan Fine Dining

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.

The 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

Cobaltblur

Points +97

Vegan
13 Jun 2021

Gourmet and Fancy

Wonderful flavor combinations. Tasty vegan options. Very friendly service with beautiful views.

I 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

sandykaren

Points +362

Vegan
09 Mar 2020

Disappointing

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.

Pros: Cool space

Cons: Relies too heavily on salt

thetalkstops

Points +76

Vegan
30 Jul 2019

AMAZING

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.

Pros: Separate vegan menu, Great views, Fancy date spot

Cons: On the pricy side

DianeH

Points +1017

Vegan
13 Jul 2019

Excellent

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.

Igiveitupfortofu

Points +45

Vegan
04 May 2019

An Amazing Meal

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.

Pros: Excellent Food, Unique Environment , Great Service

Cons:

pangaea

Points +20

Vegan
21 Oct 2018

Food Out of this World Great!

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.

Pros: Lots of vegan options, Actual vegan menu , Very willing to make vegetarian options vegan

Awake1234

Points +1137

Vegan
02 May 2018

Roof top Asian Vegan

Get the Bibimbap! It’s vegan and veryyy goood. Add a side of tofu.

Pros: Dedicated vegan and gluten free menus.

Cons: Dress nice.

AndrewTasi

Points +46

Vegan
01 Jun 2017

A treat for the senses

My girlfriend and I came to celebrate our two year anniversary, and we could not have been more pleased.

The 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

veggiewoman

Points +374

Vegan
13 Mar 2017

Great date night!

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.

Thrilled 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

Plant Powered Eater

Points +493

Vegan
14 Jul 2016

Incredibly Fun, Skyline Bar with Lots of Vegan Options

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.

Although 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!

Whitsnake

Points +46

Vegan
27 May 2016

definitely check this place out.

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!

trese80

Points +24

Vegan
08 Mar 2016

Truly wonderful!

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.

Pros: tapas, vegan menu, vegan dessert

katypine

Points +511

Vegan
13 Aug 2015

Pretty Views and Pretty People

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!

Pros: Amazing vegan deserts, fancy people watching, stun

Cons: Sometimes busy/long wait

Popster

Points +92

Vegan
08 Jun 2015

Splendid! Full vegan menu!

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.

tiderisestidefalls

Points +30

Vegan
18 Jul 2014

Fancy and Beautiful Views:

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.

Pros: Yummy food, A variety of vegan options

Cons: The loud music, The service was not very good

J.Cow

Points +44

Vegan
27 Dec 2013

Great Asian fusion vegan meal in a hip spot

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.

Pros: Excellent Food, Great View, Friendly Staff

Cons: Not soley vegan




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