Stop by West Cafe on Saturday, May 1st with your Work ID and receive a free red velvet cupcake on us.

In more than 140 countries, May 1 is celebrated as a workers’ holiday. May Day started in the U.S. in 1886 when American labor organizations called a general strike, beginning on May 1, to demand the eight-hour workday. On May 4, 1886, Chicago police opened fire on the strikers in what is known as the Haymarket Massacre. Today we celebrate May Day, or International Workers’ Day, in honor of the Haymarket martyrs and the international working class. It is a day when workers throughout the world take to the streets to fight against exploitation.

In these turbulent times, West Cafe wants to acknowledge and support all workers – and to this end, we’ll be giving away free red velvet cupcakes to all who come by the restaurant and display their Industry Card, Worker’s ID or Union Card.  All day long.  Come by after the rallies in the park and unwind in the dining area or at our cozy bar with your comrades for top-notch food, aperitifs and delicious free red velvet cupcakes.  Stick around for free jazz later that evening.

Finalize your taxes and celebrate – or find someone to commiserate with – at downtown Portland’s West Cafe featuring all day Happy Hour prices on Thursday, April 15.

Filing your taxes are a pain in the ass.  But like death and birth, they’re unavoidable (unless you’re the gambling type).  With this in mind, West Cafe will be featuring Happy Hour prices from open until close on Thursday, April 15 – otherwise known as Tax Day.  We hope we can provide some solace – or for those lucky few, a chance to celebrate and blow a bit of that refund.  Come by, breathe a sigh of relief, unwind and enjoy discounted prices on some of downtown Portland’s finest drinks and comestibles.

What better way to celebrate spring then with some great food, wine and a romantic overnight stay at a downtown Portland hotel?

Tell us about your favorite dining experience at West Cafe (200 words or less) and you will be entered to win a $50 gift certificate AND the Marriott Portland’s “Renewable You” package.  The contest runs through March and April, with the winner to be announced April 30th. The last day to submit your story is April 29th at midnight.

All you have to do is fan us on Facebook and submit your short story via our ‘Reviews’ tab . Maybe it was a first date, an anniversary or  just an ordinary night at the bar. Whatever the occasion, we would love to hear your take on our restaurant.

The $50 gift certificate is redeemable at West Cafe for food and drink, compliments of Sean and Doug. Coupled with the Marriot’s “Renewable You” package; which includes Deluxe accommodations and a $50 indulgence credit, you’ve got one heck of a date night!

The best stories will be featured on our blog for all to enjoy and who knows, maybe we’ll even name a drink after you! We love our customers, value your business, and can’t wait to read a good story or two.

Who says there’s no such thing a a free lunch? Every month West Cafe will be rewarding one random Facebook Fan with a FREE lunch! That’s right, just by becoming a Facebook fan, you could win a $25 gift certificate redeemable for dinner, drinks, dessert or LUNCH!

Stay tuned to our Fan page for more details and the announcement of the monthly winner. You can get all the latest news right in your inbox by subscribing to our monthly newsletter. Just enter your email address in the sidebar of this post and we’ll be sure to email you the monthly jazz calendar details, wine dinner invitations  and news on our latest promotions.

Go Green with West Cafe this St. Patrick’s Day and join us for reduced food and drink specials from open until close on Wednesday, March 17.

Come spend St. Patty’s Day with the West Cafe and our always-friendly bartender Nick.  He’ll be mixing some of the more fabulous and extravagant drinks you’ll ever have the good fortune to sample – and food and drink prices are at Happy Hour rates all day long!  Come by trolley, catch a bus, hail a cab, drive if you must…but get here to take advantage of Nick’s celebratory concoctions (and their effects) any way you can.

When: Wednesday, March 17.

Time:  Open until close.

Calling lovers and lonely hearts everywhere. Downtown Portland restaurant West Café invites you to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14, with the city’s best jazz, appetizer/drink deals and a delectable prix fixe meal! Solo or coupled; all are welcome to drink, dine and revel – we don’t discriminate.

Do you believe in love? Whether you’re defiantly single, deep in the throes of a grand passion, dreaming of that unique one who will dispel all your hesitations or you’re simply thinking it might be nice to find someone for the night, Portland’s West Café is the perfect destination for Valentine’s Day 2010. We’ll be doing all we can to ensure that love is all around – or at least nestled in our cozy downtown quarters for a few relaxing hours on Sunday, February 14.

On Valentine’ Day weekend, Carol Rossio will be performing both Saturday and Sunday evenings, singing your favorite songs of love, heartbreak and romance. West Cafe will be offering a unique prix fixe menu both evenings ($35 includes a 4 course meal and champagne aperitif).

Our amazing four course prix fixe V-Day dinner runs only $35.00 per person. We highly encourage reservations for the dinner experience as tables fill quickly. We’ll begin seating at 5:30 PM up until 9 PM.

$35 per person including champagne aperitif,
choice of desserts & live jazz

Make your reservation at www.westcafepdx.com or call (503) 227-8189 today!

Valentine’s Weekend Menu 2010

To Start

Spicy Roasted Eggplant Dip with tomatoes & cilantro
Served with toasted bread crostinis, sugar snaps, carrots & celery sticks

Dungeness Crab & Corn Fritters with a mango mustard drizzle
Served over a frisee & chevre salad

Marinated Portobello & Beef Tenderloin Skewers grilled
& served over marinated vegetable & jasmine rice pilaf

Salad Course

Our House Salad of mixed greens with sesame ginger vinaigrette

Spinach Salad* with spiced hazelnuts, sliced apple & balsamic dijon dressing

Caesar* – traditional style – with shaved pecorino cheese

Entrées

Baked Stuffed Patrale Sole stuffed with Dungeness crab & artichoke hearts over jasmine rice pilaf and wilted spinach with a lemon saffron aioli and served with lemon-roasted broccolini spears

Wild Mushroom Lasagna, layered with wild mushrooms, brie cheese,
swiss chard, roasted red peppers and artichoke hearts
Served with a spiced roasted carrot coulis

Mexican Braised ¼ Chicken with Mole Sauce and served with mashed potatoes, roasted baby carrots and broccolini spears

Asian Spice Rubbed Beef Tenderloin served over a special version of our au gratin potatoes with roasted fennel, carrots & red onion garnish and mango dijon sauce

To Finish

Tiramisu, traditional style with espresso liqueur soaked lady fingers, mascarpone cheese and dusted with cocoa

Mango sorbet with 2 homemade cookies

Chocolate soufflé warmed and topped with vanilla ice cream

*Raw egg products are used to make this dish

All meat & poultry products are hormone free

$35 PER PERSON · PRIX FIXE · CHAMPAGNE APERATIF
& LIVE JAZZ INCLUDED

February 6, 2010: Mike Metzner with Steve Cleveland
West Café brings intimate Portland jazz standards downtown on Saturday, February 6.

West Café is always pleased to present Northwest jazz singer Mike Metzner and accompanist Steve Cleveland on Saturday, February 6.  Mike “Scheckie” Metzner’s musical experiences cover miles of ground – with stints in bands such as The Crackpots, Mas Y Mas and the Latin band, Los Comatosos. Mike’s musical travels also extend to England, Ireland and Spain. He and acclaimed pianist Steve Cleveland will be performing standards from the 20s, 30s and 40s in our warm and intimate bar. Come enjoy the best songs of the 20th century while dining in our restaurant or simply relax at the bar with a perfect glass of wine and our always delicious appetizers. Our jazz performances are typically free.

Date: Saturday, February 6, 2010
Time: 7-10PM

February 13 & 14, 2010: Carol Rossio
West Café, jazz and a taste of French flair downtown on Saturday, February 13 & Valentine’s Day, February 14.

West Café is proud to present Portland recording artist and performer Carol Rossio. Carol is a shining light on the Pacific Northwest jazz scene, performing jazz and pop with French flair – ooh-la-la! Her vocal stylings conjures visions of a perfect Parisian café night – filled with the joys and sorrow of love discovered and lost. Working in an intimate combo setting, Carol’s live shows enchant audiences with her range and charisma. On Valentine’ Day weekend, Carol will be performing both Saturday and Sunday evenings, singing your favorite songs of love, heartbreak and romance. West Cafe will be offering a unique prix fixe menu both evenings ($35 includes a 4 course meal and champagne aperitif).  Check our Events page for details.  For more info on Carol and her various projects, please visit www.carolrossio.com.

Come take advantage of the West’s cozy intimate space and imagine you’re lost in the Latin Quarter, sipping the West’s finer wines and tasting the exquisite dishes crafted by head chef Sean Concannon. Saturday jazz shows are typically free.

Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010
Time: 7-10PM

Sunday, February 14, 2010:  Valentine’s Day featuring Carol Rossio & Special Prix Fixe Dinner (see above)

Please visit our Events page for details on our Saturday and Sunday V-Day prix fixe dinner special.
Time: 7-10PM

February 20, 2010: David Brothers
West Café presents down-home folk and blues downtown Saturday, February 20.

On Saturday, February 20, West Café is happy to welcome back the always captivating David Brothers and his award-winning urban folk and blues. Schooled in multiple disciplines, David [www.myspace.com/davidbrothers] artfully incorporates bebop, Latin jazz, gypsy swing, blues, Americana, and solo concert guitar into his compositions and playing.
He packed the house for his debut cd release last April and we expect the café to be jumping in February. Because of an early evening private party, we’ll be limiting our dining options to Bailout Menu items and bar snacks.  But please come by and unwind at our cozy bar with top-notch aperitifs and appetizers.
Saturday music is almost always free.

Date: Saturday, February 20, 2010
Time: 7-10PM

February 26, 2010:  David Bell & Angela Bailey

Portland Jazz Festival 2010 presents moody and esoteric jazz/blues with David Bell & vocalist Angela Bailey.

On Friday, February 26, West Cafe is proud to represent the 2010 Portland Jazz Fest with the return of David Bell and introducing vocalist Angela Bailey.  Featuring both instrumentals and choice vocal highlights, David and Angela focus on a wide range of material – including standards, Great American songbook tunes, blues, as well as more esoteric songs thrown in for good measure.  Please join us for a delicious dinner in the dining area or relax by the fireplace in our bar and enjoy some of the finest jazz Portland has to offer. Our jazz performances are almost always free.

Date: Friday, February 26
Time: 7-10PM

Februrary 27, 2010: Mary Kadderly
Rainy Portland winter settles in at the West Café in downtown Portland with the distinctive jazz of Mary Kadderly on Saturday, February 27.

Mary Kadderly’s smoky vocals recall Natalie Cole in her “Unforgettable” phase, though she can get sassy and coy like Kay Starr, be as coolly detached as Sade, and ooze overt sensuality like Julie London. More information can be found at www.marykadderly.com/index.htm.
The West always has a cozy seat reserved for you. So come on in and dine, drink, unwind and enjoy the jazz on Saturday, February 27. There’s rarely a cover charge.

Date: Saturday, February 27, 2010
Time: 7-10PM

Join us in bidding a fond farewell to 2009 and welcome 2010 at West Cafe with an extravagant 3 course meal at an incredible value!  Just $25 with our featured Pink Martini cocktail aperitif included.

Make your reservations now as tables typically fill quickly!  Join us for a memorable and relaxing dinner before heading out to your late evening parties and special events.

Happy New Year!

West Cafe 2009/2010 New Year’s Eve Menu

To Start (choose one)

Spicy roasted eggplant dip with tomatoes & cilantro
served with toasted bread crostinis, carrots & celery sticks

Dungeness crab corn fritters with spicy marmalade glaze

Beef tenderloin and portobello skewers
with spicy peanut sauce over rice noodles

Salad Course

Our house salad of mixed greens with sesame ginger vinaigrette
- or-
Spinach salad with spiced hazelnuts, sliced apple & sweet mustard dressing
- or -
Caesar*, traditional style with shaved pecorino cheese

Entrées (choice of one)

Dungeness Crab & Shrimp Stuffed Sole with a saffron aioli, broccoli rabe spears and Kansas medley wild rice pilaf

Wild mushroom lasagna, fresh pasta sheets layered with roasted mushrooms, red peppers, grilled leeks, winter greens & Ementhaler cheese served with a roasted chestnut cream

Grilled sliced marinated breast of chicken  over mashed potatoes served with roasted fennel, carrots & red onion and mango mustard sauce

Chili lime rubbed beef tenderloin (med-rare)
served over au gratin potatoes with grilled broccoli rabe spears

$25 per person including our featured Pink Martini champagne aperitif

www.westcafepdx.com     (503) 227-8189

Open for Brunch January 1, 2010 10am – 2pm
Make your reservations today

Visit our Facebook page and become a fan to find out how to earn a free glass of house wine or beer while assisting Portland’s homeless youth and Outside In.

Simply click the “Fan Us On Facebook” tab to the immediate right and discover what everyday use item we’re accepting in exchange for a glass of wine or beer on the house (with the purchase of any food item – *cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions or “Bail Out” menu).  Be certain to friend us on Facebook to discover more details as well as info on future promotional deals and coupons.

Outside In is a community health agency dedicated to serving low-income adults and homeless youth. It began in 1968 and has continually revised services to meet changing client needs. Current programs include a community health clinic and a homeless youth program designed to help homeless youth become self-sufficient.

Fan West Café on Facebook today!

West Cafe and Chehalem Wines Collaborate to Create a Succulent Fall-themed Wine Dinner on Tuesday, September 15. (more…)