McCormick & Schmicks
 

has anyone been to this restaurant in Portland Oregon? is it good? I wondered also about their happy hour and if they have good food for that and drinks?

I have only eaten at ones in California and I would not recommend it.

One here in Boston. Ate there once prefer Legal Seafoods.

I've only eaten at the one in Philly, but the food is probably pretty similar at all the locations. I remember they had a coconut shrimp appetizer with a horseradish marmelade that was excellent, but the entrees weren't as successful. Monkfish was just average and the tuna was not good.

Have eaten at the one in Kansas City, and it was excellent. Have also eaten at Legal Seafood in Boston, not unfamiliar with really good seafood.

Can't say if they are all good across the board, however.

It's a national chain (over 30 restaurants) which serves pretty good seafood. It's perhaps a bit overpriced.
Started in Seattle.

It is listed in the Houston Chronicle as one of the best seafood eats and i am anxious to try it.

My department at work went there for lunch (Philly location) and not only was the food not good, but 3 of the 7 of us had serious stomach issues about 8 hours after our meal. Not fun.

Yes and it was quite tasty. It was good enough that I ate there the second time I went back to Portland. We have one hear (KC) now and would say it was about the same as the one in Portland. A bit pricey but nothing to extreme.

with our Legal Seafoods, there is an in house biologist who tests all fish served since it's beginnings in early 60's not one ever got sick.

M & S is well-regarded in Portland and is regularly cited as being one of the best restaurants here. I've also known many people who say it's their favorite restaurant. That said, my feeling is that the items on the menu always sound better than they ever are. Plus my husband has gotten sick there twice. There are several in the Portland metro area, and they all have decent atmospheres and good happy hour prices - $1.95 for most items including a cheeseburger - but I have never understood why people like the food so much. I think the execution of their concepts is poor. If you want atmosphere, go to the Harborside on the waterfront at Riverplace, it's McCormick's and Schmicks. Sit outside on the sidewalk and watch the people and the river traffic. Everyone has their own opinion - you might like it a lot; I personally think there are better restaurants in PDX.

Blech, we went to a McCormick & Schmicks in NJ and it was mediocre at best! Overpriced and not even well prepared.
I think the good ones must be good because they have better cooks and managers.

I've been to the one in Philadelphia and the food and service wee both excellent.

Jake's Crawfish is much better!!

The atmosphere is funky but fun :):-B

Have been to one in the Portland area; nothing too special. In Houston I prefer Bayou City Seafood or Pesce to M&S, but I really prefer to go to Galveston.

Have only been to the one in Beverly Hills. Recommend it. Great place to see, be seen.

The one in Bethesda, MD is also overpriced and the food is just OK. As jeneepoo mentioned, the entrees sound better than they really are.

Jake's and Jake's Crawfish are also McCormick & Schmick's
Editing my above comments: If you must go to M&S, go to Harborside; its advantage is the outdoor seating. In general, appetizers are better than entrees.

M&S might be good for seafood in more landlocked cities, but if you have any coastal exposure, these restaurants tend to suffer by comparison to home-grown places. For example, M&S in Beverly Hills has location to recommend it, but there are far, far better seafood restaurants in the LA metro area: Ocean Ave Seafood (Santa Monica), Water Grill (downtown LA), Pine Ave Fish House or Parker's Lighthouse (Long Beach), to name a few in major city areas. M&S' reputation is like that of Gladstone's (on PCH heading toward Malibu): cocktails and a few great appetizers, entrées are approached at your own risk.

I ate at M&S in Boston twice, got sick twice. Given the access to better local restaurants here on the north shore of Boston, I'd jump at the chance to eat in Essex or Gloucester before going to either Legal or M&S.