Though I've tasted better burgers before, the decor, service, and music at Billy Heartbeats makes for a really great dining experience! My boyfriend and I stopped in during the weekday and were one of three tables dining in the restaurant. Everything about this place (minus the flat screen TV playing sports) embodies the 50s! I personally really enjoyed all the red vinyl everywhere and the tabletop jukeboxes filled with music that's 10x better than the music of my generation. The music playing throughout the restaurant was also a good mix of some classic oldies and really added to the mood of the place :) Our server was also very polite and attentive, making sure that our cokes were refilled as needed. Everyone working here actually seemed to be in a good mood (yay!) Onto the food: I ordered a chili burger and my boyfriend ordered the "Some Like It Hot" burger. The chili was tasty, though I think that the burger patty could have used more seasoning. I also wish the fries were seasoned a little more as well. Nonetheless, my burger was still definitely a solid 3/3.5 stars. My boyfriend said that his burger was good, but commented that he expected it to be a little spicier. All in all, a decent meal with a nice ambience.
(3)
Randy P.
I brought my girlfriend here one trip to the mall after my first experience. This time around I found everything a bit salty and just mediocre. We ordered burgers and fries. Myself a diet coke and girlfriend a milkshake. Definitely a different experience than my first trip, though she did like the milkshake.
(2)
J E.
Had to come for the jukebox alone!!! The food was certainly less than I have come to expect from RUI restaurants, but still a fun experience. I know there is a new Manager who we met and was lovely. He was going around to tables to assure people were happy, that is great. A good place to hit after a movie at Lloyd Center. :). Thought tho for the price I would go to Stanford's next time where $20 burger and fries buys you a fantastic meal! I will be interested to maybe go back after this Manager has had some time to revamp thus venue. Great if you have kids I think! And, if we had the RUI Sunday Happy Hour there, what we ate might have been better for the price point. ;) maybe a good idea to add?
(3)
Mario F.
Great food and great service. Pretty awesome place for being in a mall. Would definitely recommend it. Great for groups and take out.
(5)
Ryan A.
Billy Heartbeats gets four stars not for being a four star restaurant, but for being pretty good at doing what it does. The food was pretty decent (not great), the service was really awkward, but well-meaning. The prices are low. Basically, if you are in the mall and want to sit down for a bit, this is a fine option (if you want to pay more and get better food, go to Stanford's - Billy Heartbeats grown up cousin - yes, they're actually related, though you wouldn't know it by eating there). If you aren't in the mall, this is not a destination, it just works fine if you're already there.
(4)
Don T.
Old school burger joint, nice decor, the servers and cooks wear white uniforms with service caps. They serve the usual burger and fries type menu, but also have Coca Cola and will spice up with cherry, vanilla or chocolate flavor. A very nice alternative to the other places in the mall foodcourt
(4)
Phoebe T.
I used to love going here when I was a little boy, now not so much. I had gotten the guacamole burger & it was just like any other burger I could've gotten else where; except overpriced. - Red Robin has gotten them beat. The fries were nothing to brag about because they were simply, just fries. The only thing I enjoyed was the chocolate milkshake which brought all the boys to the yard.
(2)
Shy A.
It wasn't bad...especially for mall food. I expected it to be similar to Johnny Rockets. Tuna melt was decent, I wish the sourdough was better. It got a little mushy and that's just not good eats. The service was quick and friendly. There are so many places around Lloyd for grub, I don't think I would necessarily visit again.
I am not into malls which is shy I was shaking my head the entire way to Billy Hesrtbeats. You see I had the call of the diner, it's like the call of wild, only domesticated and with an oldies soundtrack. Or maybe it was the unending draw of old school milkshakes (I hear they bring the boys to the yard), regardless I just needed to do some food time travel to a classic American diner. So I took a bus to a mall. It took some doing but eventually I found the spot high I'm the alps of the Lloyd Shopping Mall. It took some time but once we found Billy Heartbeats we were seated immediately and I found it delightfully covered in holiday decor. The food was super standard diner fare, I got a basket of chicken strips and a milkshake so big it came with the metal second cup half full. Meaning that you and a friend can easily share a shake or malt at Billys. It was nice, a little out of the way and in a mall, but a nice moment in diner time that I would recommend to anyone, particularly if they have spent the day shopping that huge mall and need a break.
(4)
Kate D.
I stopped here after ice skating because I saw the alluring "MILKSHAKES" sign from across the mall. My friend and I were discussing having coffee, and then I saw the sign, and I was enraptured, and I proclaimed "No, we should have milkshakes!" The service was friendly and the milkshakes came fast. They were ordinary but tasty milkshakes. I had my favorite: a chocolate malted. This is nothing fancy, nothing special, just decent milkshakes in the middle of the mall.
(3)
Peter T.
Billy Heartbeats, an outlet of the Restaurants Unlimited empire, is tucked away adjacent to the food court in the Lloyd Shopping mall in Portland, OR. It's a schnock-0ff of Johnny Rockets, serving a limited, table service menu of hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, and shakes, with the addition of a few standard diner entrees. I've passed by it quite a few times, never in the mall long enough to check it out. Last nite we had time before a movie, so Mrs. BDB and I sampled the wares of the kitchen and enjoyed the (decade appropriate) tunes being spit out by a lovingly restored 1952 Seeburg B-100 jukebox. They offer a daily special burger and shake. I went with the former, bacon and blue cheese, and our over the top server answered my questions with prescient knowledge. "And the blue cheese are the big crumbles, not that sickly salad dressing stuff." Sold. Service was prompt and the burger at definite curb appeal. Food is served in a basket, and most orders are accompanied by fries. I liked the burger, it's hand formed and pre-seasoned and suits my palate. The fries weren't spectacular but there was nothing wrong with them, either. Mrs. BDB went with a veggie sandwich and a traditional soda, strawberry, which I had a sample of, and enjoyed that very much. While I have rarely contemplated a shopping mall as a dinner destination, perhaps I should more often. Billy Heartbeats makes a burger worth stopping by for.
(4)
Donna B.
UGH. We took our 4 Chinese friends on 4 July to experience "American" food as was their desire. Staff was lovely but the food was wretched. We were so embarrassed. My husband and I had cheese burgers which were the worst we have ever been served. Over-cooked, dry, falling apart, small meat-- not delicious. Fries were soggy, salty, cool, and a very small portion. (But since they were so horrible-- I guess that was a blessing?) The "ring of fire" onion rings were also sub-par... again-- soggy and just not nice to eat. Did not taste good. The milkshake was okay-- but came with the glossy synthetic whipped cream on top which I cannot stand. I think for what they charge-- the food should be delicious and the portions should be ample. Our friends are too polite to complain-- but it was obvious their food was not good either. It is ashame-- the place is cute and could be good. How hard is it to make a decent hamburger?
(1)
Jerry P.
Great atmosphere. Love the 50's vibe. Food is average, nothing special. Many other choices on the food court that have better food. This is the only choice where you don't have to eat in the mall at a little table. I will stop again.
(3)
Michelle F.
My family and I usually eat here if we visit the Lloyd Center, nice place to actually sit and be served. Great prices, fast service, food is good. Just wanna give a shout out to our waiter we recently had, Chad, who was VERY friendly and this is VERY important when it comes to customer service. Thanks Chad! :)
(4)
Jonathan L.
Average food, reasonable prices. Basic old style 50's burger joint. Small basic menu. I'm surprised they are owned by the same company that owns Stanford's...
(3)
Elizabeth B.
This was the first time my husband and I have been here. I always love going to the diners with the old school atmosphere. I loved the jukebox and our waitress was awesome. But it stops there. I ordered a grilled chicken cesar salad. The lettuce, dressing, cheese and croutons were great but my chicken was slightly raw. Chicken isn't suppose to be pink. They obviously didn't temp it before sending it out. Our waitress was very helpful. The manager had me fill out an accident report just in case I got sick, which I did today. The manager didn't seem to care about what happened and she wasn't aware about health codes. The only reason I gave them 2 stars is because of how friendly and courteous our waitress was. Hopefully no one else gets sick.
(2)
Aaron D.
Food seems fresh, but nothing too original here. Bland plus... the jukebox took my quarter and I don't think it even worked.
(2)
Realtor Karl B.
Okay burger place. Best part were the fries since they were crispy. Burgers were just okay, tuna sandwich was pretty good. Service was a little slow, didn't really come around to refill our sodas.
(3)
Gracie C.
08.13.12: Trying to eat after a dental visit is not easy. At least they have good ol' grilled cheese. Overall, the service was good but could use improving. I tried the grilled cheese and the server filled my soda often. Decent prices and nice that you can sit down and be waited on rather than having to the food court at the Mall.
(4)
MaryBeth D.
I got a free coupon book from yelp for checking in at the mall so I used the coupon for a free orange soda with vanilla added, what a classic flavor for a cool 50's dinner
(3)
Anna L.
I'm visiting Portland so it's possible my view of this restaurant is tempered by vacation coloured glasses but I really liked it. The decor is very interesting and fun, very 50s diner style. I ordered the guacamole and swiss burger which was delicious. The fries were very crispy and hot, well salted and it was enough food that I took some back to the hotel with me. Also, I have funny food allergies and none of the food caused any stomach problems for me. My only quibble would be with the service. It took a little while for me, and the people before me, to be seated. As I ate my lunch, I realized that seemed to be the norm. For some reason, they don't seem to work very much as a team in the restaurant. One person cleared dishes and that same person wiped the table while others were off chatting. I recommend you go but don't go if you're in a rush.
(4)
Bartek K.
Every time I eat here it just pisses me off. My daughter likes the 'diner look" so I keep coming back but personally I think this place blows. The attitude of the employees is actually quite fantastic but that's the best I can say. The service is soooo slow that it's mind-boggling. How could it take THAT long to cook ANYTHING so mediocre?!?! This last time it took 20 minutes to get a check after we finished eating. Patience is a virtue and it will get tested here. You're better off eating anything else at the food court. I'll take the calories over the ulcer.
(2)
Daniel H.
Slow service. Overpriced mediocre food. If you want to waste an hour to eat at an overpriced Carls JR, Billy Heartbeats is for you.
(1)
Fly_Gu Y.
I am not sure why this place has such a bad rap because my wife and I found it to be quite enjoyable. My wife says the decor is a knockoff of Johhny Rockets uuhh maybe Johnyy Rockets is a knockoff of this place. Anyway, we both thought the service was good for a mall eatery. Upon entering the restaurant we were immediately greeted and shown to a booth. From our cursory observation the restaurant to include floors, tables, and booths appeared clean . Our lunch orders were immediately taken and delivered to the table in under 20 minutes. The burgers were hot and juicy and the fries were hot with just the right amount of crunch. Our waitress said the fries were seasoned but my taste buds did not detect a hint of seasoning salt, No biggies as this was nothing a douse of ketchup couldn't cure. We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch and will return on our next visit to Portlandia's Lloyd Center Mall.
(4)
Stephanie S.
I'd been dying to try this place because the decor is so inviting, and there's always fun oldies-music playing! Unfortunately, the food and the service are not inviting, and it is OVERPRICED. I was hoping to get something more like a sit-down meal, but they really focus on burgers and shakes, so unless you want an overpriced burger, don't bother eating here. First, it took too long for the wait staff to acknowledge me. When they finally brought me some water and a menu, I was on the verge of getting up and leaving. This was particularly ridiculous because there were only 2 other tables with people in them! I searched the menu for something that would be at least semi-healthy and tasty. What I ended up with was a 'hot turkey sandwich' with mashed potatoes and a dinner roll. No veggies, no salad, nada. I asked and was told that they don't serve veggies. WTF? Anyway, the turkey was not sliced turkey roast as I expected. Instead, it was thinly sliced lunch meat, heated up with gravy poured over it, on a piece of toast. (basically, sh*t on a shingle, if you know what that is). The mashed potatoes were the best part of the meal, but they were unremarkable. Pretty bland. The dinner roll was cold and kind-of hard. I picked the turkey off of the bread and ate that, and ate part of my mashed potatoes. The rest of the food was a disaster. I won't be returning, and I recommend you stay away as well.
(1)
Matt L.
This place somehow manages to feel like a scene out of Grease, and I mean that in a good way - John Travolta (circa late 70's) could show up at any minute in a leather jacket and tight black shirt. The food is uncomplicated, and tasty - basic burgers and fries, good price, good music (if you like oldies) and attentive, considerate staff. There's no way you can construe it as 'healthy', of course, but that's not the point, is it? I'm lazy, so I'm not sure it's worth the long trek through Lloyd Center to get to, but if you're in the mall anyway, Steve C.'s observation is correct, it's really the best place to eat compared to the other food court offerings.
(4)
Sam H.
This is a fun 50's style diner ran by the same company the runs Stanford's and Newport Bay. It is located on the western side of the food court on the third floor of Lloyd Center. The food is pretty good and the atmosphere is very fun. Their malts are nothing less than excellent! It has a 50' style juke box that plays many songs from the 50s and 60s. It used to work flawlessly, but today it's a little iffy. Definitely worth it for a fun, relaxed lunch or dinner.
(4)
Thomas W.
A 3-star patty melt made 4 stars by two very important factors: One was our waiter - I don't think you will ever find a man more enthused about his job...not even if his job were to collect a fat paycheck every week for playing video games with Mahatma Ghandi and Abe Lincoln. He was awesome, and recommended that I try... ...#2: a chai tea malt. Best malt I have ever had? Yes, please! So yeah, maybe this is not the preeminent dining locale in all of Portland. (It's in a mall's food court, so come on, people...) but that malt was pretty damn special, and my server made it his life's mission to make us happy with our order. You can't really say that about too many servers nowadays.
(4)
S Luc S.
I'm gonna say that Billy Heartbeats is moderately middle of the road. First I was afraid, I was petrified, because it was in the evening and most of the booths were empty. But, it was a Wednesday, maybe it was meatloaf day at home.The wait staff was pretty attentive though I think I shocked the waitress when I changed my cherry coke to a root bear (they refill them relentlessly). Luckily a person I was with wouldn't let that cherry coke go to waste. On to my food. I snickered a bit when I saw their version of a side caesar salad. Lettuce much? Lettuce only. I got the fried chicken tender sandwich. I wish the tenders had less breading on it, but I'm sure came from a box instead of being hand dipped and battered. Also, I thought the fries portion could have been more. But they were hot and that made me happy. It's a pretty burger heavy menu and I think it's a rip to charge more for a Gardenburger (what's up with that) than for meat. I'd be super stoked if there was a turkey burger option. But alas. At least work paid for it.
(3)
Archturiat B.
So not impressed. patty melt was dry and greasy at the same time. How do you do that? At one time, Billy Heartbeats wasn't bad. This ersatz 50's diner-in-a-mall has a great atmosphere, even if the jukebox often gets drowned out by the Zamboni three floors down. But I honestly don't know how you screw up a patty melt. Plus, it's not cheap, either. And, service was less than stellar: drinks were rarely offered to be refilled, and our party was largely ignored even though there was only two other tables in the whole place. Diner food is supposed to be quick, cheap, and yummy; and served by attentive (with some tolerance for rudeness, perhaps) service. This Johnny Rockets ripoff failed on all counts.
(2)
H M.
I have a soft spot for retro themed places like this, however there is nothing particularly special about this one and the mall food court location is not the greatest.
(3)
Solomon H.
Have never had a problem with service or wait time here! Stopped by today and was immediately seated and waited on. Our order arrived within a few minutes and was hot and delicious. Tried the new Banana Malt and it was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!! The music was also great - hated to leave.
(4)
Steve C.
Billy Heartbeats is a less-expensive Johnny Rockets. It's got the traditional diner food, the oldies jukebox music, the handmade milkshakes; that whole attempt at a '50s ambience. Once you get past the irony of seeing "Heartbeats" in the name of a diner where reading the menu will clog your arteries, you'll find that the food here is nothing special by restaurant standards, but a strong cut above anything else you can get in the Lloyd Center food court. The service is usually friendly and quick. The dining area is clean and relatively quiet and comfortable. I would not advise going out of your way to eat here, but when I'm hungry and I'm in the Lloyd Center Mall, this is where I go.
(4)
Joe K.
I'm really into cheeseburgers... so when I saw this glowing bar of a throwback in the back corner of Lloyd Center, of course I had to try it. When I got there the place had 2 tables filled and it made the place look a little bare. I should have taken this as a hint of what was to come. I had the basic burger (includes lettuce, tomato, pickles) with additional toppings (.69 cents each) of jalapenos, tillamook cheddar, and bacon. The bacon came out to be about 8.00 dollars, which isn't so bad if you want a quality burger. My buddy got the french dip. The food finally comes out and I take the first bite out of my highly anticipated burger. My own hype of the burger was completely over from what I got. I got a burger that was piping hot, which is good, but the burger patty seasoning was way over done. There was too much salt and too much pepper on it. Also with the added bacon it made it ever more salty. The other ingredients tasted quite good. I really wish the burger patty wasn't such a let down. Every bite I took was extremely hard to swallow. Good thing I ordered a cola. My friend said the french dip was alright, not the best he's had. It looked pretty bland and the roast beef was unappealing and lacking. I love french dips, and this one was one that I would not order. The service was a little slow, but that could amount to that there was only 2 people working. 1 in the kitchen, 1 doing the waitressing. It was around 3 or 4 so I guess people were either on break or this is the usual staffing they have since it's the slow hours. Once we did get seated the service wasn't too bad. The feel of this place is great, I love the throwback, and I just really wished the food and service was on par with what I could only imagine and hope it was back in the day.
(2)
Michelle L.
This place is hit or miss. I ordered the country fried steak of course. The steak was over fried. The mashed potatoes were really good, the gravy was tasty. The dinner roll was OK. The pumpkin milk shake was good. The decor is nice, 50's diner style and oldies music. It's in the mall food court so really what can you expect for mall food. All of it is mediocre at it's best.
(3)
Krizia A.
i tend to try to avoid the food court. loud, crowded, and not that fun. so i started going here instead, and was pleasantly surprised. the servers are really nice and get to you quickly. the fries are thick, crispy, and delicious. I ordered veggie sandwich with provolone, avocado, tomato, and lettuce and it was pretty tasty. The decor of course is pretty fun, 50's diner style. This place is a nice alternative to crowded mall eating and is a pretty good value for your money. I took home a bunch of fries that held up pretty well til I was ready to eat them again. I appreciate this place!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Drive-Thru : No
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McKena M.
Though I've tasted better burgers before, the decor, service, and music at Billy Heartbeats makes for a really great dining experience! My boyfriend and I stopped in during the weekday and were one of three tables dining in the restaurant. Everything about this place (minus the flat screen TV playing sports) embodies the 50s! I personally really enjoyed all the red vinyl everywhere and the tabletop jukeboxes filled with music that's 10x better than the music of my generation. The music playing throughout the restaurant was also a good mix of some classic oldies and really added to the mood of the place :) Our server was also very polite and attentive, making sure that our cokes were refilled as needed. Everyone working here actually seemed to be in a good mood (yay!) Onto the food: I ordered a chili burger and my boyfriend ordered the "Some Like It Hot" burger. The chili was tasty, though I think that the burger patty could have used more seasoning. I also wish the fries were seasoned a little more as well. Nonetheless, my burger was still definitely a solid 3/3.5 stars. My boyfriend said that his burger was good, but commented that he expected it to be a little spicier. All in all, a decent meal with a nice ambience.
(3)Randy P.
I brought my girlfriend here one trip to the mall after my first experience. This time around I found everything a bit salty and just mediocre. We ordered burgers and fries. Myself a diet coke and girlfriend a milkshake. Definitely a different experience than my first trip, though she did like the milkshake.
(2)J E.
Had to come for the jukebox alone!!! The food was certainly less than I have come to expect from RUI restaurants, but still a fun experience. I know there is a new Manager who we met and was lovely. He was going around to tables to assure people were happy, that is great. A good place to hit after a movie at Lloyd Center. :). Thought tho for the price I would go to Stanford's next time where $20 burger and fries buys you a fantastic meal! I will be interested to maybe go back after this Manager has had some time to revamp thus venue. Great if you have kids I think! And, if we had the RUI Sunday Happy Hour there, what we ate might have been better for the price point. ;) maybe a good idea to add?
(3)Mario F.
Great food and great service. Pretty awesome place for being in a mall. Would definitely recommend it. Great for groups and take out.
(5)Ryan A.
Billy Heartbeats gets four stars not for being a four star restaurant, but for being pretty good at doing what it does. The food was pretty decent (not great), the service was really awkward, but well-meaning. The prices are low. Basically, if you are in the mall and want to sit down for a bit, this is a fine option (if you want to pay more and get better food, go to Stanford's - Billy Heartbeats grown up cousin - yes, they're actually related, though you wouldn't know it by eating there). If you aren't in the mall, this is not a destination, it just works fine if you're already there.
(4)Don T.
Old school burger joint, nice decor, the servers and cooks wear white uniforms with service caps. They serve the usual burger and fries type menu, but also have Coca Cola and will spice up with cherry, vanilla or chocolate flavor. A very nice alternative to the other places in the mall foodcourt
(4)Phoebe T.
I used to love going here when I was a little boy, now not so much. I had gotten the guacamole burger & it was just like any other burger I could've gotten else where; except overpriced. - Red Robin has gotten them beat. The fries were nothing to brag about because they were simply, just fries. The only thing I enjoyed was the chocolate milkshake which brought all the boys to the yard.
(2)Shy A.
It wasn't bad...especially for mall food. I expected it to be similar to Johnny Rockets. Tuna melt was decent, I wish the sourdough was better. It got a little mushy and that's just not good eats. The service was quick and friendly. There are so many places around Lloyd for grub, I don't think I would necessarily visit again.
(3)Shonna B.
I used to love coming here when I was in High school but I brought my niece and daughter was very disappointed. We had burgers, fries, chicken strips and banana split. My burger was dry and thin. My fries were cold. My daughters chicken strips were so over-breaded and over-fried to the point of being hard. The banana split was overpriced but delicious. the décor and even uniform are pretty cool. They service of our waitress was really good. She replace my daughters strip with fries as I asked very quickly but the fries tasted like onion rings... So I would come back for a milkshake or banana split but that's all. So sad.
(2)Amara D.
I am not into malls which is shy I was shaking my head the entire way to Billy Hesrtbeats. You see I had the call of the diner, it's like the call of wild, only domesticated and with an oldies soundtrack. Or maybe it was the unending draw of old school milkshakes (I hear they bring the boys to the yard), regardless I just needed to do some food time travel to a classic American diner. So I took a bus to a mall. It took some doing but eventually I found the spot high I'm the alps of the Lloyd Shopping Mall. It took some time but once we found Billy Heartbeats we were seated immediately and I found it delightfully covered in holiday decor. The food was super standard diner fare, I got a basket of chicken strips and a milkshake so big it came with the metal second cup half full. Meaning that you and a friend can easily share a shake or malt at Billys. It was nice, a little out of the way and in a mall, but a nice moment in diner time that I would recommend to anyone, particularly if they have spent the day shopping that huge mall and need a break.
(4)Kate D.
I stopped here after ice skating because I saw the alluring "MILKSHAKES" sign from across the mall. My friend and I were discussing having coffee, and then I saw the sign, and I was enraptured, and I proclaimed "No, we should have milkshakes!" The service was friendly and the milkshakes came fast. They were ordinary but tasty milkshakes. I had my favorite: a chocolate malted. This is nothing fancy, nothing special, just decent milkshakes in the middle of the mall.
(3)Peter T.
Billy Heartbeats, an outlet of the Restaurants Unlimited empire, is tucked away adjacent to the food court in the Lloyd Shopping mall in Portland, OR. It's a schnock-0ff of Johnny Rockets, serving a limited, table service menu of hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, and shakes, with the addition of a few standard diner entrees. I've passed by it quite a few times, never in the mall long enough to check it out. Last nite we had time before a movie, so Mrs. BDB and I sampled the wares of the kitchen and enjoyed the (decade appropriate) tunes being spit out by a lovingly restored 1952 Seeburg B-100 jukebox. They offer a daily special burger and shake. I went with the former, bacon and blue cheese, and our over the top server answered my questions with prescient knowledge. "And the blue cheese are the big crumbles, not that sickly salad dressing stuff." Sold. Service was prompt and the burger at definite curb appeal. Food is served in a basket, and most orders are accompanied by fries. I liked the burger, it's hand formed and pre-seasoned and suits my palate. The fries weren't spectacular but there was nothing wrong with them, either. Mrs. BDB went with a veggie sandwich and a traditional soda, strawberry, which I had a sample of, and enjoyed that very much. While I have rarely contemplated a shopping mall as a dinner destination, perhaps I should more often. Billy Heartbeats makes a burger worth stopping by for.
(4)Donna B.
UGH. We took our 4 Chinese friends on 4 July to experience "American" food as was their desire. Staff was lovely but the food was wretched. We were so embarrassed. My husband and I had cheese burgers which were the worst we have ever been served. Over-cooked, dry, falling apart, small meat-- not delicious. Fries were soggy, salty, cool, and a very small portion. (But since they were so horrible-- I guess that was a blessing?) The "ring of fire" onion rings were also sub-par... again-- soggy and just not nice to eat. Did not taste good. The milkshake was okay-- but came with the glossy synthetic whipped cream on top which I cannot stand. I think for what they charge-- the food should be delicious and the portions should be ample. Our friends are too polite to complain-- but it was obvious their food was not good either. It is ashame-- the place is cute and could be good. How hard is it to make a decent hamburger?
(1)Jerry P.
Great atmosphere. Love the 50's vibe. Food is average, nothing special. Many other choices on the food court that have better food. This is the only choice where you don't have to eat in the mall at a little table. I will stop again.
(3)Michelle F.
My family and I usually eat here if we visit the Lloyd Center, nice place to actually sit and be served. Great prices, fast service, food is good. Just wanna give a shout out to our waiter we recently had, Chad, who was VERY friendly and this is VERY important when it comes to customer service. Thanks Chad! :)
(4)Jonathan L.
Average food, reasonable prices. Basic old style 50's burger joint. Small basic menu. I'm surprised they are owned by the same company that owns Stanford's...
(3)Elizabeth B.
This was the first time my husband and I have been here. I always love going to the diners with the old school atmosphere. I loved the jukebox and our waitress was awesome. But it stops there. I ordered a grilled chicken cesar salad. The lettuce, dressing, cheese and croutons were great but my chicken was slightly raw. Chicken isn't suppose to be pink. They obviously didn't temp it before sending it out. Our waitress was very helpful. The manager had me fill out an accident report just in case I got sick, which I did today. The manager didn't seem to care about what happened and she wasn't aware about health codes. The only reason I gave them 2 stars is because of how friendly and courteous our waitress was. Hopefully no one else gets sick.
(2)Aaron D.
Food seems fresh, but nothing too original here. Bland plus... the jukebox took my quarter and I don't think it even worked.
(2)Realtor Karl B.
Okay burger place. Best part were the fries since they were crispy. Burgers were just okay, tuna sandwich was pretty good. Service was a little slow, didn't really come around to refill our sodas.
(3)Gracie C.
08.13.12: Trying to eat after a dental visit is not easy. At least they have good ol' grilled cheese. Overall, the service was good but could use improving. I tried the grilled cheese and the server filled my soda often. Decent prices and nice that you can sit down and be waited on rather than having to the food court at the Mall.
(4)MaryBeth D.
I got a free coupon book from yelp for checking in at the mall so I used the coupon for a free orange soda with vanilla added, what a classic flavor for a cool 50's dinner
(3)Anna L.
I'm visiting Portland so it's possible my view of this restaurant is tempered by vacation coloured glasses but I really liked it. The decor is very interesting and fun, very 50s diner style. I ordered the guacamole and swiss burger which was delicious. The fries were very crispy and hot, well salted and it was enough food that I took some back to the hotel with me. Also, I have funny food allergies and none of the food caused any stomach problems for me. My only quibble would be with the service. It took a little while for me, and the people before me, to be seated. As I ate my lunch, I realized that seemed to be the norm. For some reason, they don't seem to work very much as a team in the restaurant. One person cleared dishes and that same person wiped the table while others were off chatting. I recommend you go but don't go if you're in a rush.
(4)Bartek K.
Every time I eat here it just pisses me off. My daughter likes the 'diner look" so I keep coming back but personally I think this place blows. The attitude of the employees is actually quite fantastic but that's the best I can say. The service is soooo slow that it's mind-boggling. How could it take THAT long to cook ANYTHING so mediocre?!?! This last time it took 20 minutes to get a check after we finished eating. Patience is a virtue and it will get tested here. You're better off eating anything else at the food court. I'll take the calories over the ulcer.
(2)Daniel H.
Slow service. Overpriced mediocre food. If you want to waste an hour to eat at an overpriced Carls JR, Billy Heartbeats is for you.
(1)Fly_Gu Y.
I am not sure why this place has such a bad rap because my wife and I found it to be quite enjoyable. My wife says the decor is a knockoff of Johhny Rockets uuhh maybe Johnyy Rockets is a knockoff of this place. Anyway, we both thought the service was good for a mall eatery. Upon entering the restaurant we were immediately greeted and shown to a booth. From our cursory observation the restaurant to include floors, tables, and booths appeared clean . Our lunch orders were immediately taken and delivered to the table in under 20 minutes. The burgers were hot and juicy and the fries were hot with just the right amount of crunch. Our waitress said the fries were seasoned but my taste buds did not detect a hint of seasoning salt, No biggies as this was nothing a douse of ketchup couldn't cure. We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch and will return on our next visit to Portlandia's Lloyd Center Mall.
(4)Stephanie S.
I'd been dying to try this place because the decor is so inviting, and there's always fun oldies-music playing! Unfortunately, the food and the service are not inviting, and it is OVERPRICED. I was hoping to get something more like a sit-down meal, but they really focus on burgers and shakes, so unless you want an overpriced burger, don't bother eating here. First, it took too long for the wait staff to acknowledge me. When they finally brought me some water and a menu, I was on the verge of getting up and leaving. This was particularly ridiculous because there were only 2 other tables with people in them! I searched the menu for something that would be at least semi-healthy and tasty. What I ended up with was a 'hot turkey sandwich' with mashed potatoes and a dinner roll. No veggies, no salad, nada. I asked and was told that they don't serve veggies. WTF? Anyway, the turkey was not sliced turkey roast as I expected. Instead, it was thinly sliced lunch meat, heated up with gravy poured over it, on a piece of toast. (basically, sh*t on a shingle, if you know what that is). The mashed potatoes were the best part of the meal, but they were unremarkable. Pretty bland. The dinner roll was cold and kind-of hard. I picked the turkey off of the bread and ate that, and ate part of my mashed potatoes. The rest of the food was a disaster. I won't be returning, and I recommend you stay away as well.
(1)Matt L.
This place somehow manages to feel like a scene out of Grease, and I mean that in a good way - John Travolta (circa late 70's) could show up at any minute in a leather jacket and tight black shirt. The food is uncomplicated, and tasty - basic burgers and fries, good price, good music (if you like oldies) and attentive, considerate staff. There's no way you can construe it as 'healthy', of course, but that's not the point, is it? I'm lazy, so I'm not sure it's worth the long trek through Lloyd Center to get to, but if you're in the mall anyway, Steve C.'s observation is correct, it's really the best place to eat compared to the other food court offerings.
(4)Sam H.
This is a fun 50's style diner ran by the same company the runs Stanford's and Newport Bay. It is located on the western side of the food court on the third floor of Lloyd Center. The food is pretty good and the atmosphere is very fun. Their malts are nothing less than excellent! It has a 50' style juke box that plays many songs from the 50s and 60s. It used to work flawlessly, but today it's a little iffy. Definitely worth it for a fun, relaxed lunch or dinner.
(4)Thomas W.
A 3-star patty melt made 4 stars by two very important factors: One was our waiter - I don't think you will ever find a man more enthused about his job...not even if his job were to collect a fat paycheck every week for playing video games with Mahatma Ghandi and Abe Lincoln. He was awesome, and recommended that I try... ...#2: a chai tea malt. Best malt I have ever had? Yes, please! So yeah, maybe this is not the preeminent dining locale in all of Portland. (It's in a mall's food court, so come on, people...) but that malt was pretty damn special, and my server made it his life's mission to make us happy with our order. You can't really say that about too many servers nowadays.
(4)S Luc S.
I'm gonna say that Billy Heartbeats is moderately middle of the road. First I was afraid, I was petrified, because it was in the evening and most of the booths were empty. But, it was a Wednesday, maybe it was meatloaf day at home.The wait staff was pretty attentive though I think I shocked the waitress when I changed my cherry coke to a root bear (they refill them relentlessly). Luckily a person I was with wouldn't let that cherry coke go to waste. On to my food. I snickered a bit when I saw their version of a side caesar salad. Lettuce much? Lettuce only. I got the fried chicken tender sandwich. I wish the tenders had less breading on it, but I'm sure came from a box instead of being hand dipped and battered. Also, I thought the fries portion could have been more. But they were hot and that made me happy. It's a pretty burger heavy menu and I think it's a rip to charge more for a Gardenburger (what's up with that) than for meat. I'd be super stoked if there was a turkey burger option. But alas. At least work paid for it.
(3)Archturiat B.
So not impressed. patty melt was dry and greasy at the same time. How do you do that? At one time, Billy Heartbeats wasn't bad. This ersatz 50's diner-in-a-mall has a great atmosphere, even if the jukebox often gets drowned out by the Zamboni three floors down. But I honestly don't know how you screw up a patty melt. Plus, it's not cheap, either. And, service was less than stellar: drinks were rarely offered to be refilled, and our party was largely ignored even though there was only two other tables in the whole place. Diner food is supposed to be quick, cheap, and yummy; and served by attentive (with some tolerance for rudeness, perhaps) service. This Johnny Rockets ripoff failed on all counts.
(2)H M.
I have a soft spot for retro themed places like this, however there is nothing particularly special about this one and the mall food court location is not the greatest.
(3)Solomon H.
Have never had a problem with service or wait time here! Stopped by today and was immediately seated and waited on. Our order arrived within a few minutes and was hot and delicious. Tried the new Banana Malt and it was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!! The music was also great - hated to leave.
(4)Steve C.
Billy Heartbeats is a less-expensive Johnny Rockets. It's got the traditional diner food, the oldies jukebox music, the handmade milkshakes; that whole attempt at a '50s ambience. Once you get past the irony of seeing "Heartbeats" in the name of a diner where reading the menu will clog your arteries, you'll find that the food here is nothing special by restaurant standards, but a strong cut above anything else you can get in the Lloyd Center food court. The service is usually friendly and quick. The dining area is clean and relatively quiet and comfortable. I would not advise going out of your way to eat here, but when I'm hungry and I'm in the Lloyd Center Mall, this is where I go.
(4)Joe K.
I'm really into cheeseburgers... so when I saw this glowing bar of a throwback in the back corner of Lloyd Center, of course I had to try it. When I got there the place had 2 tables filled and it made the place look a little bare. I should have taken this as a hint of what was to come. I had the basic burger (includes lettuce, tomato, pickles) with additional toppings (.69 cents each) of jalapenos, tillamook cheddar, and bacon. The bacon came out to be about 8.00 dollars, which isn't so bad if you want a quality burger. My buddy got the french dip. The food finally comes out and I take the first bite out of my highly anticipated burger. My own hype of the burger was completely over from what I got. I got a burger that was piping hot, which is good, but the burger patty seasoning was way over done. There was too much salt and too much pepper on it. Also with the added bacon it made it ever more salty. The other ingredients tasted quite good. I really wish the burger patty wasn't such a let down. Every bite I took was extremely hard to swallow. Good thing I ordered a cola. My friend said the french dip was alright, not the best he's had. It looked pretty bland and the roast beef was unappealing and lacking. I love french dips, and this one was one that I would not order. The service was a little slow, but that could amount to that there was only 2 people working. 1 in the kitchen, 1 doing the waitressing. It was around 3 or 4 so I guess people were either on break or this is the usual staffing they have since it's the slow hours. Once we did get seated the service wasn't too bad. The feel of this place is great, I love the throwback, and I just really wished the food and service was on par with what I could only imagine and hope it was back in the day.
(2)Michelle L.
This place is hit or miss. I ordered the country fried steak of course. The steak was over fried. The mashed potatoes were really good, the gravy was tasty. The dinner roll was OK. The pumpkin milk shake was good. The decor is nice, 50's diner style and oldies music. It's in the mall food court so really what can you expect for mall food. All of it is mediocre at it's best.
(3)Krizia A.
i tend to try to avoid the food court. loud, crowded, and not that fun. so i started going here instead, and was pleasantly surprised. the servers are really nice and get to you quickly. the fries are thick, crispy, and delicious. I ordered veggie sandwich with provolone, avocado, tomato, and lettuce and it was pretty tasty. The decor of course is pretty fun, 50's diner style. This place is a nice alternative to crowded mall eating and is a pretty good value for your money. I took home a bunch of fries that held up pretty well til I was ready to eat them again. I appreciate this place!
(4)