McMenamins Tavern & Pool
1716 NW 23rd Ave, Portland, OR, 97210
McMenamins Tavern & Pool Menu
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Address :
1716 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, OR, 97210 - Phone (503) 227-0929
- Website https://www.mcmenamins.com/Tavern
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
- Mon : 11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Mon
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Brian H.
Cool place, nice staff. After the last place not allowing minors, this McMenamins never has a problem with them. The Brothers that started the restaurant really understood Portland and it's family friendly atmosphere. They have pools, shuffle boards and a great feeling. Thank you for another great experience.
(5)Lindsey M.
Another stamp in the passport and another McMenamins. This one is very laid back with plenty of pool tables and outdoor seating. The food is normal for McMenamins but the bartender was awesome. That guy needs a raise :)
(3)Sudipto G.
Stopped in here for a quick beer while waiting to get into another place for dinner. Got the nitro stout which was a good beer. But what I didn't like was we had to wait for 25 mins after ordering to get the beer..
(3)Linz E.
Come here during happy hour and get some beer and snacks: you'll leave with a satisfied tummy, and a little bit if a buzz. I came here on a Monday afternoon and opted for the interior seating, although there are outdoor tables if you're not prone to sunburn, and/or have a dog. There are also pool tables if that's your game. We were quickly greeted and ordered the happy hour Cajun tots and a beer sampler. Most of the beer was darker than I usually drink, but it wasn't a regrettable experience by any means. And the Cajun tots were slightly spicy, and crunchy on the outside, but fluffy on the inside. All and all it was an enjoyable afternoon snack.
(4)Margaret L.
At $6.25, the cider sampler rocks! The seasonal blackberry cider had just the right amount of lambicky sour w/o the carbonation.
(4)Anna C.
The management addressed our previous negative experience very appropriately and apologized. I'm impressed with the care that he took to follow through. We will try it again soon.
(4)Steven J.
The bar tender was awful to us. The place is dead and the music is bad. We ordered drinks at the bar and he scowled at us. Decided to go do something else. When he came back we canceled the order and went across the street where it was packed. Staff can ruin a business...
(1)Bradford D.
I've been to the Tavern and Pool McMenamins a couple of times before. It's actually a pretty large space at the far north end of 23rd. They have 2 regular sized pools tables and 1 larger table (for snooker i think?). In addition, 2 shuffle board tables are available as well. For us, games were $2.50 for a half hour. Service was nice and friendly, stamping our passports with no fuss and even though we only had a beer each and were there for a couple hours, they were cool. This McMenamins definitely has some of the more interesting artwork that I've seen thus far and is worth a gander when you visit.
(3)Kevin K.
Service is good on off-hours; however, if they're busy, you may be there for a while. The place does boast its free wi-fi for every The neighborhood isn't the greatest near industrial Portland. The food is consistent with any other McMenamins restaurant. The selection is somewhat limited, but the quality is decent. Rankings (out of 5) Atmosphere - 4 Location - 2 Price Value - 4 Food - 3 Service - 3 Other Services +1 Overall - 3.7
(3)Bree E.
I've always been disappointed with the food, beer and service at McMenamins. The burger is a huge disappointment and I've rarely had decent service. The only saving grace to this place are the pool tables. Oh and I guess it's also nice that it is locally owned.
(1)Merridawn D.
Enjoy having coasters flung at you? Being glared at for ordering off the happy hour menu? Having your order sarcastically repeated back to you? Then you'll enjoy dining here. Always plenty of free tables. One taste of the most hostile service in Portland and you'll know why
(1)Dave H.
It's another McMenamins. They have billiards, pool, snooker, a full dining menu, a lot of beers, and a Whatever attitude. Just like a McMenamins should. It's not a bad place, but you can taste in the air that the staff doesn't care. The food is edible every time I go there, but it's never great. The drinks are mixed alright, but never great. It's okay. That's all.
(3)Helen G.
Yay free wifi!
(3)Amy C.
I went here for lunch when I was in Portland for her bachelorette party a few weeks ago. I had a blue cheese bacon burger and a Ruby beer, and they were both amazing. They have fresh cut fries that reminded me of In-n-Out, and everything was delicious. The ambiance was really nice too! There are big skylights that let in a ton of natural light, and it's got a lot of greenery all over the place. Overall a wonderful Portland experience!
(4)Chelsea A.
It's great for what it is. Don't expect stellar service. Don't expect amazing food. It's mediocre and a pub. However, you will get your food (still hot from the kitchen) and it will border on decent and good.
(3)Amy P.
The food here was ok, but it took FOREVER to get. The server was no where to be found (no doubt hiding after my glares!) and nothing was ever refilled or refreshed. It was disappointing since most experiences at McMenamins tend to be good. This place felt neglected, like your old letter jacket. To top it off, I was in such a hurry to get out of there, I left my fave black, sparkly scarf.
(2)Chris S.
My neighborhood McMenamin's is a reliable and comforting place, providing good food and decent service wrapped in a standard McMenamin's package. Nothing outstanding, however the comfort of know what to expect is wonderful on its own... and a great happy hour! MCMEN! (pro): Good food, service and space MINS (con): Nothing fancy, and service can be spotty when they're busy
(4)Reena M.
I came here in April but this place was so fantastic that I'm still talking about it when I tell people about my experience in Portland! We came here on our second night in Portland to play pool and have some beers. It was happy hour (after 10 pm! ) and the beer was 50% off and the appies were $1 each! We came out with a bill of $15 for 4 people including 1-2 beers per person and 2 appetizers! I love these prices, but how do they survive as a business?
(5)Doug R.
Been to a lot of McMenamins and in this one the service was exceptionally slow. A pet peave. Food was ok.
(2)Well-Traveled I.
Date and I stopped in here for a late dinner; aside from a couple that arrived later, we were the only ones who were in the dining room. Ambience was downright homey; the wood stove roared to life next to us. Ordered the Captain Neon Burger, which was fantastic - beef was tasty and the bleu cheese had some bite to it (unlike some places where you can barely taste it). Fries were plenty and were soft in the middle and crispy on the ends (which is how I like 'em). Date ordered a veggie burger and let me try the Cajun tots, which were downright tasty, especially with the ranch. We had a great dinner and wound-up closing the place down. I was pleasantly surprised with this McMenamins location - you can bet I'll be back.
(4)Robert N.
I have long been a fan of McMenamins' food and beer, but every single one had slow, flaky, lazy staff that didn't put the customer first, or even pretend to care. I never try to eat at McMenamins during the lunch hour because I am inevitably late getting back to work. NOT AT THIS McMENAMINS! This is not your typical McMenamins. Staff here is super friendly & fast, and I have had great success here eating in my allotted lunch hour, even with a three year old child! Add great sidewalk seating in the summer, a warm stove in the winter, and free wifi and you have an awesome place to grab a nice lunch anytime of year!
(4)Monique L.
Like many Oregonians, our waiter had an air of not being all there, whether chemically induced or otherwise. My friend, who frequents this place, said this absentminded service is pretty typical. This place had a cast iron stove in the center of the room which heated up the place nicely! The burgers were pretty good though, one of my favourites is the Wilbur burger. This time it was just OK because the burger was overcooked. The tater tots are also awesome. The best part, of course, is their beer. Which, if you like micro brews, and getting rocked, are a must! Oregon, in general is know for their micro brews and one McMenamin's of their "headier" brews is the Terminator Stout.
(3)Diana X.
Got to Portland at 8pm and was staying at holiday inn down the street, we didn't realize that alot of places in Portland close early. went here because the other pub down the street did not want to serve us because one of us did not have passport and only had his enhanced drivers license on him. The waiter was friendly, efficient, food came out fast. I wouldn't say it was GREAT food, but it was good enough and we were all hungry from a 8 hour drive down from Vancouver, BC.
(3)Brad J.
Long time follower first time Yelper. This place is a few blocks from my apartment. It's the go to place. It's Mcmenamins, if you plan it right your always in time for Happy Hour (at least I am). Actually that's the only time I do go, cheap (decent) food, good drinks and always good company. Oh yeah, the service has always been good for me too no matter what time. Don't expect too much.
(4)tall cold b.
Really enjoyed the bar... only reason I'm giving it 3 stars is that they could use some serious TV upgrades. However it has a very old school, hipster/hippy/ruffian vibe. Good beers brewed on site. Cheeseburger was okay, not great. Fries weren't exactly fried. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is: if I'm getting a burger and fries... I want more food and more cholesterol. Simple as that. Certainly worth the trip.
(3)Brigitte S.
Last night hungry, sick, and tired from a long day, my boyfriend and I went to get a quick bite to eat before going to rent a movie. I should know better by now than to go to a McMenamins when I am hungry and irritable, but some lessons I don't learn quickly. Our server and his tropical-style linen shirt were flying around the room, whizzing past tables and shouting in the direction of new arrivals, "I'll be with you as soon as humanly possible!" Back and forth, whipping past tables, running forgotten about Cajun-ized tater tots and glasses of Ruby, our server was all over the place. We ordered a (delicious) strawberry shake, a bowl of northwest clam chowder to share and a sandwich a piece. In between the delivery of our (warm-ish) soup and the (not so warm sandwiches and tater-tots) we heard our server say to the his co-worker, "I'm getting bent over out here!" He apologized to us when dropping the check about the service, that he had too many tables. He was right; I have been a server myself, and he did have too many tables for one person to handle on his own, probably a lot for even two people. This seems to be a reoccurring theme at all of their restaurants; McMenamin's management should look at staffing their restaurants more appropriately. The franchise, chain, mini-corporation, whatever it is, is a great idea, and I love that they are Portland's own. But the owners, managers, share holders, whatever is running all of those ships, should give their customers the respect of having enough staff to accommodate them. Just think how wonderful Mcmenamins is, and how much better it should be.
(2)Paul T.
Located in the Alphabet District along 23rd Avenue, this McMenamins stands amongst an eclectic mix of bars, assorted eateries, and retail establishments. It's an excellent spot to to take a break from the action, chill and enjoy a libation. This tavern is always laid back and rarely crowded. Like most McMenamins, the interior is full of rustic charm with a little neon and rock & roll memorabilia added to the mix. Gotta love the red, white, and blue Grateful Dead skull on the ceiling. The Cajun tots are tasty too!
(4)Manny H.
I had a chance to have dinner at this pub last night. The ambience was a mix of English pub with psychedelic space, yet it had a cozy feel to it. The service was super-nice though a bit slow. The food was very good and their microbrews were decent. If you are STARVING, in spite of their large portion sizes, I would say you should try a diff. place as you may have to wait for a while.
(3)Emily H.
After a long day of traveling - air plane, Light Rail, and Street car, and settling into our hotel (the Inn at Northrup Station), McMenamins was a perfect place to relax and have a great beer. We tried the Ruby-inator per the recommendation of our Portland friend. The service was great and the prices were perfect also.
(3)Ceci G.
My second try of a mcmenamins place. Just had a beer, a good bitter dark. Make sure to ask for the specials, because not all are listed on their menu. What made it more special, the service. Me and my friend had a good and friendly waiter.
(4)Bill E.
We have a love/hate relationship with the T&P. LIke their ability to tolerate large, loud groups with little notice and reliable happy hour choices (tots!) and taps. If you don't mind being underwhelmed, there's a table waiting.
(3)Rachael G.
Better than average service (ie. QUICK) and friendly staff. Server did a lettuce wrap for my daughter's burger as she doesn't like buns. We'll be back!
(4)Tempe M.
I know Portland is a beer town and I'm under the impression that McMenamins rules that town. Unfortunately I wasn't impressed with the beer. I had a cream ale that was supposed to be pushed with nitrogen and didn't taste or look like it at all. We also tried their porter and weren't that impressed. The atmosphere is definitely very pubby, kind of dark, smoky, pool tables, lots or random newspaper clippings and bizarre bumper stickers that the staff or regulars have been posting on the walls for years. The service is sub par for sure. I got the feeling that everyone working there had been an employee of that location for at least 15 years and they were definitely OVER their jobs. Maybe I picked the wrong location, I know there are about 100, but I'm not tempted to try out the other ones based on the feeling I got from this visit. I gave them the third star because they have tater tots on the menu. How can you not love that? But with so many other local brew pubs in the area, I say skip it.
(3)Tiffany C.
Total crapshoot for service. Some days you'll get a super attentive waiter who looks after you really well. Others you'll get someone surly, others just someone who's overworked. The food is usually salty and mediocre, though I do like the bread bowls. But though the happy hour is limited, it's usually good value for what they have on the menu. You could do worse.
(2)John M.
Honestly wish I could rate it as zero stars. Was there for a good time with some friends and was aiming for it to be the first stop of the evening. Because of that, we didn't want to start a tab....this was apparently NOT ok with the bartender and service went from muttering under his breath to outrageous when he threatened to kick us out for paying cash. Uh what? This is a bar right? He then got even more ticked off when more of our friends (all of whom were paying customers) came. Sent the manager an e-mail with a heads up and got a response that defended him and his every action. Service here equals two big thumbs down.
(1)Chili B.
The cajun tator tots are amazing! Ok, I've actually never ordered or seen tator tots on any restaurant menu except perhaps elementary school. But, dang - these are good. They come spiced and fried just right with a ranch dipping sauce. The whiskey soaked chicken sandwich was pretty good. Couldn't tell it was marinated in whiskey. My friend got the terminator milkshake which is chocolate and beer. It looked good and she liked it. I'm curious to try it next time. The happy hour was like 50 cents off well drinks, so kinda lacking.The service was ok, not great. Overall, this is a cool place to go - especially if you're out-of-town as I was.
(4)Jes B.
My girlfriend and I came in this place by accident, but we ended up staying to have a drink. They have a handful of home brewed beers, which the really friendly bartender allowed us to try. The beers were really good.. I don't know much about beer, so i can't really describe those in detail, but the ones we had were good :) The Bartenders were really friendly, and genuine. They had pool tables, one was the biggest Ive ever seen. The bar was pretty low key when we were there, but people came in groups... they must have food, something else we didn't experience. We were in for a visit and staying down the road, at the holiday inn express, so its a close, neato place to hang out and have some good conversations with some locals. They were able to answer any of our questions about where things were, and which were the best places to go. Great place. Nice people, and tasty beer.
(4)Tom M.
I've been to Tavern and Pool on many different occasions and the service is very hit and miss. I've had instances where the server never returned to my table after my food was delivered and never refilled my drink. I actually stiffed her on that one and swore I would never go back. I caved after about 6 months. I really like the atmosphere here and if you get the right seat it's a great place to wifi. The food is never better than mediocre which I don't understand because if they are waiting for people to come for the beer, that's not that great either. So, iffy service, mediocre food. What's the draw here? Beats me but I keep going back. 11/1/2008 Update: I went the other night, sat myself as they ask you to do, and after 9 minutes, no one had even come to my table. I got up and left. For such an absurd occurrence I'm taking away a star. Now you only get 2. 12/29/08: And still I continue to torture myself. Well, never again at this one. This experience was so bad that I will never go back. Dirty tables, bad service, disgusting. They are down to 1 star.
(1)P S.
Good beer and tater tots, fairly good salmon sandwich. Good service. Nice atmosphere, very quiet (10pm Friday).
(4)Melissa P.
I don't need to hone my psychic powers to know that everyone will say, "Agh, another McMenamins review.." (cause that's what I do)(and much restraint was used to not write one up until now). YET.. I like this McM's the best, espech since it's down on the ass end of 23rd where no one walks, and there is decent street parking. We all know the menu, but here is why this place rocks.. They offer just about ALL of the desserts. I could die for a black and tan brownie WITH the vanilla ice cream.. some Mc's don't offer the brownie, or not with the ice cream, or some recockulous 2-3 dessert options that are not my black and tan. The inside is comfy, cozy. Wood fired stove, pool, some secluded booths at the front, lotsa room in the back, etc. Friendly old dude waiters who we chatted up for best options to score Bruce Springsteen tix (3/28 Rose Garden)... they didn't know, but nice nonetheless. It's like the McMenamins less traveled, mucho gusto.
(4)Gina G.
Good beer, good atmosphere, bad service...
(4)Bob U.
I've been to a lot of McMenamins and the food is generally the same: decent burgers, somewhat average on the rest of the menu, but the beers are good. I decided to have ice tea this time and the glass served me was very full of ice and the tea tasted excessively watered down. I made many attempts to get the attention of the waitress, and another waiter even notified her that I was waving my hand asking for attention. She ignored me. So I decided to head toward the door of the kitchen and placed my ice tea on a counter. After I got back to my seat, the waitress eventually headed in my direction. I started to explain that the tea was very watered down and that I dropped it off because she was ignoring me. Another employee was standing there and he immediately escalated the situation by defending her for being very busy and told me to lower my voice or get out. At that point, I had raised my voice a little but was not yelling. I was appalled at the treatment I got. And after I left, the guy came outside and challenged me further by claiming that I was responsible for the waitress crying! Whoa! This was uncalled for. I did lose my temper at this a bit and I regret that but it was clearly escalated and initiated by the incredibly customer-unfriendly service man and woman I had the unfortunate luck to run into.
(1)Whitney S.
Oh dear...where to begin? I work in the neighborhood and we often order in from this location for lunches. Someone usually winds up grossed out by their food, but the wide variety of menu items makes it a good choice for any number of bizarre Portland diets. But today took the cake on gag-worthiness. Today I ordered the Dante's chicken sandwich with a gluten-free bun. It possessed nearly indistinguishable amounts of the promised hot sauce, instead being loaded up with scoop after scoop of blue cheese slime. That gluten-free bun is a whopping $2 extra, but don't bother. Like me, you'll just throw it away because it has soaked up the copious amounts of water released from the rubbery MICROWAVED chicken breast. Two of my co-workers ordered the "Timber's Dog." Perhaps the Timbers are huge proponents of celery salt, because both dogs were so smothered with it, all toppings had to be removed and thrown away. Another co-worker got the Wilbur burger and bit right into a sheet of the paper used to separate the RAW patties. If he gets sick, we'll be sure to send you the bill. Prior to this, I've also received an ice cold bechamel sauce with a handful of unmelted shredded cheddar thrown in to accompany a pretzel, and waited an hour for a whiskey on the rocks. Bottom line: unless you're ordering tots or Scooby Snacks, don't even bother walking through the door. If you walk in by mistake or starvation, don't worry you'll have a good 45 minutes to make your escape before anyone even comes to greet you.
(1)Dude W.
A nice place to play pool and/or shuffleboard. The staff are friendly, and the food is tasty and affordable. I came to dine a few times. I had the pizza, another time I had a burger and fries, and Ive had a house salad. Every meal was wonderful! I have come to play pool and shuffleboard, too. The entire bar is spacious and cozy. There is some great history there, too. Lots of fun stories to hear about. I look forward to visiting Portland again and hitting up McMenamins before I leave town!
(4)Linda N.
The bartenders here seemed very VERY irritated that a big group of women decided to walk in and order a whole bunch of drinks. I mean, come on... At least we weren't just buying one drink. Tons of shots and beers later, and they were crabby about us asking for a picture to be taken. The bar was pretty empty since it was during the day, so I don't understand why when a group of people walk in we instantly get the stink eye. Beer selection was good, and the location is prime. Maybe next time I'll enjoy my visit a little better!
(3)Alice B.
Yet, another great Mcmenamin's to enjoy. Great atmosphere, service was good.
(3)Hannah L.
I've been visiting one particular McMenamins for years, mostly because my sister lived above one in Seattle for forever and so it was often an easy, convenient place for a drink and dinner. However, I'd never thought of any as a destination per se; often the beer and food weren't worth a separate trip. So I was quite impressed with my initial visit to this particular McMenamins. By now I know which beers to order (I haven't cracked the liquor lineup yet, though there are some tempting cocktails on the menu), so disappointments there are fewer and farther between even though I wouldn't put them in a lineup of Portland's finest. (The Black Rabbit Porter was surprisingly good, however.) The food here was worlds better than what I've had at other locations: the hummus plate was fresh, delicious, and piled high with salty feta and a bracing array of pickled cucumbers, onions, and green beans. Throw that on a buttery pita, and yum! The $9 Jamaican rice bowl was also fantastic; sometimes anything with brown rice is an exercise in self-denial motivated by high-minded virtue. But I wasn't missing anything here, not with a few massive chunks of chutney atop a lusciously coconutty melange of black beans, avocados, and little half-moons of roasted squash. (You can add on tofu or chicken for an extra charge, either of which I highly recommend.) One thing that deterred me from other McMenamins in the past was slightly high prices; I don't know if it's a WA/OR difference, but the prices here were a pleasant and less-expensive surprise. Plus, there's a woodstove in the middle of the tavern area, and there are few nicer things on a cool rainy night than the periodic whiff of woodsmoke and the burst of warmth emerging from the momentary open door! The tasty food, the great little happy hour menu with specials on beer, wine, and whiskey, plus the welcoming, comfortable atmosphere definitely launch this spot onto my regular rotation list.
(4)Robert H.
I'm part of a weekly group meeting here. I've been involved for a year or two. It has been meeting at this location for 15 years with $3-400 tabs each week. They informed us very unexpectedly last night that the space in which we met would be remodeled for shuffleboard, and last night would be our last. McManamens are certainly welcome to do anything with they like. But ejecting long supporting customers unexpectedly for something they have long planed displays a very very serious failure of customer service. No longer a good place for meetings. Best regards and thanks to the front line waitstaff who have provided great service over 15 years. But hey, that shuffleboard thing might catch on and make some money!
(1)Brent W.
Service here was better than the mcmenamins in hillsboro. Standard mcmenamins menu which is ok. Cajun tots are a good bet. Margharita Pizza was good but a bit too salty
(3)Katie W.
The manager responded to my bad review on yelp and was very helpful and nice. I hope that other customers will have a better experience then i did! I'm glad management puts for efforts to listen to the customers.
(3)Jennifer Z.
This McMenamins is close to my home and over the last two years or so it is my favorite place to camp out with my laptop and sip a PBR or a cup of coffee on a day off. The salads are always fresh, the burgers and pizza always very tasty, the portions generous. But there are lots of places in Northwest Portland that can say the same thing, so how come I love this place so much? The big draw for me by far is the people who work here. Here's a few reasons why: The employee turnover at this particular McMenamin's is extremely low. You'll notice you are in the midst of a group of people that genuinely know, like, and above all,respect one another on more than a superficial basis. You won't be dosed with that singsongy automaton 'server voice' that can be found all over town (and even in the classiest restaurants.) We all know that voice means "My job is boring and I can't wait for this to be over." If you are a Sally (Meg Ryan's character in the film 'When Harry Met Sally") when it comes to ordering food, these servers really shine. If you're picky, they'll help you be picky-- with the revelation of additional options and further suggestions, and that comes with no pissy attitude on the side. This McMenamin's is where you go when time is NOT of the essence, but if you suddenly have a reason to get out fast, you'll get genuine effort to make it happen. I suspect a good number of people not pleased with the service they are getting are less than pleasant to serve. Show some respect, look your server in the eye, smile or at least behave decently.
(5)C K.
Such painfully slow service, I gave up and left. I love McMenamin's renovated properties and their beer, but I have unfortunately learned through many years of experience that the service is usually slow. Today's visit to McMenamin's Tavern and Pool was painfully slow, so much so that I gave up and walked across the street to Pacific Pie. I sat outside and waited 10 min to see a waiter, requested water, waited 5 minutes and got water and requested 2 tasters of IPA, waited 15 min more (was passed over several times by waiter AJ) and finally gave up. McMenamin's management, please find a way to incentivize your wait staff to perform better, there is just too many good breweries competing with you now to not.
(1)Peter D.
Same good atmosphere as other mcmens. Good amount of space and lots of tables. Have a few pool tables as well and some shuffleboard which is awesome. Don't know if our server was having a bad day but he was pretty short with us in all of his responses. Felt a bit rushed almost :/ overall good. Just crossing off another stamp on our passport.
(4)Delthia H.
The WORST place & food ever! We waited more than 20 minutes for our drinks then we waited 1 hour for our food, which one of our party of four's fries were cold. Chicken tenders and the fish & chips were tasteless. A family of 6 walked out due to waiting over 2 hours for food.
(1)Erin P.
This McMenamins has become a regular spot for my teenage kids and I along with our giant dog. We live far on the west side and love to walk the Esplanade on a beautiful day. Then, along with our 110 pound dog need somewhere to eat. The Tavern and Pool has ample outdoor seating and has always welcomed our well behaved dog (dogs are not allowed indoors) . While we bring him a bowl and water, they are always happy to see him and remind us that they have clean bowls, should we ever forget ours. I see the reviews that the food is average; and yes... I agree... I've never had a meal that makes me jump for joy; but when the three of us eat for $25-35 dollars (no cocktails, of course) and the food is solid- what else could I ask for? Their tots are delicious and their menu has plenty of choices; vegetarian, gf, and low carb - if that's your thing. Life changing? No. Great for a pub, especially with a dog.
(5)Madeleine C.
Serves is amazing and the food is always great. Communication Breakdown burger and Hummus plate is always a good go to.
(4)Allison B.
This is a lovely place to relax and enjoy a good conversation with friends. I typically go to McMenamins for a meet up group that I am involved in. We are there once a week and we are a good size, 8-10 people. The wait staff are very friendly and take our orders quickly. I usually sample the choices of soup and order one of those. It's yummy.
(5)Keith M.
I feel bad writing this because I have friends in the Mcmenamins empire, but really, Mcmenamins needs to put as much effort into its menu and brewing as it does in making each venue unique. The food is mediocre at best and terribly overpriced, and the beers are just average. Every Mcmenamins is cool to look at, and they are a staple of Portland society, but they really need to put some time and energy into their food and drink prices/options. Also, their websites are pretty terrible, they should see to those as well.
(1)Elaina R.
Wow, you'd think after 14 years of working in NW portland and having a plethora of restaurants to chose from that I would not choose a Mcmenamins to eat at right? Well, call me dumb because a fireplace and burger sounded damn good and since it was a later lunch I thought, hey, let's go there and give them another try. Yes they are slow, yes they have shitty service, but maybe you'll miss the lunch crowd. Wishful thinking. We found parking right away, we walked in and there was maybe 2-3 other parties of 2 people already seated so foolish me thinks, score!! This is my day!! Nope. It was not even close to being my day. ATROCIOUS service. We waited 15 minutes to even be greeted, another 15 minutes to get our drinks, and shockingly enough another 50 minutes to get our food. One order didn't get made correctly so they remade it even though the person in our group just need a gluten free bun, which was specified at the beginning and when they brought it we said just bring the bun and we can switch it. Oh no, they wanted to take another 15 minutes making a new burger. Just so you know we had to take that burger to go and eat it back at work since we were already late from our HOUR AND A HALF lunch. No drink refills and not one person ever came over to say, hey sorry this is taking so long or gosh let me go check on your order. Good lord, please don't ever go eat here unless you have 3 hours to kill and like to be ignored. Stupid Mcmenamins, I can't even believe your still in business.
(1)mark c.
Is this where they send McMenamins staff as punishment? The place is a mess, service is slow. it's always empty, so I guess that's worth something if you need a pool table.
(1)Ana R.
Another great location! We went here last year with my husband on our first date. We love this one.
(5)J.P. S.
Being a fan of all of the McMenamins, we have stopped in at this one several times on various trips to Portland. Its a bit out of the way in the alphabet district, being at the north end of 23rd, but I call it a GREAT resting spot on a walking tour. In my opinion once you have reached here (ok, go a little further to Clear Creek), take a load off, have a pint and play some pool (or snooker). Our bartender was the same for the last few years we visited and he has always been quite personable, friendly, and attentive to low running drinks. This most recent trip, we also found out he is also amazing at making cocktails as well! Who would have thought. IF you are a billiards snob (felt condition, cue selection, ball condition), this might not be the place for you. However, I could care less. I have always enjoyed playing pool here. The best part for me is the fact that its not usually that busy during the day (maybe we were lucky), so not contenting with lots of chatter or lots of people waiting to play a game is a huge win in my opinion. In fact, I specifically seek out this establishment because it never seems overly crowded or loud. Its just a friendly local establishment to get some great food and beverages as well as shoot some pool. A few notes for others: They have gluten-free buns for their burgers as well as some of the best tater tots around. I don't know the exact timing, but for us, billiards was FREE on at least Sunday until 5pm presuming you actually purchase food and/or beverage. So, overall, I give a big thumbs up. Stop by, try the custom-made hard cider and some tots and shoot some pool to just take a break while exploring the city!
(4)Justin C.
It took us a while to find parking for this place, but after circling around the block for 5 minutes, we finally saw a car pull off the street and we pulled in! When we stepped inside we were greeted with a wave of warm air and the smell of french fries! The architecture and decor just reminded me of something like old english. It was a nice escape from the city without leaving the city. We ordered the beer sampler, which I recommend if you are unable to decide on a drink. We also got the burgers, hummus and tater tots. The burgers were cooked to our perfection (medium rare) and juicy. The hummus and tater tots were not as appetizing. They looked good, but it didn't hit as anything special. It was similar to what you can find getting at Sams' Club or Costco. On the plus side the pool was open and available. It was a good way to start working off those calories! It was a positive overall experience and definitively a place I would not mind coming back when I am in Oregon.
(3)Jenene Y.
What can I say, I am trying to fill out my McMenamins passport. So we are trying pretty much all of them. I am giving them a four because it was good but nothing over the top. I had the whiskey flight but the waiter didn't go over what I was drinking. We all have our favorite beers and drinks. We love going to them all. Next time will try to play a little pool.
(4)Aim M.
Good food. Good service. Excellent porter beer. I also really liked the Jamaica Bowl main dish - yummy.
(3)Zack W.
Stopped her on a road trip because of a friends recommendation. Could not of been happier! But I warn you, if you like great food, great beer and cheap prices, DO NOT COME HERE! Also staff was friendly
(5)Stanley T.
OK - I'm the Duke. It's a block from my house. Convenient. I've never gone in there expecting gourmet, and, in that regard, I've never (until tonight) been disappointed. Within the last couple weeks, they changed their menu. The few things we had deemed "acceptable" (Santa Fe salad, Mesquite Steak Wrap, etc.) are gone. We both had some Cowboy Steak Wrap from the "new" menu. Both of us were sorely disappointed. Even the Tater Tots (usually dependable) smacked of rancid. Sad to lose a convenient go-to place :-(
(2)Jasmine T.
The last stop on the neverwas pub crawl... Our waiter was very nice. He seemed to be a little rushed, but he was nice nonetheless. He was very fast with the drinks and the food. Since all the Happy Hour joints we had been too didn't have dessert, I had to have the vanilla milkshake. So glad I did... it was creamy and had black flecks of vanilla seeds. Friends ordered the buffalo chicken somethings... large pieces of chicken smothered in buffalo sauce. Had the crispy tater tots and the fries... our waiter said the orders were small, but they were big enough for our group to pick at. Left at midnight and the place was still bumping.
(3)Kristen M.
McMenamin's are everywhere in Oregon. This local chain make their own beer and have their own bar food grub. But what makes them different from your other bar places? They purchase and preserve buildings, which have a lot of history and re-establish it into their own. Pretty much they bring the past and blend it into today's future. Some McMenamin's have a movie theater or even a hotel. Each location is quite different. This McMenamin's (Tavern & Pool) venue is located towards the end of the Alphabet district. Not to be mistaken by another McMenamin's (The Ram's Head) on the opposite side of NW 23rd Avenue. What's cool about this place is that they have a couple pool tables next to the bar. But with all the McMenamin's they serve the same ol' food and drank. THE RUBY: is my usual order at a McMenamin's establishment. This raspberry ale beer is quite light and refreshing. Quite fruity if you're into fruit-flavored beers. A pint is only $4.50. FLATBREAD PITA WITH ARTICHOKE DIP: your typical spinach and artichoke dip melted with a trio of cheeses and jalapenos for some kick. Although I didn't really taste the jalapenos in this dip, I thought the overall consistency was mediocre. The pita chips were kinda bland and dry. It was okay, but not something I'd get again for $5.50. SWEET POTATO FRIES AND STORMIN' NORMAN: The sweet potato fries were decent. It came with a chipotle aioli sauce, but I preferred dipping the fries in good ol' fashioned ketchup. The Stormin' Norman is a BLT sammy was a bit greasy. I split this dish with a friend. She had to wipe down the grease from the ham prior to us eating it. The thing was a bit salty, but wasn't overpowering. But then again, what can you expect from bar food? I thought the French roll that the sammy was on was pretty decent. But from my experience in the past, this dish is probably a WAYYYY better choice than the veggie burger. $8.50 for the sammy and fries were mediocre as well. Service was great, but I felt bad that our waiter was the only one servicing the dining area. Yet in retrospect, we were the only ones hanging out there at the time. Although the food was meh and the service was decent, at least the beer and the company was the memorable moment of the night. I wouldn't mind hanging out here for another pint of beer playing pool!
(3)Dashya K.
Good food. Great cider beer. Great Cajun totts with ranch dressing. Service was ehhh. Had one great waitress with red hair who really was fantastic and another guy who could have cared less so it's a shot in the dark with service. Food alright. And cider beer yummy!!!!
(3)Tom C.
One of three MM's I have hit, and I love this place. As it was with the other two, I only found this place because I was staying at the Holiday Inn Express right down the street. Just like the others, this place has its own style, feel and atmosphere. I like the layout of the bar area here, and the pool tables are a great fit. The food is great here, just like the other locations as well. The service has always been great and they definitely help you out with a cab if you need it! Even if you aren't staying at the HIE, its worth driving too! Check it out!
(5)wendy M.
We came here because it was just a block from our hotel, and I had heard of the Mcmenamin brothers and wanted to check out one of there many places. We first ordered a Hammerhead beer, It was nice, crisp and refreshing. To start we shared Hummus Plate, ($8.95) It came with marinated olives and onions, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, feta, pita bread. It was good, I love hummus and all the salty accompaniments. We decided to share a main and go for dessert after. We decided on the bean and tofu burrito with chips and salsa($9.95). It was yummy, a large tortilla stuffed full of black beans, corn, salsa and marinated tofu topped with a fresh salsa and sour cream. It was flavorful and spicy and I could have ate the whole thing my self. This bar was completely laid back, a great place for a nice meal, a good beer and some pool.
(4)Kevin M.
Beer, free pool and locals. "Guest tap" (including Ninkasi) and nitro offerings were appreciated for a McMenamins. Known as "Plant 10" among ESCO employees who frequent.
(4)Stephanie K.
Standard McmMenamins with decent enough food and beers, but just really poor service unless you are at the bar. I agree with Tall Cold B, this place definitely needs to upgrade their TVs. Still a cool place to grab a couple beers and shoot pool.
(3)Jason B.
Slow service (it IS a McMenamins after all) but a nice big bar with seating, pool, food. A nice stop at the end of 23rd Street.
(3)Jenn C.
McMenamin's Tavern & Pool is a common meeting place for my out of town bestie who only knows NW. Additionally, it has served as a "where are we going for dinner--let's go someplace different" placeholder for the man and I. The service is typical McMenamins--angry hipsters, starving artists, or current to recent PSU grads angry they're working and you're not. They have some unique to their joint menu items like my personal favorite the French Quarter Chicken Sandwich (hold the onion). They will charge you $1 for a soup upgrade, which I did not remember reading on the menu, but it could be there--if not, be warned. Otherwise, it's also your standard McMenamins fare. It's not too shabby. Late night this place will fill for the pool (it is in the name you shouldn't be surprised to find no table left empty). Parking used to be a total drag as it usually is on 23rd, however, they have recently removed the pay to park lot behind it with FREE PARKING! Yay! That was the best part of the last visit...well, that and the chowder, which is pretty damn good.
(3)