Nite Hawk Cafe & Lounge
6423 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR, 97217
Nite Hawk Cafe & Lounge Menu
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Address :
6423 N Interstate Ave
Portland, OR, 97217 - Phone (503) 285-7177
- Website https://thenitehawk.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Greg T.
I walked in expecting mediocre food and a long wait. Instead I got delicious food and quick, friendly service. I got the Avenue Omelette with hash browns and it was DELICIOUS. Simple but good, the spinach was not overdone and there was garlic but not too much. It tasted like they even use real butter. Score!
(5)Adam B.
An honest straight forward meal. I ordered the waffle special with coffee it came to $10.25 before tip. Maybe on the pricey side for breakfast but it was enjoyable.
(4)Wyndra A.
They let me sub spinach and tomato for the meat on the Eggs Benedict and it was delicious. Service is friendly and efficient.
(4)Kirsten G.
Really good, if somewhat basic, breakfast fare. Generous portion sizes. Very friendly staff... it's no wonder we see so many regulars in there.
(4)Jason K.
Pretty decent, basic greasy spoon food. I had chicken fried steak with sausage gravy, home fries, scrambled eggs, and a biscuit. What I really liked was that the steak was breaded with crushed up potato chips. I could tell from the occasional large chunk that was present in the breading. The gravy was pretty good, but needed a little more umph. The home fries were a bit crispy for my taste and had an unidentifiable sort of sour twang. Not sure what that was, bit it made me go "merf?". The eggs were perfectly scrambled. The biscuit was tasty; I used it to mop up the leftover gravy on the plate. I would have given it a four, but after I got the check and laid out my cash I watched the bartender walk right past me several times and not once was I asked if I wanted change. I eventually walked it over to the cash register myself. That kinda chaps my ass, but not enough to not come back. And if it's a dive it's probably the cleanest I've seen. I'm sure the snobs will find flaws though. The old timer sitting next to me pounding Hamms was a nice touch.
(3)Robert W.
The Nite Hawk is a great steak place. It's also a nice place to hang out and shoot some pool. I also like that it is owned locally and it's their neighborhood too. I proposed to my wife there. Good food good people. It also has the family friendly cafe attached to the bar.
(5)Holy-foo' X.
Do the math: this place opened in 1931. Prohibition wasn't repealed till 1933. Bad ass! These days this neighborhood bar is about as middle of the road as you please. Any given night you're likely to see a wide range of races/ethnicities unwinding here, so it's nice to see all kinds of regulars are at ease and fraternizing here. This is the No Po as I experienced it---at least on the good days---growing up. The fare is classic pub grub, by no means anything special. However, they are docked some points b/c, even though they're open till beer thirty all week long, the grill closes at 8pm! The service is fast enough and monosyllabic. 'Salright, I wasn't looking to jabber any one's ear off. Just like a million other places in any jerk water town, seniority is what matters first and foremost for any of the tiniest extra consideration from staff. There are simply too many other great places waiting to be checked out, to put in the requisite time and SPENDING to get bumped very high up the totem pole at the Nite Hawk. Que sera', sera'.
(3)Juniper K.
So I've never been in there but I totally intend to at some point. I'm pregnant and was jonesin' for a steak- I dunno, pregnancy is totally random and weird. The day before I'm pretty sure the only thing I could stomach was frosted flakes. So my husband called for takeout and picked it up. It was pretty good- totally hit the spot. I'll report back someday when I actually visit the lounge. I also got a malted chocolate shake and it was SO rich. Super good tho. Also if you haven't already- go to their website NOW. Make sure the sound is up. Some of the classiest web presence in the NW.
(4)rich j.
What it lacks in charm, quality food or attentive service it, um, well there's never much of a wait. In Portland's competitive brunch scene that's a thing. They're just eggs. These aren't the popular eggs but there's not a hassle* of hipsters standing around out front to contend with. The ironic smell of Brut or Lady Old Spice and bedazzled flip flops shining in the breeze. * a hassle of hipsters is like a gaggle of geese or a pride of lions
(3)Michael S.
Americana ... classic, old-school Americana Nite Hawk Cafe was severely understaffed for dinner with a full dining room and one server. She was working her tail off, but, geez, Nite Hawk Cafe was ill-prepared for the dinner rush. Olivia Z. and me grabbed the last table and took a patience pill. The only thing better than waking up to a warm breakfast is having breakfast for dinner. It's possible at Nite Hawk because breakfast is served all day, every day. I got the American classic Chicken Fried Steak breakfast ($10.95) with two Eggs (Sunny Side Up), Country Fried Potatoes, and Toast (upgraded to a lone Pancake). The dark gravy, slightly overfried ground beef steak, and mound of carbs are everything that made America great and your arteries clogged. A Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken Breast ($10.50) was Olivia's attempt to eat healthy and American. Coolest of all was a side of thick Garlic Toast. It was totally what you hope and expect from a caesar salad ... nothing more or less. By the time we left, the supper rush was waning. Kudos to the hard-working server. She earned her tip, but Nite Hawk would of definitely earned a higher rating if they were properly staffed. Nite Hawk Cafe & Lounge is not a "destination" restaurant in Portland, but if you're looking for a diner along the TriMet Yellow Train Line you'll find classic, old-school Americana.
(3)Ken M.
***Needs to serve food past 8pm on weekdays!!!*** I live right next to this place and the only thing that would make them better is by keeping the kitchen open later. I hear this from most people who stop by and/or frequently visit. In my opinion, a place that calls themselves Nitehawk, in a location where there is not food with in walking distance, should realize that they are competing with other bars that DO serve food late. They wont have slow nights (as they often do) when they serve food late! I am at Nitehawk very often as it is close by and right at the max station. Sorry for starting this off negatively, but it needs to be heard. This bar is by far my favorite. Very friendly atmosphere, amazing staff, plenty of room (inside. However their patio is way too small). This is that kind of bar where everybody knows everybody and it's always so welcoming. It would be nice if there was a little more entertainment as well. Maybe a small mellow band from time to time like what Mock Crest does.
(4)Chris C.
This place reminded me a lot of my East Coast roots. Nothing fancy but a pretty solid diner. If you want to big plate of food at a pretty reasonable price I recommend it.
(4)Porter B.
The service was friendly but slow and the food was fine, but nothing about my one experience there has made me want to go back.
(3)Katie B.
Strong drinks and i tell you what! Some of the best hot wings in the city! They are not smothered in sauce, but crispy and served with a spicy Thai sauce. Delicious!!!
(5)Christopher G.
I was stumbling around looking for breakfast and found this place I walked past so many times. The food is awesome and it has the charm of an old diner. Food is great but I'm biased as I'm a whore for a good breakfast meal which was great. Prices are cool
(5)Tiffany V.
Great place to eat and get a drink! My friends and I went to eat there for lunch. On the diner side, we had to wait for a table but some people were just finishing up. Space is limited on the diner side. While we had to wait, one of my friends and I (My other friend had her daughter with her) went to the lounge side to grab a drink. This side was more spacious. It had pool tables, slot machines, tvs, tables if you wanted to eat & of course the bar. Our drinks were $6 each. My friend had a whisky & ginger ale & i had a whisky & coke. The bartender definitely made them strong, so you'll get your moneys worth. Now back to the diner side. Me & my friend both ordered a medium rare prime rib, my friends daughter ordered a medium rare rib eye & my other friend ordered a bowl of their soup (sorry i don't remember what it was). The 3 of us who ordered a whole entree got a salad with it. The salad was good, I like how they put the dressing on the side and they give you more than enough. The prime rib was AMAZING. It was cooked well, tasted outstandingly delicious. The sides that came with it were good too! There were mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables and side of garlic toast. The toast just looked like ordinary toast but once you bite into it, you will want more; it was that good. The best part it was only $14.95 no tax! I think it was the special of the day too, since it was Valentine's day. My friend's daughter said the rib eye was really good and my other friend said her soup was delicious too! Food definitely 5 stars. The service gets 5 stars too! Our waiter was very friendly and funny and gave great service. If I'm ever in Portland again, I will definitely come back.
(5)Tres B.
I love this old place! alsmot a dive, but not quite.Its stuckin 1971 and that's just fine by me. Heather was my waitress and she was great! The lounge is happening, playing 1960;s and 70's country while i was there. Pool table, cheap draught beer. Having lived in the south, I can tell you their versionof chciken fried teak would NEVER pass muster. Brown gravy and bacon bread crumbs??? But it was really really good! The soggy vegetables wer a not mess, but who cares? Like a pair of old worn shoes, this palce fits me just fine.
(4)Sean O.
I've always enjoyed coming here. Pool, drinks and food (breakfast and lunch). The chicken fried steak with brown gravy and hash browns is amazing. Today I had the chicken wings with Thai chili sauce. The wings were fantastic (and I've had my fare share over the years)!! Crispy breading and fried to a golden brown. The chicken was super moist and tasty! Homemade?? Thai dipping sauce was better than expected. May have come from a bottle, but it had another layer of flavor. Be it bottle, homemade or a combination; it worked really well. Kudos!
(5)Rex R.
Excellent value for the money . Decent food good portions, not too much, not too little. Stopped in here on a Friday night for dinner. Ken was running the dining room, I could tell most people were regulars. Excellent and friendly service from Ken. We look forward to our next visit. We wish we would have found this place sooner
(5)Charlotte F.
Immediate regret. Bland food that was most definitely from a frozen food aisle. Don't do it.
(1)Rich J.
My me favorite bar! The restaurant is very dated with a 60s diner feel. Think american comfort foods as the theme. Breakfast is served all day, and space is very limited. I had the fried chicken dinner which consisted of half a chicken, green beans, a roll, mashed potatoes and a salad app. It was great! Crispy chicken, creamy potatoes and the roll even came out warm! The bar section is probably twice as large, has pool tables and video poker! Also $3 micro beers during happy hour! And they do growler fills! The menu in the bar probably mostly comes from the freezer section of Cash-N-Carry, but it's OK if not every meal is a fresh local small batch work of art. The music selection is up beat classic AND soft rock! Great staff that is friendly and attentive!
(4)High S.
There is a pool league that meets there. There are poker machines monopolized by gambling addicts. There is a smoking patio that feels like a jail cell. There are bartenders who couldn't give two sh*ts that you're there. If you are over 50, have given up on quitting smoking, enjoy the environment of a DMV, then this might be your hot spot. Otherwise, you'd only be there if you were desperate for a drink and everything else was closed.
(2)Curtis C.
I love this place. It just gets better and better. I've been several time for dinner and breakfast. The prime rib special is excellent, and I highly recommend it. In the past, the lounge seemed understaffed, and it would take a long time to get refills or table service, but on my last two visits this had changed. They had some new staff I think, and they were really on it service-wise; friendly and efficient. My partner had the parmesan halibut special which turned out to be amazing fish and chips style halibut, with a parmesan seasoned breading. It was really good, and a steal for $13 bucks or so (maybe it was $16...). I highly recommend this place for a low-key dinner, a round of pool, and some good drinks! The crowd is totally mixed which makes for some good times.
(5)Zackie M.
Great vibe. Love the ppl and music. Great food and drinks. Best stuff. Me and my boyfriend always come here for drinks whenever we go out. Its one of my favorite places in Portland. The crew makes it feel like your right at home. Excellent Neighborhood bar. Can't say enough great things about the hawk
(5)Lily F.
This review is for the cafe. Great service and tasty breakfast. I haven't had anything other than classic American diner fare there- coffee, eggs, potatoes/hashbrowns, hot cakes and ham/bacon/sausage. But they do those things well! I'll definitely keep coming back.
(4)Linda M.
This place is a huge dive and I love it. Their staff are wonderful, very engaging and fun. The atmosphere is old and run down, very 70's, but for some odd reason it works. The food is actually pretty good. I've only gone for breakfast, and in truth it's hard to mess up breakfast, but these guys do a pretty good job. I wouldn't recommend this place for large parties or if you're wanting something fancy, it's run down, and simple, from the outside you'd think it was a grungy old bar. The service is great and for those days when you're hungry and you want a decent brekky, this is a good spot.
(4)J D.
The restaurant portion of this place is a diner. It doesn't pretend to be anything else. Food isn't great, but it's not bad. Reasonable prices. Food comes quickly. Servers aren't chatty, but they're friendly enough. The bar portion is a dive bar. Not a hipster dive bar. It's a dark bar that serves people who want to drink. Again, it just is what it is. When I want a solid breakfast featuring eggs and meat and potatoes, and I don't want to wait in a line, I go here. I happen to like this sort of place, so it gets 4* from me. if you're looking for artisan food, go somewhere else.
(4)Ben J.
Great spot for breakfast. You get that diner feel, but not the diner taste. Friendly staff and prompt service.
(4)Heather C.
Recently went in for breakfast and had the Eggs Benedict. Muffins were completely soaking wet, like they had been dipped in water or something. Won't be going back.
(1)Greg B.
This place is good. There's a certain containment of space in it. I suppose the lounge is larger than the café. There are various pictures and a nice see through freezer if you get the booths near the register. I never knew that a Cowpoke Sandwich would be so excellent. I had the coleslaw. The berry pie was quite good. Yes - I eat those pies cold. Yes - the Cowpoke sandwich did have cheese in it and in a parallel universe it would be an excellent grilled cheese sandwich. It is an elegant diner off of the Interstate.
(4)Jens J.
In all the times up and down Interstate, I've never noticed Nite Hawk. However, JP remarked this past Sunday that he knew their fried chicken was good, so we pulled up and parked. It's seat yourself in this comfy cafe with plenty of booths (there's a counter too). If you walk through one interior door, you find yourself in the lounge, which is double the size of the cafe. Not only was this the best chicken I've had in Portland (darest I say even better than Reel M Inn?) but our overall experience was wonderful. Our server was sweet and attentive. She and the young Latino working there tag teamed to make sure our water glasses and coffee cups were always filled. Speaking of the coffee, it was excellent - robust and smooth, not usually what you think of when you're talking diner coffee. So the chicken - though on this particular Sunday they had a barbecue chicken special - we both went with the regular chicken off the dinner menu ($9.85). The dinner allows you to have soup or salad and fries, a baked potato or mashed potatoes. Dinners also come, logically enough, with a dinner roll. The soup of the day was beef tomato noodle. It was delicious and surprisingly loaded with big bits of beef. In no time at all, our orders were ready. How do I describe this truly amazing chicken? Well, it seems like it might have been "broasted" (broiled and roasted). Or was it pressure-cooked? I dunno. The dinner includes a breast, wing, drumstick and back. The skin was crispy and crunchy and a little bit sweet, like with honey. And, this chicken was not greasy. In any case, it was wolfed down pronto. Okay, the mashed potatoes and gravy seemed like they might have come from a cafeteria in nearby Emanuel Hospital - totally institutional. But big deal, the chicken was so stellar that the potatoes didn't matter one iota in the grand scheme of things. JP concurred with my assessment of the chicken. Along with a colorful, but benign cast of characters making up the clientele, the vibe and ambience was relaxed and pleasant. You better believe we'll be back!
(5)Stacie G.
This place has great service, great food, a perfect location. You can't go wrong with choosing here to go for drinks, food, or both.
(4)Alex D.
Now here's a place that I can get behind! Totally a dive bar (and not a hipster dive bar, I mean a DIVE), and a diner in one that serves quality comfort food and good beer. A good place to chill out with friends, and a great change of pace from the racket of downtown PDX. Nothing fake or pretentious, just something really low-key. A place that I like.
(4)R M.
After going to this place I was very surprised to see it's only got 3.5 stars on Yelp. The chicken fried steak is the best I've had in Portland by a wide margin. By default it comes with brown gravy instead of white and I am very glad that it didn't change it. After raving about it to the waitress she said that they make their own beef broth for it and it really shows. Our servers were extremely friendly and Johnny-on-the-spot with coffee, water, and the inexpensive check. An excellent meal!
(5)RJ H.
Branding can certainly make am impact on the perception of a business....what and who it serves, its vibe ...and for the longest time I had the perception the Night Hawk Café and Lounge was some hipster, nouveau Doug Fir-esque diner/coolness. I had the opportunity to have a drink and eat in the lounge ...and this spot ( or spots really) is totally old school. Upfront a flashback diner with counter service and through the magical door ( it may fool you the first sign says restroom and the one below it say lounge) a full albeit bar and lounge. Plenty of flat screens and frankly aside from the occasional beer sign, its your granddads family room ....a BIG family room. Both café and lounge share the same menu...This is a diner, with diner food....Think "stick to your ribs" kind of food ...The meatloaf and meatloaf sandwich "Hearty" . You will be hard pressed to spend more than $13 on the largest entrée. The kitchen ( at least in the lounge) closes at 8.....The bartender was friendly enough the clientele quite local and appear to be regulars. The lounge has been called "shady" by other reviews...fear not ...you've been in a bunch of divey bars that are far worse..... I'd say when you walk into the lounge, you may think you are in North PDX...when you enter , it could be a lounge off Route 70 in Topeka Kansas... However with realistic expectation and not letting the exterior or branding fool you...You'll get good food, and drink ....cheap.
(3)Vanessa C.
I stopped in before I had to go to work. I didn't have high expectations, but it was the most convenient place to eat. I saw the meatloaf on the menu and debated ordering, as meatloaf can be either really good or really bad. I asked the waitresses for her opinion and she recommended the meatloaf letting me know it was made in house and amazing. The food came out looking like something I would get at a school cafeteria, full of sodium. Then some one working there asked how my food was and I honestly stated it wasn't good, but I was hungry. He just turned around. Why ask if you don't care?! I will never eat here again.
(1)Michelle M.
We haven't been to the Nite Hawk café in 12+ years; we stopped going because we had children and could not take the cigarette smell coming from the bar. But now....well that's no longer an issue is it? :) We had a restaurant.com certificate so decided to give it a whirl. My husband, 8 year old and I had dinner there this evening. Atmosphere: Clean, inviting, small, great music in the background. Nice lighting, totally chill and cozy. Food: Prime rib dinner special for $13.50 - cooked perfectly. Fresh squash a bit overcooked, but had good flavor. Baked potato was fresh, not like it was cooked hours before and left in the warmer - like most places by 7:30pm. Salad was good. Husband had the liver and onions, he said it was good - if you're into liver and onions. Which he is. Service: Excellent! Kenny was our server; he was attentive, friendly, funny and engaged our child. Bottom Line: Unpretentious local café, solid diner style food. Good service. There's a reason this little place has been around in it's current version since 1980.
(4)Ryan J.
Very impressive omelets at this little diner. The waiter was an exuberant fellow that made the visit quite lively and fun.
(3)Mike M.
I guess a place "is what it is" when I agree absolutely with the three most recent reviews. Valorie, Charity, and Duane have the Nite Hawk nailed. We made our first visit here for a late breakfast Saturday and to watch the golf tournament on TV. Service was awesome and accomodating. They set us up right in front of a TV and killed the sound what whatever it had been on so we could listen. Breakfast cocktails were tasty and quick. Prolly 10-12 customers on the bar side so it's not like we were the only ones there. So appreciate good service! The bar area is good sized and pretty open. A couple of pool tables, your standard allotment of 6 video poker machines, booths, tables, a fair amount of TVs and an outside seating area for smokers. Breakfast (eggs benedict for me, eggs over w/ bacon for wife) was plentiful and ok. Not great, a little bland-ish perhaps, but ok. The breakfast menu is large and they serve it all day, except for the benedict, biscuits & gravy and one other....those stop at 1p. The "just ok" bref is keeping me from giving this 4 stars......hope Nite Hawk reads their Yelp reviews. A gentleman who was prolly the owner made a couple of passes to see how we were doing, and seem genuinely appreciative when I told him it was our first visit. We will certainly stop by the Nite Hawk for a weekend breakfast again!!!
(3)Stephen W.
The food is great! (although they only serve until 8pm). The drinks are strong and the prices are reasonable. The servers, especially Stephanie and Alex, are super-friendly and attentive. I recommend this place to anyone looking for good food, good drink, and good service for a good value.
(5)Adria W.
When we arrived today before the drive back to Seattle, we were oddly greeted by the server. We couldn't understand his jokes and awkward comments. We decided to order drinks. The bloody marys were delicious and on the stronger side.
(3)Steve S.
Valantines day Special What A Meal soup/ Salad garllic toast,asparragus,veggies,steak,Lobster,cheese cake(to die for),champage for 2 $65.00 better than Salt'ys.(except no view) Need to try
(5)Duane P.
I had only experienced the Nitehawk once before, but that was many moons ago. I remember it being decent for what it intended to do. It was the same this time. Lots of blue collar regulars and neighbor folk. I too live in Nopo. The parking lot here is almost always full. This morning we had the Eggs Benedict ( of course ) and the Chicken Fried Steak. My two favorite breakfast items. Both were above average. Great crisp to the hash browns. The hollandaise sauce was a little bland thou. The sausage gravy was good and meat was tender. Portion size is huge. The service also was spot on. We will return.
(4)Boon W.
I'm rating this place based on what it is . . .an old school diner. If you are in the mood for diner comfort food, this is the place. The food is always great, service is friendly, and the atmosphere is old school cafe. Great pies! Reasonably priced alcohol even in the cafe. I've never been to the lounge side, but it looks a little shady. I love the diner favorites like Chicken Fried Steak, and Pot Roast. Decent breakfasts too.
(4)Tom C.
This is a diner, period. It has diner food, period. If you are looking for "a creative new take" this is not the place for you. Eggs, toast, pancakes, potatoes; good diner fare. I see plenty of mediocre to bad reviews here from the typical Portland food snob, but this place is simple, down home food. We sat at the counter and the service was great. The regulars, and most everyone there is a regular, were friendly and informative. The Nite Hawk was built in 1931, serving food and servicing cars and has been through many changes over the years. The current owners have owned it since the '80s and not a whole lot has changed since then, I imagine. If you like diner food, then you will love the Nite Hawk. If you don't, well... My wife and I love a good diner and we will be going back, probably pretty regularly.
(4)Charity K.
The Nighthawk is in a perfect location for weekday breakfast-- conveniently on the Max. Breakfast and service are both good - not great -- serving solid standards with a few creative specials. Coffee is mediocre but I have never walked away unsatisfied. Definitely worth a try in NoPo.
(4)Mardi C.
this place is great, and so portland, oldschool. even pool league goin on. I had many different beers, and then some dinner. all of it was just right. love me some old school bars. the staff? was great too. Janelle was very fun, and attentive, and then the owner came out, and gave us gifts. he was big fun too. even the chef came out and BS'd with us. everyone fun. HUGE space, lots of blue collar in here, and it hit the spot. see y'all on the next visit.
(4)Jarrod S.
Don't really bother with the food if you have picky taste-buds (or a picky wallet.) The food comes fresh and hot, definitely from a bag in a freezer, I am getting good at knowing that. I should have gone down the street to the place I originally mentioned. The menu is huge, and they serve breakfast all day. The prices all seem to hover around 10 bucks per dinner. BOO. They have pool tables and video lotto and keno. There are about 5 T.V.s showing mostly sports I am sure. They could wipe the place down, it smells like old pipe smoke and defeat. And now the reason for 2 full stars. Dead Guy Ale on tap...plus 1 3 dollars for a pint of Dead Guy Ale on tap...plus 1
(2)Lilly A.
I came here after what was perhaps the most exhausting week ever. Now, I didn't go into the lounge area, and I peered in and certainly didn't want to. My mother and I grabbed breakfast in the restaurant section with all of the senior citizens. Now, the food. Not completely awful, but very plain. Eggs were okay, country styled potatoes... I don't even know what to say about them. The only amazing thing on my plate was the bacon. Service was good too, but I'm surprised at all the people who look like they are regulars. Eeeep
(2)janet l.
I first came for drinks/study 2 months ago. The grouchy old bartender seemed frazzled and told us we had to come up to the bar to order since "Its just me here." We didn't mind doing this and the owner, a University of Portland alum, later bought us a round of drinks. Good first experience. So 2 weeks ago I came into the bar with two friends at about 11pm. We sat at a booth, just discussing which beer to have. After a few minutes the same bartender said the same thing as last time, "You guys gotta come up to the bar if you want something, its just me here." RUDE since we were just taking our time looking at the menu. Also, we were under the impression that they served food until 2am. They don't. And when my roommate went up to the bar to order and ask about food, the bartender said, "The kitchen's closed but DiGiorno's can deliver in 30 minutes." HOW RUDE!!! and so uncalled for. Why would you say that to a customer?? You suck Gouchy Old Guy!
(1)Don B.
This place is crack-tacular. Devin K.'s review hits the nail on the freakin' head. One thing I can say... the guy pours his Stoli straight from the bottle - no pour spout. My head hurts this morning because of it... well, that, and the 3-packs of second-hand I smoked while I was in the joint. Oh, and to the crack head lady standing out front with her 4 children (all under 6 years of age) at 10:45pm on a Saturday night... the lady who had gotten kicked out of the Interstate Lanes bowling alley bar a mere 15 minutes prior (because the bartender told her to get out and take care of her kids): Nice parenting lady. There's a special VIP section of hell reserved for people like you. One extra star because the pool only costs 50 cents.
(1)Pillow F.
5 stars! Hands down, best Moroccan coffee in Portland... This place has great food and amazing customer service. Thank you Alix!
(5)Jeff M.
A Haiku Review of Nite Hawk: Came on Santacon. Staff handled the big crowd well. Get the clam chowder.
(3)Lisa S.
Remember Flo from Mel's Diner? The one who scratched her noggin with a pencil because her bouffant was too shellacked to get her hand in there? She works at the NIte Hawk now. I've been there for breakfast and it's good diner food. Well-priced. if you wake up on the weekend and need breakfast immediately and don't want to stand in line at Milo's, Cadillac Cafe, or Tin Shed , It's a good bet. Small counter for reading the paper and frequent coffee refills.
(3)Devin K.
If you are a smoker, 5 stars! If you like to touch screens for money, 5 stars! If you like that feeling of the needle scratch across the record when you walk into the joint and have everybody look up at you, 5 stars! If your comfort is contingent on the misery of others, FIVE STARS! ... if you have a soul and want to keep it, 2 stars.
(2)Michelle H.
Just because the parking lot is packed doesn't mean it's going to knock your socks off. Just because you can see said full parking lot from your kitchen window doesn't mean it's going to be awesome. Just because you smell the food on a walk back from Grindhouse doesn't mean it's going to tantalize your taste buds. Just because your waiter looks like he stepped out of a time machine and there is a salmon special on the wall doesn't mean you'll want to eat here again. It's sad, but true. The food falls flat in so many ways. When the highlight is the toast? Ouch. It's such a neighborhood place. Everyone knows everyone, and when you're the oddballs walking in the door, you get 'the eye.' You know the one. It's like you've walked in on a hush-hush conversation. My bad. The omelet was of the salmon variety. Boring. Tasteless. I was chewing fish. It didn't taste right, though. The potatoes were over cooked. I had the "home fries," which clearly came from a "home grown" freezer bag and dumped into a skillet. Ridiculous. It's clearly the place you go because you know somebody and/or you've been doing it for many, many years. I heard way too much information about dead wives and new wives than I ever care to know. You don't actually come in for good food. Maybe a third star lies in the lounge. Hopefully.
(2)flip m.
One would think that with the number of great restaurants and chefs in this town that getting a decent plate of hashbrowns would be no tall order. But, jesus, it's like pulling teeth to find a place that can properly cook shredded potatoes. There is one thing I am not willing to put up with, and that is a plate of soggy hashbrowns. Seriously, it is not that hard to cook shredded potatoes properly. All that being said, The Night Hawk is my new breakfast destination. No two-hour waiting lines, no foo-foo breakfast bullsh*t, no pretensions, just THE BEST hashbrowns in town hands down. 4 stars for the hashbrowns and ham and cheese omelet. -1 star for the canned light jazz MUZAC playing overhead.
(4)Kevin W.
Don't compare Apples and Oranges. This is not gourmet. This is not where you go when you want to impress an out-of-towner who doubts your Foodie ravings about what a great restaurant town we got. This is cheap, fast, friendly neighborhood (maybe Max commuter?) eats. It has a local bar kind of vibe (probably because it shares a roof with a divy local bar) and I mean this as a compliment. You'll hear people talk about their lives (perhaps even in unwelcome detail) with the waitress who has served them for years. You get above average eggs/meat/taters for $4-6. They do specials for variety, even things you might not expect (like portuguese sausage). Its better than chain breakfast joint food at chain breakfast joint prices and you get plenty of neighborhood color to boot. Pretty solid in my book.
(3)Well-Traveled I.
Reminds of old timer bars back East...stayed in the bar area and found the drinks good, strong, and cheap. Can't vouch for the food though, as I didn't eat anything there.
(4)Cathy C.
We've never been in the bar, but the small restaurant has very good food! My husband loves their hamburger steak. And they always have a special of the day.
(4)Mack M.
I have never been inside of the Lounge portion of this place, but the Cafe is great. Prime Rib and eggs folks! Oh the Cafe is no smoking and does not smell like smoke even, but one sure can image a counter full of smokers in the bygone times. Other then the no smoking change, the Cafe looks like those bygone times. Little 2 person booths, long counter that face the mike-shake machine and walk in cooler. Your not going to find honey almond toasted granola with organic maple yogurt on the menu, (Prime Rib and eggs baby!) but the potatoes come in country or hash-brown and the sausage is link or patty. I like breakfast here and plan to head back for lunch and dinner some time. I saw fried oysters as the special, 9$ for lunch and 10$ for dinner. Its clean and the staff are friendly.
(4)Bryan M.
Haha. I wish I could give this place more stars. Just a few blocks from a friends house we bailed out of a taxi to finish the night here. It's huge, has some Keno/Pool action going on. Totally a crappy dive with the ambiance that comes from professional alcoholics who don't want to go into the city to get their drink on. They put up with us like drunks were a regular occasion, which was awfully swell of them. I totally loved the place, but more from the experience than it having much going for it.
(3)Sprinkles G.
A-OK dive bar. Everything you expect from your neighborhood bar plus a little extra personality from the staff. The bar food is...well bar food, what else would you expect? The space is a little grimy and poorly lit... but once again... it's a dive bar. They're a usual stop for the NoPoAnticon so that's cool and very "local" of them. It's not a place we go to at the beginning of a night in NoPo but for the fifth or sixth stop it's ideal.
(3)John W.
The food here is classic fare, the burgers are decent, fries are good. The plus for me is the pool tables. 5 tables, $.50 a game and it's never too packed. Stick to burgers i your eating, their specials are never very good.
(4)Jami H.
Some friends had recommended this place as a good option for traditional, greasy, hangover breakfast in the neighborhood. I finally took this advice yesterday. It is indeed traditional and greasy, which I can appreciate. But it was also plain old crappy. Brown gravy on chicken fried steaK? $1.50 more if you want the traditional white gravy? A sin, I tell you. And my friend"s sausage tasted a bit like roadkill.
(1)Dena P.
What can I say about the Night Hawk Cafe & Lounge? This is the epitome of a dive bar. Right off the I-5 in North Portland, the Night Hawk is a great place to go for happy hour after work. Although it's pretty dark inside, the staff is great, the drinks are stiff and cheap, and they have pool tables as well. I used to go to the Night Hawk on my way home from work and I really enjoyed my time. I have never eaten the food there, but all of my old coworkers still go and they love the food. This is a great dive bar.
(3)Suzanne O.
The Hawk is the Hawk--a neighborhood bar with regulars that come every day and with bartenders who, if they don't know your name, know what you're drinking, for sure. Definitely lots of smokers...You'll come home with that oh-so-lovely smell on your clothes. Breakfast is diner-great. Dinner is exactly what you'd expect-- Inexpensive prime rib on weekends and predictable sandwiches, etc. One good surprise--try the chicken wings. They're not goopy with sauce, but instead quite flavorable. I love the NightHawk! Of course, it's also within walking distance for me :)
(4)ida r.
I cannot imagine eating here, that said, great place for drinks. The bartender lady is pretty nice and everything is reasonably priced. Now that it is non smoking it is much more tolerable (although I went there when it was smoking, bleeding eyes be dammed). It is a great neighborhood bar, not snobby, nice flat pool tables and a friendly clientele consisting mostly of New Seasons workers and locals. It is kind of bright in there but I have no problem with that since I am already married so illusions are blown already:). A fine big place to go and play pool and have a couple of drinks before heading home (drinks are free poured as opposed to the ever annoying shot glass method).
(4)Madeline P.
I love the cafe ... fast, hot, tasty and NON-SMOKING! Nothing beats eggs over-easy with home fries and sourdough toast the morning after. Plus this place is low-key and doesn't have the hipster hype. It's just classic diner food. I'm looking forward to the 2009 smoking ban so I can discover the lounge ...
(3)Kathryn S.
The diner side of this restaurant/lounge is bright and airy and serves a pretty good breakfast (besides the deep-fried potatoes). The lounge side is gigantic and smoky, with a huge bar, four or five pool tables, and lots of video poker. My favorite bartender at the Nite Hawk is Mike, who loves Vegas, and has the driest sense of humor I've ever encountered besides my own. Great neighborhood spot populated by more and more hipsters and good looking folks all the time.
(4)Clay C.
There's a bar on one side and a restaurant on the other. I've only eaten in the restaurant. I LOVE the chicken fried steak. The soup changes daily and is always good. I love their bean and bacon soup.
(5)leah c.
great place to have a drink at a dive bar. the bartenders/cocktail waitresses remember your names... although, if you don't like smoke...then you might not like it until jan 2009 when the smoking ban goes into effect. you can go in for 5 minutes and come out reeking of smoke
(4)Willus W.
This place is ooooold school!!! My dad went to high school with the owners. I prefer the restaurant side to the bar side, as it is just what all of the other reviews have described: seedy, shady, smoky, kind of scary! The restaurant side is clean, efficient and the food is good, diner type fare prepared rapidly and with care. The service is usually really spot on, though with today's lunch/breakfast, there was a new face on staff, and she was a bit off. They seem to retain employees, and so that is not usually a problem. They serve breakfast all day, and it is the most perfect of greasy spoon diner breakfasts: eggs done to perfection, perfectly crispy hashbrowns, expertly browned white bread toast, and neat sausage links or bacon or a ham slice. They even throw in a small wedge of melon or orange. Okay. I swear I will get back to my studies and leave the Yelp alone now. Enough with the procrastination!!
(4)Jason K.
Pretty decent, basic greasy spoon food. I had chicken fried steak with sausage gravy, home fries, scrambled eggs, and a biscuit. What I really liked was that the steak was breaded with crushed up potato chips. I could tell from the occasional large chunk that was present in the breading. The gravy was pretty good, but needed a little more umph. The home fries were a bit crispy for my taste and had an unidentifiable sort of sour twang. Not sure what that was, bit it made me go "merf?". The eggs were perfectly scrambled. The biscuit was tasty; I used it to mop up the leftover gravy on the plate. I would have given it a four, but after I got the check and laid out my cash I watched the bartender walk right past me several times and not once was I asked if I wanted change. I eventually walked it over to the cash register myself. That kinda chaps my ass, but not enough to not come back. And if it's a dive it's probably the cleanest I've seen. I'm sure the snobs will find flaws though. The old timer sitting next to me pounding Hamms was a nice touch.
(3)Robert W.
The Nite Hawk is a great steak place. It's also a nice place to hang out and shoot some pool. I also like that it is owned locally and it's their neighborhood too. I proposed to my wife there. Good food good people. It also has the family friendly cafe attached to the bar.
(5)Lilly A.
I came here after what was perhaps the most exhausting week ever. Now, I didn't go into the lounge area, and I peered in and certainly didn't want to. My mother and I grabbed breakfast in the restaurant section with all of the senior citizens. Now, the food. Not completely awful, but very plain. Eggs were okay, country styled potatoes... I don't even know what to say about them. The only amazing thing on my plate was the bacon. Service was good too, but I'm surprised at all the people who look like they are regulars. Eeeep
(2)Holy-foo' X.
Do the math: this place opened in 1931. Prohibition wasn't repealed till 1933. Bad ass! These days this neighborhood bar is about as middle of the road as you please. Any given night you're likely to see a wide range of races/ethnicities unwinding here, so it's nice to see all kinds of regulars are at ease and fraternizing here. This is the No Po as I experienced it---at least on the good days---growing up. The fare is classic pub grub, by no means anything special. However, they are docked some points b/c, even though they're open till beer thirty all week long, the grill closes at 8pm! The service is fast enough and monosyllabic. 'Salright, I wasn't looking to jabber any one's ear off. Just like a million other places in any jerk water town, seniority is what matters first and foremost for any of the tiniest extra consideration from staff. There are simply too many other great places waiting to be checked out, to put in the requisite time and SPENDING to get bumped very high up the totem pole at the Nite Hawk. Que sera', sera'.
(3)Tom C.
This is a diner, period. It has diner food, period. If you are looking for "a creative new take" this is not the place for you. Eggs, toast, pancakes, potatoes; good diner fare. I see plenty of mediocre to bad reviews here from the typical Portland food snob, but this place is simple, down home food. We sat at the counter and the service was great. The regulars, and most everyone there is a regular, were friendly and informative. The Nite Hawk was built in 1931, serving food and servicing cars and has been through many changes over the years. The current owners have owned it since the '80s and not a whole lot has changed since then, I imagine. If you like diner food, then you will love the Nite Hawk. If you don't, well... My wife and I love a good diner and we will be going back, probably pretty regularly.
(4)Mardi C.
this place is great, and so portland, oldschool. even pool league goin on. I had many different beers, and then some dinner. all of it was just right. love me some old school bars. the staff? was great too. Janelle was very fun, and attentive, and then the owner came out, and gave us gifts. he was big fun too. even the chef came out and BS'd with us. everyone fun. HUGE space, lots of blue collar in here, and it hit the spot. see y'all on the next visit.
(4)Jarrod S.
Don't really bother with the food if you have picky taste-buds (or a picky wallet.) The food comes fresh and hot, definitely from a bag in a freezer, I am getting good at knowing that. I should have gone down the street to the place I originally mentioned. The menu is huge, and they serve breakfast all day. The prices all seem to hover around 10 bucks per dinner. BOO. They have pool tables and video lotto and keno. There are about 5 T.V.s showing mostly sports I am sure. They could wipe the place down, it smells like old pipe smoke and defeat. And now the reason for 2 full stars. Dead Guy Ale on tap...plus 1 3 dollars for a pint of Dead Guy Ale on tap...plus 1
(2)janet l.
I first came for drinks/study 2 months ago. The grouchy old bartender seemed frazzled and told us we had to come up to the bar to order since "Its just me here." We didn't mind doing this and the owner, a University of Portland alum, later bought us a round of drinks. Good first experience. So 2 weeks ago I came into the bar with two friends at about 11pm. We sat at a booth, just discussing which beer to have. After a few minutes the same bartender said the same thing as last time, "You guys gotta come up to the bar if you want something, its just me here." RUDE since we were just taking our time looking at the menu. Also, we were under the impression that they served food until 2am. They don't. And when my roommate went up to the bar to order and ask about food, the bartender said, "The kitchen's closed but DiGiorno's can deliver in 30 minutes." HOW RUDE!!! and so uncalled for. Why would you say that to a customer?? You suck Gouchy Old Guy!
(1)Bryan M.
Haha. I wish I could give this place more stars. Just a few blocks from a friends house we bailed out of a taxi to finish the night here. It's huge, has some Keno/Pool action going on. Totally a crappy dive with the ambiance that comes from professional alcoholics who don't want to go into the city to get their drink on. They put up with us like drunks were a regular occasion, which was awfully swell of them. I totally loved the place, but more from the experience than it having much going for it.
(3)Don B.
This place is crack-tacular. Devin K.'s review hits the nail on the freakin' head. One thing I can say... the guy pours his Stoli straight from the bottle - no pour spout. My head hurts this morning because of it... well, that, and the 3-packs of second-hand I smoked while I was in the joint. Oh, and to the crack head lady standing out front with her 4 children (all under 6 years of age) at 10:45pm on a Saturday night... the lady who had gotten kicked out of the Interstate Lanes bowling alley bar a mere 15 minutes prior (because the bartender told her to get out and take care of her kids): Nice parenting lady. There's a special VIP section of hell reserved for people like you. One extra star because the pool only costs 50 cents.
(1)Pillow F.
5 stars! Hands down, best Moroccan coffee in Portland... This place has great food and amazing customer service. Thank you Alix!
(5)Jeff M.
A Haiku Review of Nite Hawk: Came on Santacon. Staff handled the big crowd well. Get the clam chowder.
(3)Lisa S.
Remember Flo from Mel's Diner? The one who scratched her noggin with a pencil because her bouffant was too shellacked to get her hand in there? She works at the NIte Hawk now. I've been there for breakfast and it's good diner food. Well-priced. if you wake up on the weekend and need breakfast immediately and don't want to stand in line at Milo's, Cadillac Cafe, or Tin Shed , It's a good bet. Small counter for reading the paper and frequent coffee refills.
(3)Michelle H.
Just because the parking lot is packed doesn't mean it's going to knock your socks off. Just because you can see said full parking lot from your kitchen window doesn't mean it's going to be awesome. Just because you smell the food on a walk back from Grindhouse doesn't mean it's going to tantalize your taste buds. Just because your waiter looks like he stepped out of a time machine and there is a salmon special on the wall doesn't mean you'll want to eat here again. It's sad, but true. The food falls flat in so many ways. When the highlight is the toast? Ouch. It's such a neighborhood place. Everyone knows everyone, and when you're the oddballs walking in the door, you get 'the eye.' You know the one. It's like you've walked in on a hush-hush conversation. My bad. The omelet was of the salmon variety. Boring. Tasteless. I was chewing fish. It didn't taste right, though. The potatoes were over cooked. I had the "home fries," which clearly came from a "home grown" freezer bag and dumped into a skillet. Ridiculous. It's clearly the place you go because you know somebody and/or you've been doing it for many, many years. I heard way too much information about dead wives and new wives than I ever care to know. You don't actually come in for good food. Maybe a third star lies in the lounge. Hopefully.
(2)Duane P.
I had only experienced the Nitehawk once before, but that was many moons ago. I remember it being decent for what it intended to do. It was the same this time. Lots of blue collar regulars and neighbor folk. I too live in Nopo. The parking lot here is almost always full. This morning we had the Eggs Benedict ( of course ) and the Chicken Fried Steak. My two favorite breakfast items. Both were above average. Great crisp to the hash browns. The hollandaise sauce was a little bland thou. The sausage gravy was good and meat was tender. Portion size is huge. The service also was spot on. We will return.
(4)Boon W.
I'm rating this place based on what it is . . .an old school diner. If you are in the mood for diner comfort food, this is the place. The food is always great, service is friendly, and the atmosphere is old school cafe. Great pies! Reasonably priced alcohol even in the cafe. I've never been to the lounge side, but it looks a little shady. I love the diner favorites like Chicken Fried Steak, and Pot Roast. Decent breakfasts too.
(4)Greg T.
I walked in expecting mediocre food and a long wait. Instead I got delicious food and quick, friendly service. I got the Avenue Omelette with hash browns and it was DELICIOUS. Simple but good, the spinach was not overdone and there was garlic but not too much. It tasted like they even use real butter. Score!
(5)Adam B.
An honest straight forward meal. I ordered the waffle special with coffee it came to $10.25 before tip. Maybe on the pricey side for breakfast but it was enjoyable.
(4)Wyndra A.
They let me sub spinach and tomato for the meat on the Eggs Benedict and it was delicious. Service is friendly and efficient.
(4)Kirsten G.
Really good, if somewhat basic, breakfast fare. Generous portion sizes. Very friendly staff... it's no wonder we see so many regulars in there.
(4)Charity K.
The Nighthawk is in a perfect location for weekday breakfast-- conveniently on the Max. Breakfast and service are both good - not great -- serving solid standards with a few creative specials. Coffee is mediocre but I have never walked away unsatisfied. Definitely worth a try in NoPo.
(4)Suzanne O.
The Hawk is the Hawk--a neighborhood bar with regulars that come every day and with bartenders who, if they don't know your name, know what you're drinking, for sure. Definitely lots of smokers...You'll come home with that oh-so-lovely smell on your clothes. Breakfast is diner-great. Dinner is exactly what you'd expect-- Inexpensive prime rib on weekends and predictable sandwiches, etc. One good surprise--try the chicken wings. They're not goopy with sauce, but instead quite flavorable. I love the NightHawk! Of course, it's also within walking distance for me :)
(4)Sprinkles G.
A-OK dive bar. Everything you expect from your neighborhood bar plus a little extra personality from the staff. The bar food is...well bar food, what else would you expect? The space is a little grimy and poorly lit... but once again... it's a dive bar. They're a usual stop for the NoPoAnticon so that's cool and very "local" of them. It's not a place we go to at the beginning of a night in NoPo but for the fifth or sixth stop it's ideal.
(3)John W.
The food here is classic fare, the burgers are decent, fries are good. The plus for me is the pool tables. 5 tables, $.50 a game and it's never too packed. Stick to burgers i your eating, their specials are never very good.
(4)Jami H.
Some friends had recommended this place as a good option for traditional, greasy, hangover breakfast in the neighborhood. I finally took this advice yesterday. It is indeed traditional and greasy, which I can appreciate. But it was also plain old crappy. Brown gravy on chicken fried steaK? $1.50 more if you want the traditional white gravy? A sin, I tell you. And my friend"s sausage tasted a bit like roadkill.
(1)Dena P.
What can I say about the Night Hawk Cafe & Lounge? This is the epitome of a dive bar. Right off the I-5 in North Portland, the Night Hawk is a great place to go for happy hour after work. Although it's pretty dark inside, the staff is great, the drinks are stiff and cheap, and they have pool tables as well. I used to go to the Night Hawk on my way home from work and I really enjoyed my time. I have never eaten the food there, but all of my old coworkers still go and they love the food. This is a great dive bar.
(3)flip m.
One would think that with the number of great restaurants and chefs in this town that getting a decent plate of hashbrowns would be no tall order. But, jesus, it's like pulling teeth to find a place that can properly cook shredded potatoes. There is one thing I am not willing to put up with, and that is a plate of soggy hashbrowns. Seriously, it is not that hard to cook shredded potatoes properly. All that being said, The Night Hawk is my new breakfast destination. No two-hour waiting lines, no foo-foo breakfast bullsh*t, no pretensions, just THE BEST hashbrowns in town hands down. 4 stars for the hashbrowns and ham and cheese omelet. -1 star for the canned light jazz MUZAC playing overhead.
(4)Kevin W.
Don't compare Apples and Oranges. This is not gourmet. This is not where you go when you want to impress an out-of-towner who doubts your Foodie ravings about what a great restaurant town we got. This is cheap, fast, friendly neighborhood (maybe Max commuter?) eats. It has a local bar kind of vibe (probably because it shares a roof with a divy local bar) and I mean this as a compliment. You'll hear people talk about their lives (perhaps even in unwelcome detail) with the waitress who has served them for years. You get above average eggs/meat/taters for $4-6. They do specials for variety, even things you might not expect (like portuguese sausage). Its better than chain breakfast joint food at chain breakfast joint prices and you get plenty of neighborhood color to boot. Pretty solid in my book.
(3)Well-Traveled I.
Reminds of old timer bars back East...stayed in the bar area and found the drinks good, strong, and cheap. Can't vouch for the food though, as I didn't eat anything there.
(4)Cathy C.
We've never been in the bar, but the small restaurant has very good food! My husband loves their hamburger steak. And they always have a special of the day.
(4)Devin K.
If you are a smoker, 5 stars! If you like to touch screens for money, 5 stars! If you like that feeling of the needle scratch across the record when you walk into the joint and have everybody look up at you, 5 stars! If your comfort is contingent on the misery of others, FIVE STARS! ... if you have a soul and want to keep it, 2 stars.
(2)Mack M.
I have never been inside of the Lounge portion of this place, but the Cafe is great. Prime Rib and eggs folks! Oh the Cafe is no smoking and does not smell like smoke even, but one sure can image a counter full of smokers in the bygone times. Other then the no smoking change, the Cafe looks like those bygone times. Little 2 person booths, long counter that face the mike-shake machine and walk in cooler. Your not going to find honey almond toasted granola with organic maple yogurt on the menu, (Prime Rib and eggs baby!) but the potatoes come in country or hash-brown and the sausage is link or patty. I like breakfast here and plan to head back for lunch and dinner some time. I saw fried oysters as the special, 9$ for lunch and 10$ for dinner. Its clean and the staff are friendly.
(4)ida r.
I cannot imagine eating here, that said, great place for drinks. The bartender lady is pretty nice and everything is reasonably priced. Now that it is non smoking it is much more tolerable (although I went there when it was smoking, bleeding eyes be dammed). It is a great neighborhood bar, not snobby, nice flat pool tables and a friendly clientele consisting mostly of New Seasons workers and locals. It is kind of bright in there but I have no problem with that since I am already married so illusions are blown already:). A fine big place to go and play pool and have a couple of drinks before heading home (drinks are free poured as opposed to the ever annoying shot glass method).
(4)Madeline P.
I love the cafe ... fast, hot, tasty and NON-SMOKING! Nothing beats eggs over-easy with home fries and sourdough toast the morning after. Plus this place is low-key and doesn't have the hipster hype. It's just classic diner food. I'm looking forward to the 2009 smoking ban so I can discover the lounge ...
(3)Kathryn S.
The diner side of this restaurant/lounge is bright and airy and serves a pretty good breakfast (besides the deep-fried potatoes). The lounge side is gigantic and smoky, with a huge bar, four or five pool tables, and lots of video poker. My favorite bartender at the Nite Hawk is Mike, who loves Vegas, and has the driest sense of humor I've ever encountered besides my own. Great neighborhood spot populated by more and more hipsters and good looking folks all the time.
(4)Clay C.
There's a bar on one side and a restaurant on the other. I've only eaten in the restaurant. I LOVE the chicken fried steak. The soup changes daily and is always good. I love their bean and bacon soup.
(5)leah c.
great place to have a drink at a dive bar. the bartenders/cocktail waitresses remember your names... although, if you don't like smoke...then you might not like it until jan 2009 when the smoking ban goes into effect. you can go in for 5 minutes and come out reeking of smoke
(4)Willus W.
This place is ooooold school!!! My dad went to high school with the owners. I prefer the restaurant side to the bar side, as it is just what all of the other reviews have described: seedy, shady, smoky, kind of scary! The restaurant side is clean, efficient and the food is good, diner type fare prepared rapidly and with care. The service is usually really spot on, though with today's lunch/breakfast, there was a new face on staff, and she was a bit off. They seem to retain employees, and so that is not usually a problem. They serve breakfast all day, and it is the most perfect of greasy spoon diner breakfasts: eggs done to perfection, perfectly crispy hashbrowns, expertly browned white bread toast, and neat sausage links or bacon or a ham slice. They even throw in a small wedge of melon or orange. Okay. I swear I will get back to my studies and leave the Yelp alone now. Enough with the procrastination!!
(4)Juniper K.
So I've never been in there but I totally intend to at some point. I'm pregnant and was jonesin' for a steak- I dunno, pregnancy is totally random and weird. The day before I'm pretty sure the only thing I could stomach was frosted flakes. So my husband called for takeout and picked it up. It was pretty good- totally hit the spot. I'll report back someday when I actually visit the lounge. I also got a malted chocolate shake and it was SO rich. Super good tho. Also if you haven't already- go to their website NOW. Make sure the sound is up. Some of the classiest web presence in the NW.
(4)rich j.
What it lacks in charm, quality food or attentive service it, um, well there's never much of a wait. In Portland's competitive brunch scene that's a thing. They're just eggs. These aren't the popular eggs but there's not a hassle* of hipsters standing around out front to contend with. The ironic smell of Brut or Lady Old Spice and bedazzled flip flops shining in the breeze. * a hassle of hipsters is like a gaggle of geese or a pride of lions
(3)J D.
The restaurant portion of this place is a diner. It doesn't pretend to be anything else. Food isn't great, but it's not bad. Reasonable prices. Food comes quickly. Servers aren't chatty, but they're friendly enough. The bar portion is a dive bar. Not a hipster dive bar. It's a dark bar that serves people who want to drink. Again, it just is what it is. When I want a solid breakfast featuring eggs and meat and potatoes, and I don't want to wait in a line, I go here. I happen to like this sort of place, so it gets 4* from me. if you're looking for artisan food, go somewhere else.
(4)Ben J.
Great spot for breakfast. You get that diner feel, but not the diner taste. Friendly staff and prompt service.
(4)Michael S.
Americana ... classic, old-school Americana Nite Hawk Cafe was severely understaffed for dinner with a full dining room and one server. She was working her tail off, but, geez, Nite Hawk Cafe was ill-prepared for the dinner rush. Olivia Z. and me grabbed the last table and took a patience pill. The only thing better than waking up to a warm breakfast is having breakfast for dinner. It's possible at Nite Hawk because breakfast is served all day, every day. I got the American classic Chicken Fried Steak breakfast ($10.95) with two Eggs (Sunny Side Up), Country Fried Potatoes, and Toast (upgraded to a lone Pancake). The dark gravy, slightly overfried ground beef steak, and mound of carbs are everything that made America great and your arteries clogged. A Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken Breast ($10.50) was Olivia's attempt to eat healthy and American. Coolest of all was a side of thick Garlic Toast. It was totally what you hope and expect from a caesar salad ... nothing more or less. By the time we left, the supper rush was waning. Kudos to the hard-working server. She earned her tip, but Nite Hawk would of definitely earned a higher rating if they were properly staffed. Nite Hawk Cafe & Lounge is not a "destination" restaurant in Portland, but if you're looking for a diner along the TriMet Yellow Train Line you'll find classic, old-school Americana.
(3)Ken M.
***Needs to serve food past 8pm on weekdays!!!*** I live right next to this place and the only thing that would make them better is by keeping the kitchen open later. I hear this from most people who stop by and/or frequently visit. In my opinion, a place that calls themselves Nitehawk, in a location where there is not food with in walking distance, should realize that they are competing with other bars that DO serve food late. They wont have slow nights (as they often do) when they serve food late! I am at Nitehawk very often as it is close by and right at the max station. Sorry for starting this off negatively, but it needs to be heard. This bar is by far my favorite. Very friendly atmosphere, amazing staff, plenty of room (inside. However their patio is way too small). This is that kind of bar where everybody knows everybody and it's always so welcoming. It would be nice if there was a little more entertainment as well. Maybe a small mellow band from time to time like what Mock Crest does.
(4)Chris C.
This place reminded me a lot of my East Coast roots. Nothing fancy but a pretty solid diner. If you want to big plate of food at a pretty reasonable price I recommend it.
(4)Porter B.
The service was friendly but slow and the food was fine, but nothing about my one experience there has made me want to go back.
(3)Katie B.
Strong drinks and i tell you what! Some of the best hot wings in the city! They are not smothered in sauce, but crispy and served with a spicy Thai sauce. Delicious!!!
(5)Christopher G.
I was stumbling around looking for breakfast and found this place I walked past so many times. The food is awesome and it has the charm of an old diner. Food is great but I'm biased as I'm a whore for a good breakfast meal which was great. Prices are cool
(5)Linda M.
This place is a huge dive and I love it. Their staff are wonderful, very engaging and fun. The atmosphere is old and run down, very 70's, but for some odd reason it works. The food is actually pretty good. I've only gone for breakfast, and in truth it's hard to mess up breakfast, but these guys do a pretty good job. I wouldn't recommend this place for large parties or if you're wanting something fancy, it's run down, and simple, from the outside you'd think it was a grungy old bar. The service is great and for those days when you're hungry and you want a decent brekky, this is a good spot.
(4)Heather C.
Recently went in for breakfast and had the Eggs Benedict. Muffins were completely soaking wet, like they had been dipped in water or something. Won't be going back.
(1)Tiffany V.
Great place to eat and get a drink! My friends and I went to eat there for lunch. On the diner side, we had to wait for a table but some people were just finishing up. Space is limited on the diner side. While we had to wait, one of my friends and I (My other friend had her daughter with her) went to the lounge side to grab a drink. This side was more spacious. It had pool tables, slot machines, tvs, tables if you wanted to eat & of course the bar. Our drinks were $6 each. My friend had a whisky & ginger ale & i had a whisky & coke. The bartender definitely made them strong, so you'll get your moneys worth. Now back to the diner side. Me & my friend both ordered a medium rare prime rib, my friends daughter ordered a medium rare rib eye & my other friend ordered a bowl of their soup (sorry i don't remember what it was). The 3 of us who ordered a whole entree got a salad with it. The salad was good, I like how they put the dressing on the side and they give you more than enough. The prime rib was AMAZING. It was cooked well, tasted outstandingly delicious. The sides that came with it were good too! There were mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables and side of garlic toast. The toast just looked like ordinary toast but once you bite into it, you will want more; it was that good. The best part it was only $14.95 no tax! I think it was the special of the day too, since it was Valentine's day. My friend's daughter said the rib eye was really good and my other friend said her soup was delicious too! Food definitely 5 stars. The service gets 5 stars too! Our waiter was very friendly and funny and gave great service. If I'm ever in Portland again, I will definitely come back.
(5)Tres B.
I love this old place! alsmot a dive, but not quite.Its stuckin 1971 and that's just fine by me. Heather was my waitress and she was great! The lounge is happening, playing 1960;s and 70's country while i was there. Pool table, cheap draught beer. Having lived in the south, I can tell you their versionof chciken fried teak would NEVER pass muster. Brown gravy and bacon bread crumbs??? But it was really really good! The soggy vegetables wer a not mess, but who cares? Like a pair of old worn shoes, this palce fits me just fine.
(4)Sean O.
I've always enjoyed coming here. Pool, drinks and food (breakfast and lunch). The chicken fried steak with brown gravy and hash browns is amazing. Today I had the chicken wings with Thai chili sauce. The wings were fantastic (and I've had my fare share over the years)!! Crispy breading and fried to a golden brown. The chicken was super moist and tasty! Homemade?? Thai dipping sauce was better than expected. May have come from a bottle, but it had another layer of flavor. Be it bottle, homemade or a combination; it worked really well. Kudos!
(5)Rex R.
Excellent value for the money . Decent food good portions, not too much, not too little. Stopped in here on a Friday night for dinner. Ken was running the dining room, I could tell most people were regulars. Excellent and friendly service from Ken. We look forward to our next visit. We wish we would have found this place sooner
(5)Charlotte F.
Immediate regret. Bland food that was most definitely from a frozen food aisle. Don't do it.
(1)Rich J.
My me favorite bar! The restaurant is very dated with a 60s diner feel. Think american comfort foods as the theme. Breakfast is served all day, and space is very limited. I had the fried chicken dinner which consisted of half a chicken, green beans, a roll, mashed potatoes and a salad app. It was great! Crispy chicken, creamy potatoes and the roll even came out warm! The bar section is probably twice as large, has pool tables and video poker! Also $3 micro beers during happy hour! And they do growler fills! The menu in the bar probably mostly comes from the freezer section of Cash-N-Carry, but it's OK if not every meal is a fresh local small batch work of art. The music selection is up beat classic AND soft rock! Great staff that is friendly and attentive!
(4)High S.
There is a pool league that meets there. There are poker machines monopolized by gambling addicts. There is a smoking patio that feels like a jail cell. There are bartenders who couldn't give two sh*ts that you're there. If you are over 50, have given up on quitting smoking, enjoy the environment of a DMV, then this might be your hot spot. Otherwise, you'd only be there if you were desperate for a drink and everything else was closed.
(2)Curtis C.
I love this place. It just gets better and better. I've been several time for dinner and breakfast. The prime rib special is excellent, and I highly recommend it. In the past, the lounge seemed understaffed, and it would take a long time to get refills or table service, but on my last two visits this had changed. They had some new staff I think, and they were really on it service-wise; friendly and efficient. My partner had the parmesan halibut special which turned out to be amazing fish and chips style halibut, with a parmesan seasoned breading. It was really good, and a steal for $13 bucks or so (maybe it was $16...). I highly recommend this place for a low-key dinner, a round of pool, and some good drinks! The crowd is totally mixed which makes for some good times.
(5)Zackie M.
Great vibe. Love the ppl and music. Great food and drinks. Best stuff. Me and my boyfriend always come here for drinks whenever we go out. Its one of my favorite places in Portland. The crew makes it feel like your right at home. Excellent Neighborhood bar. Can't say enough great things about the hawk
(5)Lily F.
This review is for the cafe. Great service and tasty breakfast. I haven't had anything other than classic American diner fare there- coffee, eggs, potatoes/hashbrowns, hot cakes and ham/bacon/sausage. But they do those things well! I'll definitely keep coming back.
(4)Jens J.
In all the times up and down Interstate, I've never noticed Nite Hawk. However, JP remarked this past Sunday that he knew their fried chicken was good, so we pulled up and parked. It's seat yourself in this comfy cafe with plenty of booths (there's a counter too). If you walk through one interior door, you find yourself in the lounge, which is double the size of the cafe. Not only was this the best chicken I've had in Portland (darest I say even better than Reel M Inn?) but our overall experience was wonderful. Our server was sweet and attentive. She and the young Latino working there tag teamed to make sure our water glasses and coffee cups were always filled. Speaking of the coffee, it was excellent - robust and smooth, not usually what you think of when you're talking diner coffee. So the chicken - though on this particular Sunday they had a barbecue chicken special - we both went with the regular chicken off the dinner menu ($9.85). The dinner allows you to have soup or salad and fries, a baked potato or mashed potatoes. Dinners also come, logically enough, with a dinner roll. The soup of the day was beef tomato noodle. It was delicious and surprisingly loaded with big bits of beef. In no time at all, our orders were ready. How do I describe this truly amazing chicken? Well, it seems like it might have been "broasted" (broiled and roasted). Or was it pressure-cooked? I dunno. The dinner includes a breast, wing, drumstick and back. The skin was crispy and crunchy and a little bit sweet, like with honey. And, this chicken was not greasy. In any case, it was wolfed down pronto. Okay, the mashed potatoes and gravy seemed like they might have come from a cafeteria in nearby Emanuel Hospital - totally institutional. But big deal, the chicken was so stellar that the potatoes didn't matter one iota in the grand scheme of things. JP concurred with my assessment of the chicken. Along with a colorful, but benign cast of characters making up the clientele, the vibe and ambience was relaxed and pleasant. You better believe we'll be back!
(5)Stacie G.
This place has great service, great food, a perfect location. You can't go wrong with choosing here to go for drinks, food, or both.
(4)Alex D.
Now here's a place that I can get behind! Totally a dive bar (and not a hipster dive bar, I mean a DIVE), and a diner in one that serves quality comfort food and good beer. A good place to chill out with friends, and a great change of pace from the racket of downtown PDX. Nothing fake or pretentious, just something really low-key. A place that I like.
(4)R M.
After going to this place I was very surprised to see it's only got 3.5 stars on Yelp. The chicken fried steak is the best I've had in Portland by a wide margin. By default it comes with brown gravy instead of white and I am very glad that it didn't change it. After raving about it to the waitress she said that they make their own beef broth for it and it really shows. Our servers were extremely friendly and Johnny-on-the-spot with coffee, water, and the inexpensive check. An excellent meal!
(5)Greg B.
This place is good. There's a certain containment of space in it. I suppose the lounge is larger than the café. There are various pictures and a nice see through freezer if you get the booths near the register. I never knew that a Cowpoke Sandwich would be so excellent. I had the coleslaw. The berry pie was quite good. Yes - I eat those pies cold. Yes - the Cowpoke sandwich did have cheese in it and in a parallel universe it would be an excellent grilled cheese sandwich. It is an elegant diner off of the Interstate.
(4)RJ H.
Branding can certainly make am impact on the perception of a business....what and who it serves, its vibe ...and for the longest time I had the perception the Night Hawk Café and Lounge was some hipster, nouveau Doug Fir-esque diner/coolness. I had the opportunity to have a drink and eat in the lounge ...and this spot ( or spots really) is totally old school. Upfront a flashback diner with counter service and through the magical door ( it may fool you the first sign says restroom and the one below it say lounge) a full albeit bar and lounge. Plenty of flat screens and frankly aside from the occasional beer sign, its your granddads family room ....a BIG family room. Both café and lounge share the same menu...This is a diner, with diner food....Think "stick to your ribs" kind of food ...The meatloaf and meatloaf sandwich "Hearty" . You will be hard pressed to spend more than $13 on the largest entrée. The kitchen ( at least in the lounge) closes at 8.....The bartender was friendly enough the clientele quite local and appear to be regulars. The lounge has been called "shady" by other reviews...fear not ...you've been in a bunch of divey bars that are far worse..... I'd say when you walk into the lounge, you may think you are in North PDX...when you enter , it could be a lounge off Route 70 in Topeka Kansas... However with realistic expectation and not letting the exterior or branding fool you...You'll get good food, and drink ....cheap.
(3)Vanessa C.
I stopped in before I had to go to work. I didn't have high expectations, but it was the most convenient place to eat. I saw the meatloaf on the menu and debated ordering, as meatloaf can be either really good or really bad. I asked the waitresses for her opinion and she recommended the meatloaf letting me know it was made in house and amazing. The food came out looking like something I would get at a school cafeteria, full of sodium. Then some one working there asked how my food was and I honestly stated it wasn't good, but I was hungry. He just turned around. Why ask if you don't care?! I will never eat here again.
(1)Steve S.
Valantines day Special What A Meal soup/ Salad garllic toast,asparragus,veggies,steak,Lobster,cheese cake(to die for),champage for 2 $65.00 better than Salt'ys.(except no view) Need to try
(5)Michelle M.
We haven't been to the Nite Hawk café in 12+ years; we stopped going because we had children and could not take the cigarette smell coming from the bar. But now....well that's no longer an issue is it? :) We had a restaurant.com certificate so decided to give it a whirl. My husband, 8 year old and I had dinner there this evening. Atmosphere: Clean, inviting, small, great music in the background. Nice lighting, totally chill and cozy. Food: Prime rib dinner special for $13.50 - cooked perfectly. Fresh squash a bit overcooked, but had good flavor. Baked potato was fresh, not like it was cooked hours before and left in the warmer - like most places by 7:30pm. Salad was good. Husband had the liver and onions, he said it was good - if you're into liver and onions. Which he is. Service: Excellent! Kenny was our server; he was attentive, friendly, funny and engaged our child. Bottom Line: Unpretentious local café, solid diner style food. Good service. There's a reason this little place has been around in it's current version since 1980.
(4)Ryan J.
Very impressive omelets at this little diner. The waiter was an exuberant fellow that made the visit quite lively and fun.
(3)Mike M.
I guess a place "is what it is" when I agree absolutely with the three most recent reviews. Valorie, Charity, and Duane have the Nite Hawk nailed. We made our first visit here for a late breakfast Saturday and to watch the golf tournament on TV. Service was awesome and accomodating. They set us up right in front of a TV and killed the sound what whatever it had been on so we could listen. Breakfast cocktails were tasty and quick. Prolly 10-12 customers on the bar side so it's not like we were the only ones there. So appreciate good service! The bar area is good sized and pretty open. A couple of pool tables, your standard allotment of 6 video poker machines, booths, tables, a fair amount of TVs and an outside seating area for smokers. Breakfast (eggs benedict for me, eggs over w/ bacon for wife) was plentiful and ok. Not great, a little bland-ish perhaps, but ok. The breakfast menu is large and they serve it all day, except for the benedict, biscuits & gravy and one other....those stop at 1p. The "just ok" bref is keeping me from giving this 4 stars......hope Nite Hawk reads their Yelp reviews. A gentleman who was prolly the owner made a couple of passes to see how we were doing, and seem genuinely appreciative when I told him it was our first visit. We will certainly stop by the Nite Hawk for a weekend breakfast again!!!
(3)Stephen W.
The food is great! (although they only serve until 8pm). The drinks are strong and the prices are reasonable. The servers, especially Stephanie and Alex, are super-friendly and attentive. I recommend this place to anyone looking for good food, good drink, and good service for a good value.
(5)Adria W.
When we arrived today before the drive back to Seattle, we were oddly greeted by the server. We couldn't understand his jokes and awkward comments. We decided to order drinks. The bloody marys were delicious and on the stronger side.
(3)