We only had one beer here. We walked right in, walked to the middle of the bar, got the bartenders attention, ordered 2 beers, paid and sat outside to drink. I saw a group of girls foaming at the mouth they weren't served first. Clearly this is a bar where you have to position yourself and make eye contact to get attention and flash your pearly whites in the dark. Our service was fast, my beer was tasty. It was loud, the crowd seemed sort of "frat-y" but whatever. We took our beers outside to enjoy the warm nighttime weather and to people watch and we enjoyed ourselves. We did not eat anything, or have a 2nd drink only because we wanted to try out as many spots as possible. The River Pig seems like its smack dab in the middle of everything and the outside seating is a huge plus :)
(4)
Gregory M.
My experience at River Pig Saloon was eh okay... I was looking for a place that was playing the Broncos at Chiefs football game on Thursday. I yelped and being in the Pearl I found River Pig near by. Mmmm... I really wanted a good sports bar to relax and have fun and watch the game. As being new to Portland I already tried On Deck Sports and am trying to try new places. River Pig was playing the game they have a few tv's and all seem modern, but they were playing funk music. It totally killed the vibe. As previous yelpers have mentioned the place was not really that busy a few people at the bar, but not busy by any means. I think if I didn't say anything to the bartender I would still just be sitting there. I felt like the employee. It completely lacked life of any kind. I could see as RPS is a casual type bar that on another experience it may be different and possibly could be rated 4-5 stars by some. Food: Not bad I'd say 4 stars. I had the Pulled Pork sandwich with curly fries pretty good, but standard nothing that made me say wow and the bread would be 2-3 stars kinda dry. Drinks: After trying to nudge the bartender in what drinks they have I would have ordered the Pear cider on draft but it was not close to cold :( I settled for can apple cider Service; Wow. Something was going on maybe it was just that day or that particular bartender, but it was a really somber feel in there for sure. I was trying to eat fast to bail. Overall: They didn't play the sound to the game until almost half time. Really somber bartender. Warm Pear cider. Dry bread. But the place has potential to be a nice relaxing environment. I don't plan on being back as there are so many places in Portland to check out.
(3)
Anthony K.
Came in here on a wednesday night of christmas week. Service= good Drink options and creativity = good food= Burger was delicious, mouth watering Great place to visit if you want to just go in, grab a bite, not worry about a stuffy posh atmosphere. Catch a local came on the t.v. if you want and enjoy it with one of their many tasty menu options and delicoius drinks. Props to one of their employees. It was pouring rain when I left and he offered me an umbrella so I could run the 6 blocks to my car to come back for my party. Nice gesture!
(4)
Carl S.
I've been to River Pig twice, and both experiences were less than great. On the first occasion, a group of friends and I came for our last Brewcycle stop (it was my girlfriend's birthday). Once we got in and ordered drinks, the bartender refused to serve me, because he thought my valid, government-issued New York drivers license was suspicious, for whatever reason. He then went over to all of the other bartenders, pointed at me, and instructed them not to serve me. This despite the fact that we had all just gotten off of a vehicle designed to take us to bars. We gave it another try a few months later for an early dinner, but despite being one of the only groups in the restaurant, struggled to have our orders taken - and on top of that, the waitress got one of the orders completely incorrect. On the occasions I've actually managed to order a drink and receive food, it was fine - but there are lots of other options for good food and drink in this area, along with competent, friendly service.
(2)
Jessica E.
My boyfriend and I were looking for a place to watch the Niners game and saw River Pig Saloon post an Instagram picture promoting the game. We decided to go there since it seemed like a 49er friendly bar in a town full of primarily Seahawks fan. We got there right as the game was starting and the bar was full of Niner fans. We couldn't find a spot for us but one of the owners Ramsey approached us and told us this is a Niners bar larger tables with empty spots won't have a problem sharing their empty seats. We found a spot right in front of their projector screen and were soon greeted by the waitress. We got our drinks and food right away and we were having a great time. The Niners scored and were given a free Niner back (whiskey and a spicy pickle back)! We had a great time at River Pig Saloon! Food, drinks & service were awesome! We will definitely be back!
(5)
Kathleen F.
Other than the piano on the wall and the fact that their chicken "wings" are actually drumsticks, this pearl location's beer selection is nothing to write home about. We happened to go after the craft brewer's festival beer machine event looking for some tasty beer and the only offering that came close was the Maui brewing Coconut Porter. Sorry river pig saloon....beer selection is importland!
(3)
Nick S.
Bartender didn't switch the TV to the blazer game because he was watching xgames. no one else was watching xgames. edit: He ended up switching it.
(5)
Jolie D.
Updating my one star review with some good news: I went here last night to give it another chance. Since my initial one star review, the business owner reached out to apologize, and then follow up again to let me know that there's been a change in staff. My friends and I sat on the patio and had a great time, the wait staff were super friendly and attentive, nachos were delicious (we ordered a second one), and the beer list was excellent. I am happy to go back, and appreciative of the business owner for stepping up his game by employing better staff members! Thank you!
Cool layout and engaging bartenders. They have a really nice whiskey selection and several good beers on tap. The place is not at all stuffy or pretentious. The food portions (nachos and burgers) are generous in size. They have a multiple TVs including a large projector TV in the back. We ended up circling back to River Pig after we tried and failed to watch the Blazer game at a few other places in the area (the other bars didn't have the game on). The whiskey selection that is actually quite good ranges in price from $7-14. The one downside is they only have one bathroom and on a busy night you are standing inline.
(5)
Katie R.
I have never been inside the bar for more time than it takes to use the bathroom, and during my limited visit indoors, I observed very little because it's incredibly dark. There are stuffed animal heads on the wall wearing comically oversized medallion gold chains, think Run DMC circa 1986. There are projection screens, presumably for sporting events. I can imagine this is a different bar when a game is on. So, you may be wondering how I am enjoying this establishment if I don't even enter it. Oh, my, let me lay it on ya. Hitting up the River Pig and finding a stool on the loading dock is where it's at. It's your own little perch on which you will enjoy people-watching first and foremost, but also Portland's Finest Bowl, a Pickle Back, and the stiffest drinks this side of the river. The Portland Bowl is the epitome of a good warm weather meal. It's light and packed full of flavor. It's the right amount of perfectly healthy food to curb your appetite for something tasty while simultaneously allowing you to consume more booze calories guilt free. Which is good, because the barkeeps here really do sling stiffies. As for the Pickle Back. It's yum. Trust me. I am a pickle fan. I am an even bigger whiskey fan. Combined, the two develop an almost super power. Delish.
(4)
更好
Beer is good. Very strange service at the bar. 1. They dump a pitcher of water on the bar top and expect you to pour it yourself. 2. They take a credit card to "start a tab" before serving you food. Seems a bit paranoid. Beer tastes good though.
(2)
Karinne C.
Great food. Great service! Try the Oregon's Finest Bowl - it was amazing and vegetarian! The owner spent some time with us chatting and making sure we were happy I will definitely be back.
(5)
Mark M.
First time at the River Pig. Would definitely come back. Located in the heart of the Pearl on 13th street, River Pig is a casual bar with a great beer selection and very good food, with indoor seating to permit sports themed television and outdoor seating if you prefer a more casual seating arrangement. The Saloon Bison Burger was very good, and served with a nice aioli, cheese (I opted for cheddar), pickles, tomato, onion, and two strips of bacon. Add fries for $2 and a side salad for another $5, and you've got a huge but excellent meal at a very reasonable price. Many different beer options, and I chose the excellent River Pig Lager and was definitely not disappointed. Seating is inside or, on a beautiful Portland summer evening, out front on one of 13th street's elevated walkways away from traffic. We chose the Pig because we had our mentally unstable dog who cannot be left home, and this was an al fresco dining option that accommodated the dog--and, it turns out, so much more.
(4)
Sabrina M.
Visited here on a little Staycation and absolutely loved it! Dare I say their mac and cheese is up there with The Screen Door?? We also ordered the bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers and the bacon was cooked perfectly, nice and crispy! The service was quick and the drinks were good. They also have a projector and a few other TV's located throughout the bar. I will definitely return.
We were headed to a nearby restaurant and decided to give this place a try instead. So glad we did! Small spot - but great at lunch. Unique atmosphere and lots of beers on tap. We ordered the fried mac n cheese for an appetizer. These were sooooo good! Highly recommend. For lunch, hubs ordered the Cubano Grilled Cheese sandwich. I ordered the river pig nachos (no meat). The portion of nachos is LARGE - we could have easily split them. Really good food. Will be back!
(5)
Frankie D.
One of my favorite bars in downtown ! This bar has amazing decor and limited seating ! This place fills up fast because it's GOOD! Highly recommend ordering the Daily Punch ! It never disappoints ! Its 5 bucks and packs a punch ! The bee sting and spicy margarita are my second favs ! The drinks are very small but pack a large punch!! You can't forget the fried pickle chips and the parm fries !! They come in huge baskets and are great to share with friends as you sit drink and enjoy the music !
(5)
Stacy S.
Cool little place. We sat out on the loading dock, and after we ordered our drinks, we waited about 20 minutes before asking about their whereabouts. Apparently the server had forgotten to put our drink order in. She was very nice and apologetic about it, but it still made us sad. The drinks were fine, and most of them seemed pretty unique. I got the California Widow, which was really fresh and light, but it almost tasted totally watered down. My friend got the Rig Pig Old-Fashioned, and she said it was just ok. To top it off, our server gave my debit card and receipt to some other couple. Good thing they didn't steal my card. Not sure I'd come here again, but it was a nice visit.
(2)
Roger M.
DON'T PANIC, IT'S ORGANIC--Buffalo burger! Went back for the Organic Buffalo burger, the size of Texas! So big & thick, It barley fit in my hand, definitely a 2-hander. But don't panic, it's organic! Enjoy every bite of scrumptious lean buffalo topped with generous portions of bacon, cheddar, chopped, grilled onion, lettuce and tomato--along with friendly service and the Stanley cup finals on the big projection screen! There's lots to choose from in the Pearl, but I will keep this place on the list as one of my Pearl favorite's.
(5)
M D.
We came here on a Wednesday night around 7:00. We had looked up the menu online and it sounded great along with high reviews via Yelpers. We got seated quickly. Service: It started out ok. My boyfriend felt the bartender wasn't warm or welcoming, but hey we get it you're busy and have a lot going on. Our waitress was cordial and asked us if we wanted anything to drink. I asked her about the ciders they had and she listed two. When I asked whether they were dry or sweet she fumbled with her answers and basically had no idea. She said, "I..uh...think it's sweet. Yeah. You want one?" I said no, because I couldn't trust she knew what she was talking about. As the night went on the service was really slow. Any refills or questions we had were a hassle. To get our check we waited a solid 20 min. She did apologize for the wait. Food: This was really disappointing because their menu had just changed and they had not taken down their old menu from the website. So everything we wanted and that had enticed us to come was no longer available. My boyfriend got the bison burger and I got the Reuben. I found the Reuben to be really salty and not have enough kraut. He enjoyed his burger. I subbed the garlic/Rosemary curly fries and found them to be flavorless. And they don't even offer desserts. Ambiance: this big place only has one single bathroom for a relatively large bar. When we left my boyfriend went to use it and there was a line. The decor is ok and they have cute water vessels that look like old liquor bottles and they show Timbers games. Overall, not happy with this place at all. Wouldn't come back.
(2)
Laura C.
I think this is the kind of place best suited for guys to drink beer and watch the game. Or anyone to drink beer and watch the game, for that matter (namely, me). While I did like the layout and southern theme, the bacon wrapped jalapeno and cheese sausage dog came on a bun that only a hippo could wrap their mouth around (like the size and shape of a childs football). I tried, and failed; making a big mess. The fries were smothered in a baked-on cheese that wouldn't stay on the fries but ended up at the bottom of the basket. That was also a fail..but both were tasty. You just had to use a fork - and who wants to use a fork for a hot dog and fries?? That's like using a fork to eat a slice of pizza! The vodka, ginger, cranberry punch was yummy...but the glass was so small, you could down it in 2 sips. However, I found it charming that each round of my friends' vodka sodas came in a different style of glass (low ball, mason jar and Chicago highball). It was nostalgic and flooded me with memories of all my friends' 1st apartments and their mismatched dishware. My friend devoured her chicken wings and salad, so I'm guessing they were very tasty. The brick decor inside has a Southern charm I can really appreciate, and the wood tables reminded me of grandma's house. The only problem was that the lighting was so dim, my friend and I had trouble reading the menu and had to use the flashlights on our phones. Our server was friendly and very on the ball and did not charge me full price for my 2nd punch, even though happy hour ended a few minutes prior. That says a lot, because I hate sticklers to rules. I can see myself coming back here for another Blazer game. Next time though, I am getting the burger, and asking in advance if the bun is similar in size to the burger patty. If not, I'm ordering the wings.
(3)
Kailes B.
This place is pretty cool. I would recommend going with a group of buddies or something because solo could be pretty awko taco. They have a drink that I love called the California widow? (That could be totally wrong, but widow is in the name!) It is super tasty, not too sweet and really fresh. I've gotten their fish & chips before which were solid, and their chicken strips were awesome too. Curly fries are served with both and they're so crispy and tasty I would eat them every day if that didn't kill me. The bar has a good vibe, nice ambiance and pretty attentive staff. I got better service from the female bartenders/cocktail waitresses when I went there on a double date rather than when I went just with my sister, but thats expected and really not a huge deal at all! If you're ever hanging out in the Pearl, check this place out!
(5)
Jeff W.
I feel like a lot of people don't give this place a chance because their tables look like they are from the 90s....Well, I gave them a chance and I'm glad I did! The Aces Over Eight is the best drink I've had in a long time! Rye, Lemon, Black Tea, and Sugar make the perfect drink on a hot PNW day. The bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers are unreal, and the Mac and Cheese is my new PDX favorite. Five stars because I will definitely be back, and I will tell all my friends. This is a must when you are in the Pearl.
(5)
Jessica N.
Came here for dinner and a drink on a non-game day. Was a nice dive. Had the chopped salad which was tasty and good enough. Hubs got the bison burger which he raved about but portion seemed on the small side. Good casual go-to, would be curious to check it out again on a game day.
(3)
Carleigh H.
Stopped in for a drink that was decent. I wouldn't rush back though. Our waitress was pretty slow. Could have been an off night.
(3)
Woo K.
Stumbled upon here on accident after first Thursday in the pearl, and I had a surprisingly good time. This bar is basically.... just a bar! But what more do you need? We sat down at the bar and got some shots and watched some football, and in the process I made a couple of new bar friends who were friendly and easy to chat with. It feels like your friendly neighborhood bar where you can just go to without any expectations and feel fulfilled regardless. I'll def be back again soon!
(4)
Damian S.
So, something's changed here. The food isn't as good and the atmosphere isn't as welcoming. New manager trying to keep costs down? The last couple of times we've come we have not been impressed. The differences are small, but noticeable: The bun on the bison burger is not a brioche bun anymore (and as it says on the menu) but a crappy store bought sesame bun The chicken on the nachos tastes like it comes from a can They don't sell Mexican coke in bottles anymore, just US soda in cans They aggressively ID and ask to hold on to your credit card as soon as you sit down The staff are not as happy as they used to be and seem tired, cranky and get orders wrong. Overall it's still not bad, it's just nowhere near as good as it used to be. It's a shame, because the food used to be great. And the atmosphere was good too.
(3)
Terence B.
If you're visiting town or just looking for Portland's next hotspot check out the River Pig Saloon before everyone knows about it! A few months ago I went adventuring through an old, but familiar neighborhood in Portland. I wasn't surprised to find a new bar had opened on 13th, but was more surprised at what kind of bar had opened here in the Pearl. The River Pig Saloon pays homage to the history of the Pearl district unlike some of the other upscale restaurants in the Pearl. Nothing about the place is upscale except the service, food and beer selection, and comfort of the River Pig. So wear your favorite team's jersey, stop in after the gym, wear your flip-flops. It has a vast diversity of beer on tap as well as some Montucky in the cooler ;) The food is seasoned and tastebud worthy for the burger loving, taco eating, or salad pickin alike. The River Pig also has a delicious selection of whiskeys and other spirits in plane view of it's amazingly huge bar! Pros: Beer Selection, Food diversity, Friendly Staff, Parking, Timbers, Ducks, Football viewing, and Shadi's beautiful personality. Cons: Widen Fucking Kennedy (inside joke), bathrooms...
(5)
Shirley M.
Love this concept, it is eclectic and comfortable! I was in a couple weeks ago and the place was alive! The servers were a bit pretentious and non attentive however. I don't like to be treated like I am putting someone out because they have to serve me...one girl just disappeared! But there was a hero--he was cooking the food, serving the food, and cleaning up tables....all while smiling! The food is great...the prices are very inexpensive so my expectations were low, but I was HUGELY surprised! The bison burger is the best I have ever had and we loved the jalapeño poppers (they were wrapped in bacon!) Our food order was out within minutes (hand delivered by the cook). The drink service was not as positive--but to be fair the establishment was busy. Maybe the cook should give the servers lessons about customer service--he saved our experience and because of him we will be back!
(4)
Kasey K.
This is one of my favorite places for happy hour in the pearl - perfect for a laid back happy hour with your coworkers or friends! And they have a reverse happy hour, aka late night happy hour, what could be better? The food is awesome! I love the quesadilla, adding meat makes it even better, and the curly fries are to die for! I can never say no to a BoomTown Mule, basically a Moscow Mule with rum instead of vodka. And they make a mean old fashioned. Whatever you get, can't really go wrong.
(5)
Pepper P.
The happy hour is off the hook. Try those tacos. Good beer selection, and my bar service was perfect. I wasn't going to stop here actually and now I'm super glad I did!! So coming back to this hip, casual, comfortable new favorite. Aaaah.
(4)
Scott U.
Probably the best place in town to watch Ducks games besides your couch. Nice place with big screens. Good bar fare, better than McMenamins anyway. If you need a place to watch the Ducks do their thing on the the football field, this is it.
(4)
Jeff C.
I ordered the pulled pork and was mistakenly given the fried chicken sandwich. WOW! It was amazing. Great service, bartender (Alonna) was very thoughtful and attentive. My new favorite pub in the Pearl.
(5)
Elissa S.
3.5 stars rounds up to 4. On my recent trip to Portland I wanted to find a chill sports bar to watch Sunday football and Yelp led me to River Pig. There are 3 LCD TV's and one huge projector showing the main game. However, for a sports bar, I think you need more TV's to show more of the football games--my game of choice wasn't being shown :( Granted, they were playing NFL redzone on one of the TVs so I could get highlights of my game, but in the end I really just wanted to watch my team and all the other TV's were showing other games. Besides the TV drama, River Pig has a great selection of local brews and whiskeys. I also had a corned beef hash where the hash was actually made with curly fries YUMMMM. Servers were really nice and pretty attentive.
(4)
R D.
A shot of whisky followed by a pickled juice chaser!! It will def. make your mouth go crazy! Drumstick was a litttle overcooked but the rub was good.. oh and their quinoa salad was good! Who would think about having salad in a bar?!
(4)
Don B.
River Pig Saloon is... a... um... bar. I can't really put my finger on what exactly the concept is here. On the one hand, the cocktails are tasty and almost craft. The atmosphere is anything but. There are some TV's but not really enough to call it a sports bar. The walls speak to almost a lounge feel but the collection of mismatched heavy oak furniture harkens to a 1980's college bar or something. And the food? It's sort of up-jumped sports bar food. It's as if they took a few playbooks, shuffled the pages and picked a few at random. We stopped in on a Saturday night for drinks and food, and I sampled the nachos and the mac n cheese, as well as a few cocktails and a pickle back (a clever addition to the dessert menu). Unlike what's stated by the other reviews, the service here was plenty fine - friendly and there when we needed them. Why would I come back here? Maybe for a sports game that's of a singular nature (like World Cup or a Blazer's game). But probably not for NCAA football or NFL, since there are always multiple games on, and the way the TV's are positioned here you can only really see one at a time depending on where you're sitting. For cocktails and food? Well, the drinks are good but it doesn't have kind of vibe I'm usually looking for when I'm sipping manhattans. And the food alone is not a draw. Anyway, it's an interesting addition to the area. Not a destination bar for me, but a handy spot to pop in to catch a game on TV or similar. And as far as normal sports-bar food goes, this is definitely better.
(3)
In B.
what an awesome place to meet some awesome folks in a awesome atmosphere!!! we walked in not knowing what to expect. we wanted some grub so we sat ourselves and started looking at the menu.. no waitress/er to be found cause they were so packed! we didnt mind cause it seemed like everyone was having a good time. we finally ordered food n drinks. ( awesome tacos btw) after we inhaled our food we got up and started mingling with folks around the bar area. everyone was so friendly! it was such a pleasant portland experice!!
(4)
Christine Y.
First time coming here... It was chilly So I came to wet my willy I was acting kinda silly So I ordered the fried dilly And the brocadilli I left feeling like a milli
(4)
Dana D.
Wandering about northwest (an area I typically avoid as an east sider) on rose bowl sunday, my boyfriend found this smart brick and wood haven. We cruised in and voila! A prime table in front of a huge wall sized screen (that was still perfectly high def). There were plenty of tvs and any seat would have been quite suitable. Next up; delicious choices of bourbons and some fun cocktails to wet your whistle. Not a ton of draft beer choices but a very good stout and a couple of IPAs. The nachos were pretty decent with very small black beans which were perfect for me as I don't like the big huge ones. Other fare included some healthy salads: Classic mixed greens or a kale, as well as a bison burger, fish and chips and even a high end bacon wrapped jalapeño dog! Yum! Already looking forward to making another trip across the river!
(5)
Chris C.
It's a nice bar in a nice area. I went for a Warriors playoff game so everybody was excited and in a good mood. Be careful going during prime time and it can get packed.
(4)
Jason M.
Go for the River Pig Old Fashioned. Go for the Buffalo Burger. Stay for the vibe. Finally a friendly neighborhood bar amongst the Pearl District. Good music, good service and a Cask tap.
(5)
Jeremy L.
Here's the thing... I'm from Montana. I been to a hundred places like this, only they weren't decorated this way to be kitschy or ironic, it was actually because they were western, and that was their taste. That said, I sort of like what they've done with the place. It's kind of a little country escape right in the middle of the Pearl. But.... I'd seen this place advertised as a great happy hour place, and sort of the Pearl's answer to a blue collar bar. If that's the case, what's up with the $5 beers? There are a couple happy hour special, but I think it was a PBR and a shot, or something. If you're grabbing a drink for happy hour, you've got great specials at Tilt, and you did have another great option at the Mellow Mushroom (RIP). Beer options were few, but interesting. Didn't try the food. The workers were wearing so much plaid it was like a lumberjack convention, but whatever. Cool enough place, but I just don't get quite why I'd need to go back, given all the other options downtown.
(2)
Cola V.
This is a cool little bar that is right in the heart of the Pearl's 13th ave stretch. The ambiance is retro cabin/saloon/sports bar chic, with an animal head and old piano hanging from the walls. Food was excellent - I had the NW bowl that was huge and filled with great veggies. There are a few TV's scattered around and could see this being a dude's hang out spot for sure, just missing the pool table, but they make up for that with a bowl of special punch...who doesn't love the punchbowl trend right now?
(3)
Marianne S.
I had read somewhere that this place had the best nachos in town, so I was very excited to try it! I met a friend here for happy hour the other day and we had the house punch, which was delicious and split the happy hour nachos. For only five dollars, these nachos were divine. I would have even been satisfied paying closer to $10. They didn't lack in toppings and they were piled high! It seemed like there was a creamy sauce on them that I hadn't gotten on nachos before, but it was definitely to my liking. I really like the atmosphere of the place, kind of a wood cabin type feeling and some of the tables were big barrels which I really liked. They had TVS and one of the was huge in the back of the bar. The sound on the TVS was even on, which I like when you are out watching a game. It was packed with people watching the World Series. Service was great as well! I'll be back for more of your delicious nachos, River Pig!
(5)
Amanda K.
I like the space, for sure. I like the theme (duh, I am a lumberjack by birthwright). However, I wasn't impressed by the food and it was ultimately the service from our bartenders that was annoying. They both looked bored. Is that a requirement for bartenders in the Pearl? I have noticed it's either a trend or standing requirement in this area, when it comes to the service industry. And there is a total difference between being professional and just being bored. It's possible to be a great host/hostess with a personality, and still be professional! Speaking from direct experience. I'll be back, because I know people who work in the Gatsby building, so i'll be giving it another chance. I will give them bonus points for wearing plaid and for showing sports on the TVs; both of those are A-OK by me.
(3)
Alane U.
Went here for the first time last night. I wasn't really impressed when I walked in (I'm not big on crowded/noisy bars), but I ended up liking the place! The food and drinks were very good and the food portions were generous. Much larger than I was expecting for the price. Although it was too loud, it was a lot quieter than a lot of bars on a Friday night. I would go here again.
(3)
Valerie W.
River Pig is a great new addition to the Pearl. But does anyone know what an actual River Pig is?? Please discuss... Upon entering you are taken back to a Western-esque/Portland saloon vibe. Wood all around. Animal heads adorn the walls. Large bar set in the middle with some great whiskey and local brews on tap. It's also a great place to stop in and watch the game. Oddly enough there's a plasma situated in between the legs of an old piano...clever! There's also a TV above the bar, projector screen...plenty of space! I first tried the RP Old Fashioned...and it was damn tasty. I savored every sip of that drink. Next I ordered the Breakside Hef and that too was delightful. As far as food goes they had some great options. For $4 I got a basket of yummy parm curly fries. My brother ordered a chicken sandwich which I took a bite of. Juicy and nicely grilled chicken with all the fixens. I will say that prices can be a bit expensive but all in all OK. It is the Pearl after all. Staff is great and will check on you often. Overall had a great experience and can't wait to come back and check out HH!
(4)
Michael G.
Came back and they were very nice and the food was awesome!
(5)
Emiko J.
Good food but horrible staff.... Walked in and saw the entire staff talking among themselves maybe because there was only 2 tables of customers in the place , so my husband walked up to the bar to order. We then sat ourselves and my husband had to go and grab us water. The had the hotdog which was really good! The first time we saw our waitress as when she delivered our food. She then went to service the table next to us on numerous occasions -maybe puppy love? (who happens to be part of the staff on their day off), at this time we were done with our drinks and food. We saw the waitress go to the table next to us 6 times and while she was there talking to the guy she announced how she gets really get tips here! Absolutely shocked! While she was saying that my husband had to go back to the bar to order us our second round of drinks and explained to the bartender what happened and not to share the tips..... On the fence of we will be back or next time just sit at the bar
(2)
Ramie M.
I'm marking this 4 of 5, not because I'm actually "a fan" but because I am putting aside my bias for the review. It is a nice location with parking right across the street. Good selection of beers, wines, and other mixed drinks available at what I feel are reasonable prices for the area. The menu looked tasty and the prices also reasonable, but I did not eat here so I cannot comment on flavor. The overall ambiance was lively while I was there and there was live music (Josiah Leming) which was nice. There was plenty of seating available despite the crowd, so no issues there. If you're looking for a good, reasonably priced bar in this area, this place seems to fit the bill. Lots of good food options in the area within walking distance as well.
(4)
John B.
Very solid bar! Food was solid drinks were solid I would go back! Its a neighborhood bar! I really enjoyed it
(4)
Raman G.
This is exactly the kind of Bar that the Pearl/Brewery Blocks need. Not fancy and not expensive yet the food and service is stellar! Ownership is excellent as well. Always friendly and will actually take the time out and sit with and shoot the $h!t with you. $5 Pints and did I mention the food? My favorite item is the Oregon Finest Bowl. It's a salad and I am by far the last person who would say this. But an amazing salad. I don't think I have had bad food here yet. Oh yeah the wings...more like half a chicken with the sizes of them. All cocktails are made with precision as well. If your looking to catch a game or have a few drinks with friends or even bring the co-workers here, you will not be disappointed. Must try!
(5)
Jenny S.
Guys, it doesn't get any better than this place for quality food and a casual and enjoyable atmosphere. I love the servers, and the food is aaaaaaahmazing. My favorite item on the menu has to be he tacos. Seriously good and you don't miss the meat! Honestly- we added pork to them recently and thought the veggie version was better. I've been back 3 or 4 times and am finding it to be one of my favorite haunts in the pearl.
(5)
Katie W.
Twice in one week! I would go every night if I could! Great food, good drinks and the service is exceptional. I encourage everyone to order something with the bacon or at least order it as a side. The Cool Hand Luke is made perfectly, as well as the Old Fashioned. This is a go-to spot. The menu changes frequently which keeps it new, fresh and fun!
(5)
Aaron R.
This place was perfect for a relaxing Sunday afternoon. Laid back atmosphere, casual yet quirky interior (perhaps a bit dark in the back), and good service. We had the fish and chips, which was perfectly good but not exceptional, and the philly steak sandwich which was really, really good. The beer and whiskey selection was good, too. I'd agree with the prior reviews that this place doesn't fit into a particular genre, but that's just fine -- it's laid back, inviting, and a great low-key place that stands out in the Pearl for being just a normal, relaxing place.
(4)
Jenna L.
River Pig is the best in the West in my humble opinion. It's tough to find a sports bar that truly values delicious whisk[e]y and beer, and they've definitely elevated my knowledge of both. I love that they feature local, little-known companies, and I've never left disappointed. If you've looking for classic bar food, try their nachos. The combination of cheeses in the sauce is the best I've found so far. Their staff is the best. No pretentious Portland-ers here, (if such a thing exists?) they just want you to have the best time and will go out of their way to make this happen. Ask them questions. They know their products super well and if you tell them a little bit about what you like, they'll have the drink for you. Bonus points for the decor and environment. I've never seen the Oregon Ducks lose in this house, so it must be good luck :-) Thank you River Pig for many of the best nights (I'll never remember) with the best staff (I'll never forget).
(5)
Kelsey S.
Excited to find another "go-to" spot in this neighborhood. One of the pros & cons about this area is how early restaurants tend to close down at night. Fortunately the River Pig is open late, has great food (the Mac n Cheese is a must try) and the customer service is phenomenal. If you haven't already, I recommend that you check this place out!! Note: this is a great spot to hang out and watch a sports game with friends too!! Enjoy!!
(5)
Kitty N.
Noon on a Friday and after being ignored by the bartender for quite some time he begrudgingly asked my group what they would like to drink. I do not drink alcohol, ever. Makes me terribly sick. I asked if they had iced tea. The bartender snapped a put-off "no" to me and walked away without taking drink orders from the others I was with. When he swung back by our end of the bar counter a bit later I asked him for a glass of water which was going to be followed by my friends ordering beers. He sighed, big, at my request for some lousy H2O and paired the sigh with an aggravated eye roll. He proceeded to ignore the rest of my group yet again and walked away from us. I was baffled. We got up and left and won't ever be returning. I'm disappointed because I was looking forward to a new place in the neighborhood. Food looked great. We were going to order lunch and my friends were looking forward to drinks, not water, but alcohol, however the bartender never gave us the chance.
(1)
Ethan B.
Wow, what a great bar. My friends and I visited it on the way to the premier of the movie "Wild" and were quite impressed with the food and atmosphere. It has a really great, local, fun with friends feel for the pearl. The big screen TV and emphasis on outdoors sports was something special, as well. Highly recommended!
(5)
Larry A.
Ended up Bar Pig tonight after putting our name in at Andina's - which was a 1.5 hour wait and no bar seating available, so we asked the hostess for a place nearby. To our pleasant surprise - my sister, friend and I ended up staying at Bar Pig and canceling our res since we had such a good time. It reminded me of a saloon/bar in Colorado/Montana. Chill atmosphere, very cool lounge, great cocktails/drinks, and the bartenders were the best! I would say they were more attentive than any place I've been in awhile, and definitely didn't hurt that the bartenders were cute :-) I will definitely be back!
(5)
John D.
Came by for some Sunday football and food. This place was recommended by a local friend who works nearby. For one, the neighborhood of the Pearl District is awesome. Two, the food and drinks here were exceptional. We tried the bison burger and the pork tacos. Both were awesome! We also got their delicious curly fries which did not disappoint. Strongly recommend this place for sports or just for food and drinks!
(5)
Adeeb H.
Great place to hang out and try what happens to be on tap at the time. Always good new beers to try. Food is super tasty and the best value I found while in Portland.
(5)
Katya Z.
Amazing, Ramz's Chicken Sandwich! Beer list OMG. Can't wait to go back. Perfect place to watch a game, nothing like other places in the pearl...no snooty elitist attitudes at this bar.
(5)
Spenser T.
Typical Portland hipster bitch server. Good beer list and great environment.
(3)
Rebecca D.
My boyfriend and I were wondering around the pearl district, wanting to eat but unwilling to hunt our own table. We had gone to a few places before heading to the saloon, but they were too crowded, too yipster, too communal for our taste. The River Pig Saloon was perfect. Not crowded, but not empty. Nice selection of tapped beer. Delicious food. Friendly service. We were happy we found this spot.
(5)
Jaffer K.
The bartender was a rude, sarcastic, douche. After waiting a while sitting at the bar table, he finally asks me if I want a drink, I told him I want fish & chips, he replies "I asked you if you wanted a drink" (wow)...I told him I just want food for now (should have walked away at that point). Nothing special about the fish & chips, which was very dry. Another thing that I witnessed happen was that a very young group walked in (barely 21) and one of the guys tries to order a corona. The same douche bartender replied in a rude tone that we don't have corona, only local microbrew. He was very rude to that group. The service here is very slow and unfriendly. After eating the dry fish & chips I wasn't feeling "cool enough" for their "craft" microbrews.
(2)
Addie J.
Some of these reviews, man... Not sure why anyone would seriously have a problem with what the staff is wearing. IT'S PLAID. GET OVER IT. *suggestive wanking motion* First of all, The Pearl is one of the corniest sell-outs to ever happen to Portland. Second and most importantly, River Pig is one of the best things to happen to this fu-fu fancy-pants district. I couldn't be more elated to have somewhere nearby to go decompress after an arduous work day, sans panty-dropper martinis and men who wreak of Davidoff Cool Water. River Pig has been open for about a month now, and I'm glad to see that every single night since opening has been booming. I have yet to experience remotely snooty service, and I f***ing like plaid okay?! So anyone who has anything to say about the staple Portland pattern-way can STFU and GTFO. Also, to anyone who has mess to talk about the noise level: IT'S A BAR, NOT A LIBRARY. Jesus H., some people... I was hushed whilst walking around bars in the Pearl once and I'm saddened to watch my hometown become more and more entitled. But I digress... The staff is beyond great. They humor AND satisfy my half-kidding requests when it comes to "cheese vs. nacho cheese" on my beloved nacho platter, and they're actually pretty outstanding when it comes to tolerating the varied Pearl crowd (always worthy of a solid eye-roll and/or face-palm). From the May/December romances, to the aforementioned Davidoff Cool Water-drenched Chads, to the regularly entitled fart-sniffing Portland folk, and to the rest of us humble goons, I see nothing but AWESOME SERVICE. Great food, great staff, and even better prices... Where else can you get an entire drink and food menu at/under $10, let alone in the f***ing Pearl District?!?! To boot, every dish I've allowed to dance on my palate has been nothing short of bomb.com without having to be doused in grease or unbearably bland. Drinks- YUM. Food- YUM. Staff in plaid- YUMMMMMMMMM!!!! Mama likey.
(5)
Erik H.
Good addition to the Pearl. Cool vibe, good food and drinks. However, service is really spotty. I've been here about five times and each time I experienced different degrees of service. There appears to be both very considerate and very inattentive (almost offensively so) servers. The last two occasions in particular, a group of us left early soley because of the service. I want to like this place a lot and I want to consider it a regular spot, but until the service improves, I cannot.
(2)
Livia M.
Great attentive service. A little too attentive perhaps if anything. Ordered an old fashioned which was strong, but tasty. Wasn't given the option of whiskey however. Other order was a mulled wine which was so strong it took a while to get through. Cool space though in a funky district on the funky street.
(3)
Trevor L.
Stumbled across the River Pig looking for a good place to watch football. I happen to be a 49ers fan from New York, and the '9ers were playing the Giants. So you can imagine my delight when I walk in to find a small army of San Francisco fans! I loved the decor (a flat screen inside an upright piano bolted to the wall, for example) and the beer selection was very respectable. It's a sports bar without the typical sports bar "plastic" feel. Overall a great place to watch the game and have a beer.
(5)
Diana L.
BEWARE: This is a 49ers based bar. Seemed like a pretty sweet bar to catch a beer and watch the football game at. We asked if they were going to play the Seahawks and the server said that they would put it on, on one of the TV's. There were people in front of us who wanted to watch the Seahawks too. I believe that it was the owner of the bar who came up to the designated TV for the game and watched the 49ers for 10+ minutes before he put the requested game on. What a waist of time. I thought sports bars played all games and weren't so snarky about a particular team. The couple in front of us left to watch the game else where and so did we. I cant believe the owners runs his bar like this. I would of given 1 star, but our waiter was so nice I had to give 2. I work a couple of blocks away from this place and know that I i will never go back.
(2)
Cristina V.
Our good friend met us here for drinks while we were on vacation in Portland. She recommended this bar specifically for the amazing drinks. Our bartender even made us some craft drinks that were extra tasty.
(5)
Ryan M.
I love this place! Great vibe and cool atmosphere - not pretentious at all. Beer selection is limited (which is the reason for 4 stars) but what they have is high quality brews at only $5. They also have some cans of "lowbrow" beer one can order for a few bucks (Iron City, Old German). Where they really shine is the rotating whiskey selection. Food is solid, service has been very good. It's a large enough space too that it hasn't been overly crowded when I've been there, and that includes Saturday nights. In a short time it's become a go-to for me in the Pearl.
(4)
Crystal B.
This was a great find in NW Portland. Big screen football and really good food. Four of us ate and four of us were quite happy with our choices. Also had the daily "punch" which was really good!
(4)
Vigor L.
Came here for a drink while in town for vacation. Had great happy hour food and drinks. Nachos and fries were really good for price. Waiter definitely made experience unbearable. He was not friendly and was extremely short with our party of eight.
(3)
Amanda M.
Not too excited about this place, the server was very nice but it took SO long to get food . I got the watermelon salad that was so overdressed it was inedible. But cool ambiance.
(2)
Chris K.
Great new watering hole in the pearl. I end up in the neighborhood, a few days a week, to pick my ole lady up from work. With tons of coffee, restaurant, and lounge options I continue to find myself here, sitting comfortably at the bar, enjoying a delicious Laurelwood Workhorse(which they have on tap). I don't understand the complaints about service. You'll run into the same issues here you'd run into any other establishment with the same MO as RPS. Though I will admit I was a bit puzzled to see one server, working a packed house, having to manage all the tables.
(5)
Ariana G.
Good beers, food, etc. A little pricey, but it is pearl district Portland...excellent happy hour prices though.
(4)
Jane F.
Unlike other spots in the pearl, River Pig is well priced, unpretentious, and trendy without trying too hard. It's the perfect spot to grab a beer after work, catch a sports game, or hit up on weekends for some nightlife I love the Montana lodge vibe, the whiskey cocktails, the gussied up pub food (try the Oregon's Finest bowl) and the occasional live music Great new find in the pearl--highly recommended
(5)
Jessica C.
Great place to watch a sunday football game. They have lots of TVs and a giant projection screen in the back of the bar. The beer is good (and they have plenty of local selections) and the nachos were awesome!
(4)
Karen G.
Delicious toasted cheese sandwich made with heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella and basil on light but crispy toasted bread drizzled on top with just the right amount of balsamic vinaigrette. Perfect!
(4)
J P.
Let me preface this by saying I NEVER write reviews and tend not to take the ones I read to heart but I feel like it would be a diservice not to share my experience. River Pig painfully falls short on their customer service. I have never (ever) experienced a ruder staff in Portland. I have been twice and thought there was no chance of being treated worse the second time around. They proved me wrong. I honestly thought I could have been on a candid camera show where they were trying to get me to react to how awful the staff was treating our group. This bar has so much potential and thought it would have an undouchy vibe that some other bars in the area tend to have. Unfortunately for River Pig, the only unpleasant people in the bar are the waitstaff. Great customer service goes a very long way and obviously the staff does not value a good experience for their patrons. The owner's best bet to make it long term is to fire the whole staff and start over. I will never spend another dime in this place and will make every effort for my friends and family to do the same.
(1)
Cal T.
Cool vibe, great location, great service and good drinks! Pork Tacos were awesome! Will be back for sure.
(5)
Chris F.
Went in to this new saloon style bar to watch the Blazers. Great vibe, cool mix of people and amazing service. Food and drinks are good and fair price. Ill be back for more.
(5)
Kevin J.
Great selection of drinks and delicious food. Really cool old west saloon ambiance. Concurrent located in a cool restaurant row area of The Pearl. Everything my girlfriend and I got was delicious. Our favorite thing though we're the chicken drumstick appetizers.
(5)
Eric T.
I went to the River Pig Saloon with 3 friends and could not have had a better experience. We went in there for their Bison burger and it blew us all away. Juicy, tender, and overflowing with bacon. The atmosphere was perfect, and the service was great! The owner even came over and hung out with us for a while. Definitely going back!!!!
(5)
Juliette S.
No matter how many great things there may have been with this place, the bartenders were total jerks. I was there for First Thursday and this place was hoppin'. It was the place to be, since it is the new bar on 13th. I will start with the good; there was a waitress that was the only reason we stayed. She saw how rude the bartenders were and convinced me to stay. the fried chick-peas were amazing. it had a fun vibe with the crowd. The bad; the bartenders..... wow. I will say I don't normally have an issue getting a bartender to take my order. But these guys seemed to not want to serve anyone. It was a real issue. I was standing the right of the servers station and when I finally yelled out that I wanted to order, one of the bartenders snapped back that he would serve me when I wasn't in the servers section. I point out that I wasn't I was to the right of it and he walked away! There were some other guys standing nearby to me, they were having the same issue. They grabbed a dude and asked for beers. They got them from that guy, but it turns out that guy was a busser and not allowed to serve. He only served them because they were his friends. I finally decided I was done, and the waitress saw what went down and she said she would love to serve me. The waitress was so nice, and she seemed very aware that the bartenders were jerks. I definitely will not be coming back unless I hear the service is getting better. I have seen this before with the new places in the Pearl, they seem to think they are super special in the beginning and then they realize customers won't come back when you are rude. Oven and Shaker suffered this same situation and go their act together. So disappointing... I was looking forward to this new place. Oh and a note to the owner; why the flannel shirts? It was 90 degrees outside. Maybe the bartenders would be nicer to the customers if they weren't roasting in flannel shirts....
(2)
Hal L.
Don't share your drink with Shadi. His upper lip wafts the essence of old dribbling meat curtains. MONTUCKY!
(5)
casey v.
Perfect place to watch World Cup! Plus some of the friendliest servers I've EVER witnessed in Portland.
(5)
Brad C.
I wouldn't go here go Sunday Football. This place is in Seahawks territory and they refuse to play the game. Three TVs and they play the same game on two of them. Highly disappointing. Poor form.
(2)
Jill L.
Had a party here last night...was perfect. Staff is attentive and professional. Drinks were stellar. Atmosphere is fun and relaxed. Good time had by all.
(5)
Coco N.
Soon after the 49ers made the questionable choice of starting Kaepernick instead of Alex Smith, the River Pig opened. Thankfully that was the only let down for these Bay Area business owners that year. The owners have created equal parts dive bar and saloon with enough Portlandness to keep you coming back. If the owners spent half as much time caring about their fantasy football teams as they do running this joint they probably wouldn't fail season after season. Then again, probably not. Order the drumsticks and a cold Montucky. You won't be sorry.
(5)
Doug B.
We went to River Pig early on a Saturday evening and were pretty much disappointed on all counts. The service was mediocre, the noise level deafening and the food was far below the quality we expected, given the pedigree of the owners. The best that I can say about the items we chose is that they were edible and inexpensive. Hopefully, they're still working out the kinks, but right now there's much room for improvement.
(2)
Christina B.
Came here for drinks with friends. Tried the California Widow and curly fries. The curly fries were delicious and I love that the ketchup is organic. The first couple sips of my drink were great, then I proceeded to knock it over trying to get the ketchup to come out of the bottle. I server asked how full my drink was when she kindly helped clean up my drink all over the table. I knocked off a star because most places if you spill an almost full drink will bring another one to replace it. I would definitely try Pig River, especially for a drink, just don't spill it.
(4)
Richard O.
Unique cocktails with laid back atmosphere. Excellent happy hour in terms of food and beverages. The wings are excellent. Beer selection is quality.
(4)
Norman W.
The River Pig Saloon was my home for much of World Cup 2014. Now, I am moving to NY and wondering what pub will fill the hole n my heart. I am not a huge sports fan normally, but, if you want to relax, have a great beer and some great food and watch a game, I can't imagine a better place to do it. Th guys who run this place are so nice and very attentive. My favorite dish is called Oregon's Finest Bowl which is quinoa, edamame, onions and carrots, kalamata olives and feta cheese in a lemon vinaigrette. You can also get it with chicken which I like even better. But, even without the chicken, it's pretty good. I know it sounds all hippy foody, but it's actually really good and substantial. Don't knock it til you've tried it. Their other dishes, like their burger, their nachos (spicy!), their rich rich RICH mac 'n' cheese are also good, but I am partial to the bowl. There is an ever-rotating selection of beers and ciders, some better than others, but all cold refreshment for this insane summer heat we are having. And the TV screens are the best. There's one on the north side of the bar, built into an old-timey organ base, a nice big HD screen behind the bar, and then the piece de resistance-a huge screen (like a personal movie screen) at the back of the bar which you can see from most anywhere in the bar. And, if you are sitting on the opposite side of the bar watching the game, and the bartender is standing in your line of vision, you can simply throw edamame beans or kalamata olives at his head.
(4)
Marielle B.
This place is totally awesome! I love the sports bar / saloon-like ambiance and the service and food are amazing. The drinks are also top-notch--the cocktails rival any craft bar in Portland, and they're a total steal for just $8. Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Chris M.
I came down to Portland for a visit from Seattle and decided to grab some drinks and watch the second half of a Blazers game with some friends. We decided to check out the River Pig after it was suggested by none other than Richard Sherman himself! Once we got there the food (buffalo burgers, fries, and the chicken sandwich) were all delicious and washing them down with some cold local beers and the house Old Fashioned was a great choice. The service was great as the server kept up a steady supply of water and would check in on drinks as needed. I'd suggest the patio for a First Thursday or any sunny day really. It's a nice change to the standard Pearl bars and worth going back for a visit on my next trip to Portland.
(5)
Mike F.
Cool bar great atmosphere.
(5)
Matt T.
Great vibe, great food, great whiskey. So glad to have them in the neighborhood!
(5)
val e.
cool saloon vibe, great staff, great food, prices that well worth paying! Will be back.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Late Night Parking : Street 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 : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Christina C.
We only had one beer here. We walked right in, walked to the middle of the bar, got the bartenders attention, ordered 2 beers, paid and sat outside to drink. I saw a group of girls foaming at the mouth they weren't served first. Clearly this is a bar where you have to position yourself and make eye contact to get attention and flash your pearly whites in the dark. Our service was fast, my beer was tasty. It was loud, the crowd seemed sort of "frat-y" but whatever. We took our beers outside to enjoy the warm nighttime weather and to people watch and we enjoyed ourselves. We did not eat anything, or have a 2nd drink only because we wanted to try out as many spots as possible. The River Pig seems like its smack dab in the middle of everything and the outside seating is a huge plus :)
(4)Gregory M.
My experience at River Pig Saloon was eh okay... I was looking for a place that was playing the Broncos at Chiefs football game on Thursday. I yelped and being in the Pearl I found River Pig near by. Mmmm... I really wanted a good sports bar to relax and have fun and watch the game. As being new to Portland I already tried On Deck Sports and am trying to try new places. River Pig was playing the game they have a few tv's and all seem modern, but they were playing funk music. It totally killed the vibe. As previous yelpers have mentioned the place was not really that busy a few people at the bar, but not busy by any means. I think if I didn't say anything to the bartender I would still just be sitting there. I felt like the employee. It completely lacked life of any kind. I could see as RPS is a casual type bar that on another experience it may be different and possibly could be rated 4-5 stars by some. Food: Not bad I'd say 4 stars. I had the Pulled Pork sandwich with curly fries pretty good, but standard nothing that made me say wow and the bread would be 2-3 stars kinda dry. Drinks: After trying to nudge the bartender in what drinks they have I would have ordered the Pear cider on draft but it was not close to cold :( I settled for can apple cider Service; Wow. Something was going on maybe it was just that day or that particular bartender, but it was a really somber feel in there for sure. I was trying to eat fast to bail. Overall: They didn't play the sound to the game until almost half time. Really somber bartender. Warm Pear cider. Dry bread. But the place has potential to be a nice relaxing environment. I don't plan on being back as there are so many places in Portland to check out.
(3)Anthony K.
Came in here on a wednesday night of christmas week. Service= good Drink options and creativity = good food= Burger was delicious, mouth watering Great place to visit if you want to just go in, grab a bite, not worry about a stuffy posh atmosphere. Catch a local came on the t.v. if you want and enjoy it with one of their many tasty menu options and delicoius drinks. Props to one of their employees. It was pouring rain when I left and he offered me an umbrella so I could run the 6 blocks to my car to come back for my party. Nice gesture!
(4)Carl S.
I've been to River Pig twice, and both experiences were less than great. On the first occasion, a group of friends and I came for our last Brewcycle stop (it was my girlfriend's birthday). Once we got in and ordered drinks, the bartender refused to serve me, because he thought my valid, government-issued New York drivers license was suspicious, for whatever reason. He then went over to all of the other bartenders, pointed at me, and instructed them not to serve me. This despite the fact that we had all just gotten off of a vehicle designed to take us to bars. We gave it another try a few months later for an early dinner, but despite being one of the only groups in the restaurant, struggled to have our orders taken - and on top of that, the waitress got one of the orders completely incorrect. On the occasions I've actually managed to order a drink and receive food, it was fine - but there are lots of other options for good food and drink in this area, along with competent, friendly service.
(2)Jessica E.
My boyfriend and I were looking for a place to watch the Niners game and saw River Pig Saloon post an Instagram picture promoting the game. We decided to go there since it seemed like a 49er friendly bar in a town full of primarily Seahawks fan. We got there right as the game was starting and the bar was full of Niner fans. We couldn't find a spot for us but one of the owners Ramsey approached us and told us this is a Niners bar larger tables with empty spots won't have a problem sharing their empty seats. We found a spot right in front of their projector screen and were soon greeted by the waitress. We got our drinks and food right away and we were having a great time. The Niners scored and were given a free Niner back (whiskey and a spicy pickle back)! We had a great time at River Pig Saloon! Food, drinks & service were awesome! We will definitely be back!
(5)Kathleen F.
Other than the piano on the wall and the fact that their chicken "wings" are actually drumsticks, this pearl location's beer selection is nothing to write home about. We happened to go after the craft brewer's festival beer machine event looking for some tasty beer and the only offering that came close was the Maui brewing Coconut Porter. Sorry river pig saloon....beer selection is importland!
(3)Nick S.
Bartender didn't switch the TV to the blazer game because he was watching xgames. no one else was watching xgames. edit: He ended up switching it.
(5)Jolie D.
Updating my one star review with some good news: I went here last night to give it another chance. Since my initial one star review, the business owner reached out to apologize, and then follow up again to let me know that there's been a change in staff. My friends and I sat on the patio and had a great time, the wait staff were super friendly and attentive, nachos were delicious (we ordered a second one), and the beer list was excellent. I am happy to go back, and appreciative of the business owner for stepping up his game by employing better staff members! Thank you!
(4)Holy-foo' X.
A fie to false expectations. Fie and double fie, say I! *shaking futile fist at the indifferent pantheon* I came to River Pig with high expectations, you see, based on name value alone, apparently, and very little else. Before setting foot in the door, I had already conjured up all sorts of BBQ/faux Cajun-themed possibilities. Besides, with some of the very best cuisine of many different pedigrees in the immediate vicinity--- Oba, Piazza Italia, Yama Sushi, Andina, Mediterranean Exploration Company, Seres, Irving St. Kitchen, &c &c---I was already aware of a local truism: if you have the stones to open a restaurant in this zip code, it better be pretty freakin' terrific. River Pig struck me for its subdued tone and the subdued, "less is more" menu. Pretty near every night of the week, there are throngs of cheerful party-goers clogging the streets of the Pearls, in a never ending orgy of eat-drink-be merry-rinse-and-repeat. At about 1/3 seating capacity when I took my cheer-seeking behind to da' Pig Saloon, I was at once mystified by the rather, shall we say, somber ambience permeating the place. But what owner/mgr wants THAT kind of descriptor, knowing the throngs of Roman food-orgy seekers abound in the streets? There is nothing wrong with pub grub, and indeed, mega-cliched pub grub is what you'll find at River Pig Saloon, w/no apologies offered, nor any brooked. So go on then, have their burgers and buffalo wings and saloon dogs and nachos, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. It's not that the grub is bad here, be it ever so clichéd, and maybe you won't be plagued by thoughts about all the unrealized potential of this bar, of what it could be...... and yes, I daresay, what it SHOULD be... It occurs to me that River Pig would probably do just fine, as is, in many other, perhaps less lofty neighborhoods? They might be making a killing now, as it is in the Pearl and indeed, I hope they do. Indeed I hope they do.... but if business lags or suffers, it would be no mystery to me why. If you're gonna assume a truly awe-inspiring name like "River Pig Saloon", live up to it, y'know? EARN it!!! Don't settle for being a novelty act, a low brow site-seers attraction. Bring the funk, bring the joy, and by all means, bring some BBQ/Cajun love, build it and they will come! Don't worry about putting off any of your well-heeled neighbors (like the nearby, Cajunesque Parrish)-- unless of course they are co owned/managed/operated by your people! It's the dream of my life that you bring your game up to such a level @ ye olde RPS that I will somehow, someday be mentioned in a news item, something about "Frequent patron of local saloon medically evacuated from premesis... was last heard muttering unfathomables: "Too much awesomeness... can't take it... just ....tooo... much... awesome--ness...... arrrgggghhhhh...."
(3)Chris M.
Cool layout and engaging bartenders. They have a really nice whiskey selection and several good beers on tap. The place is not at all stuffy or pretentious. The food portions (nachos and burgers) are generous in size. They have a multiple TVs including a large projector TV in the back. We ended up circling back to River Pig after we tried and failed to watch the Blazer game at a few other places in the area (the other bars didn't have the game on). The whiskey selection that is actually quite good ranges in price from $7-14. The one downside is they only have one bathroom and on a busy night you are standing inline.
(5)Katie R.
I have never been inside the bar for more time than it takes to use the bathroom, and during my limited visit indoors, I observed very little because it's incredibly dark. There are stuffed animal heads on the wall wearing comically oversized medallion gold chains, think Run DMC circa 1986. There are projection screens, presumably for sporting events. I can imagine this is a different bar when a game is on. So, you may be wondering how I am enjoying this establishment if I don't even enter it. Oh, my, let me lay it on ya. Hitting up the River Pig and finding a stool on the loading dock is where it's at. It's your own little perch on which you will enjoy people-watching first and foremost, but also Portland's Finest Bowl, a Pickle Back, and the stiffest drinks this side of the river. The Portland Bowl is the epitome of a good warm weather meal. It's light and packed full of flavor. It's the right amount of perfectly healthy food to curb your appetite for something tasty while simultaneously allowing you to consume more booze calories guilt free. Which is good, because the barkeeps here really do sling stiffies. As for the Pickle Back. It's yum. Trust me. I am a pickle fan. I am an even bigger whiskey fan. Combined, the two develop an almost super power. Delish.
(4)更好
Beer is good. Very strange service at the bar. 1. They dump a pitcher of water on the bar top and expect you to pour it yourself. 2. They take a credit card to "start a tab" before serving you food. Seems a bit paranoid. Beer tastes good though.
(2)Karinne C.
Great food. Great service! Try the Oregon's Finest Bowl - it was amazing and vegetarian! The owner spent some time with us chatting and making sure we were happy I will definitely be back.
(5)Mark M.
First time at the River Pig. Would definitely come back. Located in the heart of the Pearl on 13th street, River Pig is a casual bar with a great beer selection and very good food, with indoor seating to permit sports themed television and outdoor seating if you prefer a more casual seating arrangement. The Saloon Bison Burger was very good, and served with a nice aioli, cheese (I opted for cheddar), pickles, tomato, onion, and two strips of bacon. Add fries for $2 and a side salad for another $5, and you've got a huge but excellent meal at a very reasonable price. Many different beer options, and I chose the excellent River Pig Lager and was definitely not disappointed. Seating is inside or, on a beautiful Portland summer evening, out front on one of 13th street's elevated walkways away from traffic. We chose the Pig because we had our mentally unstable dog who cannot be left home, and this was an al fresco dining option that accommodated the dog--and, it turns out, so much more.
(4)Sabrina M.
Visited here on a little Staycation and absolutely loved it! Dare I say their mac and cheese is up there with The Screen Door?? We also ordered the bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers and the bacon was cooked perfectly, nice and crispy! The service was quick and the drinks were good. They also have a projector and a few other TV's located throughout the bar. I will definitely return.
(4)Rachel B.
Delicious food. Our waitress wasn't terribly friendly. Several tv's, including a big screen, for watching sports. Bathroom is dark and dingy (1 of 3 lightbulbs working). All in all, I liked it better than other nearby sports bars and will be back for football season! Food: My fiancé had the nachos with pork. Very tasty with layers of melted cheese throughout instead of dumped on top. My fried chicken sandwich w/ side salad was even better! Huge portions for the side salad- was almost a meal by itself. Drinks: Rip tide was excellent with the perfect amount of alcohol. I also ordered the daily punch for $5, which was barely drinkable. Wish I had just paid an extra $3 and gotten another cocktail. My fiancé stuck with beers, which I think were $6.
(4)Danielle B.
We were headed to a nearby restaurant and decided to give this place a try instead. So glad we did! Small spot - but great at lunch. Unique atmosphere and lots of beers on tap. We ordered the fried mac n cheese for an appetizer. These were sooooo good! Highly recommend. For lunch, hubs ordered the Cubano Grilled Cheese sandwich. I ordered the river pig nachos (no meat). The portion of nachos is LARGE - we could have easily split them. Really good food. Will be back!
(5)Frankie D.
One of my favorite bars in downtown ! This bar has amazing decor and limited seating ! This place fills up fast because it's GOOD! Highly recommend ordering the Daily Punch ! It never disappoints ! Its 5 bucks and packs a punch ! The bee sting and spicy margarita are my second favs ! The drinks are very small but pack a large punch!! You can't forget the fried pickle chips and the parm fries !! They come in huge baskets and are great to share with friends as you sit drink and enjoy the music !
(5)Stacy S.
Cool little place. We sat out on the loading dock, and after we ordered our drinks, we waited about 20 minutes before asking about their whereabouts. Apparently the server had forgotten to put our drink order in. She was very nice and apologetic about it, but it still made us sad. The drinks were fine, and most of them seemed pretty unique. I got the California Widow, which was really fresh and light, but it almost tasted totally watered down. My friend got the Rig Pig Old-Fashioned, and she said it was just ok. To top it off, our server gave my debit card and receipt to some other couple. Good thing they didn't steal my card. Not sure I'd come here again, but it was a nice visit.
(2)Roger M.
DON'T PANIC, IT'S ORGANIC--Buffalo burger! Went back for the Organic Buffalo burger, the size of Texas! So big & thick, It barley fit in my hand, definitely a 2-hander. But don't panic, it's organic! Enjoy every bite of scrumptious lean buffalo topped with generous portions of bacon, cheddar, chopped, grilled onion, lettuce and tomato--along with friendly service and the Stanley cup finals on the big projection screen! There's lots to choose from in the Pearl, but I will keep this place on the list as one of my Pearl favorite's.
(5)M D.
We came here on a Wednesday night around 7:00. We had looked up the menu online and it sounded great along with high reviews via Yelpers. We got seated quickly. Service: It started out ok. My boyfriend felt the bartender wasn't warm or welcoming, but hey we get it you're busy and have a lot going on. Our waitress was cordial and asked us if we wanted anything to drink. I asked her about the ciders they had and she listed two. When I asked whether they were dry or sweet she fumbled with her answers and basically had no idea. She said, "I..uh...think it's sweet. Yeah. You want one?" I said no, because I couldn't trust she knew what she was talking about. As the night went on the service was really slow. Any refills or questions we had were a hassle. To get our check we waited a solid 20 min. She did apologize for the wait. Food: This was really disappointing because their menu had just changed and they had not taken down their old menu from the website. So everything we wanted and that had enticed us to come was no longer available. My boyfriend got the bison burger and I got the Reuben. I found the Reuben to be really salty and not have enough kraut. He enjoyed his burger. I subbed the garlic/Rosemary curly fries and found them to be flavorless. And they don't even offer desserts. Ambiance: this big place only has one single bathroom for a relatively large bar. When we left my boyfriend went to use it and there was a line. The decor is ok and they have cute water vessels that look like old liquor bottles and they show Timbers games. Overall, not happy with this place at all. Wouldn't come back.
(2)Laura C.
I think this is the kind of place best suited for guys to drink beer and watch the game. Or anyone to drink beer and watch the game, for that matter (namely, me). While I did like the layout and southern theme, the bacon wrapped jalapeno and cheese sausage dog came on a bun that only a hippo could wrap their mouth around (like the size and shape of a childs football). I tried, and failed; making a big mess. The fries were smothered in a baked-on cheese that wouldn't stay on the fries but ended up at the bottom of the basket. That was also a fail..but both were tasty. You just had to use a fork - and who wants to use a fork for a hot dog and fries?? That's like using a fork to eat a slice of pizza! The vodka, ginger, cranberry punch was yummy...but the glass was so small, you could down it in 2 sips. However, I found it charming that each round of my friends' vodka sodas came in a different style of glass (low ball, mason jar and Chicago highball). It was nostalgic and flooded me with memories of all my friends' 1st apartments and their mismatched dishware. My friend devoured her chicken wings and salad, so I'm guessing they were very tasty. The brick decor inside has a Southern charm I can really appreciate, and the wood tables reminded me of grandma's house. The only problem was that the lighting was so dim, my friend and I had trouble reading the menu and had to use the flashlights on our phones. Our server was friendly and very on the ball and did not charge me full price for my 2nd punch, even though happy hour ended a few minutes prior. That says a lot, because I hate sticklers to rules. I can see myself coming back here for another Blazer game. Next time though, I am getting the burger, and asking in advance if the bun is similar in size to the burger patty. If not, I'm ordering the wings.
(3)Kailes B.
This place is pretty cool. I would recommend going with a group of buddies or something because solo could be pretty awko taco. They have a drink that I love called the California widow? (That could be totally wrong, but widow is in the name!) It is super tasty, not too sweet and really fresh. I've gotten their fish & chips before which were solid, and their chicken strips were awesome too. Curly fries are served with both and they're so crispy and tasty I would eat them every day if that didn't kill me. The bar has a good vibe, nice ambiance and pretty attentive staff. I got better service from the female bartenders/cocktail waitresses when I went there on a double date rather than when I went just with my sister, but thats expected and really not a huge deal at all! If you're ever hanging out in the Pearl, check this place out!
(5)Jeff W.
I feel like a lot of people don't give this place a chance because their tables look like they are from the 90s....Well, I gave them a chance and I'm glad I did! The Aces Over Eight is the best drink I've had in a long time! Rye, Lemon, Black Tea, and Sugar make the perfect drink on a hot PNW day. The bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers are unreal, and the Mac and Cheese is my new PDX favorite. Five stars because I will definitely be back, and I will tell all my friends. This is a must when you are in the Pearl.
(5)Jessica N.
Came here for dinner and a drink on a non-game day. Was a nice dive. Had the chopped salad which was tasty and good enough. Hubs got the bison burger which he raved about but portion seemed on the small side. Good casual go-to, would be curious to check it out again on a game day.
(3)Carleigh H.
Stopped in for a drink that was decent. I wouldn't rush back though. Our waitress was pretty slow. Could have been an off night.
(3)Woo K.
Stumbled upon here on accident after first Thursday in the pearl, and I had a surprisingly good time. This bar is basically.... just a bar! But what more do you need? We sat down at the bar and got some shots and watched some football, and in the process I made a couple of new bar friends who were friendly and easy to chat with. It feels like your friendly neighborhood bar where you can just go to without any expectations and feel fulfilled regardless. I'll def be back again soon!
(4)Damian S.
So, something's changed here. The food isn't as good and the atmosphere isn't as welcoming. New manager trying to keep costs down? The last couple of times we've come we have not been impressed. The differences are small, but noticeable: The bun on the bison burger is not a brioche bun anymore (and as it says on the menu) but a crappy store bought sesame bun The chicken on the nachos tastes like it comes from a can They don't sell Mexican coke in bottles anymore, just US soda in cans They aggressively ID and ask to hold on to your credit card as soon as you sit down The staff are not as happy as they used to be and seem tired, cranky and get orders wrong. Overall it's still not bad, it's just nowhere near as good as it used to be. It's a shame, because the food used to be great. And the atmosphere was good too.
(3)Terence B.
If you're visiting town or just looking for Portland's next hotspot check out the River Pig Saloon before everyone knows about it! A few months ago I went adventuring through an old, but familiar neighborhood in Portland. I wasn't surprised to find a new bar had opened on 13th, but was more surprised at what kind of bar had opened here in the Pearl. The River Pig Saloon pays homage to the history of the Pearl district unlike some of the other upscale restaurants in the Pearl. Nothing about the place is upscale except the service, food and beer selection, and comfort of the River Pig. So wear your favorite team's jersey, stop in after the gym, wear your flip-flops. It has a vast diversity of beer on tap as well as some Montucky in the cooler ;) The food is seasoned and tastebud worthy for the burger loving, taco eating, or salad pickin alike. The River Pig also has a delicious selection of whiskeys and other spirits in plane view of it's amazingly huge bar! Pros: Beer Selection, Food diversity, Friendly Staff, Parking, Timbers, Ducks, Football viewing, and Shadi's beautiful personality. Cons: Widen Fucking Kennedy (inside joke), bathrooms...
(5)Shirley M.
Love this concept, it is eclectic and comfortable! I was in a couple weeks ago and the place was alive! The servers were a bit pretentious and non attentive however. I don't like to be treated like I am putting someone out because they have to serve me...one girl just disappeared! But there was a hero--he was cooking the food, serving the food, and cleaning up tables....all while smiling! The food is great...the prices are very inexpensive so my expectations were low, but I was HUGELY surprised! The bison burger is the best I have ever had and we loved the jalapeño poppers (they were wrapped in bacon!) Our food order was out within minutes (hand delivered by the cook). The drink service was not as positive--but to be fair the establishment was busy. Maybe the cook should give the servers lessons about customer service--he saved our experience and because of him we will be back!
(4)Kasey K.
This is one of my favorite places for happy hour in the pearl - perfect for a laid back happy hour with your coworkers or friends! And they have a reverse happy hour, aka late night happy hour, what could be better? The food is awesome! I love the quesadilla, adding meat makes it even better, and the curly fries are to die for! I can never say no to a BoomTown Mule, basically a Moscow Mule with rum instead of vodka. And they make a mean old fashioned. Whatever you get, can't really go wrong.
(5)Pepper P.
The happy hour is off the hook. Try those tacos. Good beer selection, and my bar service was perfect. I wasn't going to stop here actually and now I'm super glad I did!! So coming back to this hip, casual, comfortable new favorite. Aaaah.
(4)Scott U.
Probably the best place in town to watch Ducks games besides your couch. Nice place with big screens. Good bar fare, better than McMenamins anyway. If you need a place to watch the Ducks do their thing on the the football field, this is it.
(4)Jeff C.
I ordered the pulled pork and was mistakenly given the fried chicken sandwich. WOW! It was amazing. Great service, bartender (Alonna) was very thoughtful and attentive. My new favorite pub in the Pearl.
(5)Elissa S.
3.5 stars rounds up to 4. On my recent trip to Portland I wanted to find a chill sports bar to watch Sunday football and Yelp led me to River Pig. There are 3 LCD TV's and one huge projector showing the main game. However, for a sports bar, I think you need more TV's to show more of the football games--my game of choice wasn't being shown :( Granted, they were playing NFL redzone on one of the TVs so I could get highlights of my game, but in the end I really just wanted to watch my team and all the other TV's were showing other games. Besides the TV drama, River Pig has a great selection of local brews and whiskeys. I also had a corned beef hash where the hash was actually made with curly fries YUMMMM. Servers were really nice and pretty attentive.
(4)R D.
A shot of whisky followed by a pickled juice chaser!! It will def. make your mouth go crazy! Drumstick was a litttle overcooked but the rub was good.. oh and their quinoa salad was good! Who would think about having salad in a bar?!
(4)Don B.
River Pig Saloon is... a... um... bar. I can't really put my finger on what exactly the concept is here. On the one hand, the cocktails are tasty and almost craft. The atmosphere is anything but. There are some TV's but not really enough to call it a sports bar. The walls speak to almost a lounge feel but the collection of mismatched heavy oak furniture harkens to a 1980's college bar or something. And the food? It's sort of up-jumped sports bar food. It's as if they took a few playbooks, shuffled the pages and picked a few at random. We stopped in on a Saturday night for drinks and food, and I sampled the nachos and the mac n cheese, as well as a few cocktails and a pickle back (a clever addition to the dessert menu). Unlike what's stated by the other reviews, the service here was plenty fine - friendly and there when we needed them. Why would I come back here? Maybe for a sports game that's of a singular nature (like World Cup or a Blazer's game). But probably not for NCAA football or NFL, since there are always multiple games on, and the way the TV's are positioned here you can only really see one at a time depending on where you're sitting. For cocktails and food? Well, the drinks are good but it doesn't have kind of vibe I'm usually looking for when I'm sipping manhattans. And the food alone is not a draw. Anyway, it's an interesting addition to the area. Not a destination bar for me, but a handy spot to pop in to catch a game on TV or similar. And as far as normal sports-bar food goes, this is definitely better.
(3)In B.
what an awesome place to meet some awesome folks in a awesome atmosphere!!! we walked in not knowing what to expect. we wanted some grub so we sat ourselves and started looking at the menu.. no waitress/er to be found cause they were so packed! we didnt mind cause it seemed like everyone was having a good time. we finally ordered food n drinks. ( awesome tacos btw) after we inhaled our food we got up and started mingling with folks around the bar area. everyone was so friendly! it was such a pleasant portland experice!!
(4)Christine Y.
First time coming here... It was chilly So I came to wet my willy I was acting kinda silly So I ordered the fried dilly And the brocadilli I left feeling like a milli
(4)Dana D.
Wandering about northwest (an area I typically avoid as an east sider) on rose bowl sunday, my boyfriend found this smart brick and wood haven. We cruised in and voila! A prime table in front of a huge wall sized screen (that was still perfectly high def). There were plenty of tvs and any seat would have been quite suitable. Next up; delicious choices of bourbons and some fun cocktails to wet your whistle. Not a ton of draft beer choices but a very good stout and a couple of IPAs. The nachos were pretty decent with very small black beans which were perfect for me as I don't like the big huge ones. Other fare included some healthy salads: Classic mixed greens or a kale, as well as a bison burger, fish and chips and even a high end bacon wrapped jalapeño dog! Yum! Already looking forward to making another trip across the river!
(5)Chris C.
It's a nice bar in a nice area. I went for a Warriors playoff game so everybody was excited and in a good mood. Be careful going during prime time and it can get packed.
(4)Jason M.
Go for the River Pig Old Fashioned. Go for the Buffalo Burger. Stay for the vibe. Finally a friendly neighborhood bar amongst the Pearl District. Good music, good service and a Cask tap.
(5)Jeremy L.
Here's the thing... I'm from Montana. I been to a hundred places like this, only they weren't decorated this way to be kitschy or ironic, it was actually because they were western, and that was their taste. That said, I sort of like what they've done with the place. It's kind of a little country escape right in the middle of the Pearl. But.... I'd seen this place advertised as a great happy hour place, and sort of the Pearl's answer to a blue collar bar. If that's the case, what's up with the $5 beers? There are a couple happy hour special, but I think it was a PBR and a shot, or something. If you're grabbing a drink for happy hour, you've got great specials at Tilt, and you did have another great option at the Mellow Mushroom (RIP). Beer options were few, but interesting. Didn't try the food. The workers were wearing so much plaid it was like a lumberjack convention, but whatever. Cool enough place, but I just don't get quite why I'd need to go back, given all the other options downtown.
(2)Cola V.
This is a cool little bar that is right in the heart of the Pearl's 13th ave stretch. The ambiance is retro cabin/saloon/sports bar chic, with an animal head and old piano hanging from the walls. Food was excellent - I had the NW bowl that was huge and filled with great veggies. There are a few TV's scattered around and could see this being a dude's hang out spot for sure, just missing the pool table, but they make up for that with a bowl of special punch...who doesn't love the punchbowl trend right now?
(3)Marianne S.
I had read somewhere that this place had the best nachos in town, so I was very excited to try it! I met a friend here for happy hour the other day and we had the house punch, which was delicious and split the happy hour nachos. For only five dollars, these nachos were divine. I would have even been satisfied paying closer to $10. They didn't lack in toppings and they were piled high! It seemed like there was a creamy sauce on them that I hadn't gotten on nachos before, but it was definitely to my liking. I really like the atmosphere of the place, kind of a wood cabin type feeling and some of the tables were big barrels which I really liked. They had TVS and one of the was huge in the back of the bar. The sound on the TVS was even on, which I like when you are out watching a game. It was packed with people watching the World Series. Service was great as well! I'll be back for more of your delicious nachos, River Pig!
(5)Amanda K.
I like the space, for sure. I like the theme (duh, I am a lumberjack by birthwright). However, I wasn't impressed by the food and it was ultimately the service from our bartenders that was annoying. They both looked bored. Is that a requirement for bartenders in the Pearl? I have noticed it's either a trend or standing requirement in this area, when it comes to the service industry. And there is a total difference between being professional and just being bored. It's possible to be a great host/hostess with a personality, and still be professional! Speaking from direct experience. I'll be back, because I know people who work in the Gatsby building, so i'll be giving it another chance. I will give them bonus points for wearing plaid and for showing sports on the TVs; both of those are A-OK by me.
(3)Alane U.
Went here for the first time last night. I wasn't really impressed when I walked in (I'm not big on crowded/noisy bars), but I ended up liking the place! The food and drinks were very good and the food portions were generous. Much larger than I was expecting for the price. Although it was too loud, it was a lot quieter than a lot of bars on a Friday night. I would go here again.
(3)Valerie W.
River Pig is a great new addition to the Pearl. But does anyone know what an actual River Pig is?? Please discuss... Upon entering you are taken back to a Western-esque/Portland saloon vibe. Wood all around. Animal heads adorn the walls. Large bar set in the middle with some great whiskey and local brews on tap. It's also a great place to stop in and watch the game. Oddly enough there's a plasma situated in between the legs of an old piano...clever! There's also a TV above the bar, projector screen...plenty of space! I first tried the RP Old Fashioned...and it was damn tasty. I savored every sip of that drink. Next I ordered the Breakside Hef and that too was delightful. As far as food goes they had some great options. For $4 I got a basket of yummy parm curly fries. My brother ordered a chicken sandwich which I took a bite of. Juicy and nicely grilled chicken with all the fixens. I will say that prices can be a bit expensive but all in all OK. It is the Pearl after all. Staff is great and will check on you often. Overall had a great experience and can't wait to come back and check out HH!
(4)Michael G.
Came back and they were very nice and the food was awesome!
(5)Emiko J.
Good food but horrible staff.... Walked in and saw the entire staff talking among themselves maybe because there was only 2 tables of customers in the place , so my husband walked up to the bar to order. We then sat ourselves and my husband had to go and grab us water. The had the hotdog which was really good! The first time we saw our waitress as when she delivered our food. She then went to service the table next to us on numerous occasions -maybe puppy love? (who happens to be part of the staff on their day off), at this time we were done with our drinks and food. We saw the waitress go to the table next to us 6 times and while she was there talking to the guy she announced how she gets really get tips here! Absolutely shocked! While she was saying that my husband had to go back to the bar to order us our second round of drinks and explained to the bartender what happened and not to share the tips..... On the fence of we will be back or next time just sit at the bar
(2)Ramie M.
I'm marking this 4 of 5, not because I'm actually "a fan" but because I am putting aside my bias for the review. It is a nice location with parking right across the street. Good selection of beers, wines, and other mixed drinks available at what I feel are reasonable prices for the area. The menu looked tasty and the prices also reasonable, but I did not eat here so I cannot comment on flavor. The overall ambiance was lively while I was there and there was live music (Josiah Leming) which was nice. There was plenty of seating available despite the crowd, so no issues there. If you're looking for a good, reasonably priced bar in this area, this place seems to fit the bill. Lots of good food options in the area within walking distance as well.
(4)John B.
Very solid bar! Food was solid drinks were solid I would go back! Its a neighborhood bar! I really enjoyed it
(4)Raman G.
This is exactly the kind of Bar that the Pearl/Brewery Blocks need. Not fancy and not expensive yet the food and service is stellar! Ownership is excellent as well. Always friendly and will actually take the time out and sit with and shoot the $h!t with you. $5 Pints and did I mention the food? My favorite item is the Oregon Finest Bowl. It's a salad and I am by far the last person who would say this. But an amazing salad. I don't think I have had bad food here yet. Oh yeah the wings...more like half a chicken with the sizes of them. All cocktails are made with precision as well. If your looking to catch a game or have a few drinks with friends or even bring the co-workers here, you will not be disappointed. Must try!
(5)Jenny S.
Guys, it doesn't get any better than this place for quality food and a casual and enjoyable atmosphere. I love the servers, and the food is aaaaaaahmazing. My favorite item on the menu has to be he tacos. Seriously good and you don't miss the meat! Honestly- we added pork to them recently and thought the veggie version was better. I've been back 3 or 4 times and am finding it to be one of my favorite haunts in the pearl.
(5)Katie W.
Twice in one week! I would go every night if I could! Great food, good drinks and the service is exceptional. I encourage everyone to order something with the bacon or at least order it as a side. The Cool Hand Luke is made perfectly, as well as the Old Fashioned. This is a go-to spot. The menu changes frequently which keeps it new, fresh and fun!
(5)Aaron R.
This place was perfect for a relaxing Sunday afternoon. Laid back atmosphere, casual yet quirky interior (perhaps a bit dark in the back), and good service. We had the fish and chips, which was perfectly good but not exceptional, and the philly steak sandwich which was really, really good. The beer and whiskey selection was good, too. I'd agree with the prior reviews that this place doesn't fit into a particular genre, but that's just fine -- it's laid back, inviting, and a great low-key place that stands out in the Pearl for being just a normal, relaxing place.
(4)Jenna L.
River Pig is the best in the West in my humble opinion. It's tough to find a sports bar that truly values delicious whisk[e]y and beer, and they've definitely elevated my knowledge of both. I love that they feature local, little-known companies, and I've never left disappointed. If you've looking for classic bar food, try their nachos. The combination of cheeses in the sauce is the best I've found so far. Their staff is the best. No pretentious Portland-ers here, (if such a thing exists?) they just want you to have the best time and will go out of their way to make this happen. Ask them questions. They know their products super well and if you tell them a little bit about what you like, they'll have the drink for you. Bonus points for the decor and environment. I've never seen the Oregon Ducks lose in this house, so it must be good luck :-) Thank you River Pig for many of the best nights (I'll never remember) with the best staff (I'll never forget).
(5)Kelsey S.
Excited to find another "go-to" spot in this neighborhood. One of the pros & cons about this area is how early restaurants tend to close down at night. Fortunately the River Pig is open late, has great food (the Mac n Cheese is a must try) and the customer service is phenomenal. If you haven't already, I recommend that you check this place out!! Note: this is a great spot to hang out and watch a sports game with friends too!! Enjoy!!
(5)Kitty N.
Noon on a Friday and after being ignored by the bartender for quite some time he begrudgingly asked my group what they would like to drink. I do not drink alcohol, ever. Makes me terribly sick. I asked if they had iced tea. The bartender snapped a put-off "no" to me and walked away without taking drink orders from the others I was with. When he swung back by our end of the bar counter a bit later I asked him for a glass of water which was going to be followed by my friends ordering beers. He sighed, big, at my request for some lousy H2O and paired the sigh with an aggravated eye roll. He proceeded to ignore the rest of my group yet again and walked away from us. I was baffled. We got up and left and won't ever be returning. I'm disappointed because I was looking forward to a new place in the neighborhood. Food looked great. We were going to order lunch and my friends were looking forward to drinks, not water, but alcohol, however the bartender never gave us the chance.
(1)Ethan B.
Wow, what a great bar. My friends and I visited it on the way to the premier of the movie "Wild" and were quite impressed with the food and atmosphere. It has a really great, local, fun with friends feel for the pearl. The big screen TV and emphasis on outdoors sports was something special, as well. Highly recommended!
(5)Larry A.
Ended up Bar Pig tonight after putting our name in at Andina's - which was a 1.5 hour wait and no bar seating available, so we asked the hostess for a place nearby. To our pleasant surprise - my sister, friend and I ended up staying at Bar Pig and canceling our res since we had such a good time. It reminded me of a saloon/bar in Colorado/Montana. Chill atmosphere, very cool lounge, great cocktails/drinks, and the bartenders were the best! I would say they were more attentive than any place I've been in awhile, and definitely didn't hurt that the bartenders were cute :-) I will definitely be back!
(5)John D.
Came by for some Sunday football and food. This place was recommended by a local friend who works nearby. For one, the neighborhood of the Pearl District is awesome. Two, the food and drinks here were exceptional. We tried the bison burger and the pork tacos. Both were awesome! We also got their delicious curly fries which did not disappoint. Strongly recommend this place for sports or just for food and drinks!
(5)Adeeb H.
Great place to hang out and try what happens to be on tap at the time. Always good new beers to try. Food is super tasty and the best value I found while in Portland.
(5)Katya Z.
Amazing, Ramz's Chicken Sandwich! Beer list OMG. Can't wait to go back. Perfect place to watch a game, nothing like other places in the pearl...no snooty elitist attitudes at this bar.
(5)Spenser T.
Typical Portland hipster bitch server. Good beer list and great environment.
(3)Rebecca D.
My boyfriend and I were wondering around the pearl district, wanting to eat but unwilling to hunt our own table. We had gone to a few places before heading to the saloon, but they were too crowded, too yipster, too communal for our taste. The River Pig Saloon was perfect. Not crowded, but not empty. Nice selection of tapped beer. Delicious food. Friendly service. We were happy we found this spot.
(5)Jaffer K.
The bartender was a rude, sarcastic, douche. After waiting a while sitting at the bar table, he finally asks me if I want a drink, I told him I want fish & chips, he replies "I asked you if you wanted a drink" (wow)...I told him I just want food for now (should have walked away at that point). Nothing special about the fish & chips, which was very dry. Another thing that I witnessed happen was that a very young group walked in (barely 21) and one of the guys tries to order a corona. The same douche bartender replied in a rude tone that we don't have corona, only local microbrew. He was very rude to that group. The service here is very slow and unfriendly. After eating the dry fish & chips I wasn't feeling "cool enough" for their "craft" microbrews.
(2)Addie J.
Some of these reviews, man... Not sure why anyone would seriously have a problem with what the staff is wearing. IT'S PLAID. GET OVER IT. *suggestive wanking motion* First of all, The Pearl is one of the corniest sell-outs to ever happen to Portland. Second and most importantly, River Pig is one of the best things to happen to this fu-fu fancy-pants district. I couldn't be more elated to have somewhere nearby to go decompress after an arduous work day, sans panty-dropper martinis and men who wreak of Davidoff Cool Water. River Pig has been open for about a month now, and I'm glad to see that every single night since opening has been booming. I have yet to experience remotely snooty service, and I f***ing like plaid okay?! So anyone who has anything to say about the staple Portland pattern-way can STFU and GTFO. Also, to anyone who has mess to talk about the noise level: IT'S A BAR, NOT A LIBRARY. Jesus H., some people... I was hushed whilst walking around bars in the Pearl once and I'm saddened to watch my hometown become more and more entitled. But I digress... The staff is beyond great. They humor AND satisfy my half-kidding requests when it comes to "cheese vs. nacho cheese" on my beloved nacho platter, and they're actually pretty outstanding when it comes to tolerating the varied Pearl crowd (always worthy of a solid eye-roll and/or face-palm). From the May/December romances, to the aforementioned Davidoff Cool Water-drenched Chads, to the regularly entitled fart-sniffing Portland folk, and to the rest of us humble goons, I see nothing but AWESOME SERVICE. Great food, great staff, and even better prices... Where else can you get an entire drink and food menu at/under $10, let alone in the f***ing Pearl District?!?! To boot, every dish I've allowed to dance on my palate has been nothing short of bomb.com without having to be doused in grease or unbearably bland. Drinks- YUM. Food- YUM. Staff in plaid- YUMMMMMMMMM!!!! Mama likey.
(5)Erik H.
Good addition to the Pearl. Cool vibe, good food and drinks. However, service is really spotty. I've been here about five times and each time I experienced different degrees of service. There appears to be both very considerate and very inattentive (almost offensively so) servers. The last two occasions in particular, a group of us left early soley because of the service. I want to like this place a lot and I want to consider it a regular spot, but until the service improves, I cannot.
(2)Livia M.
Great attentive service. A little too attentive perhaps if anything. Ordered an old fashioned which was strong, but tasty. Wasn't given the option of whiskey however. Other order was a mulled wine which was so strong it took a while to get through. Cool space though in a funky district on the funky street.
(3)Trevor L.
Stumbled across the River Pig looking for a good place to watch football. I happen to be a 49ers fan from New York, and the '9ers were playing the Giants. So you can imagine my delight when I walk in to find a small army of San Francisco fans! I loved the decor (a flat screen inside an upright piano bolted to the wall, for example) and the beer selection was very respectable. It's a sports bar without the typical sports bar "plastic" feel. Overall a great place to watch the game and have a beer.
(5)Diana L.
BEWARE: This is a 49ers based bar. Seemed like a pretty sweet bar to catch a beer and watch the football game at. We asked if they were going to play the Seahawks and the server said that they would put it on, on one of the TV's. There were people in front of us who wanted to watch the Seahawks too. I believe that it was the owner of the bar who came up to the designated TV for the game and watched the 49ers for 10+ minutes before he put the requested game on. What a waist of time. I thought sports bars played all games and weren't so snarky about a particular team. The couple in front of us left to watch the game else where and so did we. I cant believe the owners runs his bar like this. I would of given 1 star, but our waiter was so nice I had to give 2. I work a couple of blocks away from this place and know that I i will never go back.
(2)Cristina V.
Our good friend met us here for drinks while we were on vacation in Portland. She recommended this bar specifically for the amazing drinks. Our bartender even made us some craft drinks that were extra tasty.
(5)Ryan M.
I love this place! Great vibe and cool atmosphere - not pretentious at all. Beer selection is limited (which is the reason for 4 stars) but what they have is high quality brews at only $5. They also have some cans of "lowbrow" beer one can order for a few bucks (Iron City, Old German). Where they really shine is the rotating whiskey selection. Food is solid, service has been very good. It's a large enough space too that it hasn't been overly crowded when I've been there, and that includes Saturday nights. In a short time it's become a go-to for me in the Pearl.
(4)Crystal B.
This was a great find in NW Portland. Big screen football and really good food. Four of us ate and four of us were quite happy with our choices. Also had the daily "punch" which was really good!
(4)Vigor L.
Came here for a drink while in town for vacation. Had great happy hour food and drinks. Nachos and fries were really good for price. Waiter definitely made experience unbearable. He was not friendly and was extremely short with our party of eight.
(3)Amanda M.
Not too excited about this place, the server was very nice but it took SO long to get food . I got the watermelon salad that was so overdressed it was inedible. But cool ambiance.
(2)Chris K.
Great new watering hole in the pearl. I end up in the neighborhood, a few days a week, to pick my ole lady up from work. With tons of coffee, restaurant, and lounge options I continue to find myself here, sitting comfortably at the bar, enjoying a delicious Laurelwood Workhorse(which they have on tap). I don't understand the complaints about service. You'll run into the same issues here you'd run into any other establishment with the same MO as RPS. Though I will admit I was a bit puzzled to see one server, working a packed house, having to manage all the tables.
(5)Ariana G.
Good beers, food, etc. A little pricey, but it is pearl district Portland...excellent happy hour prices though.
(4)Jane F.
Unlike other spots in the pearl, River Pig is well priced, unpretentious, and trendy without trying too hard. It's the perfect spot to grab a beer after work, catch a sports game, or hit up on weekends for some nightlife I love the Montana lodge vibe, the whiskey cocktails, the gussied up pub food (try the Oregon's Finest bowl) and the occasional live music Great new find in the pearl--highly recommended
(5)Jessica C.
Great place to watch a sunday football game. They have lots of TVs and a giant projection screen in the back of the bar. The beer is good (and they have plenty of local selections) and the nachos were awesome!
(4)Karen G.
Delicious toasted cheese sandwich made with heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella and basil on light but crispy toasted bread drizzled on top with just the right amount of balsamic vinaigrette. Perfect!
(4)J P.
Let me preface this by saying I NEVER write reviews and tend not to take the ones I read to heart but I feel like it would be a diservice not to share my experience. River Pig painfully falls short on their customer service. I have never (ever) experienced a ruder staff in Portland. I have been twice and thought there was no chance of being treated worse the second time around. They proved me wrong. I honestly thought I could have been on a candid camera show where they were trying to get me to react to how awful the staff was treating our group. This bar has so much potential and thought it would have an undouchy vibe that some other bars in the area tend to have. Unfortunately for River Pig, the only unpleasant people in the bar are the waitstaff. Great customer service goes a very long way and obviously the staff does not value a good experience for their patrons. The owner's best bet to make it long term is to fire the whole staff and start over. I will never spend another dime in this place and will make every effort for my friends and family to do the same.
(1)Cal T.
Cool vibe, great location, great service and good drinks! Pork Tacos were awesome! Will be back for sure.
(5)Chris F.
Went in to this new saloon style bar to watch the Blazers. Great vibe, cool mix of people and amazing service. Food and drinks are good and fair price. Ill be back for more.
(5)Kevin J.
Great selection of drinks and delicious food. Really cool old west saloon ambiance. Concurrent located in a cool restaurant row area of The Pearl. Everything my girlfriend and I got was delicious. Our favorite thing though we're the chicken drumstick appetizers.
(5)Eric T.
I went to the River Pig Saloon with 3 friends and could not have had a better experience. We went in there for their Bison burger and it blew us all away. Juicy, tender, and overflowing with bacon. The atmosphere was perfect, and the service was great! The owner even came over and hung out with us for a while. Definitely going back!!!!
(5)Juliette S.
No matter how many great things there may have been with this place, the bartenders were total jerks. I was there for First Thursday and this place was hoppin'. It was the place to be, since it is the new bar on 13th. I will start with the good; there was a waitress that was the only reason we stayed. She saw how rude the bartenders were and convinced me to stay. the fried chick-peas were amazing. it had a fun vibe with the crowd. The bad; the bartenders..... wow. I will say I don't normally have an issue getting a bartender to take my order. But these guys seemed to not want to serve anyone. It was a real issue. I was standing the right of the servers station and when I finally yelled out that I wanted to order, one of the bartenders snapped back that he would serve me when I wasn't in the servers section. I point out that I wasn't I was to the right of it and he walked away! There were some other guys standing nearby to me, they were having the same issue. They grabbed a dude and asked for beers. They got them from that guy, but it turns out that guy was a busser and not allowed to serve. He only served them because they were his friends. I finally decided I was done, and the waitress saw what went down and she said she would love to serve me. The waitress was so nice, and she seemed very aware that the bartenders were jerks. I definitely will not be coming back unless I hear the service is getting better. I have seen this before with the new places in the Pearl, they seem to think they are super special in the beginning and then they realize customers won't come back when you are rude. Oven and Shaker suffered this same situation and go their act together. So disappointing... I was looking forward to this new place. Oh and a note to the owner; why the flannel shirts? It was 90 degrees outside. Maybe the bartenders would be nicer to the customers if they weren't roasting in flannel shirts....
(2)Hal L.
Don't share your drink with Shadi. His upper lip wafts the essence of old dribbling meat curtains. MONTUCKY!
(5)casey v.
Perfect place to watch World Cup! Plus some of the friendliest servers I've EVER witnessed in Portland.
(5)Brad C.
I wouldn't go here go Sunday Football. This place is in Seahawks territory and they refuse to play the game. Three TVs and they play the same game on two of them. Highly disappointing. Poor form.
(2)Jill L.
Had a party here last night...was perfect. Staff is attentive and professional. Drinks were stellar. Atmosphere is fun and relaxed. Good time had by all.
(5)Coco N.
Soon after the 49ers made the questionable choice of starting Kaepernick instead of Alex Smith, the River Pig opened. Thankfully that was the only let down for these Bay Area business owners that year. The owners have created equal parts dive bar and saloon with enough Portlandness to keep you coming back. If the owners spent half as much time caring about their fantasy football teams as they do running this joint they probably wouldn't fail season after season. Then again, probably not. Order the drumsticks and a cold Montucky. You won't be sorry.
(5)Doug B.
We went to River Pig early on a Saturday evening and were pretty much disappointed on all counts. The service was mediocre, the noise level deafening and the food was far below the quality we expected, given the pedigree of the owners. The best that I can say about the items we chose is that they were edible and inexpensive. Hopefully, they're still working out the kinks, but right now there's much room for improvement.
(2)Christina B.
Came here for drinks with friends. Tried the California Widow and curly fries. The curly fries were delicious and I love that the ketchup is organic. The first couple sips of my drink were great, then I proceeded to knock it over trying to get the ketchup to come out of the bottle. I server asked how full my drink was when she kindly helped clean up my drink all over the table. I knocked off a star because most places if you spill an almost full drink will bring another one to replace it. I would definitely try Pig River, especially for a drink, just don't spill it.
(4)Richard O.
Unique cocktails with laid back atmosphere. Excellent happy hour in terms of food and beverages. The wings are excellent. Beer selection is quality.
(4)Norman W.
The River Pig Saloon was my home for much of World Cup 2014. Now, I am moving to NY and wondering what pub will fill the hole n my heart. I am not a huge sports fan normally, but, if you want to relax, have a great beer and some great food and watch a game, I can't imagine a better place to do it. Th guys who run this place are so nice and very attentive. My favorite dish is called Oregon's Finest Bowl which is quinoa, edamame, onions and carrots, kalamata olives and feta cheese in a lemon vinaigrette. You can also get it with chicken which I like even better. But, even without the chicken, it's pretty good. I know it sounds all hippy foody, but it's actually really good and substantial. Don't knock it til you've tried it. Their other dishes, like their burger, their nachos (spicy!), their rich rich RICH mac 'n' cheese are also good, but I am partial to the bowl. There is an ever-rotating selection of beers and ciders, some better than others, but all cold refreshment for this insane summer heat we are having. And the TV screens are the best. There's one on the north side of the bar, built into an old-timey organ base, a nice big HD screen behind the bar, and then the piece de resistance-a huge screen (like a personal movie screen) at the back of the bar which you can see from most anywhere in the bar. And, if you are sitting on the opposite side of the bar watching the game, and the bartender is standing in your line of vision, you can simply throw edamame beans or kalamata olives at his head.
(4)Marielle B.
This place is totally awesome! I love the sports bar / saloon-like ambiance and the service and food are amazing. The drinks are also top-notch--the cocktails rival any craft bar in Portland, and they're a total steal for just $8. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Chris M.
I came down to Portland for a visit from Seattle and decided to grab some drinks and watch the second half of a Blazers game with some friends. We decided to check out the River Pig after it was suggested by none other than Richard Sherman himself! Once we got there the food (buffalo burgers, fries, and the chicken sandwich) were all delicious and washing them down with some cold local beers and the house Old Fashioned was a great choice. The service was great as the server kept up a steady supply of water and would check in on drinks as needed. I'd suggest the patio for a First Thursday or any sunny day really. It's a nice change to the standard Pearl bars and worth going back for a visit on my next trip to Portland.
(5)Mike F.
Cool bar great atmosphere.
(5)Matt T.
Great vibe, great food, great whiskey. So glad to have them in the neighborhood!
(5)val e.
cool saloon vibe, great staff, great food, prices that well worth paying! Will be back.
(5)